Kami-Con
StatusActive
GenreAnime, Manga, gaming and pop culture.[1][2]
VenueBirmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex
Location(s)Birmingham, Alabama
CountryUnited States
Inaugurated2009
Attendance9,000 (est.) in 2022[3]
Organized byBama SOS Brigade[4][5]
Websitehttp://www.kamicon.net/

Kami-Con is an annual three-day anime convention held during January or February in Birmingham, Alabama at the Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex by the Bama SOS Brigade, a student organization from the University of Alabama.[6]

Programming

The convention typically offers anime screenings, concerts, cosplay contests, dodgeball tournaments, a Pokecenter, rave, tabletop games, vendors, and video game tournaments.[5][6][7][8] The convention contains a storyline/plot, which allows attendees to pick sides, and affect the outcome of the story by participating in various contests.[7]

History

Kami-Con is organized by the Bama SOS Brigade, which was started by Raymond Lenzner and a handful of students at the University of Alabama.[8] Construction in the Ferguson Center during the 2010 convention caused some events such as video gaming to change locations.[4] The convention moved to the Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex in 2013.[5] Kami-Con 2021 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[9][10] The 2022 convention had COVID-19 policies that required masks and either vaccination or a negative test.[11]

Event history

DatesLocationAtten.Guests
April 25–26, 2009 University of Alabama – Ferguson Center
Tuscaloosa, Alabama		460[12]Mandy Clark, Bryan King, Kittyhawk, Aaron Pabon, Seraphina, and Stephanie Yanez.[12]
April 24–25, 2010 University of Alabama – Ferguson Center
Tuscaloosa, Alabama		1,267[13]Robert Axelrod, Martin Billany, Lisa Furukawa, Kevin "Chicknwings" Hicks, Vic Mignogna, Aaron Pabon, and Seraphina.[14]
February 19–20, 2011 University of Alabama – Ferguson Center
Tuscaloosa, Alabama		2,600[13]91.8 The Fan, Martin Billany, Johnny Yong Bosch, Carly Dorsey, Kyle Hebert, Kevin "Chicknwings" Hicks, Aaron Pabon, Seraphina, Micah Solusod, and Charity Youngblood.[15]
February 3–5, 2012[16] University of Alabama – Ferguson Center
Tuscaloosa, Alabama		2,500[13]501st Legion, 91.8 The Fan, Robert Axelrod, Martin Billany, Electric Moon, Crispin Freeman, Kevin "Chicknwings" Hicks, Marble Hornets, Marianne Miller, Chris Niosi, Aaron Pabon, Seraphina, Ashley Serena, Sonny Strait, Eric Stuart, Leo "That SciFi Guy" Thompson, Cristina Vee, Doug Walker, and Nick Wright.[17]
February 15–17, 2013 Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex
Birmingham, Alabama		3,700[18]91.8 The Fan, Martin Billany, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Kevin "Chicknwings" Hicks, Laugh Out Loud, Vic Mignogna, Marianne Miller, Chris Niosi, Aaron Pabon, Michelle Ruff, Christopher Sabat, Seraphina, Leo "That SciFi Guy" Thompson, Doug Walker, Greg Wicker, and Nick Wright.[18]
February 14–16, 2014 Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex
Birmingham, Alabama		4,172[13]Linda Ballantyne, Martin Billany, Beau Billingslea, Steve Blum, Melissa Fahn, Katie Griffin, Laugh Out Loud, Wendee Lee, Marianne Miller, Aaron Pabon, Toby Proctor, Susan Roman, Leo "That SciFi Guy" Thompson, Greg Wicker, and Nick Wright.[19]
February 27 – March 1, 2015 Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex
Birmingham, Alabama		4,800[20]91.8 The Fan, Curtis Arnott, Martin Billany, Ed Chavez, Mr. Creepy Pasta, Scott Frerichs, Kazha, Nick Landis, Laugh Out Loud, Marianne Miller, Aaron Pabon, Bryce Papenbrook, Jessie Pridemore, Lawrence Simpson, Micah Solusod, Leo "That SciFi Guy" Thompson, Cristina Vee, Doug Walker, Greg Wicker, Nick Wright, and Apphia Yu (Ayu Sakata).[20]
