Project A-Kon

This article is about the anime convention. For the musician, see Akon.
A-Kon
Status Active
Venue The Hilton Anatole Hotel Dallas
Location(s) Dallas, Texas
Country United States
Inaugurated 1990
Attendance 21,982 in 2012
Website
http://www.a-kon.com

A-Kon, formerly known as Project: A-Kon, is a three day anime convention held annually in Dallas, Texas usually on the first weekend of June.[1] First held in 1990 with just 380 people in attendance,[2] A-Kon is North America's longest running national anime convention.[3] The convention is the 5th largest North American anime convention as of 2014.[4]

Departments

A-Kon consists of several departments, ranging from Kon Patrol to Medical to Children's Programming. Each year, usually in February or March, they post a web page for volunteer sign-up. Volunteers work at least sixteen hours during the weekend and receive a free pass to the convention. Working for 20 hours, volunteers aged over 18 can receive a hotel room, shared with 3 other staff members.

Programming

While the focus of the convention is centered on anime fandom and screenings of films and television series, many other activities take place encompassing various segments of geek and Japanese pop culture. These events include panels with American authors and artists, a Dance Dance Revolution room, cosplay, scavenger hunts, martial arts demonstrations, an art show, and concerts by Japanese bands. The convention also maintains a vigorous social network presence on Facebook and Twitter, having about 15,000[5] and 7,000[6] followers respectively, through which they post information and run contests throughout the year. A-Kon 24 will see the addition of the Fandom and Neomedia Studies (FANS) Conference, an academic effort to sponsor, encourage, and assist in the study of fandom and media phenomena.[7]

History

The name seems to be a play on the early anime series Project A-ko + Convention.[8]

