Anime Midwest

Anime convention in Illinois, US

Anime Midwest

Status| Active
Genre| Anime, Japanese Culture, Video Gaming[1][2]
Venue| Hyatt Regency O'Hare
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
Location(s)| Rosemont, Illinois
Country| United States
Inaugurated| 2011
Organized by| AnimeCon.org[3]
Website| http://www.animemidwest.com/

Anime Midwest is an annual three-day anime convention held during July at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare and Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. The convention is held in the same location as Anime Central.[4]

## Programming

[edit]

The convention typically offers anime screenings, artist room, concerts, cosplay masquerade contest, date auction, dealers room, fan panels, formal dance, guest autographs, karaoke, Maid Cafe, rave dances, tabletop gaming, video game tournaments, and workshops.[1][5][6][7][8][9][10] The convention hosts a free ConSweet with free ramen noodles, rice, oatmeal, and soda for attendees.[11][12]

## History

[edit]

Anime Midwest moved to the Hyatt Regency O'Hare in Rosemont, Illinois, for 2013.[1] The convention in 2015 had long registration line waits.[13] Guests Deadlift Lolita, FEMM, Fuki, and Zwei could not attend Anime Midwest in 2019 due to visa issues.[14] Anime Midwest 2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[15][16] In 2021 the convention required masks, and had a reduced ConSweet due to the convention having a short amount of organization time.[17]

### Event history

[edit]

