Anime Matsuri

For the anime convention in Ohio, see Matsuricon.
Anime Matsuri
Status Active
Genre Anime, Japanese culture[1][2]
Venue George R. Brown Convention Center
Location(s) Houston, Texas
Country United States
Inaugurated 2007
Attendance 30,215 in 2016[3][4]
Website
http://www.animematsuri.com/

Anime Matsuri is an annual three-day anime convention traditionally held during March/April at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas, though its 2016 convention was held in February. The convention's name comes from the Japanese word 'matsuri' meaning festival.[5] Anime Matsuri is the 8th largest North American anime convention as of 2015.[6]

Programming

The convention's programming includes an artists' alley, a carshow, the attendance of celebrities and special guests, cosplay chess, cosplay contests, fashion shows, gaming events, karaoke, live concerts, maid cafe, panels, a vendors' and exhibitors' area, and workshops.[1][7][8][9][10] The Charity Auction benefited Child's Play in 2009 and raised over $3,000.[11]

History

The convention was held at George R. Brown Convention Center and Hilton Americas in 2007.[12] Anime Matsuris 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012 were held at the Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center, and Anime Matsuri 2011 was held at the Crowne Plaza Houston Hotel near Reliant Park/Medical Center.[13][14] Anime Matsuri 2013 was held at Hyatt Regency Houston.[15] The Syfy reality series Heroes of Cosplay filmed the masquerade at Anime Matsuri and was featured in an episode.[16] The convention in 2014 moved to the George R. Brown Convention Center.[8][17] Complaints about the 2014 convention included long lines and delays.[9] Despite the issues, the 2014 convention became the 9th largest North American anime convention.[18] The convention in 2015 remained at the George R. Brown Convention Center and used the first and most of the second floors.[10][19]

After Anime Matsuri 2015, John Leigh, the conventions event manager was accused of sexual harassment by several members of the Lolita fashion community.[20] Significant financial improprieties have also been alleged against the convention organizers.[21] In May 2016, Anime Matsuri announced that the former CEO of Anime Expo, Marc Perez would join the convention as COO.[22][23]

