Friday Panels

AnimeIowa Idol Fest

Friday 6:00pm-8:00pm Mainstage
Performance, Con Run
Come cheer on a talented lineup of vocalists and dancers at this year’s Idol Fest! From idol anime classics to kpop hits, our performers can’t wait to share some summer fun with you! Let’s get pumped up and make this an idol beach party to remember!!
Hosted by AnimeIowa and Iso Idols

AnimeIowa Taskmaster!

Canceled

Friday 12:00pm-1:30pm Oakdale 3
Gameshow
Taskmaster comes to AnimeIowa! Come watch the chaos unfold in the audience, or be a contestant on stage and encounter hilarious tasks!
Hosted by LukeSnakeSimp

Anime Alphabet

Friday 1:30pm-2:30pm Coral D
Gameshow
Know your Anime? Can you complete the alphabet with anime titles? Walk through the alphabet with us, and you may win a prize!
Hosted by Dustin

Anime OSHA Safety Audit

Friday 4:30pm-5:30pm Oakdale 3
Community
Practice safety everyday! The Anime Safety Experts will comb through your favorite anime and highlight our occupational safety concerns!
Hosted by Dana, Damon and Benson

Art Jam- Post It Note Edition

Friday LN 12:00am-2:30am Duke Slater
Arts and Crafts
The world needs more art jams! Hang out and sketch on post it notes or just art in general! I’ll have plenty of sketches to hand out, some prizes too!
Hosted by Rory

Ball Jointed Doll Intro and Meetup

Friday 1:30pm-2:30pm Wallace
Hobbies
Want to learn more about Ball Jointed Dolls? Already a collector and want to hang out with other people in the hobby? This panel is for you!
Hosted by Nichole and Bridgett

Cafe Ai

Friday 3:00pm-4:00pm Coral E
Interactive
Cafe Ai is a fully immersive maid cafe for all ages inspired by the cosplay cafes found in the Akihabara district of Tokyo, Japan. Relax your aching feet while your maids serve you a treat, play games with you and perform a dance routine for your entertainment. Each maids persona will match a trope you might see in anime but above all your maid will be aggressively kawaii! Okaerinasaimase Goshujinsama!
*Please note this panel has limited seating. Ribbons will be handed out to the first 60 attendees waiting in line on a first come first serve basis
Hosted by Maid Iris

Charity Drag Show 18+

Friday Late Night 10:30pm-12:30am MainStage
Performance 18+ panel
Do you love drag? So do we! Come support the wonderful Werkforce as they perform a fantastic show for charity!
Hosted by Werkforce

Comedy and Music and Comedy Music with the Kamikaze Showmen

Friday 9:00pm-10:30pm Mainstage
Performance. Guest Panel
Combine elements of classic vaudeville with humorous and interactive songs that touch on all aspects of geekdom (like anime, tabletop gaming, video games, sci-fi, horror and more) and you’ve got a Kamikaze Snowmen show!
Hosted by Kamikaze Showmen

Convention Etiquette 101

Friday 12:00pm-1:00pm Wallace
Community Related
Is this your first convention? Are you new to the con scene? A parent of a young con-goer? Learn all the unspoken dos and don’ts for convention spaces at Convention Etiquette 101!
Hosted by Idia

Convention Horror Stories

Friday 8:00pm-9:00pm Duke Slater
Community
Think you know how weird a con can get? Join us as we peak behind the curtain or gather your courage to share your own chilling tale!
Hosted by DawnStarCosplay

Cosplay A-Z

Canceled

Friday 10:30pm-11:30pm Wallace
Cosplay
Learn about the different areas of the cosplay realm from logistics such as wig styling and contacts to things such as participating in a cosplay contest or even becoming a guest some day. Join us as we go through each letter of the alphabet touching on different components of the cosplay and convention world- tips and tricks from beginners to professionals!
Hosted by Semetery Cosplay

Cosplay for Spoonies

Friday 12:30pm-1:30pm Duke Slater
Community
Cosplaying with Chronic, Mental or Invisible Illnesses takes extra work. We will go through time management, organization, accommodating mobility devices and more.
Hosted by Kai and Brianna

Danganronpa Jeopardy

Friday 5:00pm-6:00pm Duke Slateer
Fandom, Gameshow
It’s the fandom that never dies, Danganronpa! The questions will go over games 1-3 and the anime. Show us your ultimate knowledge and have fun!
Hosted by Pat and Hannah

Doujin Madligs 18+

Friday Late Night 10:00pm-11:00pm Oakdale 4
18+ Event, Community Related
Help us create some truly terrible doujin translations. We’ve blocked out some words to be filled in by the audience.
Hosted by SecretVictory & DoTheMacarena

EPIC: The Musical Ultimate Song Ranking

Friday 12:30pm-2:00pm Coral E
Fandom
A fan of EPIC: The Musical? Join us and help us rank the songs of the Odyssey from S to F Tier! Sing Alongs are encouraged and welcomed.
Hosted by: Fenchie and Tyler

