AniZona

Infobox Anime convention
name = AniZona


caption =
status = Active
venue = Phoenix Marriott Mesa and Convention Center
location = Mesa, Arizona
country = United States
first = 2005
attendance = 1,200 in 2006
events = Cosplay, AMV contest
website = http://www.anizona.org/

AniZona is an annual anime convention based in Arizona that takes place annually on Easter weekend (from Thursday to Sunday), hosted by AniZona Inc., a non-profit volunteer organization. The inaugural convention, also the first full-scale anime convention to be held in the state, occurred between March 25 and 27, 2005 at the Embassy Suites in Phoenixcite web | url = http://www.azcentral.com/community/chandler/articles/0321anime21Z6.html | title = "Anime Fans to Gather" Arizona Republic, March 31, 2005 | accessdate = 2007-02-21 | work = Jacoby, Lars] .

Popular events include a Cosplay Contest, Karaoke Contest, and an Anime Music Video Contest. AniZona features numerous programming items involving voice actors in the anime industry, generally from North America, as well as webcomic artists, though the main Guest of Honor for the first convention was Yoshitaka Amano,cite web | url = http://www.azcentral.com/ent/calendar/articles/0324anizona24.html | title = March 25-27: AniZona 2005 | accessdate = 2007-02-07 | work = Senft, Michael (The Arizona Republic)] and at least one Japanese guest, manga artist Haruka Miyabi has been confirmed by the convention for the third AniZona.cite web | url = http://www.anizona.org/guests.html | title = AniZona 3 Guest List | accessdate = 2007-02-06 | work = AniZona] Sponsors have included distributors in the North American anime industry as well as local businesses in the Phoenix metropolitan area.cite web | url = http://www.anizona.org/sponsors.html | title = AniZona 3 Sponsors | accessdate = 2007-02-06 | work = AniZona]

After two years at the Embassy Suites Phoenix North, the third AniZona was held at the Phoenix Marriott Mesa and Convention Center in Mesa, Arizona, April 5-8, 2007. Unlike most anime conventions, there is no at-door registration at the door; all registration is to be handled prior to the convention, through the Internet or by mail. In addition, there is an attendance cap.cite web | url = http://www.anizona.org/Register/Register.html | title = Registration | accessdate = 2007-02-06 | work = AniZona] Pre-registration for AniZona 1 was capped at 800-850 attendees, although actual attendance was estimated at higher due to a limited number of at-the-door registrations sold.cite web | url = http://groups.yahoo.com/group/animecons/message/15851.html | title = AniZona (ACML Yahoo Archive - Second Instance) | accessdate = 2007-02-07 | work = Hokanson, John] cite web | url = http://groups.yahoo.com/group/animecons/message/15851.html | title = AniZona (ACML Yahoo Archive) | accessdate = 2007-02-07 | work = Hokanson, John]

History

The convention was founded by Anthony Grutta (who served as convention chair for the first year), David Hungerford, and Jason Bustard.cite web | url = http://www.azcentral.com/ent/calendar/articles/0324anizona24.html | title = March 25-27: AniZona 2005 | accessdate = 2007-02-07 | work = Senft, Michael (The Arizona Republic)] AniZona was the first convention dedicated to anime in the state. Although numerous small-scale anime and anime-related festivals had been held, there had not been any anime-specific conventions in Arizona.

Event history

References

External links

* [http://www.anizona.org/ AniZona official web site]