AniMinneapolis: A Haven for Anime Lovers in Minnesota

AniMinneapolis is an annual anime convention held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, that draws thousands of anime fans from all over the country. The convention features a variety of events, including cosplay competitions, video game tournaments, anime screenings, and much more.

My team started AniMinneapolis in 2011 to bring our brand of anime nerdiness to Minnesota, and we made a ton of friends doing so. The first AniMinneapolis event was held in 2011 at a Northern Minneapolis hotel, and since then, it has become one of the most popular anime conventions in the country. The convention has grown exponentially over the years, with more attendees, events, and special guests each year.

The founders of AniMinneapolis — AnimeCon.org’s team includes Ryan, Erica, Carol, and some other passionate anime fans and community members — are passionate about anime and wanted to create an event that would be a fun and safe space for everyone to express their love for the genre. They have worked hard to make AniMinneapolis a welcoming and inclusive convention, where attendees can come together to celebrate their shared interests.

Convention Hours

The convention runs from Friday 11am through Sunday around 5pm, and includes events like the Grand Cosplay Contest, which was previouslyknown as the Masquerade, and the Formal Fantasy Cosplay Ball. The event is held at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, and attendees can find convention events from the 1st through 4th floors.

Dealers and Artists

The convention features an exhibit hall with some of the most awesome vendors ever, including dealers who sell everything you can imagine, from costumes and corsets to pocky and DVDs. Several artists also sell their own handmade stuff, from chain-mail armor to buttons.

The Dealers and Artists at AniMinneapolis offer a wide range of products that cater to every anime fan’s interests. Attendees can browse through an extensive collection of anime merchandise, including action figures, plushies, posters, and t-shirts. Dealers also sell cosplay accessories, such as wigs, shoes, and makeup, allowing attendees to complete their anime-inspired outfits.

Some of the vendors coming this year include “Purple Plum / Anime Stuff Store”, “Jedi Master’s Toys”, the “Lunar Toy Store”, “DC Imports”, “Sakura’s Blossoms” and many more! There are about 100 different artists and vendors coming.

In addition to the standard anime merchandise, attendees can also find unique and handmade items from various artists. From chain-mail armor to hand-stitched plushies, the artists at AniMinneapolis offer a one-of-a-kind selection of products that can’t be found anywhere else. Attendees can also commission custom pieces from artists, allowing them to bring their favorite anime characters to life in a new and exciting way.

Another popular product at AniMinneapolis is Pocky, a Japanese snack that has become a staple in anime culture. Dealers offer a variety of Pocky flavors, including classic chocolate, strawberry, and matcha. Attendees can also find other Japanese snacks and candies, such as ramune, mochi, and Hi-Chew.

Video Games

AniMinneapolis also features a video gaming area with 32" LCD screens and more, with gaming tournaments happening all weekend. Last year, the convention even had DDR machines, Pump-it-Up, and more, to give attendees something fun to do during downtime.

The gaming area is equipped with big LCD screens and a variety of gaming consoles, including PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo. Attendees can also find classic arcade games and Japanese arcade games, such as Dance Dance Revolution, Pump-it-Up, and Taiko no Tatsujin. The specific games brought may change from year to year.

Escape Room

One of the unique features of AniMinneapolis is the Escape Room, an interactive room adventure where attendees take part in a mystery, solve tricky puzzles and work as a team to reach a thrilling conclusion.

Nightly DJ-led Dance Parties

The convention features several official, amazing DJs in its guest DJ lineup, including Party Monster DJs, Lucid Beats, and DJ Oso. Attendees can enjoy awesome EDM dance music and jumpstyle, hardstyle, techno, trance, and even dubstep.

Formal Ball

As a special treat, AniMinneapolis holds an annual fantasy ball, and admission is free to convention attendees with a badge. In addition, there are professional formal dance lessons before the event begins, taught by an experienced dance instructor. For those without dates, there is even a Date Auction on Friday afternoon, before the ball.

Panels

AniMinneapolis has tons of panels, submitted and created by attendees like you. Panels can be run by fans about their favorite subjects, they could be organized by the staff, or they could be hosted by the convention’s very own guests of honor. Everything attendees love, from Lolita and Dolls, to Homestuck, Hetalia, and Pokemon, is included.

