Anime Midwest

Anime Midwest is an annual three-day anime convention held during July at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare and Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. The convention is held in the same location as Anime Central.[4]

Anime Midwest
StatusActive
GenreAnime, Japanese Culture, Video Gaming[1][2]
VenueHyatt Regency O'Hare
Stephens Convention Center
Location(s)Rosemont, Illinois
CountryUnited States
Inaugurated2011
Organized byAnimeCon.org[3]
Websitehttp://www.animemidwest.com/

Programming

The convention typically offers anime screenings, artist room, cosplay masquerade contest, date auction, dealers room, fan panels, formal dance, guest autographs, karaoke, Maid Cafe, rave dances, video game tournaments, and workshops.[1][5][6][7][8][9] The convention hosts a free ConSweet with free ramen noodles, rice, oatmeal, and soda for attendees.[10][11]

History

Anime Midwest moved to the Hyatt Regency O'Hare in Rosemont, Illinois for 2013.[1] The convention in 2015 had long registration line waits.[12] Guests Deadlift Lolita, FEMM, Fuki, and Zwei could not attend Anime Midwest in 2019 due to visa issues.[13] Anime Midwest 2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[14][15]

Event history
DatesLocationAtten.Guests
June 15–17, 2011[16] Pheasant Run Resort
St. Charles, Illinois		Daniel Coglan, Jillian Coglan, LeetStreet Boys, John Patrick Lowrie, Jamie Marchi, Ellen McLain, Sean Schemmel, and Micah Solusod.[17]
July 6–8, 2012[18] Wyndham Lisle-Chicago Hotel &
Executive Meeting Center
Lisle, Illinois		Nearly
2,000[19]		Greg Ayres, Martin Billany, Daniel Coglan, Jillian Coglan, Level Boys, Jamie Marchi, Joel McDonald, Mega Ran, The Pillowcases, Ian Sinclair, and Shinichi Watanabe.[20]
July 5–7, 2013[21] Hyatt Regency O'Hare
Rosemont, Illinois		5,100[22]Airship O'Reilly, Dr. Awkward, Orlando Belisle, Daniel Coglan, Jillian Coglan, Alan Evans, FanService Renji, Quinton Flynn, Todd Haberkorn, Brian Heinz, Steve Horton, Krazy Krow, Rob "Vash" Lewis, Russell Lissau, Lewis Lovhaug, John Patrick Lowrie, Ellen McLain, Midwest Karaoke Madness, Trevor A. Mueller, The Pillowcases, Malcolm Ray, Sleeping Samurai, Spike Spencer, Steam Powered Giraffe, Sonny Strait, Rachel Tietz, Doug Walker, and YTCracker.[22]
July 4–6, 2014 Hyatt Regency O'Hare
Rosemont, Illinois		8,010[23]Curtis Arnott, Dr. Awkward, Greg Ayres, Orlando Belisle, Johnny Yong Bosch, Daniel Coglan, Jillian Coglan, D.C. Douglas, Michelle Ann Dunphy, Eyeshine, Frenchy and the Punk, Scott Frerichs, Caitlin Glass, Brian Heinz, Steve Horton, Akinori Isobe, Brad Jones, Masumi Kano, Nick Landis, Russell Lissau, Lewis Lovhaug, Trevor A. Mueller, Chris Patton, The Pillowcases, Laura Post, Raj Ramayya, Malcolm Ray, Sleeping Samurai, Steam Powered Giraffe, Sonny Strait, Alexis Tipton, V is for Villains, Doug Walker, and YTCracker.[23]
July 3–5, 2015 Hyatt Regency O'Hare
Rosemont, Illinois		10,500[24]Curtis Arnott, Greg Ayres, Brentalfloss, Chris Cason, Daniel Coglan, Jillian Coglan, Amber Lee Connors, Nicole de Boer, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, D.C. Douglas, Caitlynn French, Frenchy and the Punk, Scott Frerichs, Brian Heinz, Steve Horton, Chuck Huber, Anna Ito, Krazy Krow, Nick Landis, Russell Lissau, London Has Fallen, Lewis Lovhaug, David Matranga, Joel McDonald, Mega Ran, Trevor A. Mueller, The Pillowcases, Chris Rager, Raj Ramayya, Blake Shepard, Lawrence Simpson, Spike Spencer, Steam Powered Giraffe, Sonny Strait, Eric Stuart, John Swasey, V is for Villains, Steven Wallace, Billy West, and YTCracker.[24]
July 8–10, 2016 Hyatt Regency O'Hare
Rosemont, Illinois		12,500[25]Greg Ayres, Zach Callison, Daniel Coglan, Jillian Coglan, Emily DeJesus, D.C. Douglas, Frenchy and the Punk, Brian Heinz, Chuck Huber, Kid Yuki and the Otakus, Shigeto Koyama, Krazy Krow, Russell Lissau, Lewis Lovhaug, Mega Ran, Trevor A. Mueller, The Pillowcases, Genevieve Simmons, Juliet Simmons, Steam Powered Giraffe, Brooke Stephenson, Sushio, V is for Villains, Hiromi Wakabayashi, Steven Wallace, and YTCracker.[25]
July 7–9, 2017 Hyatt Regency O'Hare
Rosemont, Illinois		14,374[26]Misako Aoki, Arc Impulse, Greg Ayres, Morgan Berry, Luci Christian, D.C. Douglas, Sandy Fox, Frenchy and the Punk, Brian Heinz, Takafumi Hori, Chuck Huber, Hiroyuki Imaishi, Kid Yuki and the Otakus, Knight of the Round, Shigeto Koyama, Krazy Krow, Lex Lang, Mason Lieberman, Russell Lissau, Lewis Lovhaug, Josh Martin, David Matranga, Mega Ran, Rob Mungle, The Pillowcases, Chris Rager, Molly Searcy, Oscar Seung, Yakov Smirnoff, Steam Powered Giraffe, Dave Trosko, V is for Villains, Hiromi Wakabayashi, Billy West, Yoh Yoshinari, and YTCracker.[26]
July 6-8, 2018 Hyatt Regency O'Hare
Rosemont, Illinois		14,500 (est.)[27]Greg Ayres, Morgan Berry, Luci Christian, Jillian Coglan, Samurai Dan Coglan, D.C. Douglas, Gigi Edgley, Doug Erholtz, Andy Field, Aki Glancy, Brian Heinz, Chuck Huber, Aya Ikeda, Hiroaki Inoue, Kid Yuki and the Otakus, Knight of the Round, Russell Lissau, Lewis Lovhaug, Mega Ran, Trevor A. Mueller, The Pillowcases, Alejandro Saab, Carrie Savage, Molly Searcy, Oscar Seung, Steam Powered Giraffe, Dave Trosko, Gareth West, Greg Wicker, YTCracker,[27] Epic Rap Battles of History, and Gregory Brothers.[28]
July 5-7, 2019 Hyatt Regency O'Hare
Stephens Convention Center
Rosemont, Illinois		Greg Ayres, Steve Blum, Luci Christian, Jillian Coglan, Samurai Dan Coglan, Maile Flanagan, Quinton Flynn, Crispin Freeman, Brian Heinz, IA, Kid Yuki and the Otakus, Krazy Krow, Lia, Russell Lissau, Lewis Lovhaug, Yuri Lowenthal, Margaret McDonald, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Mega Ran, Trevor A. Mueller, Tara Platt, Raj Ramayya, Oscar Seung, Steam Powered Giraffe, Brooke Stephenson, V is for Villains, Vocamerica, and YTCracker.[29]
July 2-4, 2021[30] Hyatt Regency O'Hare
Stephens Convention Center
Rosemont, Illinois

