Impulse Universe

Last updated
Impulse Universe
IndustryConvention organizer
FoundedJanuary 16, 2016;9 years ago (2016-01-16)
FounderGorden Kao
Headquarters
Rosemead, California
,
United States
OwnerGorden Kao
Website www.impulseuniverse.com

Impulse Universe is an American fan convention organizer. Founded by Gorden Kao, it hosts a series of joint conventions of various topics around the United States each year.

Contents

The company's first and primary project was Anime Impulse, an anime and manga convention, that was first held in 2016 as part of the Asian American Expo. K-Play! Fest debuted in 2022 for K-pop and South Korean culture. Impulse Universe also puts on Collectors Expo for trading cards and memorabilia as well as Sneaker Expo for footwear. All of its conventions are organized together in the same locations, and a ticket for one event grants access to the others.

History

Itasha car show at Anime Impulse Bay Area 2025 Anime Impulse Bay Area 2025 itasha car show 2.jpg
Itasha car show at Anime Impulse Bay Area 2025

As the director of the CCYP Media Network, Kao oversaw the Asian American Expo at the Fairplex in Pomona, California. [1] The expo, to celebrate the Chinese New Year, began as the Chinese American Expo at the Pasadena Convention Center in 1987 before moving to Pomona in 1992 and expanding to multiple cultures. [2]

In 2016, Anime Impulse was created to support the Asian American Expo. Producer Kaila Yu explained such an arrangement helped Anime Impulse stand out from other conventions since "all guests have access to over 100 food vendors at the event also." [3] Amped Asia described the inaugural AI as the "Anime Expo of the spring season". [4] Anime Impulse grew in size over the years while continuing to operate alongside the AAE. [5] [6]

Kao founded Impulse Universe to oversee Anime Impulse, which he described as a more casual convention experience since "people loved anime, but didn't identify as hardcore fans. They just wanted a space to vibe, connect, and explore." [7]

Impulse Universe subsequently organized conventions for other topics. [7] K-Play! Fest, the first American convention focused on K-pop, debuted in 2022. [8] [9] [10] Collectors Expo was intended for trading cards and memorabilia. Sneaker Expo focused on footwear. [8]

After initially hosting solely in California, Impulse Universe held its first conventions outside the state in 2024 with events in Seattle and Phoenix. [8] [9] The latter was selected due to the increase in Korean artists performing in the city, turning it into a viable location for K-Play! Fest. [9] Sik-K was the featured performer at the Seattle K-Play! Fest. [8]

Tickets for each weekend give entry to every convention. [9] Such an arrangement is to encourage attendees to entertain other forms of media outside of what they are accustomed to. [7]

Toyota Motor North America is the presenting sponsor for Impulse Universe conventions. [11]