Dates | Location | Atten. | Guests

|
|
|

June 15–17, 2011[18] | Pheasant Run Resort
St. Charles, Illinois| | Jillian Coglan, Samurai Dan Coglan, L33tStr33t Boys, John Patrick Lowrie, Jamie Marchi, Ellen McLain, Sean Schemmel, and Micah Solusod.[19]
July 6–8, 2012[20] | Wyndham Lisle-Chicago Hotel &
Executive Meeting Center
Lisle, Illinois| Nearly
2,000[21]| Greg Ayres, Martin Billany, Jillian Coglan, Samurai Dan Coglan, Level Boys, Jamie Marchi, Joel McDonald, Mega Ran, The Pillowcases, Ian Sinclair, and Shinichi Watanabe.[22]
July 5–7, 2013[23] | Hyatt Regency O'Hare
Rosemont, Illinois| 5,100[24]| Airship O'Reilly, Dr. Awkward, Orlando Belisle, Jillian Coglan, Samurai Dan Coglan, Alan Evans, FanService Renji, Quinton Flynn, Todd Haberkorn, Brian Heinz, Steve Horton, Krazy Krow, Rob "Vash" Lewis, Russell Lissau, Lewis Lovhaug, John Patrick Lowrie, Ellen McLain, Midwest Karaoke Madness, Trevor A. Mueller, The Pillowcases, Malcolm Ray, Sleeping Samurai, Spike Spencer, Steam Powered Giraffe, Sonny Strait, Rachel Tietz, Doug Walker, and YTCracker.[24]
July 4–6, 2014 | Hyatt Regency O'Hare
Rosemont, Illinois| 8,010[25]| Curtis Arnott, Dr. Awkward, Greg Ayres, Orlando Belisle, Johnny Yong Bosch, Jillian Coglan, Samurai Dan Coglan, D.C. Douglas, Michelle Ann Dunphy, Eyeshine, Frenchy and the Punk, Scott Frerichs, Caitlin Glass, Brian Heinz, Steve Horton, Akinori Isobe, Brad Jones, Masumi Kano, Nick Landis, Russell Lissau, Lewis Lovhaug, Trevor A. Mueller, Chris Patton, The Pillowcases, Laura Post, Raj Ramayya, Malcolm Ray, Sleeping Samurai, Steam Powered Giraffe, Sonny Strait, Alexis Tipton, V is for Villains, Doug Walker, and YTCracker.[25]
July 3–5, 2015 | Hyatt Regency O'Hare
Rosemont, Illinois| 10,500[26]| Curtis Arnott, Greg Ayres, Brentalfloss, Chris Cason, Jillian Coglan, Samurai Dan Coglan, Amber Lee Connors, Nicole de Boer, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, D.C. Douglas, Caitlynn French, Frenchy and the Punk, Scott Frerichs, Brian Heinz, Steve Horton, Chuck Huber, Anna Ito, Krazy Krow, Nick Landis, Russell Lissau, London Has Fallen, Lewis Lovhaug, David Matranga, Joel McDonald, Mega Ran, Trevor A. Mueller, The Pillowcases, Chris Rager, Raj Ramayya, Blake Shepard, Lawrence Simpson, Spike Spencer, Steam Powered Giraffe, Sonny Strait, Eric Stuart, John Swasey, V is for Villains, Steven Wallace, Billy West, and YTCracker.[26]
July 8–10, 2016 | Hyatt Regency O'Hare
Rosemont, Illinois| 12,500[27]| Greg Ayres, Zach Callison, Jillian Coglan, Samurai Dan Coglan, Emily DeJesus, D.C. Douglas, Frenchy and the Punk, Brian Heinz, Chuck Huber, Kid Yuki and the Otakus, Shigeto Koyama, Krazy Krow, Russell Lissau, Lewis Lovhaug, Mega Ran, Trevor A. Mueller, The Pillowcases, Genevieve Simmons, Juliet Simmons, Steam Powered Giraffe, Brooke Stephenson, Sushio, V is for Villains, Hiromi Wakabayashi, Steven Wallace, and YTCracker.[27]
July 7–9, 2017 | Hyatt Regency O'Hare
Rosemont, Illinois| 14,374[28]| Misako Aoki, Arc Impulse, Greg Ayres, Morgan Berry, Luci Christian, D.C. Douglas, Sandy Fox, Frenchy and the Punk, Brian Heinz, Takafumi Hori, Chuck Huber, Hiroyuki Imaishi, Kid Yuki and the Otakus, Knight of the Round, Shigeto Koyama, Krazy Krow, Lex Lang, Mason Lieberman, Russell Lissau, Lewis Lovhaug, Josh Martin, David Matranga, Mega Ran, Rob Mungle, The Pillowcases, Chris Rager, Molly Searcy, Oscar Seung, Yakov Smirnoff, Steam Powered Giraffe, Dave Trosko, V is for Villains, Hiromi Wakabayashi, Billy West, Yoh Yoshinari, and YTCracker.[28]