Dates Location Atten.[8] Guests
July 28–29, 1990 Richardson Hilton
Richardson, Texas		380[9]
May 25–26, 1991 Radisson Hotel & Suites
Dallas, Texas[10]		497 Adam Warren [10]
June 5–7, 1992 Holiday Inn Brookhollow
Dallas, Texas[11]		650
May 28–30, 1993 Holiday Inn Brookhollow
Dallas, Texas[12]		850
June 3–5, 1994 Sheraton-Mockingbird Hotel
Dallas, Texas		1,111 Robert DeJesus, Ben Dunn, Lisa "Honey-chan" Nelson, Monkey Punch, Tomoko Saito, Toren Smith, and Adam Warren.[13]
June 2, 1995 Harvey Addison Hotel[14]
Addison, Texas		1,450 Kevin Altieri, Ippongi Bang, Glen Murakami, and Yorihisa Uchida.[15]
May 31 – June 2, 1996 Harvey Addison Hotel
Addison, Texas		800 Ben Dunn, Neil Nadelman, Rosearik Rikki Simons, and Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons.[16]
May 30 – June 1, 1997 Harvey Addison Hotel[17]
Addison, Texas		1,243 Tiffany Grant.[18]
May 29–31, 1998 Harvey Hotel D/FW[19]
Dallas, Texas		1,931 Will Allison, Ippongi Bang, Steve Bennett, Pat Duke, Ben Dunn, Newton Ewell, Tiffany Grant, Amy Howard-Wilson, Mitsuhisa Ishikawa, Kuni Kimura, Neil Nadelman, Jan Scott-Frazier, Doug Smith, Shawn the Touched, Elin Winkler, Robert Woodhead, and Toshifumi Yoshida.[20]
June 4–6, 1999 Hyatt Regency DFW[21]
Dallas, Texas		3,000 Will Allison, Hiroshi Aro, Steve Bennett, Jessica Calvello, Rodney "Largo" Caston, Robert DeJesus, Pat Duke, Ben Dunn, P.N. Elrod, Newton Ewell, Tiffany Grant, Lea Hernandez, Amy Howard-Wilson, Mari Iijima, Kuni Kimura, Trish Ledoux, Edward Luena, Neil Nadelman, Fred Perry, Rosearik Rikki Simons, Brian Stelfreeze, Shawn the Touched, Valkyrie Games, Adam Warren, Brett Weaver, Joe Wight, Elin Winkler, Heather McCollum, Bruce Campbell, Tim Thomerson, Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons, and Toshifumi Yoshida.[22]
June 2–4, 2000 Hyatt Regency DFW
Dallas, Texas		4,500 Arik Renee Avila, Rodney "Largo" Caston, Dementia7 Studios, Tiffany Grant, Amy Howard-Wilson, Lisa Ortiz, and Gilles Poitras.[23]
June 1–3, 2001 Sheraton Park Central Hotel
Dallas, Texas		5,200 Arik Renee Avila, Dementia7 Studios, Crispin Freeman, Tiffany Grant, Amy Howard-Wilson, and Brett Weaver.[24]
May 31 – June 2, 2002 Hyatt Regency DFW
Dallas, Texas		6,420 Will Allison, Arik Renee Avila, Steve Bennett, Tippi N. Blevins, Rodney "Largo" Caston, Meg Chittenden, Dementia7 Studios, DNA Studios, Duel Jewel, Pat Duke, Ben Dunn, P.N. Elrod, Newton Ewell, Melanie Fletcher, Fred Gallagher, Tiffany Grant, Ya Ya Han, Matthew High, Taliesin Jaffe, Daniel Kanemitsu, Kobushi Taiko, Steve Kyte, Edward Luena, Lee W. Madison, Lee Martindale, Helen McCarthy, Scott McNeil, Lindze Merritt, Millermuller Ballet, Phillip Nelson, Jonathan C. Osborne, Panther Comics, Eddie Perkins, Fred Perry, Radio Comix, Xero Reynolds, Joe Rosales, Stan Sakai, Jan Scott-Frazier, Diana X. Sprinkle, Michael Suarez, The Sun String Quartet, Valkyrie Games, Joe Wight, and Elin Winkler.[25]
May 30 – June 1, 2003 Hyatt Regency DFW[2]