Convention history

Los Angeles

DatesLocationGuests
January 16–17, 2016 [12] Fairplex
Pomona, California 		D-Piddy, Alodia Gosiengfiao, Linda Le, Aimee Lee Lucas, Nylon Pink, Stephanie Yanez, Steven Zakari
January 14–15, 2017 [13] Fairplex
Pomona, California		Breathlessaire, Danny Choo, D-Piddy, Johnny Junkers, Midnight Shinigami, Phil Mizuno, Nylon Pink, Gaku Space, Diana "Binkx" Tolin, Tune in Tokyo, Twin Cosplay, Stephanie Yanez, Steven Zakari
January 13–14, 2018 [14] Fairplex
Pomona, California		D-Piddy, Hana Dinh, Annjela Saet, Stephanie Yanez
January 19–20, 2019 [15] Fairplex
Pomona, California		 Ray Chase, Robbie Daymond, Hana Bunny, Johnny Junkers, Max Mittelman, Chris Patton, Derek Stephen Prince, Chris Tergliafera, Ezra Weisz
January 18–19, 2020 [16] Fairplex
Pomona, California		 Brian Beacock, Morgan Berry, Lucien Dodge, Xanthe Huynh, Billy Kametz, Faye Mata, Danielle McRae, Erica Mendez, Cristina Vee, Ezra Weisz, Brandon Winckler
January 15–16, 2022 [17] Fairplex
Pomona, California		Poonam Basu, Kira Buckland, Griffin Burns, Ray Chase, Brittany Cox, D-Piddy, Robbie Daymond, Xanthe Huynh, Aleks Le, Ryan Colt Levy, Risa Mei, Max Mittelman, Casey Mongillo, Keith Silverstein, Ezra Weisz, Suzie Yeung, Jenny Yokobori
January 14–15, 2023 [18] Fairplex
Pomona, California		Anime Impulse: Johnny Yong Bosch, Kira Buckland, Griffin Burns, Tiana Camacho, Allegra Clark, Brittany Cox, Stephen Fu, Chris Hackney, Xanthe Huynh, KingChris, Aleks Le, Cherami Leigh, Erica Lindbeck, Faye Mata, Ry McKeand, Risa Mei, Erica Mendez, Casey Mongillo, Cassandra Lee Morris, Griffin Puatu, Zeno Robinson, Michelle Ruff, Alejandro Saab, Jonah Scott, Abby Trott, Howard Wang, Mark Whitten, Suzie Yeung
K-Play! Fest: AleXa
January 13–14, 2024 [19] Fairplex
Pomona, California		 Zach Aguilar, Dawn M. Bennett, Ray Chase, Allegra Clark, Amber Lee Connors, Robbie Daymond, Chris Hackney, Jennie Kwan, Lauren Landa, Aleks Le, Mela Lee, Erica Mendez, Max Mittelman, Xander Mobus, Zeno Robinson, Alejandro Saab, Keith Silverstein, Suzie Yeung, Joe Zieja
February 15–16, 2025 [20] Fairplex
Pomona, California		 Clifford Chapin, Charlet Chung, Allegra Clark, Robbie Daymond, Ryan Drummond, Dan Green, Kyle Hebert, Lauren Landa, Brenna Larsen, Risa Mei, Eric Stuart

Orange County

DatesLocationGuests
September 3–4, 2022 [21] OC Fair & Event Center
Costa Mesa, California 		Zach Aguilar, Dawn M. Bennett, Tiana Camacho, Ray Chase, Allegra Clark, Robbie Daymond, Lucien Dodge, Dorothy Elias-Fahn, Lizzie Freeman, Chris Hackney, Xanthe Huynh, Jackie Lastra, Aleks Le, Ryan Colt Levy, Josey Montana McCoy, Kayleigh McKee, Erica Mendez, Kayli Mills, Max Mittelman, Laura Post, Anairis Quiñones, Alejandro Saab, Keith Silverstein, Laura Faye Smith, Stephanie Southerland, Kaiji Tang, Howard Wang, Ezra Weisz, Mark Whitten, Anne Yatco, Jenny Yokobori, Joe Zieja
September 2–3, 2023 [22] Anaheim Convention Center
Anaheim, California 		Dawn M. Bennett, Edward Bosco, Griffin Burns, Bill Butts, Kimberley Anne Campbell, Paul Castro Jr., Allegra Clark, Stephen Fu, Chris Hackney, Xanthe Huynh, Amber May, Max Mittelman, Patrick Pedraza, Alejandro Saab, Howard Wang, Ezra Weisz, Jenny Yokobori
August 31 – September 1, 2024 [23] Anaheim Convention Center
Anaheim, California		Ben Balmaceda, Dante Basco, A.J. Beckles, Paul Castro Jr., Stephen Fu, Damien Haas, Todd Haberkorn, Xanthe Huynh, Tetsuya Kakihara, Aleks Le, Ryan Colt Levy, Erica Lindbeck, Lotus Juice, Yuri Lowenthal, Daman Mills, Tara Platt, Anairis Quiñones, Adin Rudd, Eric Stuart, Mark Whitten, Jenny Yokobori, Arryn Zech
August 30–31, 2025 [24] Anaheim Convention Center
Anaheim, California		 Johnny Yong Bosch, CDawgVA, Stephen Fu, Alan Lee, AmaLee, Michelle Marie, Erica Mendez, Kaitlyn Robrock, Michelle Ruff, Erica Schroeder

