Anime Matsuri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Anime Matsuri |
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|---|---|
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Anime, Japanese culture |
| Venue | George R. Brown Convention Center |
| Location(s) | Houston, Texas |
| Country | United States |
| Inaugurated | 2007 |
| Attendance | 29,063 in 2019 |
| Organized by | Deniece and John Leigh |
| Website | http://www.animematsuri.com/ |
Anime Matsuri is a big yearly event, like a festival, for fans of anime (Japanese animation) and Japanese culture. It lasts for four days and usually happens in the spring. The event takes place at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. The name "Matsuri" comes from a Japanese word that means "festival."
Contents
What You Can Do at Anime Matsuri
This fun convention has many different activities for everyone to enjoy. Here are some of the cool things you can do:
- Artists' Alley: Meet talented artists and buy their original artwork.
- Car Show: See amazing cars, often decorated with anime themes.
- Celebrities and Guests: Meet famous voice actors and artists from the anime world.
- Cosplay: Dress up as your favorite characters! There are also contests to show off your costumes.
- Fashion Shows: See the latest trends in Japanese street fashion.
- Gaming: Play video games and board games with other fans.
- Karaoke: Sing your favorite anime songs.
- LARP: Try Live Action Role-Playing, where you act out a story.
- Live Concerts: Enjoy music from Japanese bands and artists.
- Maid Cafe: Experience a unique cafe with a Japanese theme.
- Panels: Attend talks and Q&A sessions with guests and experts.
- Vendors' Area: Shop for anime merchandise, comics, and more.
- Workshops: Learn new skills, like drawing or costume making.
In 2009, the convention also held a Charity Auction. It raised over $3,000 to help a charity called Child's Play.
How Anime Matsuri Started
Anime Matsuri first began in 2007. The very first event was held at the George R. Brown Convention Center and the Hilton Americas hotel.
Changes Over the Years
For a few years, from 2008 to 2010, and again in 2012, the convention was held at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center. In 2011, it moved to the Crowne Plaza Houston Hotel. Then, in 2013, it was held at the Hyatt Regency Houston.
A TV show called Heroes of Cosplay even filmed part of their show at Anime Matsuri in 2013. They showed the big costume contest, called the masquerade.
In 2014, Anime Matsuri moved back to the George R. Brown Convention Center. As the convention grew, there were some challenges, like long lines. In 2015, it stayed at the same center, using even more space.
Recent History
In 2020, the convention had to change its plans because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was first moved from July to August. However, it was later canceled completely because the city of Houston decided not to hold any big events that year.
Past Events and Guests
Here's a look at where and when Anime Matsuri has been held, how many people attended, and some of the special guests who visited each year.
| Dates | Location | Atten. | Guests |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 27–29, 2007 | George R. Brown Convention Center & Hilton Americas Houston, Texas |
4,012 | 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. |
| March 21–23, 2008 | The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center The Woodlands, Texas |
5,993 | 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. |
| April 10–12, 2009 | The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center The Woodlands, Texas |
6,950 | 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. |
| April 2–4, 2010 | The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center The Woodlands, Texas |
7,113 | 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. |
| March 18–20, 2011 | Crowne Plaza Houston Hotel near Reliant Park / Medical Center Houston, Texas |
7,982 | 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. |
| April 6–8, 2012 | The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center The Woodlands, Texas |
10,422 | 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. |
| March 29–31, 2013 | Hyatt Regency Houston Houston, Texas |
14,989 | Misako Aoki, Johnny Yong Bosch, David Brehm, Erin Fitzgerald, Kathryn "Rynn" Griffin, Yaya Han, Kyle Hebert, Kelly Hu, Catherine Jones, Masumi Kano, Mike McFarland, Matthew Mercer, Carli Mosier, Justin Rojas, Michelle Rojas, Janet Varney, Waveya, Bill Winans, and Stephanie Young. |
| March 14–16, 2014 | George R. Brown Convention Center Houston, Texas |
19,412 | Misako Aoki, Johnny Yong Bosch, Luci Christian, Eyeshine, Caitlin Glass, Shunsuke Hasegawa, DJ HeavyGrinder, Aya Ikeda, Catherine Jones, Masumi Kano, Linda Le, Yuri Lowenthal, Mike McFarland, Matthew Mercer, Tara Platt, Marisha Ray, Reika, TeddyLoid, Janet Varney, Bill Winans, Mai Yamamoto, and Stephanie Young. |
| April 3–5, 2015 | George R. Brown Convention Center Houston, Texas |
24,328 | Misako Aoki, Asuka, Luci Christian, Olivia Chubear, Stella Chuu, Crispin Freeman, Todd Haberkorn, Shunsuke Hasegawa, DJ HeavyGrinder, Catherine Jones, Shigeto Koyama, Harrison Krix, Linda Le, 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. |
| February 26–28, 2016 | George R. Brown Convention Center Houston, Texas |
30,215 | Akira, Ani-Mia, Misako Aoki, Astarohime, Angela Bermúdez, Johnny Yong Bosch, David Brehm, Stella Chuu, Leah Clark, Dario, Lance Falk, 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, Bill Winans, and Stephanie Young. |
| April 7–9, 2017 | George R. Brown Convention Center Houston, Texas |
36,270 | Akidearest, Akira, The Anime Man, Misako Aoki, Anjali Bhimani, Brilliant Kingdom, Christine Marie Cabanos, Danny Choo, Charlet Chung, Stella Chuu, Dancing Dolls, Disacode, Midori Fukasawa, Gacharic Spin, Megumi Han, Shunsuke Hasegawa, Hiko, Laura Jansen, Brittney Karbowski, Pion Kim, Su Hyun Kim, Ladybeard, Mago, Kazuya Masumoto, Vic Mignogna, Yui Minakata, Mirei, Misty/Chronexia, Aza Miyuko, Enji Night, Fumio Osano, Romi Park, Carolina Ravassa, Reika, Sailor Moon Musical Cast, Sakurako, Shiva, Masami Suda, Chinatsu Taira, and Cristina Vee. |
| March 30 - April 1, 2018 | George R. Brown Convention Center Houston, Texas |
40,270 | Patricia Acevedo, Yuri Akiba, Akira, B-Project, Beau Billingslea, Mario Castañeda, Leon Chiro, Color Pointe, Dancing Dolls, Hana Dinh, Dorilooko, Shunsuke Hasegawa, Honey Popcorn, Doug Jones, Tetsuya Kakihara, Pion Kim, Chiaki Kon, Astarohime Koyu, Made Monster, Maul Cosplay, Yua Mikami, Hideki Nakayama, Natsumi, Enji Night, Fumio Osano, Pugoffka, Root, Ryu-en, Asami Sanada, DJ Shintaro, Shiva, Somenzari, DJ Sunamori, Mari Takahashi, Team China, Mirei Touyama, Hibiki Yoshizaki, and Zwei. |
Anime Matsuri Hawaii
For a short time, there was also an event called Anime Matsuri Hawaii (AMHI). This was a three-day anime convention held in November. It took place at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.
What Happened at AMHI
The Hawaii convention had many fun activities, including:
- A concert
- A cosplay showcase
- A J-Fashion show
- Anime screenings
- Guest panels
One cosplayer, Yuegene Fay, was supposed to be a guest but couldn't make it due to travel challenges. Anime Matsuri Hawaii did not happen again after 2015.
AMHI 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. |
