Armageddon (convention)

Armageddon Expo
Status Active
Genre Science fiction
Location(s) New Zealand: Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton (2012) Australia: Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide
Inaugurated 1995
Attendance 60,000+ in 2013 (Auckland alone)
Organized by Pulp Culture Expo Ltd
Website
armageddonexpo.com
King Kapisi Star Wars concert, Christchurch 2007 (Photo/Martin Caie)

Armageddon is a commercial science fiction and comics convention held in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Melbourne which also used to be in Adelaide and Sydney. In recent years, it has also showcased computer and video gaming, animation, and consumer electronics. The convention attracts celebrity guests from popular TV shows and computer games.

History

Armageddon was first held in Auckland, New Zealand on the weekend of 2 December 1995 at the Avondale Raceway. In 1997, the convention first came to Wellington, then a first Melbourne event was held in 1999; followed by the first Christchurch event held in 2007. The event is a mixture of computer gaming, wrestling, music, anime, sci-fi, fantasy, comics and stalls.

Armageddon has become the largest fantasy event in New Zealand with 44,000 attendees at the 2010 Auckland event.

The Expo expanded in 2012, with its first expo in Hamilton.

Contents

Special events that take place at Armageddon include a Dragonball Z kamehameha contest (created in NZ in 2001), Pizza Eating Contest, Pillow Fight, Black Box Session console gaming tournament, Wuss Factor (fear factor style eating contest), AMV and Cosplay, trading card tournaments, movie screenings, and celebrity panels.

Armageddon also hosts a variety of stalls run by Tamika.Y and Mikaela.V and companies from all over NZ and Australia, with DVD, gaming, trading card, comic, anime, and sport memorabilia sales.

Venues and guest appearances

1995-1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

27/28 March 2010, Christchurch Convention Centre [1]

2–4 April 2010, TSB Bank Arena, queens wharf, Wellington [1]

June 2010, Castle Complex Otago University, Dunedin. NZ Anime convention,[1]

16/17 October - Melbourne, Melbourne exhibition centre,[1]

23–25 October - Auckland, ASB Showground's (Fifteenth anniversary event!)

2011

26/27 February - Sydney showgrounds, the dome, Sydney, Australia [1]

5/6 March - Adelaide, Royal Adelaide Showgrounds, Australia [1]

2/3 April - Christchurch convention center, Christchurch, New Zealand [1]

and was demolished in 2012 due to extensive damage.[3]

9/10 April - TSB Arena, Wellington, New Zealand [1]

4/5 June - NZ Anime convention - Dunedin, New Zealand [1]

2/3 July - Christchurch, Addington Raceway (previously Christchurch Convention Center)[1]

22/23 October - Melbourne, Australia [1]

28–31 October - Auckland, New Zealand (First Four Day Event)[1]

2012

14–15 April Hamilton

Guests included…Comic creators Dave Johnson and Ron Marz. Animation voice actors Brian Beacock (BATTLE B-DAMAN) Vic Mignogna (FULL METAL ALCHEMIST) and Dave Wittenberg (NARUTO). Celebrity guests Bronson Pelletier and Tinsel Korey (TWILIGHT), John Levene (DOCTOR WHO), Julie McNiven (SUPERNATURAL), Paul McGillion (STARGATE ATLANTIS) Teryl Rothery (STARGATE SG1) and ALMIGHTY JOHNSON STARS Emmett Skilton (Axl), Jared Turner (Ty) & Ben Barrington (Olaf).

21–22 April Wellington

Comic creators Dave Johnson, Carlo Pagulayan and Ron Marz. Animation voice actors Brian Beacock (BATTLE B-DAMAN) Vic Mignogna (FULL METAL ALCHEMIST) and Dave Wittenberg (NARUTO). Celebrity guests Bronson Pelletier and Tinsel Korey (TWILIGHT), John Levene (DOCTOR WHO), Julie McNiven (SUPERNATURAL), Paul McGillion (STARGATE ATLANTIS) Teryl Rothery (STARGATE SG1), Conan Stevens (GAME OF THRONES) and ALMIGHTY JOHNSON STARS Emmett Skilton (Axl), Jared Turner (Ty), Hayden Frost (Zeb) & Ben Barrington (Olaf) and Dean O’Gorman (Anders)

30 June–1 July - Christchurch, The Stables, Addington Raceway

Special guests include Callum Blue (Smallville) Sylvester McCoy (Doctor Who) Christopher Paolini (Author Inheritance Saga) and Colleen Clinkenbeard (Anime guest One Piece)

