MechaCon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids MechaCon |
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MechaCon mascots: Jett and Zee
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| Status | Active |
| Genre | Anime, Manga, Transformers, and Japanese culture. |
| Venue | Hyatt Regency New Orleans |
| Location(s) | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Country | United States |
| Inaugurated | 2005 |
| Attendance | 14,808 turnstile in 2017 |
| Organized by | Sennin Productions, LLC |
| Website | http://www.mechacon.com/ |
MechaCon was a super fun, three-day event held every summer in New Orleans, Louisiana. It was a big gathering for fans of anime (Japanese cartoons) and manga (Japanese comics). MechaCon was actually the oldest anime convention still running in Louisiana for a long time! People came together to celebrate Japanese pop culture, especially anime, manga, and even Transformers.
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What Happens at MechaCon?
MechaCon was packed with exciting activities for everyone! Here are some of the cool things you could do there:
- Artist's Alley: This was a special area where talented artists showed off and sold their amazing fan art, crafts, and original creations. You could find unique drawings, stickers, and more!
- Cosplay Competition: Many attendees dressed up as their favorite characters from anime, manga, or video games. This is called cosplay. There was a big competition where cosplayers could show off their costumes and win prizes.
- Dealer's Room: This was like a giant store filled with all sorts of anime and manga merchandise. You could buy figures, DVDs, comics, clothing, and other cool collectibles.
- Gaming: MechaCon had areas for video games, board games, and card games. You could challenge your friends or join tournaments.
- Maid/Host Show: These were fun performances and themed cafes where people dressed as maids or hosts, offering entertainment and a unique experience.
MechaCon's Journey Through Time
MechaCon has an interesting history, starting in 2005.
The First MechaCon and Hurricane Katrina
The very first MechaCon happened in 2005. It was a memorable event because Hurricane Katrina, a huge storm, hit Louisiana just hours after the convention ended! The dealers' room had to close early, and almost all the special guests managed to fly home just in time. It was a close call!
Helping Others: Robotech Screening
In 2006, MechaCon did something special. They showed the movie Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles for the very first time in public. All the money raised from this special screening was given to The Salvation Army. This money helped people who were affected by Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. It was a great way for fans to enjoy something new and help their community at the same time.
The Final MechaCon and Its Cancellation
In 2019, it was announced that the last MechaCon, called "MechaCon Omega," would happen in July 2020. However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, MechaCon 2020 had to be cancelled. This meant that "MechaCon Omega" never got to happen as planned.
A Look at MechaCon's Past Events
MechaCon grew quite a bit over the years! It started in Lafayette, Louisiana, and later moved to New Orleans. Here's a quick look at some of its past events:
| Dates | Location | Attendees |
|---|---|---|
| August 26–28, 2005 | Hilton Lafayette Lafayette, Louisiana |
900 warm |
| August 11–13, 2006 | Hilton Lafayette Lafayette, Louisiana |
1,275 warm |
| July 16–18, 2010 | New Orleans Marriott New Orleans, Louisiana |
3,700 warm |
| August 23–25, 2013 | Hilton New Orleans Riverside New Orleans, Louisiana |
11,300 turnstile |
| July 28–30, 2017 | Hyatt Regency New Orleans New Orleans, Louisiana |
14,808 turnstile |
| July 26–28, 2019 | Hyatt Regency New Orleans New Orleans, Louisiana |
15,897 turnstile |
| July 23-25, 2021 | Hyatt Regency New Orleans New Orleans, Louisiana |
