| IKKiCON | |
|---|---|
| Status | Active |
| Venue | AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center |
| Location | Austin, Texas |
| Country | United States |
| First held | 2007 |
| Organizer | Ikkicon LLC |
| Attendance | 6,002 at IKKiCON V |
| Official website | http://www.ikkicon.com/ |
IKKiCON is a three-day anime convention held annually in Austin, Texas. The convention is held during winter, originally in February and now during New Year's Eve weekend.[1] It is Austin's largest anime convention with an attendance of 6,002 at the most recent IKKiCON and is hosted by a 200-member volunteer staff. A variety of guests have attended IKKiCON, including brothers Greg Ayres and Christopher Ayres, who have attended every IKKiCON to date.
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IKKiCON was created in 2007 in Austin, Texas originally taking the date of Ushicon. IKKiCON I was held at the Wyndham Garden Inn with an expected attendance of 1,200. The actual attendance was an estimated 2,500 individuals. IKKiCON I started a tradition of raising money for charity, as well. $1,900 was raised for Austin Children's Hospital through a live auction.[1]
Due to this unexpected attendance, IKKiCON had to change venues in its second year. IKKiCON II moved to the fourth largest hotel in Austin, the Doubletree. Attendance was estimated at 3,500. This sophomore year showed growth in programming, as well. IKKiCON II, sponsored by FUNimation Entertainment, partnered with Make-A-Wish Foundation in order to grant a wish for an young girl through our charity live auction.[1]
For IKKiCON III, the convention was required to move to the largest hotel in Austin, the Hilton Austin, in order to accommodate the expected attendance. Attendance was estimated at 4,000 total attendees. IKKiCON was sponsored by FUNimation and Austin Browncoats for the charity live auction which raised $4,450 for American Red Cross.[1]
IKKiCON IV was held at the Hilton Austin for the second year in a row. Total attendance was 4,203. $2,000 was raised for Kids Need to Read, a literacy charity co-founded by Nathan Fillion, of Firefly and Castle fame. FUNimation and Austin Browncoats sponsored the event for the fourth year in a row.[1]
IKKiCON V marked the final year the convention would be held at the Hilton Austin. IKKiCON announced during closing ceremonies, as well as via an advertorial in their program, that they would be moving to a new venue. That venue has since been announced as the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center. Total attendance was 6,002. IKKiCON V supported Austin charity, Heart House Austin, an after-school program for underprivileged children. Heart House has committed to using a portion of the donation to help one of their students attend IKKiCON VI. The donation total was $3,075. The charity live auction was sponsored by FUNimation and Austin Browncoats.[1]
IKKiCON LLC is the parent company of Austin, Texas anime festival Anime Overload and is sponsored by Austin based non-profit corporation, Austin Browncoats.[2]
| Dates | Location | Atten. | Guests |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 2–4, 2007 | Woodward Hotel & Conference Center Austin, Texas |
2,500 (estimated) | Christopher Ayres, Greg Ayres, Steve Bennett, Sandy Fox, Lisa Furukawa, Rivkah Greulich, Hilary Haag, Kyle Hebert, Samantha Inoue Harte, Limit Break Cosplay, Vic Mignogna, Matt K. Miller, Robert Navarro, Chris Patton, Wendy Powell, Erica Reis, Xero Reynolds, Mark Rizkallah, Carrie Savage, Doug Smith, Space Invader, Michael "Mookie" Terracciano, and Stephanie Yanez.[3] |
| February 8–10, 2008 | Doubletree Hotel Austin, Texas |
