Anime Expo
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Anime Expo, abbreviated AX, is an American anime convention held in Los Angeles, California, and organized by the non-profit Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA). The convention is traditionally held annually on the first weekend of July, spanning the course of four days. Anime Expo is regularly hosted at the Los Angeles Convention Center but has also been held in other cities such as Anaheim, San Jose, New York, and Tokyo.
Anime Expo has events and activities during the convention for attendees to take part in such as guest panels, tabletop gaming, competitions, an arcade, and concerts.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Convention history
History
The first Anime Expo was held from July 3–6, 1992 at the Red Lion Hotel in San Jose, California. Many of its original staff came from Anime Con, an anime convention held in San Jose in 1991, and later absorbed by the SPJA in 1992. In 1994, Anime Expo made a strategic relocation to the Southern California area and all subsequent conventions have taken place there since.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
It currently holds the title of North America's largest anime convention, a title which it has consistently held every year except in 2003, in which its attendance was slightly edged out by the east coast anime convention Otakon.<ref name="AC2003">Template:Cite web</ref> From 1,750 attendees in 1992, Anime Expo's size has increased to over 107,658 in 2017, making Anime Expo the largest anime and manga convention in North America.<ref name="aclargest2017">Template:Cite web</ref>
In March 2009, chief executive officer Trulee Karahashi, who had been a part of Anime Expo and SPJA in various capacities for 11 years, left the organization.<ref>To: SPJA Executive Members, Convention Committee, Anime Expo Managers, Staff, and Volunteers, March 28, 2009</ref><ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref> In September, former Universal Studios executive Michael Lattanzio was later hired as the SPJA's new CEO.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In January 2010, eight members of Anime Expo's upper management team (ConCom) publicly resigned because of disagreements over the organization's new direction set forth by Lattanzio. One significant point of contention was Lattanzio's decision to refocus and restructure the SPJA's marketing efforts, starting with the dismissal of a PR and marketing contractor that the organization had a close working relationship with since 2004. Additionally, two other personnel had already left for other reasons, leaving only the vice-chair and two others as returning members of the previous year's team.<ref>Multiple Anime Expo Staffers Resign in Board Dispute January 11, 2010</ref>
In September 2010, Lattanzio was released from his CEO position.<ref>[1] September 25, 2010</ref>
In early 2012, Anime News Network reported that Anime Expo suffered a $1.2 million loss in 2010.<ref>Exclusive: AX 2010 Lost $1.2 Million; IDG to Boost Involvement, Animenewsnetwork, February 3, 2012</ref> The 2011 convention saw a $100,000 profit and reduced the outstanding debt to $700,000. The article also stated that one of the creditors, IDG World Expo, will be taking over several aspects of the organization, with guest selection and programming remaining under SPJA control. Additionally, Takayuki Karahashi<ref name="Otakon Parent Elects New Board of Directors">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="AX Parent Reveals Board of Directors Election Results">Template:Cite web</ref> has been elected as chairman of the board of directors.<ref name="Exclusive: AX 2010 Lost $1.2 Million; IDG to Boost Involvement">Template:Cite web</ref>
The convention continued to be located at the LACC through 2019.<ref name=ann06272015>Template:Cite news</ref> In April 2016, Marc Perez left the company, with Ray Chiang becoming acting CEO of SPJA.<ref name="ann04072016perez">Template:Cite news</ref>
On June 30, 2017, the first Pre-Show Night was added to the Anime Expo, which included the Neon District, hosting the World Cosplay Summit U.S. Finals, and premieres.
As the convention's attendance has grown, it's seen long lines for entry into the convention hall, which organizers said was due to safety and security concerns.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In the months leading to the 2020 event, a global coronavirus outbreak created concerns related to large gatherings, such as Anime Expo. On April 17, 2020, the SPJA announced that it was cancelling Anime Expo 2020, citing "health and safety" concerns. However, the SPJA stated it still planned to hold the 2021 event on its normal July dates.<ref name="AX2021">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="ann04172020">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="AC-2020">Template:Cite web</ref> On May 27, 2020, they announced a two-day online convention, titled Anime Expo Lite, which took place on July 3 and 4, 2020. On March 3, 2021, the SPJA canceled the 2021 live convention, and announced that the Anime Expo Lite would instead be held on the 2021 schedule, citing "continued uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic." Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Anime Expo returned in-person in 2022; Anime Expo 2022 began on July 1 and ended on July 4 as an in-person event for the first time since 2019.
Anime Expo in 2023 suffered from serious overcrowding issues, and also occurred during a hotel staff strike.<ref name="ann07262023">Template:Cite news</ref> Layout and operational changes led to less crowding in 2024, but the panel ticketing system implemented was not effective.<ref name="ann07152024">Template:Cite news</ref> Template:Clear
Convention locations
Other Anime Expos
The SPJA twice ran conventions outside California: Anime Expo New York in 2002, and Anime Expo Tokyo in 2004.
