Anime Revolution (AniRevo)
StatusActive
VenueVancouver Convention Centre
Location(s)Vancouver, British Columbia
CountryCanada
Inaugurated2012[1]
Organized byAnime Revolution Events Inc.
Websitewww.animerevolution.ca

Anime Revolution (abbreviated as AniRevo) is a three-day anime convention held annually in August in Vancouver, BC.[2] Initially held in the East Wing of the Vancouver Convention Centre, (Canada Place) it has been held in the newer West Wing since 2017. While the name is similar, the convention has no connection to Anime Evolution.[3]

Programming

Anime Revolution is notable for being the first anime convention in Vancouver to host voice actor guests from Japan and often features high-profile recording session performances.[4] They also regularly bring in representatives from North American anime distributors such as Bandai and Crunchyroll. Their regular programming includes anime and AMV screenings, voice actor panels, as well as stage events including cosplay shows and the 70s Anime Dating Show.[5] Other events have included contests, industry/fan panels, workshops, vendor and artist rooms, video game groups, concerts, raves/masquerades and photo shoots.

Mascot

The Mascot for Anime Revolution is Senkaku Mei, or Senmei for short. She is a blunt, spontaneous, energetic attention grabber who loves to be the center of attention. She can usually be found dressed in her race-queen outfit with her two mini megaphones.[6] A live action version of Senmei was portrayed by cosplay model Jessica Nigri in 2013.[7]

History

Anime Revolution was launched in 2012 to meet demand for a new anime-focused convention in Metro Vancouver, after Anime Evolution (run by AE Convention Corp) had been cancelled in 2010.[3] Since it began, the convention has grown significantly, being the first anime convention in Metro Vancouver to surpass 10,000 attendees[8][9] and eventually expanding its audience to more areas of Japanese pop culture such as gunpla and maid cafés.

