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Anime Iowa Convention is a fan-run 3 day event held in July each year.  We are a part of the Mindbridge Foundation, a not-for-profit organization promoting Science Fiction, Fantasy, & related interests here in Eastern Iowa.  Our first convention was held in Cedar Rapids, IA., in 1997.  Since then the convention has become a midsummer staple boasting 3,000+ attendees.  Those who attend Anime Iowa are a uniquely diverse and inclusive group of individuals and families who have a common love of anime and Japanese culture. 

Convention Date

Anime Iowa will take place on July 28th – July 30th 2023

Location

Hyatt Regency Coralville Hotel & Conference Center

300 E 9th Street Coralville, IA., 52241

What is an Anime Convention?
A convention is a gathering of fans where they can meet and participate in activities. Anime refers to animated TV shows and movies produced in Japan. Despite being called AnimeIowa, we cater to an interest in Japanese culture including anime (animated TV shows and movies), manga (graphic novels), gaming, costuming, and more. In short, we also celebrate the customs which originated or are ingrained into the Japanese culture.

What activities are there at AnimeIowa?

• Panels:
  The lifeblood of any convention are the panels and AnimeIowa is no different. In past years we have had Japanese tea ceremonies, weapons demonstrations, game shows, discussions with anime industry veterans, Japanese arts and crafts, model building, cosplay guides, formal dances, show and tells, swap meets, art jams, discussions of popular shows and genres; the list goes on. We also host programming for young attendees.
  The best part is that attendees run most panels. Anyone registered for AnimeIowa can propose and run a panel. See the Panels section on the website for more information
• Cosplay:
  Cosplay (short for Costume Play) is a staple of any anime convention. Attendees create and dress up in simple to elaborate costumes based on characters from their favorite anime, manga, video games, comics and yes, even TV commercials. Cosplayers can be found wandering the convention, posing for photoshoots, competing in the Masquerade and Hall Cosplay competitions.
  Please be respect attendees when taking photos. Ask first.
• Gaming:
  We offer gaming during the convention to cater to both video and non-video gamers. We have a room dedicated to video games with a huge collection of games and consoles provided by the Mindbridge Video Game Library. There you can play single player or multiplayer games on various consoles ranging from vintage to some of the newest models out. There will also be a limited number of TV’s where you can attach and play with your own system.
  Video games have evolved incredibly fast since Pong was released late in 1972. But Video games are infants compared to board games. Early board games date as far back as 3500 BC.
  Our Tabletop Gaming room has a variety of games for you to check out and play including card games, board games and tabletop RPGs. Games are provided by the Mindbridge Game Library. The Game Library has hundreds of games to choose from with different games being added all the time. Did we mention that he Game Library can be rented events. More information can be found on the Mindbridge.org website by using the link above
• Video rooms:
  Stop by our Video Rooms which run non-stop anime for your viewing pleasure. Discover new shows or enjoy a classic! There is even a room which runs AMV’s. The Video rooms are located on the 2nd floor of the Iowa Hyatt and are open to everyone.
• Shopping:
  Looking to do some shopping? The Anime Marketplace features a huge selection of anime and related merchandise alongside created art from our attending vendors and artists. For hours and other information visit our Marketplace page here on the website.

These are just a sampling of the activities at AnimeIowa. If you would like to learn more check out the Events section of the website.

How do I attend?
Just show up! Well, it’s a little more complicated than that. Registration is required to attend AnimeIowa. You can pre-register before the convention. Or buy your registration at the door. Pre-registration typically runs between Black Friday and the last day of May, and allows you to register at discount rates. Note that Pre-registrations cannot be refunded but can be transferred to the next convention year. More information can be found in our Registration Section of the website.

Since AnimeIowa is an all weekend event (Friday – Sunday), if you live outside the Coralville, Iowa City or Cedar Rapids area, it will likely be necessary to book a hotel. Rooms are available at our host hotel Hyatt Regency Coralville Hotel and Conference Center and other hotels in the area.  The rooms at the Hyatt are reserved in special  hotel blocks just for AnimeIowa. News updates about hotel registration can be found on the Hotels for AnimeIowa section of the website as details are announced.  

How can I learn more about AnimeIowa?
The website is the primary source of information. News updates can be seen on the AnimeIowa homepage. We have a year round presents on Social Media including our Facebook page, Facebook Groups, Twitter feed, Google Plus page, RSS feed, and mailing list. The AnimeIowa Forums is a fantastic place to chat with other attendees and find out more about AnimeIowa; and registering is a breeze. If you have any questions you can use the Contact Us page to contact the appropriate department for more information.

Who runs AnimeIowa?
AnimeIowa is a 501©7 not-for-profit project managed by the Mindbridge Foundation which also manages our ‘sister’ conventions:

Gamicon – Gamicon is Eastern Iowa’s premier game convention. We offer three days of family friendly events ranging from scheduled board, card and role-playing games to a live game auction and a huge game library that lets you choose the gaming experience you want. Now in our 28th year, we have established ourselves as the go-to game event for Eastern Iowa and much of the Midwest.

ICON – is an annual science fiction convention held in the Cedar Rapids/ Iowa City area of Iowa since 1975, usually in late October or early November. It is the oldest and largest science fiction convention in Iowa. Check out the fun.

AnimeIowa is run by an all-volunteer staff who work all year to prepare for the convention. Anyone can join staff by attending or tele-conferencing into the meetings that occur throughout the year. A schedule of meetings can be found on the Staff section of the website or by emailing recruitment@animeiowa.com. In addition to staff members, there is an army of temporary volunteers who help during AnimeIowa. They perform odd jobs to earn points for prizes or even registration for the next year. Find out how to sign-up as a volunteer at the Volunteers section of the website.