Event history

Dates Location Atten. Guests
April 27–29, 2007 George R. Brown Convention Center
& Hilton Americas
Houston, Texas		4,012[12] Christine Auten, Christopher Ayres, Back-On, Jessica Boone, Peter Cullen, Fizz, Tiffany Grant, Matt Greenfield, Hilary Haag, Yaya Han, Kyle Jones, Chris Patton, RikkuX, and John Swasey.[12]
March 21–23, 2008 The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel
& Convention Center
The Woodlands, Texas		5,993[13] Aural Vampire, Amelie Belcher, Bespa Kumamero, Luci Christian, JoEllen Elam, Yaya Han, Kate Higgins, Yuri Lowenthal, Matthew Mercer, Vic Mignogna, Tara Platt, Patrick Seitz, Stephanie Sheh, Sky Pirate, Space Invader, Barbara Staples, Sonny Strait, Bill Winans, and Stephanie Young.[13]
April 10–12, 2009 The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel
& Convention Center
The Woodlands, Texas		6,950[24] Takuya Angel, Clint Bickham, Luci Christian, JoEllen Elam, Quinton Flynn, Jason David Frank, Crispin Freeman, Gren, DJ Heavygrinder, Mike McFarland, Matthew Mercer, Misako Rocks!, Miyavi, Chris Patton, Cynthia Rothrock, Kristine Sa, Blake Shepard, Sonny Strait, Strong Machine 2, Diana Tolin, and Stephanie Young.[24][25]
April 2–4, 2010 The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel
& Convention Center
The Woodlands, Texas		7,113[26] Aural Vampire, Back-On, Leah Clark, Francesca Dani, India Davis, Crispin Freeman, DJ Heavygrinder, Thais Jussim, Reuben Langdon, Elizabeth Licata, Mike McFarland, Matthew Mercer, and Strong Machine 2.[26]
March 18–20, 2011 Crowne Plaza Houston Hotel near
Reliant Park / Medical Center
Houston, Texas		7,982[14] Luci Christian, Gacharic Spin, Hamutsun Serve, Hangry & Angry, Kyle Hebert, Mike McFarland, Matthew Mercer, Reni Mimura, Christopher Smith, Michael Suarez, J. Michael Tatum, and Stephanie Young.[14]
April 6–8, 2012 The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel
& Convention Center
The Woodlands, Texas		10,422[27] Airship Isabella, Troy Baker, Clint Bickham, Luci Christian, Maile Flanagan, Flow, Kathryn "Rynn" Griffin, Yaya Han, DJ Heavygrinder, Akinori Isobe, Masumi Kano, Cyril Lumboy, Mike McFarland, Matthew Mercer, Vic Mignogna, Amy Reeder Hadley, Sleeping Samurai, Strong Machine 2, Alexis Tipton, Shinichi Watanabe, Bill Winans, and Stephanie Young.[27]
March 29–31, 2013 Hyatt Regency Houston
Houston, Texas		14,989[15] Misako Aoki, Johnny Yong Bosch, David Brehm, Erin Fitzgerald, Kathryn "Rynn" Griffin, Yaya Han, Kyle Hebert, Kelly Hu,[28] Masumi Kano, Catherine Lewis, Mike McFarland, Matthew Mercer, Carli Mosier, Justin Rojas, Michelle Rojas, Janet Varney, Waveya, Bill Winans, and Stephanie Young.[15]
March 14–16, 2014 George R. Brown Convention Center
Houston, Texas		19,412[29] Misako Aoki, Johnny Yong Bosch, Luci Christian, Eyeshine, Caitlin Glass, Shunsuke Hasegawa, DJ HeavyGrinder, Aya Ikeda, Masumi Kano, Linda Le, Catherine Lewis, Yuri Lowenthal, Mike McFarland, Matthew Mercer, Tara Platt, Marisha Ray, Reika, TeddyLoid, Janet Varney, Bill Winans, Mai Yamamoto, and Stephanie Young.[29]
April 3–5, 2015 George R. Brown Convention Center
Houston, Texas		24,328[30][31] Misako Aoki, Asuka, Luci Christian, Olivia Chubear, Stella Chuu, Crispin Freeman, Todd Haberkorn, Shunsuke Hasegawa, DJ HeavyGrinder, Shigeto Koyama, Harrison Krix, Linda Le, Catherine Lewis, Maki, Michiyo Murase, Atsushi Nishigori, Nylon Pink, Putumayo, Reika, Stephanie Sheh, Kaname Shiroboshi, Sushio, TeddyLoid, Anna Tsuchiya, Hiromi Wakabayashi, Bill Winans, Yoh Yoshinari, and Stephanie Young.[30]
February 26–28, 2016 George R. Brown Convention Center
Houston, Texas		30,215[3][4] Akira, Ani-Mia, Misako Aoki, Astarohime, Angela Bermúdez, Johnny Yong Bosch, David Brehm, Stella Chuu, Leah Clark, Dario, Lance Falk, Yuegene Fay, Goldy, Shunsuke Hasegawa, Hitomi, Kelly Hu, Chuck Huber, Kaname, Shinichi Kurita, Linda Le, Lana Marie, Mike McFarland, Vic Mignogna, Yui Minakata, Tae Yeon Minemes, Morning Musume, Enji Night, Ram Rider, Reika, Shiva, Yuzuru Tachikawa, Brian Tee, Christian Tremblay, Yvon Tremblay, Jennifer Van Damsel, David Vincent, Waveya, Bill Winans, and Stephanie Young.[3]
April 7–9, 2017 George R. Brown Convention Center
Houston, Texas		 Aural Vampire, Christine Marie Cabanos, Danny Choo, Disacode, Laura Jansen, Su Hyun Kim, Enji Night, Carolina Ravassa, Reika, and Cristina Vee.[32]

Anime Matsuri Hawaii

Anime Matsuri Hawaii (AMHI) is a three-day anime convention held during November at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.[33] The convention's programming includes a concert, cosplay showcase, J-Fashion show, screenings, and panels.[34] Yuegene Fay, a cosplayer, cancelled her 2015 appearance due to immigration issues.

