Kami-Con

Kami-Con

Kami-Con Logo with Shio-chan
Status Active
Genre Anime, Manga[1]
Venue Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex
Location(s) Birmingham, Alabama
Country United States
Inaugurated 2009
Attendance 2,300 in 2011
Organized by Bama SOS Brigade[2][3]
Website
http://www.kamicon.net/

Kami-Con is an annual three day anime convention held during February/March in Birmingham, Alabama at the Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex by the Bama SOS Brigade, an student organization from the University of Alabama.[4]

Programming

The convention typically offers anime screenings, concerts, cosplay contests, dodgeball tournaments, Pokecenter, rave, tabletop games, vendors, and video game tournaments.[3][4][5][6] The convention contains a storyline/plot, which allows attendees to pick sides, and affect the outcome of the story by participating in various contests.[5]

History

Kami-Con is organized by the Bama SOS Brigade, which was started by Raymond Lenzner and a handful of students at the University of Alabama.[6] Construction in the Ferguson Center during the 2010 convention caused some events such as video gaming to change locations.[2] The convention moved to the Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex in 2013.[3]

Event history

Dates Location Atten. Guests
April 25–26, 2009 University of Alabama - Ferguson Center
Tuscaloosa, Alabama		460 Mandy Clark, Bryan King, Kittyhawk, Aaron Pabon, Seraphina, Stephanie Yanez.[7]
April 24–25, 2010 University of Alabama - Ferguson Center
Tuscaloosa, Alabama		1,200[6] Robert Axelrod, Martin Billany, Lisa Furukawa,[8] Kevin "Chicknwings" Hicks, Vic Mignogna, Aaron Pabon, Seraphina.[9]
February 19–20, 2011 University of Alabama - Ferguson Center
Tuscaloosa, Alabama		2,300[4] 91.8 The Fan, Martin Billany, Johnny Yong Bosch, Carly Dorsey, Kyle Hebert, Kevin "Chicknwings" Hicks, Aaron Pabon, Seraphina, Micah Solusod, Charity Youngblood.[10]
February 3–5, 2012[11] University of Alabama - Ferguson Center
Tuscaloosa, Alabama		 501st Legion, 91.8 The Fan, Robert Axelrod, Martin Billany, Electric Moon, Crispin Freeman,[12] Kevin "Chicknwings" Hicks, Marble Hornets, Marianne Miller, Chris Niosi, Aaron Pabon, Seraphina, Ashley Serena, Sonny Strait, Eric Stuart, Leo Thompson, Cristina Vee, Doug Walker, Nick Wright.[13]
February 15–17, 2013 Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex
Birmingham, Alabama		 91.8 The Fan, Martin Billany, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Kevin "Chicknwings" Hicks, Laugh Out Loud, Vic Mignogna, Marianne Miller, Chris Niosi, Aaron Pabon, Michelle Ruff, Chris Sabat, Seraphina, Leo Thompson, Doug Walker, Greg Wicker, and Nick Wright.[14]
February 14–16, 2014 Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex
Birmingham, Alabama		 Linda Ballantyne, Martin Billany, Beau Billingslea, Steven Blum, Melissa Fahn, Katie Griffin, Laugh Out Loud, Wendee Lee, Marianne Miller, Aaron Pabon, Toby Proctor, Susan Roman, Leo Thompson, Greg Wicker, and Nick Wright.[15]
February 27 - March 1, 2015 Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex
Birmingham, Alabama		 91.8 The Fan, Curtis Arnott, Martin Billany, Ed Chavez, Mr. Creepy Pasta, Scott Frerichs, Kazha, Nick Landis, Laugh Out Loud, Marianne Miller, Aaron Pabon, Bryce Papenbrook, Jessie Pridemore, Lawrence Simpson, Micah Solusod, Leo Thompson, Cristina Vee, Doug Walker, Greg Wicker, Nick Wright, and Apphia Yu.[16]
March 11-13, 2016 Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex
Birmingham, Alabama		 91.8 The Fan, Robert Axelrod, Linda Ballantyne, Chalk Twins, Cosplay, Inc., Mr. Creepy Pasta, Richard Epcar, Jacob Grady, Catherine L. Jones, Kazha, Jessie Pridemore, Toby Proctor, Ian Sinclair, Ellyn Stern, Nicki Taylor, Cristina Vee, Aurelio Voltaire, and Greg Wicker.[17]

Mascots

The official mascots of Kami-Con are Shio-chan (shiny) and Kosho (dark), who battled with the help of convention attendees choosing sides and participating in contests, to decide 2011's mascot.[2] In 2013, Shio and Kosho battled with the new turtle mascot, Shoyu, and its previous evil owners.[3]

Mississippi Anime Invasion

The Mississippi Anime Invasion was a two-day anime convention held during October at the Oxford Conference Center in Oxford, Mississippi. It was created by Kami-Con and students from the University of Mississippi.[18]

Event history

Dates Location Atten. Guests
September 14–15, 2013 Oxford Conference Center
Oxford, Mississippi		 Kyle Hebert, Laugh Out Loud, Micah Solusod, Greg Wicker, and Apphia Yu.[18]
October 25–26, 2014 Oxford Conference Center
Oxford, Mississippi		 Laugh Out Loud, Bryce Papenbrook, Chris Sabat, and Greg Wicker.[19]

References

  1. ↑ Bonner, Aaron (March 10, 2016). "UA students present Kami-Con, a convention focused on Japanese pop culture". The Crimson White (Tuscaloosa, AL: University of Alabama). Retrieved March 21, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 Nalley, Steven (April 21, 2010). "Kami-Con grows for second year". The Crimson White (Tuscaloosa, AL: University of Alabama). Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Anime Fiesta". University of Alabama at Birmingham - Office of Student Media. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 Brown, Melissa (February 5, 2012). "Thousands of anime, other costumed creatures overrun UA's Ferguson Center for Kami-Con 4". The Huntsville Times (Huntsville, AL: Advance Publications). Retrieved February 27, 2013.
  5. 1 2 Chaffin, Ashley (February 17, 2011). "Kami-Con hits Tuscaloosa this weekend". The Crimson White (Tuscaloosa, AL: University of Alabama). Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  6. 1 2 3 Saunders, Brett (February 2, 2012). "Kami-Con back at UA this weekend". The Crimson White (Tuscaloosa, AL: University of Alabama). Retrieved February 27, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Kami-Con 2009 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Performances (Lisa Furukawa)". LisaFurukawa.com. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Kami-Con 2010 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Kami-Con 2011 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  11. ↑ Phillips, Casey (January 15, 2012). "Excitement builds for pop subculture events throughout the South". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Crispin Freeman at Kami-con 2012". Firstpost.com. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Kami-Con 2012 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  14. ↑ "Kami-Con 2013 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  15. ↑ "Kami-Con 2014 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Kami-Con 2015 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Kami-Con 2016 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
  18. 1 2 "Mississippi Anime Invasion 2013 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
  19. ↑ "Mississippi Anime Invasion 2014 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved August 19, 2014.

External links

Coordinates: 33°31′26″N 86°48′43″W / 33.52389°N 86.81194°W / 33.52389; -86.81194

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