Anime Central (ACen) is an annual three-day anime convention held during May at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare & Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. The convention is organized by the Midwest Animation Promotion Society (MAPS).[2]
Programming
The convention typically offers anime viewing rooms, artist alley, autograph sessions, concerts, dances/rave, dealer's room, gaming (arcade, role play, table top, trading card, video) formal ball, karaoke, masquerade, panels, and Q&As.[4][5][6] During the convention, the gaming room runs for 24-hour a day.[7]
History
Anime Central was formed in 1998 due to the lack of anime gatherings in the Central United States.[8] During the 2001 convention, construction was occurring at the hotel while the event was underway.[9] Guest Robert DeJesus got married by guest Jan Scott-Frazier, an ordained minister, during the convention.[10] At the 2003 convention, the weekend lines to register for the convention ranged from 90 minutes for pre-registered attendees to 3 hours for others.[11] In 2004 several scheduling problems occurred and opening ceremonies were delayed an hour due to audio-visual problems.[12] The convention experienced problems with its registration system in 2008 resulting in extremely long lines.[13][14] Two cosplay weddings were held at the convention in 2012, along with the Hyatt needing to be evacuated due to a fire alarm.[5] Anime Central hosted the 2014 US Finals for the World Cosplay Summit.[15]
Anime Central 2020 and 2021 were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[16][17][18][19] The convention in 2022 changed its COVID-19 policies shortly before the convention, no longer requiring masks or vaccination.[20] Due to poor feedback from attendees, the policy was later modified requiring masks in several areas.[21][22]
Greg Ayres, Chris Bevins, Beau Billingslea, Steve Blum, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Fred Gallagher, Caitlin Glass, Clarine Harp, You Higuri, Hiroaki Inoue, Kumiko Kato, Bruce Lewis, Hiromi Matsushita, Vic Mignogna, Chris Patton, The Penny Lane All Stars, The Pillows, Jan Scott-Frazier, Rikki Simons, Doug Smith, Sally Suzuki, SWEK, Kazuko Tadano, Yusuke Wakamisho, Tavisha Wolfgarth-Simons, and Yutaka Yoshizawa.[30]
May 5–7, 2006
Hyatt Regency O'Hare Donald E. Stephens Convention Center Rosemont, Illinois
Hyatt Regency O'Hare Donald E. Stephens Convention Center Rosemont, Illinois
17,249
Yamila Abraham, J.L. Anderson, Matt Boyd, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Emily DeJesus, Robert DeJesus, Josh Elder, Kerry Freedman, Caitlin Glass, Tiffany Grant, Matt Greenfield, August Hahn, Mark Hildreth, Carl Gustav Horn, Aoi Kidokoro, Bruce Lewis, Russell Lissau, Ian McConville, Vic Mignogna, Misako Rocks!, Move, Fred Perry, Rhea Silvan, The Slants, The Spoony Bards, Chiaki Takahashi, Shinichi Watanabe, and Steve Yun.[34]
May 14–16, 2010
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center Rosemont, Illinois
Hyatt Regency O'Hare Donald E. Stephens Convention Center Rosemont, Illinois
23,353
DJ 100mado, Chris Cason, DJ Chucky, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Jillian Coglan, Samurai Dan Coglan, Josh Elder, Flow, Guhroovy, Darrel Guilbeau, August Hahn, Yoshiki Hayashi, Naoto Hirooka, Steve Horton, Koji Ide, DJ Jeffito, Russell Lissau, M-Project, Trevor A. Mueller, No+Chin, Mika Nomura, Raveman, Kosuke Saito, Saki, Stephanie Sheh, Bob Shinohata, Michael Sinterniklaas, Sixh., Hideko Tamura Snider, Spike Spencer, SWEK, J. Michael Tatum, Ugimi Umahara, Cristina Vee, and Steve Yun.[36]