Dallas, Texas		7,413 Will Allison, American Dream, Arik Renee Avila, Greg Ayres, John Barrett, Steve Bennett, Bob Bergen, Kei Blue, Samuel Bohon, Camino, Tristen Citrine, Jonathan Clements, Robert DeJesus, Dementia7 Studios, Doug Dlin, DNA Studios, Dr. Comet, Duel Jewel, Lee Duhlig, Pat Duke, Ben Dunn, P.N. Elrod, Rod Espinosa, Rhonda Eudaly, Newton Ewell, Bruce Faulconer, Melanie Fletcher, Iain Gill, Tiffany Grant, James Hanrahan, Kyle Hebert, Matthew High, Amy Howard-Wilson, Ursula Husted, David Hutchison, Daniel Kanemitsu, Kikimo-dan, Steve Kyte, Jason Lee, Joshua Lesnick, Bruce Lewis, Edward Luena, Lee W. Madison, Manga Graphix, Lee Martindale, Carol McAlister, Helen McCarthy, Mike McFarland, Scott McNeil, Stephanie Nadolny, Lisa "Honey-chan" Nelson, Phillip Nelson, Jana G. Oliver, Chris Patton, Eddie Perkins, Fred Perry, Walker Plagge, Monica Rial, Sally Ridout, Kai Robertson, Jan Scott-Frazier, Rosearik Rikki Simons, Diana X. Sprinkle, Brian Stelfreeze, Strong Arm Productions, The Sun String Quartet, Nobuyuki Takahashi, Jonathan Tarbox, Temple Studios, Eric Vale, Valkyrie Games, Michael Vega, J. Shanon Weaver, Jochen Weltjens, Joe Wight, Elin Winkler, Amanda Winn Lee, and Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons.[26]
June 4–6, 2004 Adam's Mark Hotel
Dallas, Texas		9,449 Will Allison, Arik Renee Avila, John Barrett, Steve Bennett, Samuel Bohon, Rick Bones, Camino, Michael Coleman, Zach Davis, Dementia7 Studios, Brad DeMoss, Doug Dlin, Do As Infinity, Lee Duhlig, Pat Duke, P.N. Elrod, Rod Espinosa, Newton Ewell, Bruce Faulconer, Steve Fellows, Fred Gallagher, Lauren Goodnight, Tiffany Grant, Alan Gutierrez, James Hanrahan, Kyle Hebert, Matthew High, Tony Hobdy, Amy Howard-Wilson, Ursula Husted, David Hutchison, Samantha Inoue Harte, Jonathan Klein, Steve Kyte, Mark Lancaster, Bruce Lewis, Lee W. Madison, Manga Graphix, Carol McAlister, Helen McCarthy, Mike McFarland, Scott McNeil, Stephanie Nadolny, Jonathan C. Osborne, Eddie Perkins, Walker Plagge, Psycho Le Cému, Xero Reynolds, Monica Rial, Sally Ridout, Kai Robertson, S. John Ross, Carrie Savage, Sean Schemmel, Jan Scott-Frazier, JE Smith, Diana X. Sprinkle, Brian Stelfreeze, The Sun String Quartet, Nami Tamaki, Jonathan Tarbox, Valkyrie Games, Michael Vega, J. Shanon Weaver, Jochen Weltjens, Joe Wight, and Elin Winkler.[27]
June 3–5, 2005 Adam's Mark Hotel[28]
Dallas, Texas		10,771 Tom Bateman, Ferret Baudoin, Steve Bennett, Anthony Brownrigg, Robert DeJesus, DJ Boss, Michael Dobson, Robin Atkin Downes, dream, Ben Dunn, P.N. Elrod, Newton Ewell, Melanie Fletcher, Fred Gallagher, Megan Giles, Kyle Hebert, Joel Heyman, Matthew High, Samantha Inoue Harte, Tramell Isaac, Taliesin Jaffe, Kumiko Kato, Kobushi Taiko, Steve Kyte, Bruce Lewis, Masao Maruyama, Jonathan Mathers, Helen McCarthy, Mike McFarland, Vic Mignogna, Stephanie Nadolny, Phillip Nelson, Jonathan C. Osborne, Eddie Perkins, Fred Perry, Michael Pondsmith, Radio Comix, Xero Reynolds, Kai Robertson, Rooster Teeth Productions, Joe Rosales, Brian Ruh, Jan Scott-Frazier, Doug Smith, Yasufumi Soejima, Gustavo Sorola, Michael Suarez, Takahiro Umehara, Elin Winkler, Dan Woren, Toshifumi Yoshida, and ZZ.[29]