12–14 October - Melbourne exhibition centre

Comic Guests: Bob Layton and Ian Churchill

Animation Guests: Kristi Reed (Anime director), Mela Lee (Vampire Knight) Johnny Yong Bosch (Bleach), Charles Mario (Mario Games), Lex Lang (Multiple anime star), Sandy Fox (Multiple anime star), Susan Eisenberg (JLU), Marianne Miller and Martin Billany (Yugioh Abridged), Yaya Han (Cosplay guest)

Wrestling guest: Bushwhacker Luke

Acting guexts: Aldis Hodge (Leverage), Aron Eisenberg (Star Trek DS9), Bruce Boxleitner (Babylon 5), Christopher Heyerdahl (Hell on Wheels), Christopher Judge (Stargate sg1), Cindy Morgan (TRON), Finn Jones and Miltos Yerolemou (Game of Thrones), George Lazenby (James Bond), Jim Beaver (Supernatural), Karl Urban (Judge Dredd), Mark Pellegrino (Supernatural), Martin Klebba (Pirates of the Caribbean), Rachel Grant (Die Another Day), Sebastian Roche (Vampire Diaries), Terry Molloy (Classic Doctor Who)

19–22 October - Auckland, ASB Showgrounds

Comic Guests – Bob Layton, Harvey Tolibao and Ian Churchill

Animation Guests – Kristi Reed (Anime director), Mela Lee (Vampire Knight) Johnny Yong Bosch (Bleach), Charles Mario (Mario Games), Lex Lang (Multiple anime star), Sandy Fox (Multiple anime star), Susan Eisenberg (JLU), Marianne Miller and Martin Billany (Yugioh Abridged)

Wrestling guest – Bushwhacker Luke

Acting guests: Aldis Hodge (Leverage), Aron Eisenberg (Star Trek DS9), Bruce Boxleitner (Babylon 5), Christopher Heyerdahl (Hell on Wheels), Christopher Judge (Stargate sg1), Cindy Morgan (TRON), Finn Jones and Miltos Yerolemou (Game of Thrones), Jim Beaver (Supernatural), Mark Pellegrino (Supernatural), Sebastian Roche (Vampire Diaries), Terry Molloy (Classic Doctor Who) and Temuera Morrison (Fresh Meat)

2013

2–3 March Dunedin, The Edgar Centre

Animation guest - Greg Cipes (Ben 10: Alien force, Teen Titans, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) Movie guests - Hobbit stars, Dean O'Gorman, Jed Brophy, William Kircher, Peter Hambleton

9–10 March - Christchurch, The Stables, Addington Raceway

Animation guest - Dante Basco (Avatar the legend of Ang, Jake Long American Dragon, Hook) Movie guests - Hobbit stars, Dean O'Gorman, Jed Brophy, William Kircher, Peter Hambleton

25–26 May - Hamilton, Claudelands

Animation guest: Yeardley Smith of The Simpsons[4] TV guest: Mitch Pileggi of The X-Files[5]

19–20 October - Melbourne Showgrounds

Acting guests: Mark Rolston, Corey Feldman, Evanna Lynch, Billy Boyd, Ben Browder, Temuera Morrison, Nell Campbell, Gigi Edgley, Dean Stockwell, Dwight Schultz, Claudia Black, Ty Olsson, Ian McNeice, Catrin Stewart, Dan Starkey, Simon Fisher-Becker, Barry Bostwick, Richard Hatch, Robbie Jarvis, Jason Carter, Kim Rhodes, Norman Lovett, Rick Worthy, Tony Amendola.

Star Trek production guest: Richard Arnold.

Movie screening of Space Milkshake.

25–28 October - Auckland, ASB Showgrounds

Acting guests: Mark Rolston, Evanna Lynch, Billy Boyd, Ben Browder, Stephen Hunter, John Callen, Gigi Edgley, Dean Stockwell, Dwight Schultz, Ty Olsson, Ian McNeice, Catrin Stewart, Dan Starkey, Simon Fisher-Becker, Barry Bostwick, Robbie Jarvis, Jason Carter, Kim Rhodes, Norman Lovett, Rick Worthy, Tony Amendola.

Movie screening of Space Milkshake.

2014

1-2 March - Dunedin, Edgar Centre

Animation Guest: Steve Blum.

Acting Guests: Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant, Mark Strickson, Mark Hadlow, John Callen.

8-9 March - Christchurch, The Stables, Addington Raceway

Animation Guest: Steve Blum.

Acting Guests: Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant, Mark Strickson, Mark Hadlow, John Callen.

24-25 May - Hamilton, Claudelands arena

Comic guest: Bill Sienkiewicz, Tom Taylor.

Animation Guests: Paul Eiding (Ben 10), William Salyers (Regular Show), Charles Martinet (Mario Games).

TV/Movie guests: Michael Rowe (Arrow), Christopher Judge (Stargate SG1), DJ Qualls, James Patrick Stuart, Jake Abel, Samantha Ferris, Steven Williams (Supernatural), John Callen, Mark Hadlow (The Hobbit).

