SMASH!
Sydney Manga and Anime Show
StatusActive
GenreAnime, Japanese pop culture
VenueInternational Convention Centre Sydney
Location(s)Sydney, New South Wales
CountryAustralia
Inaugurated2007
Attendance28,000+ in 2022
Organised bySMASH Inc.
Filing statusNon-profit
Websitehttps://smash.org.au/

SMASH! Sydney Manga and Anime Show (typically abbreviated to SMASH!) is an annual Japanese pop culture convention held during July/August at the International Convention Centre Sydney in Sydney, New South Wales, and is the largest anime convention in Australia.

Programming

The convention typically offers an artist circle, art competitions, community groups, cosplay competition and games, karaoke competition, maid cafe, merchandise vendors, panels, stage events, video game tournaments, and workshops. It also hosts the Gunpla Builders World Cup and World Cosplay Summit preliminary. On some years, a concert or after hours event also takes place that feature musical guests.[1]

Organization

SMASH! is run by SMASH Inc, a non-profit association incorporated in New South Wales that began in 2007.[2] SMASH Inc is controlled by a board elected each year by the members of the association. The board in turn selects a management team responsible for the planning and day-to-day conduct of the convention as well as a staff of volunteers organised into various departments. The board, management and staff total more than 50 people.

Mascots

The convention features two mascots, a boy, Cyrus, and a girl, Skadi. The mascots were designed in 2007 by Sai Nitivoranant and have been drawn by numerous artists, including guests of the convention, Tan Kit Mun, Alexandra Szweryn and Shaun Healey.

History

SMASH! 2022 at the International Convention Centre Sydney

SMASH! was conceived by Katie Huang, an artist and illustrator living and working in Sydney. The event was originally called ComicWorld Sydney and was more closely modelled on the Comic World events held in Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan. As the number of people involved in organising the event increased, the focus broadened and the name was changed to SMASH! Sydney Manga and Anime Show.

In the first year, the convention setup the first maid cafe and host club to be at an anime convention in Australia. It was also where The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya and Death Note made their Australian premiere.[3] In 2010, SMASH! hosted the first national final of the Bandai Action Kit Universal Cup held in Australia in conjunction with Hobbyco and Namco Bandai; it was also the first year the convention reached its attendance cap. In 2014, SMASH! began its association with the World Cosplay Summit, holding the Australian Preliminary Final. That same year it also staged the NIPPON World Karaoke Grand Prix Australian Preliminary Final.

In 2020 and 2021, the convention was first postponed, then cancelled due to the Australian Government advice regarding the organisation of public gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic.[4][5]

