Otafest

Last updated

Otafest
Otafest Symbol 2022.png
The O-Wing, Otafest's primary logo
StatusActive
Venue Calgary Telus Convention Centre
Location(s)Calgary, Alberta
CountryCanada
Inaugurated1999
Attendance11,765 (2024) [1]
Organized byOtafest Film & Cultural Festival Planning Committee
Filing statusNon-profit organization
Website otafest.com

Otafest is an annual anime convention held in May (and previously September, mid-June, or early July), at the Calgary Telus Convention Centre, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The first Otafest was held 1999 and has expanded each year, including a move in 2009 to include a mini-convention called Otafest Lite, which was replaced in 2012 with Otafest Aurora. [2] At the closing ceremonies in 2015, it was announced that Otafest would be moving to the Calgary Telus Convention Centre from the University of Calgary for Otafest 2016 with a new date, July 1–3, however the event dates returned to May after Otafest 2017. As of May 2015, it is the largest anime convention in Western Canada. Otafest is a fully volunteer-run non-profit, and has raised over $125,000 CAD for charitable initiatives since its inception. [3]

Contents

Mandate

Otafest is a Calgary-based nonprofit organization expressing the values of charity, quality, and transparency. The body of their activity pertains to the promotion of Japanese art, culture, and media in the Canadian community, and the organization rests firmly on the spirit of community collaboration and volunteerism. [4]

History

Otafest was scheduled to occur May 15–17, 2020 but was postponed to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. [5]