July 6–8, 2018 | Hyatt Regency O'Hare
Rosemont, Illinois| 14,500 (est.)[29]| Greg Ayres, Morgan Berry, Luci Christian, Jillian Coglan, Samurai Dan Coglan, D.C. Douglas, Gigi Edgley, Doug Erholtz, Andy Field, Aki Glancy, Brian Heinz, Chuck Huber, Aya Ikeda, Hiroaki Inoue, Kid Yuki and the Otakus, Knight of the Round, Russell Lissau, Lewis Lovhaug, Mega Ran, Trevor A. Mueller, The Pillowcases, Alejandro Saab, Carrie Savage, Molly Searcy, Oscar Seung, Steam Powered Giraffe, Dave Trosko, Gareth West, Greg Wicker, YTCracker,[29] Epic Rap Battles of History, and Gregory Brothers.[30]
July 5–7, 2019 | Hyatt Regency O'Hare
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
Rosemont, Illinois| | Greg Ayres, Steve Blum, Luci Christian, Jillian Coglan, Samurai Dan Coglan, Maile Flanagan, Quinton Flynn, Crispin Freeman, Brian Heinz, IA, Kid Yuki and the Otakus, Krazy Krow, Lia, Russell Lissau, Lewis Lovhaug, Yuri Lowenthal, Margaret McDonald, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Mega Ran, Trevor A. Mueller, Tara Platt, Raj Ramayya, Oscar Seung, Steam Powered Giraffe, Brooke Stephenson, V is for Villains, Vocamerica, and YTCracker.[31]
July 2–4, 2021 | Hyatt Regency O'Hare
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
Rosemont, Illinois| | Awesomus Prime, Greg Ayres, Morgan Berry, Jillian Coglan, Samurai Dan Coglan, Cynthia Cranz, Tod Fennell, Quinton Flynn, Heroes 4 Hire, Chuck Huber, Bryan Massey, Wendy Powell, Whitney Rodgers, John Swasey, V is for Villains, Heather Walker, Kiba Walker, Tyler Walker, Barry Yandell, and YTCracker.[32]
July 1–3, 2022 | Hyatt Regency O'Hare
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
Rosemont, Illinois| | Major Attaway, Greg Ayres, Morgan Berry, Jillian Coglan, Samurai Dan Coglan, Dorothy Fahn, Tom Fahn, Cole Feuchter, Quinton Flynn, Tiffany Gordon, Kohei Hattori, Jay Hickman, Marcus M. Mauldin, The Microphone Misfitz, Rob Mungle, Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld, John Swasey, V is for Villains, Heather Walker, Kiba Walker, Tyler Walker, Gareth West, and YTCracker.[33]
July 7–9, 2023 | Hyatt Regency O'Hare
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
Rosemont, Illinois| | Arc Impulse, Greg Ayres, Jillian Coglan, Samurai Dan Coglan, Cynthia Cranz, Cole Feuchter, Quinton Flynn, Diana Garnet, Amanda Gish, Kohei Hattori, Jay Hickman, Mason Lieberman, Mint, Shihori Nakane, Tyson Rinehart, Spirit Bomb, V is for Villains, Kiba Walker, Gareth West, and YTCracker.[34]
July 5-7, 2024 | Hyatt Regency O'Hare
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
Rosemont, Illinois| | Greg Ayres, Chris Cason, Jillian Coglan, Samurai Dan Coglan, Quinton Flynn, Cris George, Aki Glancy, Kohei Hattori, Brian Mathis, Chris Patton, Raj Ramayya, Oscar Seung, Alan Shires, John Swasey, Gareth West, and Barry Yandell.[35]
July 4-6, 2025 | Hyatt Regency O'Hare
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
Rosemont, Illinois| | Greg Ayres, Jessica Cavanagh, Jillian Coglan, Samurai Dan Coglan, Cynthia Cranz, Andy Field, Frenchy and the Punk, Kohei Hattori, Jay Hickman, Kyle Jones, Toshio Maeda, Carey Means, Mega Ran, Rob Mungle, Wendy Powell, Raj Ramayya, Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld, Schäffer the Darklord, John Swasey, Billy West, and Barry Yandell.[35]