EPIC: The Musical Sing Along 3.0

Friday 8:00pm-10:00pm Wallace
Fandom
Are you a fan of The Odyssey and other Greek Mythology? Do you love EPIC: The Musical by Jorge Rivera-Herrans? Know every lyric by heart or at least pretend to? Have a friend you want to introduce to every magical Saga? Then come join us for this sing along!
Hosted by Hooligans in Cosplay

Formal Partner Dancing 1

Friday 2:00pm-3:00pm Oakdale 3
Interactive
Ever wanted to learn ballroom dance? Well this year you have a chance! In this first series we will teach Salsa and Foxtrot. No partner nor dance experience necessary! We rotate partners to help provide as much partnered time as possible to foster the best learning environment
Hosted by Anime Formal Dancing

Hated Anime Character Screw/Marry/Remove 18+

Friday Late Night 1:00am-2:00am Oakdale 4
18+ Panel, Gameshow
Which hated characters are irredeemable, marriage potential or just too hot to handle? Decide their fate with the Weekly Weebs Podcast!
Hosted by The Weekly Weebs Podcast

How to be a VTuber

Friday 3:00pm-4:00pm Wallace
Hobbies
A crash course on taking up VTubing, including the things like model art and rigs, streaming and recording, overlays, equipment and more.
Hosted by Aurora

How to be Comfortable and Confident as a Plus Size Cosplayer

Friday 3:00pm-4:00pm Oakdale 3
Community
Join Ajax and Mix as we talk about being a plus size cosplayer! We will share personal stories, how to make your cosplay fit you and how to be confident!
Hosted by Ajax and Mix

HP Lovecraft in Japanese Culture

Friday 4:00pm-5:00pm Duke Slater
Fandom
Cthullu? In my anime?! Come on in and let’s talk about the cultural influence the American master of horror has on not just Anime and Manga but on the Japanese entertainment industry as a whole! Everything from Digimon to Overlord has HP Lovecrafts DNA so let’s discuss, explore and debate his influence on Japanese Entertainment.
Hosted by Zach and Crystal

I Can’t Believe It’s Not Hentai 18+

Friday Late night 12:30am-1:30am Coral E
18+ Panel, Community
As the line blurs between lewd anime degenerative hentai, are you cultured enough to tell the difference between them using only terrible descriptions?
Hosted by LuckyPupCosplay, Wormungandr, and Cannonground

Into the HaruVerse 18+

Friday 11:00pm-12:00pm Coral E
Fandom, 18+
Inspired by Octopimps 50% Off, we bring you into the mind of Haru himself. Just how many Haru’s are there? Was there really only one who could read? Who will retain leadership in this very crowded mind?
Hosted by Kabooti, TheAmazingJazz and Saemoroll

Iowa Pokemon League

Friday 6:00pm-7:30pm Wallace
Fandom
Do you want to be the very best? Come on down and challenge our gym leaders and see if you can become part of our community! S/V Version w/ DLC!
Hosted by Kat and the Iowa Pokemon League

It’s Match Game: AnimeIowa Edition!

Friday 7:30pm-9:00pm Oakdale 3
Gameshow
A game where contestants try to match answers with our star studded panelists!
Hosted by Stephanie and Mike

K-Pop Random Dance (Old & New)

Friday Late Night 12:00am-2:00am Wallace
Fandom
Don’t be Super Shy, come and join us for these K-Pop hits from 2009-present! Whether you’re a new fan or a seasoned dancer, all can have fun!
Hosted by Cherri and Alani

Kandi Make & Take

Friday Late Night 11:00pm-12:00am Duke Slater
Arts & Crafts
Calling all fans of Kandi bracelets! Join us for a make and take! Bring supplies or use ours. Make bracelets to keep, trade or gift. Tutorials are provided.
Hosted by TJ Van

Karaoke By AnimeAmes

Friday Late Night 11:00pm-2:00am Oakdale 3
Guest of Honor
Do you like karaoke? So do we! Come join AnimeAmes as they host a fun evening of karaoke!
Hosted by AnimeAmes

King of the Gil

Friday 4:00pm-5:00pm Coral D
Fandom
Denizens of Etheirys! Join us to try your hand at a Final Fantasy XIV trivia showdown event even the greenest of sprouts can triumph in!
Hosted by Zac, Alex and Adam

Lets Play with Sarah Wiedenheft

Friday 6:00pm-7:30pm Coral E
Guest of Honor
Feeling Adventurous? Come play Night in the Woods with Sarah. It is about a college dropout named Mae who travels back home to reconnect with old friends and resume her former life in Possum Springs. But things aren’t the same. Everything seems different now. And there’s something in the woods…
Hosted by Sarah Wiedenheft

Massive Miku Meetup

Friday 2:30pm-4:00pm Coral D
Fandom
Attention Hatsune Miku fans and cosplayers! Come join Miku… and Miku… and even more Mikus for games, performances and a photoshoot!
Hosted by GreedGutz, Cherry, Courtney and Mika