March 11–13, 2016 Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex
Birmingham, Alabama		4,700[21]91.8 The Fan, Robert Axelrod, Linda Ballantyne, Chalk Twins, Cosplay, Inc., Mr. Creepy Pasta, Richard Epcar, Jacob Grady, Catherine Jones, Kazha, Aaron Pabon, Jessie Pridemore, Toby Proctor, Ian Sinclair, Ellyn Stern, Nicki Taylor, Cristina Vee, Aurelio Voltaire, and Greg Wicker.[21]
January 27–29, 2017 Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex
Birmingham, Alabama		6,800[22]Yuu Asakawa, Martin Billany, Zach Callison, Mr. Creepy Pasta, Kara Eberle, Scott Frerichs, Caleb Hyles, Kazha, Nick Landis, Vic Mignogna, Marianne Miller, Aaron Pabon, Malcolm Ray, Lawrence Simpson, Leo "That SciFi Guy" Thompson, Tokyo Attack!, Greg Wicker,[22] and Alexander Shunnarah.[23]
January 26–28, 2018 Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex
Birmingham, Alabama		7,527[24]John Anderson, Dante Basco, Martin Billany, Johnny Yong Bosch, Greg Cipes, Mr. Creepy Pasta, Jonny Cruz, Barbara Dunkelman, Kara Eberle, Andy Field, Scott Frerichs, Jacob Grady, Todd Haberkorn, Catherine Jones, Lindsay Jones, Kazha, Phil LaMarr, Nick Landis, Marianne Miller, Aaron Pabon, Jessie Pridemore, Malcolm Ray, Michelle Ruff, Lawrence Simpson, Corinne Sudberg, Vofan, Doug Walker, Rob Walker, and Arryn Zech.[24]
February 22–24, 2019 Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex
Birmingham, Alabama		9,000[25]John Anderson, Brentalfloss, SungWon Cho, Mr. Creepy Pasta, Estelle, Katie George, Caitlin Glass, Chuck Huber, Catherine Jones, Kazha, Lauren Landa, Erica Mendez, NateWantsToBattle, Aaron Pabon, Jeremy Shada, Micah Solusod, Vitamin H Productions, and Apphia Yu (Ayu Sakata).[26]
January 31 – February 2, 2020 Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex
Birmingham, Alabama		Zach Aguilar, Steve Blum, Leah Clark, Mr. Creepy Pasta, Jim Cummings, Yaya Han, Samantha Inoue-Harte, Catherine Jones, Kazha, E. Jason Liebrecht, Aaron Pabon, Rob Paulsen, Jad Saxton, Cristina Vee, and Vitamin H Productions.[27]
February 11–13, 2022 Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex
Birmingham, Alabama		9,000 (est.)[3]Corina Boettger, Kira Buckland, Mr. Creepy Pasta, Aaron Dismuke, Yaya Han, Erika Harlacher, Jill Harris, Caleb Hyles, Samantha Inoue-Harte, Kazha, Faye Mata, Adam McArthur, Casey Mongillo, Sarah Natochenny, Aaron Pabon, Dallas Reid, Jonah Scott, Synth Reality Productions, Vitamin H Productions, and Anne Yatco.[3]
February 10-12, 2023 Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex
Birmingham, Alabama		Rodger Bumpass, Alejandra Cazares, Jillian Coglan, Samurai Dan Coglan, Justin Cook, Grey DeLisle, Jack DeSena, Caitlin Glass, Olivia Hack, Haenuli, Yaya Han, Richard Horvitz, Samantha Inoue-Harte, Catherine Jones, Kazha, Peter Kelamis, Jennie Kwan, Amanda "AmaLee" Lee, The Living Tombstone, Jamie Marchi, Brandon McInnis, Michaela Jill Murphy, OR3O, Aaron Pabon, Kyle Phillips, Synth Reality Productions, J. Michael Tatum, TeddyLoid, Eric Vale, Natalie Van Sistine, and Vitamin H Productions.[28]
February 9-11, 2024 Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex
Birmingham, Alabama		Kyle Hebert, Khary Payton, and Zeno Robinson.[29]

Mascots

The official mascots of Kami-Con are Shio-chan (light/shiny) and Kosho (dark), who battled with the help of convention attendees choosing sides and participating in contests, to decide 2011's mascot.[4] In 2013, Shio and Kosho battled with the new turtle mascot, Shoyu, and its previous evil owners.[5]