Event history

Dates Location Atten. Guests
November 27–29, 2015 Hawaii Convention Center
Honolulu, Hawaii		 Johnny Yong Bosch, Stella Chuu, DaizyStripper, Maile Flanagan, Crispin Freeman, Goldy, Shunsuke Hasegawa, Linda Le, Yui Minakata, Masahiko Otsuka, Reika, Justin Rojas, and Chinatsu Taira.[35]

References

  1. 1 2 "Anime Matsuri Convention". KHOU-TV. Retrieved 2013-05-12.
  2. ↑ "Great Day Anime Matsuri". KHOU-TV. Retrieved 2014-04-17.
  3. 1 2 3 "Anime Matsuri 2016 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2016-04-06.
  4. 1 2 "Anime Matsuri's 2016 Overview". Facebook. March 2, 2016. Retrieved March 18, 2015.
  5. ↑ Berardo, Maggie (March 31, 2015). "Turning Japanese, Houston-Style". Houstonia. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  6. ↑ Delahanty, Patrick (January 4, 2016). "Ten Largest North American Anime Conventions of 2015". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  7. ↑ "11 Photos Of Awesomely Dressed People Outside Anime Matsuri". Houston Press. March 29, 2013. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
  8. 1 2 One F, Jef With (March 13, 2014). "Anime Matsuri". Houston Press. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  9. 1 2 Haydon, DL (March 18, 2014). "Anime Matsuri: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly". Free Press Houston. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  10. 1 2 Cook, Phaedra (March 30, 2015). "Anime Matsuri Returns to Houston and It's Bigger Than Ever". Houston Press. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  11. ↑ Veron, Red (April 13, 2009). "Anime Matsuri '09: Child's Play Charity Auction". Japanator. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  12. 1 2 3 "Anime Matsuri 2007 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2016-01-07.
  13. 1 2 3 "Anime Matsuri 2008 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2016-01-07.
  14. 1 2 3 "Anime Matsuri 2011 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2016-01-07.
  15. 1 2 3 "Anime Matsuri 2013 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2016-09-06.
  16. ↑ Bertschy, Zac (2013-09-10). "5 Things I Learned From SyFy's "Heroes of Cosplay"". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2013-09-30.
  17. ↑ "Anime Matsuri set to take over Houston". KIAH-TV NewsFix. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  18. ↑ Delahanty, Patrick (2015-01-05). "Ten Largest North American Anime Conventions of 2014". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2015-01-11.
  19. ↑ Hlavaty, Craig (April 4, 2015). "The cosplay-heavy Anime Matsuri invades the George R. Brown Convention". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  20. ↑ Rouner, Jef (June 29, 2015). "Anime Matsuri Organizer Accused of Sexual Harassment". Houston Press. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  21. ↑ Rouner, Jef (September 15, 2015). "The Con: Anime Matsuri is Growing, and So Is the List of People Unhappy With It". Houston Press. Houston, TX. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  22. ↑ "Former SPJA CEO Marc Perez Joins Anime Matsuri". Anime News Network. June 5, 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  23. ↑ Delahanty, Patrick (June 3, 2016). "Anime Matsuri hires former SPJA CEO". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  24. 1 2 "Anime Matsuri 2009 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2016-01-07.
  25. ↑ Aoki, Deb (7 April 2009). "This Weekend: Sakura-Con, Anime Matsuri and Kawaii-Kon". About.com. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
  26. 1 2 "Anime Matsuri 2010 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2016-01-07.
  27. 1 2 "Anime Matsuri 2012 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2013-03-13.
  28. ↑ "Anime Matsuri announces Kelly Hu as Special Guest for 2013". Anime News Network. 2012-07-31. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
  29. 1 2 "Anime Matsuri 2014 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2016-09-06.
  30. 1 2 "Anime Matsuri 2015 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2016-09-06.
  31. ↑ "Anime Matsuri's 2015 Overview". Facebook. April 7, 2015. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  32. ↑ "Anime Matsuri 2017 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2016-11-29.
  33. ↑ "Anime Matsuri to Host New Convention in Hawaii". Anime News Network. March 24, 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  34. ↑ Yadao, Jason S. (November 26, 2015). "The Anime Matsuri Hawaii preview: It's kinda con-plicated". Honolulu Star Advertiser. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  35. ↑ "Anime Matsuri Hawaii 2015 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2016-01-05.

External links

Coordinates: 29°45′8″N 95°21′28″W / 29.75222°N 95.35778°W / 29.75222; -95.35778

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