June 9–11, 2006 Adam's Mark Hotel[30]
Dallas, Texas		12,459 Justin Achilli, Steve Bennett, Eirik Blackwolf, Anthony Brownrigg, Chromelodeon, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Ben Dunn, Newton Ewell, Caitlin Glass, Darrel Guilbeau, Zel Harris, David Hutchison, Samantha Inoue Harte, Jonathan Klein, Kotoko, Steve Kyte, Bruce Lewis, Peter Mayhew, Helen McCarthy, Jamie McGonnigal, Vic Mignogna, Jana G. Oliver, Tony Oliver, Jonathan C. Osborne, Penicillin, Fred Perry, Piano Squall, Radio Comix, Xero Reynolds, Rooster Teeth Productions, Jeremy Ross, Kristine Sa, Jan Scott-Frazier, Patrick Seitz, Doug Smith, Gustavo Sorola, Sonny Strait, Jonathan Tarbox, Sean Teague, and Joe Wight.[31]
June 1–3, 2007 Adam's Mark Hotel[32]
Dallas, Texas		14,309 An Cafe, Peter Beagle, Steve Bennett, Bleedman, Brian Denham, Newton Ewell, Brian Glass, Kyle Hebert, Matt Herms, Samantha Inoue Harte, ketchup mania, Steve Kyte, Bruce Lewis, Helen McCarthy, MELL, Vic Mignogna, Chris Patton, Wendy Powell, Scott Ramsoomair, Xero Reynolds, Rooster Teeth Productions, Jan Scott-Frazier, Doug Smith, Gustavo Sorola, Spike Spencer, David Stanworth, The Sun String Quartet, Jonathan Tarbox, Howard Tayler, Billy Tucci, and Tommy Yune.[33]
May 30 – June 1, 2008 Sheraton Dallas Hotel
Dallas, Texas		15,324[34] Steve Bennett, Anthony Brownrigg, Budo Grape, David Drake, Bill Fawcet, Kyle Hebert, Kevin McKeever, Vic Mignogna, Douglas Niles, Chris Patton, Wendy Powell, Monica Rial, The Sun String Quartet, Jonathan Tarbox, Versailles, and Shinichi Watanabe.[35]
May 29–31, 2009 Sheraton Dallas Hotel
Dallas, Texas		16,037 Lynn Abbey, ALSDEAD, Vanessa Arteaga, Keith Baker, Paul Benjamin, Camino, Steven and Megumi Cummings, Camilla d'Errico, Bill Fawcett, Anthony Gallela, Yaya Han, Kyle Hebert, Steve Kyte, M. Alice LeGrow, Lee Martindale, Mike McFarland, Vic Mignogna, Wendy Powell, Mike Resnick, Emmanuel Rodriguez, Jeremy Ross, S. John Ross, Tony Salvaggio, Michael "Mookie" Terracciano, Keith Baker, Jonathan M. Thompson (game designer), John Carmack.[36]
June 4–6, 2010 Sheraton Dallas Hotel
Dallas, Texas		17,596 SEIKIMA-II, Michael "Mookie" Terracciano, Ursula Vernon, Jim O'Rear, Inugami Circus-dan, Robert Axelrod, Yaya Han, Kyle Hebert, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Stephanie Young
June 10–12, 2011 Sheraton Dallas Hotel
Dallas, Texas		18,447[8] D (band), Blood Stain Child, DJ RED PANDA, Eric Wile, Brad W. Foster
June 1–3, 2012 Sheraton Dallas Hotel
Dallas, Texas		21,982[37] -Oz-, Ayabie, Cherami Leigh, Kyle Hebert, Team Four Star, Quinton Flynn, Brentalfloss, Vic Mignogna
May 31-June 2, 2013 Hilton Anatole
Dallas, Texas		22,366 Kyle Hebert, Sonny Strait, Todd Haberkorn, LittleKuriboh, Vic Mignogna, Team Four Star, Rooster Teeth Productions, exist†trace
June 6–8, 2014 Hilton Anatole
Dallas, Texas		26,377 Kyle Hebert, LittleKuriboh, Team Four Star, J Michael Tatum, Yaya Han, ScrewAttack, Michael Sinterniklaas, Ra:IN, Helen McCarthy, Caitlin Glass, Kristen McGuire

