Ani-Jam

Last updated
Ani-Jam
StatusDefunct
Genre Anime, Manga, Japanese culture [1] [2]
Venue Fresno Convention Center
Location(s) Fresno, California
CountryUnited States
Inaugurated2003
Most recent2014
Attendance1,600+ [3]
Organized byAni-Jam LLC [2]
Website http://www.ani-jam.com/
Attendees at the first Ani-Jam event held in Fresno, California in April 2003 Anijam2003.jpg
Attendees at the first Ani-Jam event held in Fresno, California in April 2003
Cosplayers at Ani-Jam 2012 in Fresno, California Ani-Jam2012.jpg
Cosplayers at Ani-Jam 2012 in Fresno, California


Ani-Jam was an annual two-day anime convention held during August at the Fresno Convention Center in Fresno, California.

Contents

Programming

The convention offered anime screenings, a cosplay masquerade, live music, table top games, vendors, video game tournaments, and workshops. [1] [4] [5]

History

The first event in 2003 was produced by Japanese entertainment website, Neo-Tokyo 2099 and cosplay website, Cosplay Underground as a mini con/test event held on March 28, 2003 at the Ramada Inn in Fresno, California to find out if an anime convention was plausible in Central Valley of California.

The mini convention lasted for six hours and what was estimated to bring in 150-250 attendees, the event attracted over 500 attendees. [6]

The event would then return as a multi-day convention in 2006 under new ownership and was held at the Fresno Fairgrounds, followed by the Radisson Hotel in 2007 and the convention would later relocate to the Fresno Convention Center in 2012. [1]

Ani-Jam celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2013. [6] The convention held a day zero (Friday) event before the start of the 2014 convention where pre-registered attendees could attend a formal ball. [7]

Event history

DatesLocationAttend.Guests
March 28, 2003Ramada Fresno North
Fresno, California
500+ [6] Edward Luena. [8] , CAT, Garland Gee (Anime Expo), Agent 760, cosplayer SIREN and more.
August 19–20, 2006 Fresno Fairgrounds
Fresno, California
Agent 760, Akai SKY, Johnny Yong Bosch, Eyeshine, Trish Ledoux, Fred Perry, Quarter-Circle Jab, Random Ninjas, Kristine Sa, Stephanie Yanez, and Toshifumi Yoshida. [9]
August 18–19, 2007Radisson Hotel & Conference Center
Fresno, California
Adella, Johnny Yong Bosch, Eyeshine, Melissa Hudson, Lord Katsuhiko Jinnai, Trish Ledoux, Kenyth Mogan, Fred Perry, Quarter-Circle Jab, Kristine Sa, Amanda Tomasch, and Toshifumi Yoshida. [10]
August 2–3, 2008Radisson Hotel & Conference Center
Fresno, California
Akai SKY, Robert Axelrod, Leah Clark, Justin Cook, Che Gilson, Lord Katsuhiko Jinnai, LYV, Makenai, Vic Mignogna, Fred Perry, Quarter-Circle Jab, Kristine Sa, and Stephanie Yanez. [11]
August 20–21, 2011Radisson Hotel & Conference Center
Fresno, California
Akai SKY, Greg Ayres, Lord Katsuhiko Jinnai, La Carmina, Robert McCollum, Vic Mignogna, Hannah Minx, Sebastiano Serafini, and Team LoveHate. [12]
August 18–19, 2012 Fresno Convention Center
Fresno, California
Greg Ayres, Eric Caldero, Lord Katsuhiko Jinnai, Kairu, Brittney Karbowski, Kazha, Mari Watanabe, and Stephanie Yanez. [13]
August 17–18, 2013
"10th anniversary" [6]
Fresno Convention Center
Fresno, California
1,600+ [3] Greg Ayres, Richie Branson, Lord Katsuhiko Jinnai, Cynthia Martinez, Chris Patton, Aimee Major Steinberger, Mari Watanabe, [14] Robert Axelrod, Brittney Karbowski, and Valkyrie Kiss. [3]
August 16–17, 2014Fresno Convention Center
Fresno, California
Akai SKY, Greg Ayres, Jessica Calvello, Chris Cason, Samantha Inoue-Harte, Raj Ramayya, Chii Sakurabi, Jad B. Saxton, Steam Powered Giraffe, and David Vincent. [15]

Ani-Vent

Ani-Vent was a one-day convention held in 2010 with the goal of expanding into different events. [16]

Event history

DatesLocationAtten.Guests
July 17, 2010 [16] Fresno Fairgrounds, Chance Avenue Entrance
Fresno, California

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Ani-Jam convention visits Downtown Fresno". abc30. 2012-08-18. Archived from the original on 2013-09-04. Retrieved 2013-09-03.
  2. 1 2 Santiago, Brandon (2013-08-09). "Get ready for the Ani-Jam anime festival!". Hanford Sentinel. Retrieved 2013-09-03.
  3. 1 2 3 "Ani-Jam Attracts Over 1,600 Attendees for Tenth Year Celebration". Anime News Network. Retrieved 2013-09-03.
  4. Meyersmeyer, Seth (2007-08-16). "Anime convention comes to Fresno this weekend". Hanford Sentinel. Retrieved 2013-09-03.
  5. Appleton, Rory (2014-08-16). "At Fresno's Ani-Jam, heroes, villains and average Joes unite". The Fresno Bee. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Tehee, Joshua (2013-08-14). "Fresno Ani-Jam anime convention marks 10 years". The Fresno Bee. Retrieved 2013-09-03.
  7. "Ani-Jam 2014 This Weekend At Fresno Convention Center". KMPH. 2014-08-14. Archived from the original on 2014-08-19. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  8. "Ani-Jam 2003 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-10-13.
  9. "Ani-Jam 2006 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-10-13.
  10. "Ani-Jam 2007 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-10-13.
  11. "Ani-Jam 2008 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-10-13.
  12. "Ani-Jam 2011 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-10-13.
  13. "Ani-Jam 2012 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-10-13.
  14. "Ani-Jam 2013 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-10-13.
  15. "Ani-Jam 2014 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-10-13.
  16. 1 2 "Ani-Vent 2010 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-10-13.

Coordinates: 36°44′1.14″N119°47′0.49″W / 36.7336500°N 119.7834694°W / 36.7336500; -119.7834694