Event history

Dates Location Attendance Guests
August 17–19, 2012 Vancouver Convention Centre
Vancouver, British Columbia		5,233[1]Noah Antwiler, Stephanie Beard, Vincent Corazza, Sarah Edmondson, Fighting Dreamers Productions, Katie Griffin, Terri Hawkes, Irulanne, Sam Logan, Katie Marsden, Angela "Jam" Melick, Jouji Nakata, Mark Nguyen, Jessica Nigri, Susan Roman, Ron Rubin, Lee Tockar, Doug Walker.[1]
August 16–18, 2013 Vancouver Convention Centre
Vancouver, British Columbia		7,326[10]The 404s, Angelic Pretty, Fighting Dreamers Productions, Toru Furuya, Caitlin Glass, Todd Haberkorn, Cherami Leigh, Vic Mignogna, Jessica Nigri, Origa, Newton Pittman, Dean Redman, Chantal Strand, Doug Walker, Kappei Yamaguchi.[10]
August 22–24, 2014 Vancouver Convention Centre
Vancouver, British Columbia		12,177[9]The 404s, Angelic Pretty, Fighting Dreamers Productions, Yaya Han, Marina Inoue, Mike McFarland, Lindze Merrit, Vic Mignogna, Jessica Nigri, Megumi Ogata, Origa, Lisa Ortiz, Dean Redman, Michael Sinterniklaas.[9]
August 14–15, 2015 Vancouver Convention Centre
Vancouver, British Columbia		~15,000[11]The 404s, Yuu Asakawa, Laura Bailey, Richard Ian Cox, Fighting Dreamers Productions, Grant George, Nobuyuki Hiyama, Kotoko, Dean Redman, Takeshi Takedera, Thelshter, Greg Wicker, Travis Willingham.[12]
August 5–7, 2016 Vancouver Convention Centre
Vancouver, British Columbia		~17,000[13]The 404s, Caitlyn Bairstow, Yugene Fay, Fighting Dreamers Productions, Ayumi Fujimura, Tiffany Grant, Loverin Tamburin, Tony Oliver, Romi Park, Chris Patton, Toshihiko Seki, The Slants, Takeshi Takedera, Cristina Vee, Greg Wicker.[14]
August 4–6, 2017 Vancouver Convention Centre
Vancouver, British Columbia		~20,000[citation needed]The 404s, Fighting Dreamers Productions, Katsuyuki Konishi, Kana Ueda, Shizuka Itō, Emiri Katō, Takeshi Takadera, DJ WILDPARTY, MON 夢, STAYXXXX, Lady Zero, Narcisse, Alyson Tabbitha, Junkers, J5, Austin Tindle, Erica Lindbeck, Aaron Dismuke, Todd Haberkorn, ProJared, Digitrevx.[15]
August 3–5, 2018 Vancouver Convention Centre
Vancouver, British Columbia		~20,000[citation needed]Kappei Yamaguchi, Marina Inoue, Satsuki Yukino, Hitomi Nabatame, Takeshi Takadera, TeddyLoid, Clifford Chapin, Baozi & Hana, ProZD, Sarah Wiedenheft, Richard Ian Cox, Fighting Dreamers Productions, Baylee Jae, The 404s, The Fictionals, Jacob Powers.[16]
August 9–11, 2019 Vancouver Convention Centre
Vancouver, British Columbia		25,128The 404s, Asaka, SungWon Cho, Takeshi Takadera, David Vincent.[17]
July 29–31, 2022 Vancouver Convention Centre
Vancouver, British Columbia		The 404's, Graham Hamilton, Tōru Furuya, Katsuyuki Konishi, Brian Drummond, Toby Proctor, Cathy Weseluck.[18]
August 18-20, 2023 Vancouver Convention Centre
Vancouver, British Columbia		The 404's, Graham Hamilton, Terri Hawkes, Bryce Papenbrook, Ninomae Ina'nis, Masakazu Morita, Takeshi Takadera. Ian Hanlin, Caitlyn Bairstow, Brian Doe Chua[19]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Anime Revolution 2012 Information". AnimeCons.ca. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
  2. ^ "Highlights from Anime Revolution 2015 (with videos)". The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 2016-08-14.
  3. ^ a b "Evolution vs. Revolution: A Tale of Two Anime Conventions". Geek's Dream Girl. Archived from the original on 2014-10-25. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
  4. ^ "Japanese anime voice actors showcase their skills in live recording at AniRevo 2016". The Georgia Straight. 11 August 2016. Retrieved 2016-08-14.
  5. ^ "BeatRoute goes to AniRevo 2014 at the Vancouver Convention Centre". BeatRoute. Archived from the original on 2016-04-15. Retrieved 2016-08-14.
  6. ^ "Senkaku Mei". Anime Revolution. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  7. ^ "Anime Revolution 2013: Jessica Nigri Photos". Daily Hive. 19 December 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  8. ^ "25 photos of the best cosplays at Anime Revolution 2015". Vancity Buzz. Archived from the original on 2016-08-28. Retrieved 2016-08-14.
  9. ^ a b c "Anime Revolution 2014 Information". AnimeCons.ca. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
  10. ^ a b "Anime Revolution 2013 Information". AnimeCons.ca. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
  11. ^ "[ANIREVO SUMMER 2017] Opening Ceremony (Full)". youtube.com. Event occurs at 6:10. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  12. ^ "Anime Revolution 2015 Information". AnimeCons.ca. Retrieved 2016-08-10.
  13. ^ "[ANIREVO SUMMER 2017] Opening Ceremony (Full)". youtube.com. Event occurs at 6:10. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  14. ^ "Anime Revolution 2016 Information". AnimeCons.ca. Retrieved 2016-08-10.
  15. ^ "Anime Revolution 2017 Information". AnimeCons.ca. Retrieved 2017-08-20.
  16. ^ "Anirevo Summer 2018 Information". AnimeCons.ca. Retrieved 2017-08-20.
  17. ^ "Anirevo Summer 2019 Information". AnimeCons.ca. Retrieved 2019-11-21.
  18. ^ "Anirevo Summer 2022 Information". AnimeCons.ca. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  19. ^ "Anirevo Summer 2023 Information". AnimeCons.ca. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
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