References

  1. ↑ Maurstad, Tom (2006-06-09). "Pop Culture: A-Kon". The Dallas Morning News. Started way back in 1990, Project A-Kon - now just A-Kon - is the oldest and one of the biggest conventions in the country devoted to Japanese animation...
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Maurstad, Tom (2003-05-30). "All anime, all the time; Convention offers round-the-clock immersion in Japanese animation". The Dallas Morning News. A grand total of 380 people attended the first Project A-Kon, way back in 1990. This weekend, more than 7,000 will flock to the Hyatt Regency DFW for the annual festival devoted to all things anime. Meanwhile, the number of vendors and exhibitors has jumped from a few to a few dozen.
  3. ↑ "Convention Schedule: Pre-'97". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
  4. ↑ Delahanty, Patrick (2015-01-05). "Ten Largest North American Anime Conventions of 2014". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2015-01-11.
  5. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/ProjectAKon
  6. ↑ https://www.twitter.com/AKon_Convention
  7. ↑ http://fansconf.a-kon.com
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "A-Kon". A-Kon. Retrieved 2011-08-23.
  9. ↑ "Project: A-Kon 1990 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2007-12-25.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Project: A-Kon 1991 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2007-12-25.
  11. ↑ "Project: A-Kon 1992 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2007-12-25.
  12. ↑ "Project: A-Kon 1993 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2007-12-25.
  13. ↑ "Project: A-Kon 1994 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2007-12-25.
  14. ↑ Maurstad, Tom (1995-06-04). "Bringing fantasy figures to paying customers; Convention touts latest in Japanese animation". The Dallas Morning News.
  15. ↑ "Project: A-Kon 1995 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2007-12-25.
  16. ↑ "Project: A-Kon 1996 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2007-12-25.
  17. ↑ Maurstad, Tom (1997-06-01). "Convention becomes a bazaar for the bizarre; Costumed 'anime' fans crowd the Project: A-Kon marketplace". The Dallas Morning News. In its eighth year, Project: A-Kon has grown into one of the largest conventions devoted to anime (Japanese animation) in the United States - this year, guests from around the country are expected to push attendance over 2,000.
  18. ↑ "Project: A-Kon 1997 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2007-12-25.
  19. ↑ Lowry, Mark (1998-05-29). "Go like Speed Racer to Japanese animation festival". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 46. The ninth annual Project: A-Kon, "the convention for animation and pop culture" known as the mother of American anime festivals, takes over the Harvey Hotel D/FW this weekend.
  20. ↑ "Project: A-Kon 1998 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2007-12-25.
  21. ↑ Wilson, Susan Scott (1999-06-04). "Anything goes in this animated world". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 17. Project: A-Kon 10, which press releases call a convention for animation and pop culture, is the best place to start learning about the definitely over-the-edge world of Japanese animation.
  22. ↑ "Project: A-Kon 1999 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2007-12-25.
  23. ↑ "A-Kon 2000 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2007-12-25.
  24. ↑ "Project: A-Kon 2001 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2007-12-25.
  25. ↑ "A-Kon 2002 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2007-12-25.
  26. ↑ "A-Kon 2003 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2007-12-25.
  27. ↑ "A-Kon 2004 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2007-12-25.
  28. ↑ Maurstad, Tom (2005-06-01). "Big draw for fans of anime". The Dallas Morning News. Going into its 16th year, Project A-Kon has grown into one of the country's oldest and most important conventions celebrating Japanese animation. For three days, beginning Friday, at the Adam's Mark Hotel downtown, there will be all things anime.
  29. ↑ "A-Kon 2005 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2007-12-25.
  30. ↑ Maurstad, Tom (2006-06-14). "Drawing power; Thousands of anime enthusiasts become one big freaky family during the annual A-Kon convention". WFAA-TV. Walking into the lobby of the Adam's Mark Hotel during A-Kon 17 is like stepping into a cartoon, except you can smell a mix of sweat, cigarettes, bubblegum and hairspray.
  31. ↑ "A-Kon 2006 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2007-12-25.
  32. ↑ Emily, Jennifer (2007-06-03). "Fans have character at anime gathering; Costumes abound at colorful convention ending today". The Dallas Morning News.
  33. ↑ "A-Kon 2007 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2007-12-25.
  34. ↑ "random curiosity: last year's attendance?". A-Kon.com. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  35. ↑ "A-Kon 2008 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
  36. ↑ "A-Kon 2009 Guests". A-Kon.com. Retrieved 2009-05-14.
  37. ↑ "Information on A-Kon 2012". animecons.com. Retrieved 2013-06-12.

External links