April 27–29, 2012
Hyatt Regency O'Hare Donald E. Stephens Convention Center Rosemont, Illinois
Hyatt Regency O'Hare Donald E. Stephens Convention Center Rosemont, Illinois
28,692
Yuu Asakawa, Christopher Ayres, John Bivens, Jillian Coglan, Samurai Dan Coglan, Gashicon, Clarine Harp, Steve Horton, Taliesin Jaffe, Catherine Jones, Kalafina, Fumiko Kawamura, Sarah Lindholm, Russell Lissau, Helen McCarthy, Mint, Trevor A. Mueller, Sonny Strait, Brad Swaile, and Yukino.[38]
May 16–18, 2014
Hyatt Regency O'Hare Donald E. Stephens Convention Center Rosemont, Illinois
Hyatt Regency O'Hare Donald E. Stephens Convention Center Rosemont, Illinois
30,221
DJ Amaya, Jillian Coglan, Samurai Dan Coglan, Crispin Freeman, Toru Furuya, Gacharic Spin, DJ HeavyGrinder, Imeruat, Eric Maruscak, May'n, Helen McCarthy, Emily Neves, A New World, Tony Oliver, Putumayo, Micah Solusod, John Swasey, TeddyLoid, Alexis Tipton, Shinichi Watanabe, Lisle Wilkerson, and Mamoru Yokota.[42]
May 18–20, 2018
Hyatt Regency O'Hare Donald E. Stephens Convention Center Rosemont, Illinois
32,653
Jillian Coglan, Samurai Dan Coglan, Fhána, Jessie James Grelle, Kyle Hebert, Kikuko Inoue, Mitsuo Iso, Jerry Jewell, Jinsei Kataoka, Kazuma Kondou, Lauren Landa, Cherami Leigh, Eric Maruscak, Erica Mendez, Vic Mignogna, A New World, Takeshi Nogami, Tony Oliver, Brina Palencia, Bryce Papenbrook, Rosuuri, Shuzilow.HA, Micah Solusod, Kenichi Sonoda, J. Michael Tatum, VOfan, Mamoru Yokota, Takahiro Yoshimatsu,[3] and Marco d'Ambrosio.[43][non-primary source needed]
May 17–19, 2019
Hyatt Regency O'Hare Donald E. Stephens Convention Center Rosemont, Illinois
33,084
Takao Abo, Asaka, Jillian Coglan, Samurai Dan Coglan, Justin Cook, Marco d'Ambrosio, Ryoma Ebata, Brett Finnell, Sandy Fox, Crispin Freeman, Tomohiro Furukawa, Caitlin Glass, Darius Hambleton, Hiromitsu Iijima, Jerry Jewell, Brittney Karbowski, Takushi Koide, Masayuki Kojima, Lex Lang, Eric Maruscak, Helen McCarthy, Mai Nakahara, Atsushi Nakayama, Muneki Ogasawara, Miho Okasaki, Tony Oliver, Openworld, Kevin Penkin, Eric Price, Hiroyuki Saita, Sayaka Sasaki, Stephanie Sheh, Shuzilow.HA, W.T. Snacks, Kenichi Sonoda, Aya Suzaki, Natsumi Takamori, Kaiji Tang, Shiori Tani, Jason Thompson, True, Eric Vale, Christopher Wehkamp, and Zaq.[44]
May 20–22, 2022
Hyatt Regency O'Hare Donald E. Stephens Convention Center Rosemont, Illinois
Hyatt Regency O'Hare Donald E. Stephens Convention Center Rosemont, Illinois
Jillian Coglan, Samurai Dan Coglan, Dorah Fine, Sandy Fox, Hiromi Hirata, Takushi Koide, Lex Lang, Mela Lee, Emi Lo, Lotus Juice, Eric Maruscak, Faye Mata, Adam McArthur, Kayleigh McKee, Cassandra Lee Morris, Muneki Ogasawara, Tony Oliver, Raj Ramayya, Revolution Boi, Matthew David Rudd, Andre "DJ Jinrei" Smith, Kaiji Tang, Sora Tokui, Anne Yatco,[48]Mayako Nigo, Sally Amaki, Tomotaka Shibayama, Karen Imagawa, Hirotaka Mori, Takehiro Kubota, Win Morisaki, and Tomo Sakurai.[49]
Anime Central Aftershock!
Anime Central Aftershock! was a programming track offered at the Chicago Comic-Con on August 6–9, 2009. Programming included anime showings, artist appearances, contests, cosplay, and panel events.[50]
Otaquest Connect
Anime Central partnered with Otaquest to hold an online anime convention on August 15–16, 2020.[51][52]