## Collaborations

[edit]

In 2012 Anime Midwest sponsored a cosplay prom.[36]

## Controversies

[edit]

Ryan Kopf, the organizer behind Anime Midwest and several other conventions, was banned from Anime Milwaukee during the 2018 convention due to a sexual assault allegation involving the Milwaukee Police Department. Kopf was at the convention as part of Anime Midwest and denies the allegations.[37]

## Gallery

[edit]

* A wall of empty Maruchan ramen noodle boxes with a cardboard figure from Attack on Titan being swatted at by a member of Anime Midwest's staff

* The maids at Anime Midwest's maid cafe

* The crowd waiting to see Steam Powered Giraffe perform at Anime Midwest 2014 in the Rosemont Ballroom

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Anime Midwest 2013 Comes To Hyatt Regency O'Hare". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2013-06-02.
2. ^ "ANIME FANS HEAD TO ROSEMONT FOR MIDWEST CONVENTION (TV)". ABC 7 News. Archived from the original on 2014-07-14.
3. ^ "Anime Midwest Adds Japanese Lolita Brand Baby, The Stars Shine Bright". Anime News Network. November 12, 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
4. ^ Hortillo, Yvonne. "A Tale of Two Conventions". The Filipino American Community Builder.
5. ^ "Anime Midwest to Host Excel Saga's Shinichi Watanabe". Anime News Network. 11 October 2023.
6. ^ "Anime Midwest Presents Steam Powered Giraffe in 2013". Anime News Network. 11 October 2023.
7. ^ Steve Jurkovic (9 July 2012). "PHOTOS: Best Dressed at Anime Midwest". Patch.
8. ^ "Anime Midwest in Rosemont home to the fantastical". Daily Herald. 6 July 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-07-08.
9. ^ "Face Time Police, Villains play Anime Midwest". Daily Herald. 6 July 2016.
10. ^ Whitlock, Katelyn (30 June 2023). "Anime Midwest Returns To Rosemont In July". Journal & Topics Media Group. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
11. ^ "15 things to do with your kids this week: July 2–8". Chicago Tribune. July 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-07-06. Retrieved 2014-07-08.
12. ^ Cousin, Jessi (August 8, 1015). "Cousin Jessi and Team Gregula strike again at Anime Midwest 2015". ChicagoNow. Archived from the original on 9 August 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
13. ^ Faits, Lauren (July 10, 2015). "Anime Midwest 2015 RECAP: I will never learn". Geek Girl Chicago - Chicago Now. Archived from the original on 20 July 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
14. ^ "Anime Midwest Convention's Musical Guests Unable to Perform After Visa Issues". Anime News Network. July 9, 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
15. ^ "Our response to COVID-19". AnimeCon.org. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
16. ^ "Anime Midwest 2020 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
17. ^ Sergazina, Amina (7 July 2021). "Anime Midwest returns as cosplayers and vendors reconnect with the anime community in-person". The Columbia Chronicle. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
18. ^ "Anime Midwest 2011". UpcomingCons.com.
19. ^ "Anime Midwest 2011 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2013-05-24.
20. ^ "Anime Midwest 2012". UpcomingCons.com.
21. ^ Steve Jurkovic (9 July 2012). "Anime Midwest Convention Hosted In Lisle". Patch.
22. ^ "Anime Midwest 2012 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2013-05-24.
23. ^ "Anime Midwest 2013". UpcomingCons.com.
24. ^ a b "Anime Midwest 2013 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2016-04-13.
25. ^ a b "Anime Midwest 2014 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2016-04-13.
26. ^ a b "Anime Midwest 2015 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2016-08-18.
27. ^ a b "Anime Midwest 2016 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
28. ^ a b "Anime Midwest 2017 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
29. ^ a b "Anime Midwest 2018 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-07-03.
30. ^ Eadens, Savannah (April 10, 2019). "Cosplay and manga reign, as Anime Midwest comes to Rosemont". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
31. ^ "Anime Midwest 2019 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
32. ^ "Anime Midwest 2021 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
33. ^ "Anime Midwest 2022 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
34. ^ "Anime Midwest 2023 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
35. ^ a b "Anime Midwest 2024 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
36. ^ Lauren "Troppy" (2012-07-06). "This GEEKend: Anime Midwest, Nerdologues, and Cosplay for Charity". Chicago, IL: Chicago Tribune. ChicagoNow. 12:20pm CST. Archived from the original on 2012-08-05. Retrieved 2012-01-11.
37. ^ "Convention Runner Ryan Kopf Banned from Anime Milwaukee Following Alleged Sexual Assault". Anime News Network. June 26, 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2019.

## External links

[edit]

* Anime Midwest Website
* AnimeCon.org Website

* v
* t
* e

List of anime conventions in North America

Canada|

* Ai-Kon
* Animaritime
* Anime Evolution
* Anime North
* Anime Revolution
* Animethon
* G-Anime
* Nadeshicon
* Otafest
* Otakuthon

United States|

| Northeast|

* Anime Boston
* Anime NYC
* Anime USA
* Castle Point Anime Convention
* Katsucon
* Otakon
* PortConMaine
* Setsucon
* Tekko
* Tora-Con

|

Midwest|

* Anime Central
* Anime Detour
* Anime Festival Wichita
* AnimeIowa
* Anime Midwest
* Anime Milwaukee
* Anime NebrasKon
* ColossalCon
* EvilleCon
* JAFAX
* Kitsune Kon
* Matsuricon
* Naka-Kon
* Ohayocon
* QC Anime-zing!
* Youmacon

Southern|

* A-Kon
* Animate! Raleigh
* Animazement
* Anime Festival Orlando
* Anime Frontier
* Anime Matsuri
* Anime Weekend Atlanta
* Arkansas Anime Festival
* Ikkicon
* Kami-Con
* Metrocon
* Middle Tennessee Anime Convention
* Nekocon
* OMGcon
* Oni-Con
* San Japan
* Tokyo, OK
* Tsubasacon
* Ushicon
* Yama-Con

Western|

* Anime Expo
* Anime Los Angeles
* Anime Pasadena
* Bak-Anime
* Con-Nichiwa
* FanimeCon
* Kawaii Kon
* Kumoricon
* Nan Desu Kan
* Saboten Con
* SacAnime
* Sakura-Con
* SNAFU Con

* Category
* WikiProject

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