Collaborations

In 2012 Anime Midwest sponsored a cosplay prom.[31]

Controversy

Ryan Kopf, the organizer behind Anime Midwest, was banned from Anime Milwaukee during the 2018 convention due to a sexual assault allegation involving the Milwaukee Police Department. Kopf was at the convention as part of Anime Midwest and denies the allegations.[32]

  • A wall of empty Maruchan ramen noodle boxes with a cardboard figure from Attack on Titan being swatted at by a member of Anime Midwest's staff.
  • The maids at Anime Midwest's maid cafe.
  • The crowd waiting to see Steam Powered Giraffe perform at Anime Midwest 2014 in the Rosemont Ballroom.

References
  1. "Anime Midwest 2013 Comes To Hyatt Regency O'Hare". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2013-06-02.
  2. "ANIME FANS HEAD TO ROSEMONT FOR MIDWEST CONVENTION (TV)". ABC 7 News. Archived from the original on 2014-07-14.
  3. "Anime Midwest Adds Japanese Lolita Brand Baby, The Stars Shine Bright". Anime News Network. November 12, 2014. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  4. Hortillo, Yvonne. "A Tale of Two Conventions". The Filipino American Community Builder.
  5. "Anime Midwest to Host Excel Saga's Shinichi Watanabe". Anime News Network.
  6. "Anime Midwest Presents Steam Powered Giraffe in 2013". Anime News Network.
  7. Steve Jurkovic. "PHOTOS: Best Dressed at Anime Midwest". Patch.
  8. "Anime Midwest in Rosemont home to the fantastical". Daily Herald. Archived from the original on 2014-07-08.
  9. "Face Time Police, Villains play Anime Midwest". Daily Herald.
  10. "15 things to do with your kids this week: July 2–8". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 2014-07-06. Retrieved 2014-07-08.
  11. Cousin, Jessi (August 8, 1015). "Cousin Jessi and Team Gregula strike again at Anime Midwest 2015". ChicagoNow. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  12. Faits, Lauren (July 10, 2015). "Anime Midwest 2015 RECAP: I will never learn". Geek Girl Chicago - Chicago Now. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
  13. "Anime Midwest Convention's Musical Guests Unable to Perform After Visa Issues". Anime News Network. July 9, 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  14. "Our response to COVID-19". AnimeCon.org. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  15. "Anime Midwest 2020 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  16. "Anime Midwest 2011". UpcomingCons.com.
  17. "Anime Midwest 2011 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2013-05-24.
  18. "Anime Midwest 2012". UpcomingCons.com.
  19. Steve Jurkovic. "Anime Midwest Convention Hosted In Lisle". Patch.
  20. "Anime Midwest 2012 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2013-05-24.
  21. "Anime Midwest 2013". UpcomingCons.com.
  22. "Anime Midwest 2013 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2016-04-13.
  23. "Anime Midwest 2014 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2016-04-13.
  24. "Anime Midwest 2015 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2016-08-18.
  25. "Anime Midwest 2016 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  26. "Anime Midwest 2017 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  27. "Anime Midwest 2018 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-07-03.
  28. Eadens, Savannah (April 10, 2019). "Cosplay and manga reign, as Anime Midwest comes to Rosemont". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  29. "Anime Midwest 2019 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  30. "Anime Midwest 2021 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  31. Lauren "Troppy" (2012-07-06). "This GEEKend: Anime Midwest, Nerdologues, and Cosplay for Charity". Chicago, IL: Chicago Tribune. ChicagoNow. 12:20pm CST. Retrieved 2012-01-11.
  32. "Convention Runner Ryan Kopf Banned from Anime Milwaukee Following Alleged Sexual Assault". Anime News Network. June 26, 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2019.

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