3,500 (estimated) | Tina Anderson, Christopher Ayres, Greg Ayres, Amelie Belcher, Steve Bennett, Leah Clark, Aaron Dismuke, Lisa Furukawa, Tiffany Grant, Matt Greenfield, Josh Grelle, Chris Hazelton, Kyle Hebert, Matt Herms, Chuck Huber, Samantha Inoue Harte, Lillyxandra, Limit Break Cosplay, Vic Mignogna, Jace Moore, The OneUps, Brina Palencia, Chris Patton, Wendy Powell, Xero Reynolds, Rusika, Carrie Savage, Doug Smith, Space Invader, Michael "Mookie" Terracciano, Amanda Tomasch, Vaeidos, Kira Vincent-Davis, and Larissa Wolcott.[4] |
| February 6–8, 2009 | Hilton Austin Austin, Texas |
4,000 (estimated) | Hannah Alcorn, Christopher Ayres, Amelie Belcher, Chris Bevins, Jessica Boone, Leah Clark, Jason David Frank, Caitlin Glass, Josh Grelle, Todd Haberkorn, Clarine Harp, Kyle Hebert, Matt Herms, Samantha Inoue-Harte, Last Stop Tokyo, Jamie Marchi, Carli Mosier, Trina Nishimura, Chris Patton, Peelander-Z, Meredith Placko, Wendy Powell, Derek Stephen Prince, Kristine Sa, Tony Salvaggio, Carrie Savage, Jan Scott-Frazier, The Slants, Michael "Mookie" Terracciano, Brett Weaver, J. Shannon Weaver[5] |
| January 1–3, 2010 | Hilton Austin Austin, Texas |
4,203 | Christopher Ayres, Greg Ayres, Johnny Yong Bosch, The Browncoats, Eyeshine, Jason David Frank, Caitlin Glass, Yaya Han, Matt Herms, Vic Mignogna, Outland Armour, Meredith Placko, Schwarze Sonne [6] |
| December 31, 2010 – January 2, 2011 | Hilton Austin Austin, Texas |
6,002 | Airship Isabella, Christine Auten, Christopher Ayres, Greg Ayres, Amelie Belcher, Johnny Yong Bosch, The Browncoats, Descendants of Erdrick, Eyeshine, Yaya Han, Matt Herms, Brittney Karbowski, Carli Mosier, One-Eyed Doll, Michael Sinterniklaas[7] |
| December 30, 2011 – January 1, 2012 | AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center Austin, Texas |
IKKiCON consists of a large staff of individuals, as well as a large volunteer base. The convention has several departments, such as Exhibits, Programming, Operations and Guest Relations. Staff positions range from Art Show Manager to Webmaster.[8] IKKiCON keeps their staff application on their website year-round. They update available positions frequently.
General volunteer sign-up typically starts four months before the convention.
IKKiCON's primary focus is Japanese animation and culture. Events include guest and fan panels, workshops, late night dances, karaoke, live music concerts, an art show, a charity auction, "Anime Idol" contest, a cosplay contest, and an anime music video contest and 24-hour video gaming and video watching.
IKKiCON IV and V introduced new programming, including a Maid Cafe and J-POP Room.
IKKiCON focuses on live music due to Austin's claim as the "Live Music Capital of the World". Musical guests have included Peelander-Z, Greg Ayres, Eyeshine, One-Eyed Doll and The Browncoats.
Many of the attendees cosplay while attending the convention.[9] IKKiCON V debuted a Photo Suite in which attendees could show up in their costumes and participate in a professional photo shoot. Donations were collected for that year's supported charity, Heart House Austin. Photos were available online.
IKKiCON has raised thousands of dollars for charity since its inception in 2007. Benefactors include Austin Children's Hospital, Make-A-Wish Foundation, American Red Cross, Kids Need to Read and Heart House Austin. Austin-based non-profit, Austin Browncoats, has sponsored and helped organized IKKiCON's charity live auctions since 2009. FUNimation Entertainment sponsors the auctions by donating the majority of the auctioned items. Most auctioned items are signed anime-related memorabilia, including DVDs, posters and apparel.
The main mascot for IKKiCON is a girl named Riot. She changes her outfit every year in accordance with the theme.
IKKiCON IV embraced Steampunk as its theme, while IKKiCON V's theme was Music.
IKKiCON has announced that IKKiCON VI's theme will be superheroes.
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