Cosplay

AniMinneapolis is excited to feature tons of cosplay events, in addition to the mainstage Masquerade cosplay competition, including photoshoots, meetups, panels, and much more. There are even scheduled meetup/photoshoot times for different fandoms to gather in their outfits, and there is a hall costume contest attendees can compete in to win free admission for next year.

ConSweet

The convention provides a wonderful ConSweet filled with free snacks, ramen, and rice all weekend to help attendees get through the convention filled with energy.

The ConSweet provides free snacks, such as chips, candy, and cookies, as well as instant ramen and rice. These snacks and meals are available throughout the entire weekend, allowing attendees to grab a quick bite whenever they need it.

The ConSweet also offers a variety of drinks, including soda, juice, and water, which help attendees stay hydrated and energized during the convention. Additionally, the ConSweet provides seating and tables, allowing attendees to take a break from walking around and relax while they eat.

Items may be limited in supply, however, as it’s not meant to be your only meal source.

One of the unique features of the ConSweet is the interactive nature of the space. Attendees can bring their own toppings for their ramen or rice, such as hot sauce, soy sauce, sriracha, sesame oil, or furikake, and share them with other attendees.

Autographs

Attendees have a ton of awesome guests, and of course, they can have their autograph. Autographs from most of the special guests are free, so bring your favorite DVD to get signed (no bootlegs, please).

AniMinneapolis features eighteen guests, including for example Jay Hickman, Greg Ayres, Gareth West, and Quinton Flynn. Jay Hickman is a seasoned anime voice actor with notable roles in anime series and films, video games, and live-action series and films. Greg Ayres has over 376 voice acting credits and is best known for his roles in popular anime series, such as “Free,” “Haikyu,” and “DragonBall Super.” Gareth West is an actor, model, and voice actor known for his roles in anime series, including “Haikyu,” “Food Wars,” and “Saint Seiya.” Finally, Quinton Flynn is a prolific voice actor known for his roles in video games and animation, including “Kingdom Hearts,” “Metal Gear Solid,” and “Sonic.”

There are several other actors attending as ewll. Most of them will be available throughout the weekend at various times for autograph sessions.

AMV Contest

One of the highly anticipated events at AniMinneapolis is the AMV contest. Attendees have the chance to showcase their creative skills and win big, as the winner receives free tickets to the next convention.

Tabletop Gaming

AniMinneapolis is proud to feature Flame Point Games as the host to its tabletop gaming room. Attendees can playtest and purchase games that are published by local Minnesota companies.

Anime Screenings

The convention has a room dedicated to streaming anime, providing a chance to relax and catch up on what’s new in the world of anime, or even discover a classic show that you might fall in love with.

Karaoke

Karaoke is huge in Japan, and AniMinneapolis thinks it should be a staple at conventions too. Attendees can come to the Karaoke Krypt and sing with their fellow anime fans. The convention has a huge library of music for attendees to choose from.

Room Parties

While not an official event of AniMinneapolis, attendees sometimes choose to host room parties in their hotel rooms during the convention. These are often fun social or anime-themed events. For example, there have been room parties with a Pokemon theme and red, yellow, and blue colored drinks with voting based on your Pokemon Go team.

Credits Remaining

Another fun feature of AniMinneapolis is the arcade provided by Credits Remaining, Chicago’s largest convention arcade provider. Attendees can enjoy all sorts of arcade games, dance games, music games, and more, in the convention’s gaming room.

Conclusion

AniMinneapolis is a haven for anime lovers, with a wide range of events that cater to everyone’s interests. From cosplay competitions and video game tournaments to anime screenings and karaoke, there’s something for everyone at this convention. Attendees can meet like-minded people, participate in fun activities, and enjoy a weekend of anime-themed fun. If you’re an anime fan, AniMinneapolis is definitely an event you won’t want to miss.

AniMinneapolis this year will be May 26–28, 2023, and future dates are May 24–26, 2024, May 9–11, 2025, May 22–24, 2026, and May 7–9, 2027.

Tickets are available from the official website.