Youmacon

Youmacon
Status Active
Genre Anime, Manga, Video Games, and Internet culture[1][2]
Venue Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center
Cobo Center
Location(s) Detroit, Michigan
Country United States
Inaugurated 2005
Attendance 14,496 in 2013
Website
http://www.youmacon.com/

Youmacon is an annual four day anime convention held during October/November at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center and Cobo Center in Detroit, Michigan. Youmacon's creation was inspired by other conventions including Anime Central and Ohayocon with the convention's name coming from the Japanese word for demon or ghost.[1][3] Founded by Morgan Kollin in 2005, it is the largest anime/gaming convention in Michigan.[4][5] The convention is the 10th largest in the United States as of 2014, but is not ranked for largest North American anime conventions in 2014.[5][6][7]

Programming

The convention typically offers anime music videos, Artist Alley, concerts, Cosplay Ball, costume competitions, Dealers Room, gaming tournaments, karaoke, Live Action Mario Party and Donkey Kong, live musical performances, Maid Cafe, masquerade, Mystery Science Theater 4000, rave, talent competitions, and video gaming.[1][2][8][9]

The convention runs programming for 24 hours a day, with the 24-hour programing being located in the Renaissance Center and the Artist Alley/Dealers Room in the Cobo Center.[1][2][10] The walk between the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center and Cobo Center is about 15 minutes.[11] The conventions 2013 Cosplay Ball benefited the Detroit Institute of Arts.[1] In 2009, 2010, and 2014 it benefited the Cornerstone Schools of Detroit.[2][3][8][12]

History

The first Youmacon took four years to plan.[5] In 2010, the Cobo Center started a $279 million renovation that will continue until at least 2015.[13] Youmacon is one of the larger users of the Marriott, and the only event to have all of its meeting space and 1,300 hotel rooms occupied as of 2014.[3][5][6]

The 2012 convention had several complaints including the distance between venues (15 minutes) and registration line times.[11] The Renaissance Center prohibited attendees from carrying fake weapons and wearing masks that would hide their faces in 2014.[14] Origa was unable to enter the United States from Canada for their 2014 Youmacon appearance due to not having P visa's.[15]

