Anime Banzai

Last updated
Anime Banzai
StatusDefunct
Genre Anime, Manga, Video games, culture [1] [2]
VenueDavis Conference Center
Location(s) Layton, Utah
CountryUnited States
Inaugurated2005
Most recent2024
Organized byUtah Anime Promotions [3]
Website http://www.animebanzai.org/

Anime Banzai was an annual three-day anime convention held during October at the Davis Conference Center in Layton, Utah. The name of the convention roughly comes from the Japanese word for "hooray". [4] The convention is organized by Utah Anime Promotions and was run by a volunteer staff. [5]

Contents

Programming

The convention typically featured an AMV contest, arcade gaming, artist alley, board gaming, card gaming, cosplay contest, formal dance, karaoke, panel discussions, special guests, video games, vendors, and workshops. [2] [3] [5] [6] [7] [8]

History

Anime Banzai was founded by the Salt Lake Community College "End of the World" Japanese Animation Club in 2004. [1] [3] Over 600 people attended the first year, while the organizers were expecting less than 300 attendees. [7] The convention was held at the Salt Lake Community College in the Student Center for two years, the Sheraton City Centre Hotel for three, until moving to the Davis Conference Center due to the convention's growth. [1] [6] [9] The convention in 2010 brought $400,000 to the economy and signed a three-year contract with the Davis Conference Center. [9] In 2011, the convention brought an estimated $350,000+ to the economy. [3] The 2012 convention brought $491,000 to the economy and remained at the Davis Conference Center. [10] The convention in 2013 signed an agreement to return to the Davis Conference Center until 2015. [11]

Representatives of Anime Banzai in 2012, while commenting on articles discussing why Salt Lake City did not have a large comic con, have stated that the convention would like to (and most likely will) return to Salt Lake City. Problems include outgrowing most convention space in the area, outgrowing the Davis Conference Center, affordability of the Salt Palace, and they hoped a new venue will be built that can handle conventions like Anime Banzai. [12] [13] Anime Banzai 2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [14] [15] Anime Banzai 2024 was cancelled in early August 2024 due to numerous internal issues, but would in September change into a goodbye event. [16] [17] [18]

