FanimeCon
Encyclopedia
FanimeCon is an annual anime convention
run by the Anime Resource Group (ARG). It is the largest anime convention in Northern California and one of the ten largest anime conventions in North America. Originally conceived by Aaron Pilgrim, Jay Onda and Dennis Jann as a gathering of local anime clubs in Northern California, the first one was held at California State University, Hayward. The anime clubs at that first Fanime were Beefbowl Anime, Chabot Anime, Foothill Anime and No-Name Anime.
Later, it was held at the Foothill College
campus in Los Altos Hills, and it then moved to the Santa Clara
Convention Center. In 2004, FanimeCon was held in the San Jose Convention Center
over Memorial Day
weekend where it generated more than $5M in local economic impact. The convention continues to be held annually at that location.
("Der Cosplay
"), AMV
contest, swap meet, game show, karaoke
, video gaming, tabletop gaming
, dances, and musical performances. Big attractions include celebrity guests, such as Hiroyuki Yamaga
, the Japanese writer-director-producer famous for the film The Wings of Honneamise. There are also panels scheduled on a wide range of topics including anime blogs, pocky, and how to make shoes and boots for costumes. FanimeCon also includes round-the-clock video programming.
as a free anime convention. FanimeCon stayed at California State University until 1996 when the convention moved to Foothill College
in Los Altos Hills, California
. Anime Resource Group (ARG) was formed the same year as the parent organization. 1996 was also the first year the convention became a paid event.
Hiroyuki Yamaga
became FanimeCon's first Japanese guest of honor in 1997. The programming expanded to include an art show, a cosplay show, an anime game show, and live music. In 1998 FanimeCon expanded to two days and became a three day convention the following year. FanimeCon moved to the Santa Clara Convention Center in 2000 where it stayed for four years before moving to the San Jose McEnery Convention Center in 2004.
Anime convention
An anime convention is an event or gathering with a primary focus on anime, manga and Japanese culture. Commonly, anime conventions are multi-day events hosted at convention centers, hotels or college campuses. They feature a wide variety of activities and panels...
run by the Anime Resource Group (ARG). It is the largest anime convention in Northern California and one of the ten largest anime conventions in North America. Originally conceived by Aaron Pilgrim, Jay Onda and Dennis Jann as a gathering of local anime clubs in Northern California, the first one was held at California State University, Hayward. The anime clubs at that first Fanime were Beefbowl Anime, Chabot Anime, Foothill Anime and No-Name Anime.
Later, it was held at the Foothill College
Foothill College
Foothill College is a community college located in Los Altos Hills, California and is part of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District. It was founded on January 15, 1957 by Founding Superintendent and President Dr. Calvin C. Flint.-History:...
campus in Los Altos Hills, and it then moved to the Santa Clara
Santa Clara, California
Santa Clara , founded in 1777 and incorporated in 1852, is a city in Santa Clara County, in the U.S. state of California. The city is the site of the eighth of 21 California missions, Mission Santa Clara de Asís, and was named after the mission. The Mission and Mission Gardens are located on the...
Convention Center. In 2004, FanimeCon was held in the San Jose Convention Center
San Jose Convention Center
The San Jose Convention Center is the main convention center for the city of San Jose, California. It is located in close proximity to several others of San Jose's convention and cultural structures. Its formal name is the San Jose McEnery Convention Center, in recognition of former mayor Tom...
over Memorial Day
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
weekend where it generated more than $5M in local economic impact. The convention continues to be held annually at that location.
Programming
FanimeCon features events including artist's alley, a masqueradeMasquerade ball
A masquerade ball is an event which the participants attend in costume wearing a mask. - History :...
("Der Cosplay
Cosplay
, short for "costume play", is a type of performance art in which participants don costumes and accessories to represent a specific character or idea. Characters are often drawn from popular fiction in Japan, but recent trends have included American cartoons and science fiction...
"), AMV
Anime music video
An anime music video is a music video consisting of clips from one or more animations set to an audio track ; the term usually refers to fan-made unofficial videos. An AMV can also be a set of video game footage put together with music which is known as a GMV...
contest, swap meet, game show, karaoke
Karaoke
is a form of interactive entertainment or video game in which amateur singers sing along with recorded music using a microphone and public address system. The music is typically a well-known pop song minus the lead vocal. Lyrics are usually displayed on a video screen, along with a moving symbol,...
, video gaming, tabletop gaming
Tabletop game
Tabletop game is a general term used to refer to board games, card games, dice games, miniatures wargames, tile-based games and other games that are normally played on a table or other flat surface...
, dances, and musical performances. Big attractions include celebrity guests, such as Hiroyuki Yamaga
Hiroyuki Yamaga
is a founding member of the Japanese animation studio Gainax, and a anime director. He wrote the screenplay for Gundam 0080 . He is best known for directing the film "Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honneamise" at age 24, directing Mahoromatic & Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi , and an episode...
, the Japanese writer-director-producer famous for the film The Wings of Honneamise. There are also panels scheduled on a wide range of topics including anime blogs, pocky, and how to make shoes and boots for costumes. FanimeCon also includes round-the-clock video programming.
History
FanimeCon was first held on June 19, 1994 at California State University, Hayward in Hayward, CaliforniaHayward, California
Hayward is a city located in the East Bay in Alameda County, California. With a population of 144,186, Hayward is the sixth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area and the third largest in Alameda County. Hayward was ranked as the 37th most populous municipality in California. It is included in...
as a free anime convention. FanimeCon stayed at California State University until 1996 when the convention moved to Foothill College
Foothill College
Foothill College is a community college located in Los Altos Hills, California and is part of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District. It was founded on January 15, 1957 by Founding Superintendent and President Dr. Calvin C. Flint.-History:...
in Los Altos Hills, California
Los Altos Hills, California
Los Altos Hills is an incorporated town in Santa Clara County, California, United States. The population was 7,922 at the 2010 census. Located in Silicon Valley, Los Altos Hills is one of the wealthiest cities in the nation.-Strictly residential:...
. Anime Resource Group (ARG) was formed the same year as the parent organization. 1996 was also the first year the convention became a paid event.
Hiroyuki Yamaga
Hiroyuki Yamaga
is a founding member of the Japanese animation studio Gainax, and a anime director. He wrote the screenplay for Gundam 0080 . He is best known for directing the film "Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honneamise" at age 24, directing Mahoromatic & Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi , and an episode...
became FanimeCon's first Japanese guest of honor in 1997. The programming expanded to include an art show, a cosplay show, an anime game show, and live music. In 1998 FanimeCon expanded to two days and became a three day convention the following year. FanimeCon moved to the Santa Clara Convention Center in 2000 where it stayed for four years before moving to the San Jose McEnery Convention Center in 2004.
Event history
| Dates | Location | Atten. | Guests |
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