Otafest event history

Dates [4] [6] LocationAtten. [4] [6] Guests
July 3–4, 1999 University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta [7]
700 [7]
June 17–18, 2000University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta [8]
900 [1] Yasuyuki Ueda. [8]
September 15–16, 2001University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta [9]
700 [9]
May 24–26, 2002University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta [10]
May 24–25, 2003University of Calgary Science Theaters
Calgary, Alberta [11]
May 15–16, 2004University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta [12]
The 404s. [12]
May 21–22, 2005University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta [13]
Jonathan Love. [13]
May 21–22, 2006University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta [14]
May 19–20, 2007University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta [15]
2,709 [1] The 404s. [15]
May 16–18, 2008University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta [16]
4,278 [1] The 404s, Mohammad "Hawk" Haque, Dr. Antonia Levi, Jonathan Love, Midnight Taiko, Ananth Panagariya, Dave Rathnow, and Shin Ken Kai Nobara. [16]
May 15–17, 2009University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta [17]
4,361 [1] The 404s, Johnny Yong Bosch, Mohammad "Hawk" Haque, Bob the Chair, Dr. Antonia Levi, Midnight Taiko, Ananth Panagariya. [17]
May 21–23, 2010University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta [18]
3,697 [1] The 404s, Michelle Ruff, Todd Haberkorn, Scott Ramsoomair, Synaptic Chaos Theatre, Midnight Taiko, Dave Rathnow & Shin Ken Kai Nobara, Thwomp, Pinko Polkadotsu. [18]
May 20–22, 2011University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta [19]
4,135 [1] The Fool, Midnight Taiko, Dave Rathnow & Shin Ken Kai Nobara, Sun Ergos, Synaptic Chaos Theatre, Thwomp. [19]
May 18–20, 2012University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta [20]
4,938 [20] Andrea Libman, Brendan Hunter, Lix, Thwomp, Midnight Taiko, Dave Rathnow & Shin Ken Kai Nobara, Synaptic Chaos Theatre. [20] [21]
May 17–19, 2013University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta [22]
4,947 [22] Michael Daingerfield, Carol-Anne Day, Lucas Gilbertson, Adam Hunter, Brendan Hunter, Midnight Taiko, Kirby Morrow, Dave Rathnow & Shin Ken Kai Nobara, Scott Roberts, Kieran Strange, Synaptic Chaos Theatre, Umbrella. [22]
May 16–18, 2014University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta [22]
7,787 [22] Yuu Asakawa, Chris Cason, Brad Swaile, Yaya Han, Midnight Taiko, Dave Rathnow, Rose Noire, Chii Sakurabi, Kieran Strange, Synaptic Chaos Theatre, Thwomp. [23] [24] [25]
May 15–17, 2015University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta [26]
8,990 [26] Shinichi Watanabe, UchuSentai:Noiz, Meg Turney, Synaptic Chaos Theatre, Dave Rathnow, Toby Proctor, Midnight Taiko, Jessica Merizan, Yui Makino, Quinton Flynn, Randy "Birdy" Crisologo, Linda Ballantyne. [26]
July 1–3, 2016 Calgary Telus Convention Centre
Calgary, Alberta [27]
7,995 [27] Johnny Yong Bosch, Todd Haberkorn, J. Michael Tatum, Nogod, Kamui Cosplay, Smile.dk, Shinichi Watanabe, Drunk Gaming, Justin Currie, Yumi Akai, Yaya Han, Synaptic Chaos Theatre, Brendan Hunter, Caitlynne Medrek. [27] [28] [29]
June 30 – July 2, 2017Calgary Telus Convention Centre
Calgary, Alberta [30]
7,724 [30] Carolina Ravassa, Jerry Jewell, The Runaway Guys, Gladzy Kei, Jill Frappier, Ron Rubin, Pingame, Reika Cosplay, James Landino, WTCHDCTR, Drunk Gaming, Tracey Moore, Birdy, Synaptic Chaos Theatre [30] [31]
May 18–20, 2018Calgary Telus Convention Centre
Calgary, Alberta [32]
9,572 [32] Capcom Live!, Leon Chiro, Andy Rae, Leah Clark, Caitlin Glass, Matthew Mercer, Jinnie McManus, Midnight Taiko, Synaptic Chaos Theatre, Fakku, Arda Wigs [32]
May 17–19, 2019Calgary Telus Convention Centre
Calgary, Alberta [33]
9,222 [1] SungWon Cho, Wendee Lee, The Slants, FAKKU, Rider4Z, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Steve Blum, James Landino, Rusty Meeks, Rocky Mountain Taiko [33]
May 21–22, 2022Calgary Telus Convention Centre
Calgary, Alberta [34]
9,122 [1] The 404s, Griffin Burns, Fighting Dreamers Productions, Brendan Hunter, Jinnie McManus, Keith Silverstein, A.K. Wirru [35]
May 19–21, 2023Calgary Telus Convention Centre
Calgary, Alberta
11,469 [1] The 404s, Lucien Dodge, Brendan Hunter, Erica Lindbeck, Jinnie McManus, Erica Mendez, Rock M. Sakura, Windrise, Shellanin, Dave Rodgers, Digital Planet, Girl_DM_, KristiclesGG, Yosakoi Soran Calgary, Yama no Oto, Anime Night Club 3, The Runaway Guys, NΣΣT [36]
May 10–12, 2024Calgary Telus Convention Centre
Calgary, Alberta
11,765 [1]

Otafest Lite/Aurora event history

Otafest Lite

Dates [4] LocationAtten. [4] Guests
November 14, 2009 University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta
900 (estimated) [37]
November 13, 2010University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta
800 (estimated) [38]
November 12, 2011University of Calgary
Calgary, Alberta
700 (estimated) [39]

Otafest Aurora

Dates [4] LocationAtten.Guests
December 15, 2012 University of Calgary Downtown Campus
Calgary, Alberta
843 [2] [6] Samuel Vincent, Maryke Hendrikse [2]
November 30, 2013University of Calgary Downtown Campus
Calgary, Alberta
1,716 [40] [41] Andrea Libman, Tabitha St. Germain, Thwomp [40] [42]
November 29, 2014 SAIT Polytechnic
Calgary, Alberta
2,040 [4] [43] Carol-Anne Day, Brendan Hunter, Cherami Leigh, J. Michael Tatum, Kieran Strange, Twinfools & Nova Cosplay [43]
November 13–14, 2015SAIT Polytechnic
Calgary, Alberta
2,542 [44] Vic Mignogna, Ani-Mia, Josh Hart [28] [44]
November 4–5, 2016SAIT Polytechnic
Calgary, Alberta
1,824 [45] Eric Stuart, Stephanie Sheh, Enayla Cosplay [45] [46]

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