Event History

Dates Location Atten. Guests
November 11–13, 2005 Hilton Detroit/Troy
Troy, Michigan		1,078[16] David Anez, Johnny Yong Bosch, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Eyeshine, Caitlin Glass, Bruce Kalish, Yuri Lowenthal, Monica May, Vic Mignogna, Tara Platt, Alycia Purrott, Kristine Sa, The Spoony Bards, and Chris Violette.[16]
November 3–5, 2006 Hilton Detroit/Troy
Troy, Michigan		2,125[17] Captain Lou Albano, David Anez, Chris Cason, Caitlin Glass, Matt Hill, Tony Oliver, Patrick Seitz, Kevin Siembieda, The Spoony Bards, Moy Tung, and Brett Weaver.[17][18]
November 1–4, 2007 Hilton Detroit/Troy
Troy, Michigan		3,119[19] Johnny Yong Bosch, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Eyeshine, Quinton Flynn, Caitlin Glass, Wayne Grayson, Hyper-Strike, Lemon Demon, Jeff Nimoy, Patrick Seitz, Stephanie Sheh, Michael Sinterniklaas, and The Spoony Bards.[19][20]
October 30 – November 2, 2008 Hyatt Regency Dearborn
Dearborn, Michigan		4,494[21] Caitlin Glass, Wayne Grayson, Kyle Hebert, Walter E. Jones, Evelyn Lanto, Trish Ledoux, Lemon Demon, Mark Musashi, My Dear Disco, Paulie Schrier, Patrick Seitz, Michael Sinterniklaas, The Spoony Bards, and Toshifumi Yoshida.[21]
October 29 – November 1, 2009 Hyatt Regency Dearborn
Dearborn, Michigan		6,200[22] Curtis Arnott, Laura Bailey, Martin Billany, Cowboy Shogun, Scott Frerichs, Caitlin Glass, Wayne Grayson, Kyle Hebert, Anthony Kresky, Nick Landis, Lemon Demon, Lewis Lovhaug, My Dear Disco, Lawrence Simpson, Michael Sinterniklaas, The Spoony Bards, Brad Swaile, Joe "Angry Joe" Vargas, Doug Walker, and Travis Willingham.[22]
October 28–31, 2010 Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center
Detroit, Michigan		 Curtis Arnott, Martin Billany, Scott Frerichs, Caitlin Glass, Todd Haberkorn, Anthony Kresky, Nick Landis, Lemon Demon, Vic Mignogna, Christopher Robin Miller, Marianne Miller, Patrick Seitz, Lawrence Simpson, The Spoony Bards, and Brad Swaile.[23]
November 3–6, 2011 Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center
Detroit, Michigan		10,375[24] Sola "BurnYourBra" Adesui, Arc Impulse, Curtis Arnott, Tia Ballard, Martin Billany, Ryan "Inthul" Burke, James Carter Cathcart, Ben Creighton, Scott Frerichs, Yan "Kern" Gagne, Fred Gallagher, Mary "Kite" Garren, Caitlin Glass, Eduardo "PR Balrog" Pérez-Frangie Izquierdo, Josh Keaton, Anthony Kresky, Nick Landis, Reuben Langdon, Lemon Demon, Lewis Lovhaug, Rene "Kor" Maisty, Vic Mignogna, Christopher Robin Miller, Marianne Miller, Chris Niosi, Rhonda "Tranquil" Patterson, Potter Puppet Pals, Powerglove, Lawrence Simpson, Marc Soskin, Jon St. John, Sonny Strait, Corinne Sudberg, Brad Swaile, Michael "Mookie" Terracciano, and Tom Wayland.[24]
November 1–4, 2012 Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center
Cobo Center
Detroit, Michigan		12,156[25] 91.8 The Fan, Tia Ballard, Martin Billany, James Carter Cathcart, Fred Gallagher, Caitlin Glass, Todd Haberkorn, Cherami Leigh, Lemon Demon, Lewis Lovhaug, Scott McNeil, Potter Puppet Pals, Random Gibberish, Paulie Schrier, Michael Sinterniklaas, Jon St. John, Steam Powered Giraffe, Sonny Strait, Brad Swaile, Doug Walker, and Shinichi Watanabe.[25]
October 31 – November 3, 2013 Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center
Cobo Center[26]
Detroit, Michigan		14,496[27] 91.8 The Fan, Curtis Arnott, Tia Ballard, Martin Billany, Ben Creighton, D.C. Douglas, Scott Frerichs, Fred Gallagher, Caitlin Glass, Garth Graham, Todd Haberkorn, Kyle Hebert, Adrian Hough, Chuck Huber, Michele Knotz, Nick Landis, Loverin Tamburin, Lewis Lovhaug, Christopher Robin Miller, Sarah Natochenny, Ken Pontac, Random Gibberish, Anthony Sardinha, Jan Scott-Frazier, Lawrence Simpson, Jon St. John, Steam Powered Giraffe, Sonny Strait, Corinne Sudberg, Sarah "Sully" Sullivan, Brad Swaile, Michael "Mookie" Terracciano, Tom Wayland,[27] and David Eddings.[28]
October 30 - November 2, 2014 Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center
Cobo Center