Meet The Fire Performers (Introduction and Q&A)

6:30pm-7:30pm Coral D
Guest Panel, Q&A
Learn about the troupe, how they got to where they are and a bit about the business as well. Make sure to bring your curiosity!
Hosted by Incendiary NPCs

NO 7! Bonk, Games, Bonk

Canceled

Friday 5:30pm-7:30pm Coral D
Gameshow
A gameshow where contestants play bad video games and answer bad trivia for prizes, and stop an evil plan to destroy the world’s beaches.
Hosted by Shou Tucker

Opening Ceremonies

Friday 4:00pm-5:00pm Mainstage
Con Run
AnimeIowa 2025 has officially begun! Join us in discussing the highlights of this year’s convention, introduce our Guests of Honor, and more!
Hosted by AnimeIowa.

Pokemon Talk

Friday 2:00pm-4:00pm Duke Slater
Fandom, Hobbies
Wanting to learn about Pokemon battling as a new player or a long time player having struggles? Come to the Pokemon Talk, here we will be happy to teach you about the specifics on battling and answer any questions you may have.
Hosted by Julie and David

Queer Anime Awards

Friday 2:30pm-3:30pm Mainstage
Community
Welcome to the Queer Anime Awards! A look back at LGBTQ+ anime that aired in 2024 and reveal the winner of the Best Queer Anime that you voted for!
Hosted by DisasterDrake

Smash or Pass AO3 Tags 18+

Friday Late Night 1:00am-2:00am Coral D
18+ Panel
Hello! Join Rhi, Mix and Ajax as we play Smash or Pass with AO3 tags! We have done the digging so come and tell us if the tag is your cup of tea or if you would pass.
Hosted by Ajax, Rhi and Mix

So You Want to Be A Streamer?

Friday 9:30pm-10:30pm Oakdale 3
Guest Panel
Do you want to be a streamer? Unsure of where to start? Stop by and join Atomic Kawaii in discussing how to be a streamer.
Hosted by Atomic Kawaii

Storybooks with Charlie and Friends 18+

Canceled

Friday Late Night 12:00am-1:00am Coral D
18+ Event; Fandom Related
Let’s try this again, but better this time! Come join Charlie and her friends with some not so nice stories.
Hosted by Rylan and Sammi

The AnimeIowa Dating Game 18+

Friday 9:30pm-10:30pm Coral E
18+ Panel, Gameshow
Bring your cosplay-ed self down to compete for a hot summer date, nerds!
Hosted by Emma and Cassandra

The History of Earth and Humanity (According to Dr Who)

Friday 6:30pm-7:30pm Duke Slater
Fandom
The television show Dr Who has taught viewers all over the world so much history about Earth and the people who live on it. Today, you get to learn about some of the many, many highlights.
Hosted by Rose

The Joshi Wrestling Crash Course: 2025 Edition

Friday 4:30pm-5:30pm Wallace
Fandom
Learn a quick history of women’s pro wrestling in Japan, its colorful characters, ever changing landscape and recent forays in America.
Hosted by Tyler

Trope Talk: Enemies to Lovers 18+

Friday Late Night 11:00pm-12:00am Coral D
18+ Panel
Based on the hit YouTube series Trope Talk, come and learn about enemies to lovers and how they are done right!
Hosted by Megan

Voice Over and TTRPGs

Friday 8:00pm-9:00 Coral D
Guest Panel.
Do you like TTRPGs? Interested in the topic of voice overs? Come join Mark Allen Jr discuss the details involved with voice overs and TTRPGs!
Hosted by Mark Allen Jr

Waifu/Husbando Wars 18+

Friday Late Night 1:0am-2:0am Oakdale 3
18+ Panel, Gameshow
Ready to defend your favorite anime bae? Do you think someone’s waifu is trash? Come play Kahoot style Smash, Marry KO with today’s most eligible bachelors and bachelorettes!
Hosted by Idia

Waifu Wars After Dark 18+

Friday Late Night 11:30pm-12:30am Oakdale 4
18+ Panel, Gameshow
A tier ranking list where the crowd gets to rank some fan favorite female anime characters.
Hosted by Wade, Heather, Hannah and Steven

Windbreaker Q&A

Friday 6:00pm-7:00pm Oakdale 3
Guest of Honor
Do you love Windbreaker? So do we! Come join our Guests of Honor and discuss Windbreaker!
Hosted by Austin Tindle and Derick Snow

Wing of Imagination: Getting Started with Gunpla

Friday 8:00pm-9:00pm Coral E
Hobbies Related
Discussing the introduction of Gundam Model Kits and tools for beginners.
Hosted by Hunter and Damon

You Don’t Know Japan! 18+

Friday Late Night 9:30pm-11:00pm Coral D
Gameshow, 18+ Panel
Think you know Japan? Think again! We scour the depths of the web for the wildest, wackiest stuff our friends from the East have to offer.
Hosted by Alex, Zac and Adam.