Bay Area

DatesLocationGuests
July 29–30, 2023 [25] San Mateo County Event Center
San Mateo, California 		Kira Buckland, Allegra Clark, Stephen Fu, Xanthe Huynh, Erica Lindbeck, Faye Mata, Adam McArthur, Casey Mongillo, Matthew David Rudd, Alejandro Saab, Anne Yatco
October 12–13, 2024 [26] San Mateo County Event Center
San Mateo, California		A.J. Beckles, Ray Chase, Sean Chiplock, Greg Chun, Robbie Daymond, Todd Haberkorn, Xanthe Huynh, Lauren Landa, Max Mittelman, Sarah Natochenny, Anairis Quiñones, Howard Wang, Mark Whitten
July 26–27, 2025 [27] Santa Clara Convention Center
Santa Clara, California 		Dante Basco, Scott Dreier, Ryan Drummond, Lizzie Freeman, Brianna Knickerbocker, Brandon McInnis, Cassandra Lee Morris, Laura Post, Kaho Shibuya, Keith Silverstein, J. Michael Tatum, Mark Whitten

Other locations

DatesLocationGuests
March 18–19, 2023 [28] Del Mar Fairgrounds
Del Mar, California 		A.J. Beckles, Griffin Burns, Sean Chiplock, Chris Hackney, Erica Lindbeck, Josey Montana McCoy, Max Mittelman, Anairis Quiñones, Zeno Robinson, Keith Silverstein, Krissy Victory, Mark Whitten
May 18–19, 2024 [29] Seattle Convention Center
Seattle, Washington 		Anime Impulse: Dawn M. Bennett, Edward Bosco, Robbie Daymond, Lucien Dodge, Stephen Fu, Michael Kovach, Lauren Landa, Erica Mendez, Max Mittelman, Casey Mongillo, Ashley Nichols, Keith Silverstein, Howard Wang
K-Play! Fest: Sik-K
August 3–4, 2024 [30] Phoenix Convention Center
Phoenix, Arizona 		Ryan Bartley, Griffin Burns, Ray Chase, Allegra Clark, Robbie Daymond, Aaron Dismuke, Lex Lang, Ryan Colt Levy, Emi Lo, Adam McArthur, Kayli Mills, Reagan Murdock, Patrick Pedraza, Anairis Quiñones, Zeno Robinson, Nicolas Roye, Sarah Wiedenheft, Anne Yatco
November 15–16, 2025 [31] Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center
Dallas, Texas

References

  1. ↑ "CCYP, Asian Journal partner for the 2019 Asian American Expo". Asian Journal Press. December 18, 2018. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  2. ↑ "華人工商大展 Asian American Expo, Pomona Fairplex" (in Chinese). CCYP. March 28, 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  3. ↑ Woods II, Wes (January 14, 2016). "Asian-American Expo returns to Pomona with some new additions". San Gabriel Valley Tribune . Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  4. ↑ "What Happened at Anime Impulse 2016". Amped Asia. July 12, 2016. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  5. ↑ Mcweeb, Shelby (January 3, 2017). "Your Guide to Winter Anime Conventions in Southern California". Nerdbot. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  6. ↑ Thomas, Cheyenne (January 21, 2020). "Anime Impulse brings anime fans to the Fairplex". The Poly Post . Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 Landis, Ben. "Inside IMPULSE UNIVERSE: The Vision Behind the Pop Culture Phenomenon Coming to Santa Clara in 2025". Discover Santa Clara. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Edwards, Clint (April 24, 2024). "Seattle to host K-PLAY! FEST K-Pop convention". KCPQ . Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Link, Nikki (July 26, 2024). "'By Fans, for Fans': K-Play! Fest comes to Phoenix". The Entertainer! Magazine. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  10. ↑ "K-PLAY! FEST's Archives". K-Play! Fest. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  11. ↑ Nguyen, Justin (August 28, 2025). "Toyota sponsoring an… anime convention?". 131 Off-Road. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Anime Impulse 2016 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Anime Impulse 2017 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Anime Impulse 2018 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Anime Impulse 2019 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Anime Impulse 2020 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Anime Impulse 2022 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Anime Impulse LA 2023 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Anime Impulse LA 2024 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Anime Impulse Los Angeles 2025 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  21. ↑ "Anime Impulse Orange County 2022 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  22. ↑ "Anime Impulse Orange County 2023 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  23. ↑ "Anime Impulse Orange County 2024 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Anime Impulse Orange County 2025 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  25. ↑ "Anime Impulse Bay Area 2023 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  26. ↑ "Anime Impulse Bay Area 2024 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  27. ↑ "Anime Impulse Bay Area 2025 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  28. ↑ "Anime Impulse San Diego 2023 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  29. ↑ "Anime Impulse Seattle 2024 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  30. ↑ "Anime Impulse Phoenix 2024 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  31. ↑ "Anime Impulse Dallas 2025 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
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