Detroit, Michigan		 91.8 The Fan, Curtis Arnott, Tia Ballard, Steve Bennett, Martin Billany, Steven Blum, Kevin Bolk, Johnny Yong Bosch, Ben Creighton, Robbie Daymond, D.C. Douglas, David Eddings, Scott Frerichs, Fred Gallagher, Caitlin Glass, Todd Haberkorn, Michael Hecht, Anthony Kresky, Lauren Landa, Nick Landis, Lewis Lovhaug, Joel McDonald, Jessi Nowack, Tony Oliver, Origa, Ken Pontac, Raj Ramayya, Random Gibberish, Tyson Rinehart, Anthony Sardinha Jan Scott-Frazier, Patrick Seitz, Lawrence Simpson, Meredith Sims, Ian Sinclair, Jon St. John, Steam Powered Giraffe, Kieran Strange, Corinne Sudberg, Brad Swaile, David Vincent, Howard Wang, Noah Watts, Tom Wayland,[29] Comfort Love, Jen McGregor, Travis Polad, Courtney Thompson, Marshall Watson, and Adam Withers.[30]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Fox, George (2013-10-04). "Guide To Youmacon: Detroit’s Massive Anime, Gaming Convention". CBS Local Media. Retrieved 2013-10-23.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Milo, Jeff (October 29, 2014). "5 questions with Morgan Kollin, founder of Youmacon". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Pinho, Kirk (October 8, 2014). "Youmacon convention marks 10th anniversary in Detroit". Crain's Detroit Business. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  4. ↑ Stabile, Kaitlyn (2013-11-06). "Anime, gaming convention attracts enthusiastic crowd". The Eastern Echo. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Offman, Alysa (October 29, 2014). "Youmacon is Detroit’s colossal Japanese pop culture convention". Detroit Metro Times. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Cardenas, Edward (October 30, 2014). "Youmacon Anime Convention To Takeover Downtown Detroit (Video)". CBS Detroit. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
  7. ↑ Delahanty, Patrick (2015-01-05). "Ten Largest North American Anime Conventions of 2014". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2015-01-11.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Major Anime Convention Coming This Weekend". CBS Detroit/WWJ Newsradio 950. 2010-10-25. Retrieved 2013-10-23.
  9. ↑ Kopf, Ryan (2012-10-27). "Youmacon 2012 Preview". UpcomingCons.com. Retrieved 2013-10-23.
  10. ↑ Smith, Ryan E. (2008-10-30). "'Power Ranger' says he played a lead role in superhero history". The Blade. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Youmacon 2012 Information". UpcomingCons.com. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
  12. ↑ "Youmacon Returns to Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center November 3rd – 6th". Anime News Network. 2011-09-30. Retrieved 2013-10-23.
  13. ↑ Gallagher, John (2013-10-13). "Surging Cobo convention business bodes well for center, Detroit". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 2013-10-21.
  14. ↑ Stamm, Alan (October 25, 2014). "Youmacon Hosts and Fans Criticze Ren Cen Ban on Masks, Mock Weapons". Deadline Detroit. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  15. ↑ Battagello, Dave (October 31, 2014). "Vancouver-based musicians denied entry into U.S. for Detroit performance". The Windsor Star. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Youmacon 2005 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2012-11-06.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Youmacon 2006 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2012-11-06.
  18. ↑ Lillard, Kevin (January 2007). "Con Report: Youmacon". Newtype USA 6 (1): 96.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Youmacon 2007 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
  20. ↑ Lillard, Kevin. "Youmacon". Newtype USA. 7 (1) pp. 152–153. January 2008. ISSN 1541-4817.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Youmacon 2008 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2013-05-03.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 "Youmacon 2009 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2012-11-06.
  23. ↑ "Youmacon 2010 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2012-11-06.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 "Youmacon 2011 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 "Youmacon 2012 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2013-05-03.
  26. ↑ Burns, Gus (2013-11-04). "Youmacon 2013: A Japanese anime convention in Detroit with a naked leprechaun". MLive. Retrieved 2013-11-08.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 "Youmacon 2013 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2014-01-06.
  28. ↑ "Youmacon 2013 - Special Guests". Youmacon.com. Archived from the original on 2013-12-06. Retrieved 2013-10-28.
  29. ↑ "Youmacon 2014 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
  30. ↑ "Special Guests Youmacon". Youmacon. Retrieved 21 November 2014.

External links

Coordinates: 42°19′44″N 83°2′22.9″W / 42.32889°N 83.039694°W