Mississippi Anime Invasion

The Mississippi Anime Invasion was a two-day anime convention held during October at the Oxford Conference Center in Oxford, Mississippi. It was created by Kami-Con and students from the University of Mississippi.[30]

Event history

DatesLocationAtten.Guests
September 14–15, 2013 Oxford Conference Center
Oxford, Mississippi		Kyle Hebert, Laugh Out Loud, Micah Solusod, Greg Wicker, and Apphia Yu (Ayu Sakata).[30]
October 25–26, 2014 Oxford Conference Center
Oxford, Mississippi		Laugh Out Loud, Bryce Papenbrook, Christopher Sabat, and Greg Wicker.[31]

Kami-Con HAI

Kami-Con HAI is a three-day anime convention held during September/October at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

Event history

DatesLocationAtten.Guests
September 29 - October 1, 2023 Von Braun Center
Huntsville, Alabama		Linda Ballantyne, Dante Basco, Ian James Corlett, Katie Griffin, Richard Horvitz, Caleb Hyles, Kazha, The Living Tombstone, Alejandro Saab, Synth Reality Productions, Vitamin H Productions, Jonathan Young, and Stephanie Young.[32]

References

  1. ↑ Bonner, Aaron (March 10, 2016). "UA students present Kami-Con, a convention focused on Japanese pop culture". The Crimson White. Tuscaloosa, AL: University of Alabama. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
  2. ↑ Allen, Reginald (February 1, 2018). "Dressed to Express: Cosplaying in Birmingham". The Birmingham Times. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 "Kami-Con 2022 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 Nalley, Steven (April 21, 2010). "Kami-Con grows for second year". The Crimson White. Tuscaloosa, AL: University of Alabama. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Anime Fiesta". University of Alabama at Birmingham - Office of Student Media. Archived from the original on February 25, 2013. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  6. 1 2 Brown, Melissa (February 5, 2012). "Thousands of anime, other costumed creatures overrun UA's Ferguson Center for Kami-Con 4". The Huntsville Times. Huntsville, AL: Advance Publications. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
  7. 1 2 Chaffin, Ashley (February 17, 2011). "Kami-Con hits Tuscaloosa this weekend". The Crimson White. Tuscaloosa, AL: University of Alabama. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  8. 1 2 Saunders, Brett (February 2, 2012). "Kami-Con back at UA this weekend". The Crimson White. Tuscaloosa, AL: University of Alabama. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Updates & FAQ". Kami-Con. Archived from the original on 2 December 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  10. ↑ "Kami-Con 2021 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  11. ↑ Nakashima, Monica (10 February 2022). "Kami-Com returns to Birmingham". Alabama Public Radio. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  12. 1 2 "Kami-Con 2009 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "Attendance History - Kami-Con". WORLD CONQUEST, INC. Archived from the original on January 25, 2018. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Kami-Con 2010 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  15. ↑ "Kami-Con 2011 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  16. ↑ Phillips, Casey (January 15, 2012). "Excitement builds for pop subculture events throughout the South". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
  17. ↑ "Kami-Con 2012 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  18. 1 2 "Kami-Con 2013 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  19. ↑ "Kami-Con 2014 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
  20. 1 2 "Kami-Con 2015 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  21. 1 2 "Kami-Con 2016 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  22. 1 2 "Kami-Con 2017 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  23. ↑ Varner, Brandon (30 January 2017). "Kami-Con brings more than fun and games to the BJCC". WIAT. Archived from the original on 18 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  24. 1 2 "Kami-Con 2018 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  25. ↑ Todd, Connor (January 30, 2020). "Kami-Con, Alabama's largest anime convention, has Tuscaloosa roots". Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  26. ↑ "Kami-Con 2019 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  27. ↑ "Kami-Con 2020 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  28. ↑ "Kami-Con 2023 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  29. ↑ "Kami-Con 2024 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  30. 1 2 "Mississippi Anime Invasion 2013 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
  31. ↑ "Mississippi Anime Invasion 2014 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
  32. ↑ "Kami-Con HAI 2023 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved September 29, 2023.

33°31′26″N 86°48′43″W / 33.52389°N 86.81194°W / 33.52389; -86.81194

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