Event history

DatesLocationAtten.Guests
October 15, 2005 Salt Lake Community College
Salt Lake City, Utah 		600 [19]
October 20–21, 2006Salt Lake Community College
Salt Lake City, Utah		Ichidan, Ken Rand, Amy Reeder, and Spike Spencer. [20]
August 31–September 1, 2007Sheraton City Centre Hotel
Salt Lake City, Utah		Artbeat, Michael Dobson, Ichidan, [21] and Steve "Warky" Nunez. [22]
October 24–25, 2008Sheraton City Centre Hotel
Salt Lake City, Utah		 Tiffany Grant, Ichidan, Vic Mignogna, Steve "Warky" Nunez, and Sonny Strait. [23]
October 16–18, 2009Sheraton City Centre Hotel
Salt Lake City, Utah		3,000
(est) [24] 		Chuck Huber, Ichidan, Steve "Warky" Nunez, Michelle Ruff, and XDCosplayDX. [25]
October 8–10, 2010Davis Conference Center
Layton, Utah 		3,200 [9] Michael Coleman, Newton Ewell, Lynn Hardy, Ichidan, Steve "Warky" Nunez, Sonny Strait, and The Slants. [24]
October 21–23, 2011Davis Conference Center
Layton, Utah		3,500
(est) [10] 		Tonya Adolfson, Brad Beachell, Matt Cole, COO-Interactive Entertainment, Preston Cowley, Christopher Escalante, Chuck Huber, April Nunez, Steve "Warky" Nunez, Wendy Pini, Jan Scott-Frazier, and Lisle Wilkerson. [26]
October 19–21, 2012Davis Conference Center
Layton, Utah		4,146 [11] L.B. Bryant, Steve "Warky" Nunez, Chris Patton, Amanda Rush, Micah Solusod, and David Vincent. [27]
October 18–20, 2013Davis Conference Center
Layton, Utah		 Richard Ian Cox, Darrel Guilbeau, Kyle Hebert, Jamie McGonnigal, Christopher Robin Miller, Steve "Warky" Nunez, and Laura Post. [28]
October 17–19, 2014Davis Conference Center
Layton, Utah		Chuck Huber, Vic Mignogna, Steve "Warky" Nunez, Chris Patton, Jan Scott-Frazier, and Sonny Strait. [29]
October 16–18, 2015Davis Conference Center
Layton, Utah		Tanglwyst De Holloway, Michelle Ann Dunphy, Christopher Escalante, Bill Galvan, Danielle McRae, Steve "Warky" Nunez, Laura Post, and David Vincent. [30]
October 21–23, 2016Davis Conference Center
Layton, Utah		 Chris Cason, Kara Edwards, Julie Rei Goldstein, Steve "Warky" Nunez, Steff Von Schweetz, and Kiba Walker. [31]
October 20-22, 2017Davis Conference Center
Layton, Utah		 Sean Chiplock, Michaela Laws, Jamie McGonnigal, Daman Mills, Steve "Warky" Nunez, Pannon, and Diana Tolin. [32]
October 19-21, 2018Davis Conference Center
Layton, Utah		 Ben Dunn, Cole Feuchter, Natalie Hoover, Steve "Warky" Nunez, Pannon, David Vincent, and Kiba Walker. [33]
October 18-20, 2019Davis Conference Center
Layton, Utah		AlpacaAsh, Jennifer Cihi, Stefanie DeLeo, Ben Dunn, Newton Ewell, Trina Nishimura, Steve "Warky" Nunez, Pannon, Derek Stephen Prince, Jez Roth, Alejandro Saab, Tara Sands, and Bryan Young. [34]
October 15-17, 2021Davis Conference Center
Layton, Utah		 Ray Chase, Robbie Daymond, Bonnie Gordon, Max Mittelman, Steve "Warky" Nunez, Jez Roth, and Samantha Sawyer. [35]
October 14-16, 2022Davis Conference Center
Layton, Utah		Aki Glancy, Bonnie Gordon, Johnny N' Junkers, Adam McArthur, Landon McDonald, Steve "Warky" Nunez, Matthew David Rudd, Samantha Sawyer, Kaiji Tang, Anne Yatco, and Bryan Young. [36]
October 20-22, 2023Davis Conference Center
Layton, Utah		 Aaron Campbell, Mary Claypool, Les E. Claypool III, Keith R. A. DeCandido, Bonnie Gordon, Marissa Lenti, Ry McKeand, Steve "Warky" Nunez, Wendy Pini, Jez Roth, Samantha Sawyer, and Bryan Young. [37]
October 18-20, 2024Davis Conference Center
Layton, Utah		Steve "Warky" Nunez, Christopher Escalante, Shane Tay, Sean Tay, DaPaPaJJ, and Steven Crowe. [38]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Bennett, Maaike (2011-11-02). "Adventure at the Anime Banzai". The Globe Online. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  2. 1 2 Wardell, Jennifer (2013-10-16). "More than just Pokémon: Plenty to celebrate at Anime Banzai". The Davis County Clipper. Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2013-10-24.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Saxton, Bryon (2011-10-21). "'Nerds' converge at national anime convention in Layton". Standard-Examiner. Archived from the original on 2013-05-16. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  4. ↑ Wardell, Jennifer (2010-10-03). "Anime Banzai: Celebration of anime, Japanese culture is coming to Davis County this October 8–10". The Davis County Clipper. Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2013-10-24.
  5. 1 2 Carlson, Sonja (2014-10-14). "Anime Banzai celebrates Japan at Davis Conference Center". Standard-Examiner. Archived from the original on 2014-10-25. Retrieved 2014-10-25.
  6. 1 2 Saxton, Bryon (2010-10-06). "Banzai: Anime celebration hits Top of Utah on Friday". Standard-Examiner. Archived from the original on 2013-05-16. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  7. 1 2 Sheehan, Gavin (2009-10-16). "Anime Banzai 2009". City Weekly. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  8. ↑ Stephenson, Nicole (2009-10-16). "10 Years of Anime Banzai". SLUG Magazine. Retrieved 2014-10-25.
  9. 1 2 3 Saxton, Bryon (2010-10-13). "Anime Banzai 2010 convention brings in just under $400K". Standard-Examiner. Archived from the original on 2013-05-16. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  10. 1 2 Saxton, Bryon (2012-10-20). "Colorful characters storm Utah Anime Banzai convention in Layton". Standard-Examiner. Archived from the original on 2012-10-22. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  11. 1 2 Saxton, Bryon (2013-10-09). "Popular Anime Banzai returns to Layton for three more years". Standard-Examiner. Archived from the original on 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2013-10-24.
  12. ↑ Young, Bryan (2012-02-11). "SLC Comic-Con?". City Weekly. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  13. ↑ Bates, Adam (2012-07-11). "SLC Comic-Con Could Happen". City Weekly. Retrieved 2012-10-29.
  14. ↑ "Anime Banzai postponed". Anime Banzai Twitter. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  15. ↑ "Anime Banzai 2020 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2020-09-13.
  16. ↑ "Facebook Anime Banzai 2024 cancellation". Facebook.com. Anime Banzai.
  17. ↑ "Facebook Anime Banzai 2024 Farewell party". Facebook.com. Anime Banzai.
  18. ↑ "Anime Banzai 2024 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
  19. ↑ "Anime Banzai 2005 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2008-04-09.
  20. ↑ "Anime Banzai 2006 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2008-04-09.
  21. ↑ "Anime Banzai 2007 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
  22. ↑ "Video Game music runs gamut". Deseretnews.com. Archived from the original on October 5, 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-28.
  23. ↑ "Anime Banzai 2008 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
  24. 1 2 "Anime Banzai 2010 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
  25. ↑ "Anime Banzai 2009 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
  26. ↑ "Anime Banzai 2011 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
  27. ↑ "Anime Banzai 2012 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2012-10-24.
  28. ↑ "Anime Banzai 2013 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2013-09-18.
  29. ↑ "Anime Banzai 2014 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2014-09-17.
  30. ↑ "Anime Banzai 2015 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2015-10-08.
  31. ↑ "Anime Banzai 2016 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2016-10-22.
  32. ↑ "Anime Banzai 2017 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2017-10-26.
  33. ↑ "Anime Banzai 2018 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2019-05-15.
  34. ↑ "Anime Banzai 2019 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  35. ↑ "Anime Banzai 2021 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  36. ↑ "Anime Banzai 2022 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  37. ↑ "Anime Banzai 2023 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
  38. ↑ "Guests – Anime Banzai 2024". Anime Banzai. Retrieved 2 January 2025.

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