J-Pop performer: Chii Sakurabi.

31 May-2 June - Wellington, Westpac Stadium

Comic guests: Bill Sienkiewicz, Tom Taylor.

Animation Guests: Paul Eiding (Ben 10), William Salyers (Regular Show), Charles Martinet (Mario Games), Jessica DiCicco (Adventure Time).

TV/Movie guests: Michael Rowe, David Ramsey, Manu Bennett (Arrow), Christopher Judge (Stargate SG1), DJ Qualls, James Patrick Stuart, Jake Abel, Samantha Ferris, Steven Williams (Supernatural), John Callen, Mark Hadlow, Peter Hambleton (The Hobbit), Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement, Jonny Brugh, Ben Fransham (What We Do In The Shadows), Frazer Hines (Doctor Who).

J-Pop performer: Chii Sakurabi.

18-19 October - Melbourne, Melbourne Showgrounds

Comic Guests: Kevin Eastman, Alan Robinson, Darick Robertson, James Tynion IV, John Layman, Kyle Higgins, Dean Rankine, Wayne Nichols, Adam Nichols.

Animation Guests: Greg Cipes (Teen Titans), Jason Spisak (Young Justice), Roger Jackson (The Powerpuff Girls), Sean Schemmel(Dragonball Z), William Salyers (The Regular Show)

TV/Movie Guests: Jenna Coleman, Sarah Madison (Doctor Who), AJ Buckley, Travis Wester, Alaina Huffman (Supernatural), Cliff Simon, Peter Williams, Jacqueline Samuda, Suanne Braun, David Hewlett, David Nykl (Stargate), Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad), Helen Slater (Supergirl), Margot Kidder (Superman films), Mira Furlan (Babylon 5), Judson Scott (Star Trek), Michael Hogan (Battlestar Galactica, Teen Wolf), Jim Duggan (WWE), Peter Hambleton (The Hobbit), Matthew J. Doran (The Matrix)

Authors: Robert Rankin (British humorous novelist), Terry Brooks (Shannara series)

24-27 October - Auckland, ASB Showgrounds, Greenlane

Comic Guests: Kevin Eastman, Alan Robinson, Darick Robertson, James Tynion IV, John Layman, Kyle Higgins

Animation Guests: Greg Cipes (Teen Titans), Jason Spisak (Young Justice), Roger Jackson (The Powerpuff Girls), Sean Schemmel (Dragonball Z), William Salyers (The Regular Show)

TV/Movie Guests: Richard Dean Anderson (SG1, MacGyver), Jenna Coleman, Sarah Madison (Doctor Who), AJ Buckley, Travis Wester, DJ Qualls (Supernatural), Cliff Simon, Peter Williams, Jacqueline Samuda, Suanne Braun, David Hewlett, David Nykl (Stargate), Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad), Helen Slater (Supergirl), Mira Furlan (Babylon 5), Judson Scott (Star Trek), Michael Hogan (Battlestar Galactica, Teen Wolf), Jim Duggan (WWE), William Kircher (The Hobbit), Barry Duffield (Spartacus), Jemaine Clement, Jonny Brugh, Cori Gonzalez-Macuer, Stu Rutherford, Jackie Van Beek, Ben Fransham (What We Do In The Shadows), Lucas Till (X-Men)

Authors: Robert Rankin (British humorous novelist), Terry Brooks (Shannara series)

NZ Anime Convention (Dunedin Anime Experience)

NZ Anime Convention (also known as the Dunedin Anime Experience) is a commercial anime and manga convention held in Dunedin, New Zealand.[6] It was first held in 2009 in a growing response to include Dunedin into the Armageddon Expo family. The first event was held in the Dunedin Town Hall [7] and from 2010 onwards at Castle Lecture Complex in the University of Otago.[8][9]

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 1.26 1.27 1.28 1.29 1.30 1.31 1.32 1.33 1.34 1.35 1.36 1.37 1.38 1.39 1.40 1.41 1.42 1.43 1.44 1.45 1.46 1.47 1.48 "History". Armageddon Expo.
  2. "Visitor information map | Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority". Cera.govt.nz.
  3. Sam Sachdeva. "Christchurch Convention Centre Demolition To Start.". Stuff.co.nz.
  4. "Life as Lisa Simpson". 3 News NZ. 24 May 2013.
  5. "The man who opened The X-Files". 3 News NZ. 24 May 2013.
  6. "NZ Anime Convention Dunedin". Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  7. "Armageddon Expo History". Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  8. "NZ Anime Convention". Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  9. Hamish McNeilly (10 May 2010). "Anime convention brings out character". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 28 December 2011.

Stars at 2013 Armageddon Convention Auckland.

External links