Anime Expo New York
Anime Expo New York (AXNY) was held in 2002 in the Times Square district of New York City, New York.<ref name="AC-2002NY" /> The event was originally a joint effort with Central Park Media and its industry event, Big Apple Anime Fest (BAAF). Due to differences, the event ran as separate entities within the same time frame and venues, with BAAF hosting the theatrical film screenings, and Anime Expo New York hosting the convention. The events shared some resources, with notable guests listed in the program guides of both events. The SPJA ran the event in order to demonstrate that it could run events outside its home state of California. The event was a precursor to Anime Expo Tokyo which ran in Tokyo, Japan in 2004.<ref name="AC-2004T" /> The SPJA has not run any events outside California since 2004.
Convention locations
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Anime Expo Tokyo
Anime Expo Tokyo (AX Tokyo) was held in 2004 at the Sunshine City Convention Center in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, Japan.<ref name="AC-2004T" /> It was not technically organized directly by the SPJA, but rather was organized by the Japanese Association for Science Fiction International Communication (www.jasfic.or.jp)(JASFIC) with assistance from the SPJA. JASFIC had two goals for Anime Expo Tokyo. The first goal was to establish in Japan a non-corporate-sponsored convention dedicated to anime. The second goal was to demonstrate to the organizers of the World Science Fiction Convention (WorldCon) that Japan could serve as a suitable venue for conventions that attract foreigners. Although Anime Expo Tokyo did not go on to a second year, JASFIC was ultimately successful in attracting the 65th World Science Fiction Convention to Japan in 2007.
Anime Expo Tokyo had a list of over 40 guests such as manga artist Ken Akamatsu, MiQ, Under17, Hiroshi Aro, and many others, although a small handful had to make last-minute cancellations. Anime Expo Tokyo was also the very first Anime Expo that officially hosted guests from the U.S. anime industry such as webcomic artist Fred Gallagher and voice actor Crispin Freeman.<ref name="AC-2004T" />
Of Anime Expo Tokyo's 4,249 attendees, approximately 300 of that number were estimated to have traveled from abroad. In addition to the attendance numbers were 240 members of the press, 40 of which were from overseas. An additional 430 people were composed of dealers, guests, or staff.
No plans to host another official Anime Expo outside California have been announced.
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Anime Expo Chibi
Anime Expo Chibi (formerly Anime Expo Ontario) is an annual two-day anime convention held during November at Ontario Convention Center in Ontario, California. Organized by Anime Expo, it is designed to be a smaller convention that focuses on the artist alley and exhibit hall.<ref name="ann07042022">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="trs07052022">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="trs08172022">Template:Cite news</ref> The programming has an arcade, cosplay contest, karaoke, live music, Maid Cafe, manga lounge, tabletop gaming, and workshops.<ref name="trs11102023">Template:Cite news</ref>
Convention locations
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Other conventions
Anime Conji
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In 2010, Anime Conji began as an annual anime convention in San Diego.<ref name="AC-Conji2010">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2013, it began to be run by SPJA.<ref name="AC-SPJA">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="AC-Conji2013">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web
Template:Cite web</ref> Anime Conji 2016 was cancelled due to event quality concerns.<ref name=ac2016canceled>Template:Cite web</ref> Anime Conji 2017 was also cancelled. The convention returned in 2018 under its original organizers, the San Diego Speculative Fiction Society (SanSFiS).<ref name="AC-Conji2018">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="spjaconji2018">Template:Cite web</ref> Anime Conji held no event in 2020 due to financial and location problems.<ref name="accancelled2020">Template:Cite web</ref>
Organizational structure
The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA), the parent organization which produces Anime Expo, is a federal and California state registered 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization, based out of the Southern California suburb of Corona. Before January 1, 2020, they were registered as a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade benefit organization.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Notes
- The 2009 event donated over $29,000 to the Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) from the SPJA Charity Auction, announced during closing ceremonies on Sunday, July 5, 2009<ref name="expo09">Anime Expo 2009 Continues to Hold the Title of Nation's Largest Anime and Manga Event with a Record Number of Over 44,000 in Attendance, July 5, 2009</ref>
- Masquerade main event was attended by a standing-room-only crowd with over 7,200 seats available.<ref>Anime Expo 2009 Continues Strong into Day 4 as the Nation's Largest Anime and Manga Convention, July 5, 2009</ref>
- Total 2010 through-the-doors attendance achieved 105,000 (turnstile), compared to 2009's attendance of 109,000 (turnstile). This was Anime Expo's second attendance decline since its inception.<ref>Carlo Santos, SPJA Open Board Meeting, Anime News Network, July 4, 2010</ref>
References
External links
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