Event History

DatesLocationAtten.Guests
18 August 2007 The Roundhouse, University of New South Wales
Sydney, New South Wales		1,435Queenie Chan, W Chew Chan, Gregor Whiley, and Yunyu.[6][7][8]
2 August 2008 The Roundhouse, University of New South Wales
Sydney, New South Wales		2,295Queenie Chan, W Chew Chan, Hidenobu Kiuchi, and Tan Kit Mun.[6][9]
8–9 August 2009 The Roundhouse, University of New South Wales
Sydney, New South Wales		2,709Cuson Lo, Alexandra Szweryn and Roger Lock.[6][10]
7 August 2010 Sydney Town Hall
Sydney, New South Wales		2,810Yūko Miyamura, Tiffany Grant, Matt Greenfield, Shaun Healey, and Mikiko Ponczcek.[6][11]
16 July 2011 Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre
Sydney, New South Wales		5,405Martin Billany, Hiroki Kikuta, Shinichi Watanabe, Kenji Ito, and Mari Yoshida. Concert, featuring Eminence.[6][12]
14 July 2012 Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre
Sydney, New South Wales		6,200Shin-ichiro Miki, Yūko Miyamura, and Sakura Tange.[2][6][13]
10 August 2013 Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre
Sydney, New South Wales		7,849Hidenori Matsubara, Haruko Momoi, Masakazu Morita, and Loverin Tamburin. Concert, featuring Vocaloid, Kz (Livetune), and Hachioji-P.[6][14]
9–10 August 2014 Rosehill Gardens Racecourse
Rosehill, New South Wales		13,617Kotono Mitsuishi, Toshihiro Kawamoto, and Reika.[6][15]
8–9 August 2015 Rosehill Gardens Racecourse
Rosehill, New South Wales		14,000+Danny Choo, Hiroaki Yura, Noriaki Sugiyama, Reika, and Loverin Tamburin. I Love Anisong (concert), featuring GARNiDELiA, Kz (Livetune), Nagi Yanagi, and DJ Hello Kitty.[6][16]
20–21 August 2016 Rosehill Gardens Racecourse
Rosehill, New South Wales		–Hideo Ishikawa, Ai Nonaka, Takahiro Sakai, and Yuegene Fay. After Hours, featuring Cataclystic, Hachioji-P, and IA.[6][17]
19–20 August 2017 Rosehill Gardens Racecourse
Rosehill, New South Wales		–Daisuke Sakaguchi, Shizuka Ito, Baozi & hana, Redjuice, Shiori Mikami, Yusuke Kozaki, and Asami Hagiwara. After Hours featuring TeddyLoid, Jadebella, Kenaz and DJ Yui Kanan.[6][18]
14–15 July 2018 International Convention Centre Sydney
Sydney, New South Wales		22,000+Yoko Taro, Tsubasa Yonaga, Takahiro Omori, Ryotaro Okiayu, Mon, and Spike Spencer.[6][19][20]
13–14 July 2019 International Convention Centre Sydney
Sydney, New South Wales		22,000+Rie Kugimiya, Atsushi Abe, Fumiko Orikasa, Kousuke Toriumi, Kizuna Ai, Goichi Suda, Seiji Mizushima, Junichiro Tamura, The Anime Man, Dear Kiss, Swallowtail Butler Opera, King, Haneame, Chihiro, Baozi & Hana, Ayasa, DJ Hosaka☆, Gear (GinyuforcE), and Latte (GinyuforcE). I Love Anisong (concert), featuring Kz (livetune), Konomi Suzuki, Chihara Minori and Nano.[6][20][21][22]
16–17 July 2022 International Convention Centre Sydney
Sydney, New South Wales		28,000+The Anime Man, Hakos Baelz, CDawgVA, Gigguk, Hikarin, Kevin Penkin, Tsukumo Sana, Yosuke Sora, and Sydsnap.[23]
1–2 July 2023 International Convention Centre Sydney
Sydney, New South Wales		SungWon Cho, Kureiji Ollie, Pavolia Reine, Toru Furuya, LAM, Rithe, Luto Araka, Lana Shikami, Sara Nagare, and Ladybeard.[24]

References

  1. ↑ "Things to do". SMASH! Inc. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  2. 1 2 Treuen, Jason (13 July 2012). "Anime attraction". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  3. ↑ "SMASH! Update - Convention info and anime premiere". Anime News Network. Retrieved 22 April 2008.
  4. ↑ "Advice for organising public gatherings" (PDF). Australia Department of Health. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  5. ↑ "SMASH! Anime Convention – Sydney Manga & Anime Show, 16 & 17 July 2022". SMASH! Inc. Archived from the original on 29 July 2022. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "History". SMASH! Inc. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  7. ↑ "SMASH! Sydney Manga and Anime Show 2007". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  8. ↑ "All Ages Gig". Yunyu. Archived from the original on 16 November 2007. Retrieved 22 April 2008.
  9. ↑ "SMASH! Sydney Manga and Anime Show 2008". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  10. ↑ "SMASH! Sydney Manga and Anime Show 2009". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  11. ↑ "SMASH! Sydney Manga and Anime Show 2010". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  12. ↑ "SMASH! Sydney Manga and Anime Show 2011". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  13. ↑ "SMASH! Sydney Manga and Anime Show 2012". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  14. ↑ "SMASH! Sydney Manga and Anime Show 2013". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  15. ↑ "SMASH! Sydney Manga and Anime Show 2014". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  16. ↑ "SMASH! Sydney Manga and Anime Show 2015". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  17. ↑ "SMASH! Sydney Manga and Anime Show 2016". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  18. ↑ "SMASH! Sydney Manga and Anime Show 2017". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  19. ↑ "SMASH! Sydney Manga and Anime Show 2018". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  20. 1 2 "SMASH! Sydney Manga and Anime Show - Exhibitor Information Pack". SMASH! Inc. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  21. ↑ "SMASH! Sydney Manga and Anime Show 2019". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  22. ↑ Di Iorio, Michael (15 July 2019). "Another successful year for the Sydney Manga and Anime Show (SMASH)". The Brag Media. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  23. ↑ "Guests". SMASH! Inc. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  24. ↑ "SMASH! Sydney Manga and Anime Show 2023". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
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