Youmacon is an annual four-day

anime is hand-drawn and computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside of Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, in Japan and in Japanese, (a term derived from a shortening of ...

convention held during November at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center and

Huntington Place Huntington Place (formerly known as Cobo Hall, Cobo Center, and briefly as TCF Center) is a convention center in Downtown Detroit, owned by the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority (DRCFA) and operated by ASM Global. Located at 1 Wash ...

Detroit, Michigan Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at ...

. Youmacon's creation was inspired by other conventions including

Anime Central 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) ...

and

Ohayocon Ohayocon is a three-day anime convention typically held during January in Columbus, Ohio, at the Hyatt Regency Columbus and the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Ohayocon's name is derived from the similarity between "Ohio", the convention's l ...

, with the convention's name coming from the Japanese word for demon or ghost. Founded by Morgan Kollin in 2005, it is the largest anime/gaming convention in Michigan. Midwest Media Expo was the convention's sister event.

Programming

The convention typically offers anime music videos, Artist Alley, Charity Masquerade Ball, concerts, costume competitions, Dealers Room, gaming tournaments, karaoke, Live Action Mario Party and Donkey Kong, live musical performances, maid café, masquerade, Mystery Science Theater 4000, rave, table-top gaming, talent competitions, and video gaming. The convention runs programming for 24 hours a day in Huntington Place. The walk between the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center and Huntington Place is about 15 minutes. The conventions 2013 Cosplay Ball benefited the

Detroit Institute of Arts The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), located in Midtown Detroit, Michigan, has one of the largest and most significant art collections in the United States. With over 100 galleries, it covers with a major renovation and expansion project comple ...

. In 2009, 2010, and 2014, it benefited the Cornerstone Schools of Detroit. The 2017 masquerade ball benefited the

Children's Hospital of Michigan Children's Hospital of Michigan (CHM) is a for-profit, pediatric acute care hospital located in Detroit, Michigan. The hospital has 227 beds and is affiliated with both the Wayne State University School of Medicine and the Michigan State Universit ...

. The 2019 masquerade ball benefited the Children's Hospital of Michigan.

History

The first Youmacon took four years to plan. In 2010, Cobo Center started a $279 million renovation that finished in 2015. The 2012 convention had several complaints including the distance between venues (15 minutes) and registration line times. Youmacon is one of the larger users of the Marriott, and the only event to have all of its meeting space and 1,300 hotel rooms occupied as of 2014. The Renaissance Center prohibited attendees from carrying fake weapons and wearing masks that would hide their faces in 2014.

Origa Olga Vitalevna Yakovleva (russian: link=no, Ольга Витальевна Яковлева, October 12, 1970 – January 17, 2015), better known as Origa, was a Russian singer who rose to prominence for her musical collaborations in Japan, e ...

was unable to enter the United States from Canada for her 2014 Youmacon appearance due to not having a

P visa P visa is a type of temporary employment visa of the United States, granted to alien athletes, artists, and entertainers, and their spouses and children. The term "P" refers to (a)(15)(P), Section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. P ...

. In 2016, the maid café expanded to two days, the Renaissance Center had construction occurring, and panel rooms in the Cobo Center were challenging to locate. Thursdays programming in 2017 did not require registration. The convention improved elevator lines and game room wait times, but the physical schedule copy suffered from errors in 2017. Youmacon's in person 2020 convention was cancelled due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...

, with an online convention held in its place. Its cancellation was delayed due to contractual issues regarding COVID-19 shutdowns. In 2021, the People Mover between event venues was not available, with the convention offering transportation for specific attendees with needs.

Event history

References

External links

Youmacon website
{{coord, 42, 19, 44, N, 83, 2, 22.9, W, region:US-MI_type:event, display=title Anime conventions in the United States Recurring events established in 2005 2005 establishments in Michigan Annual events in Michigan Festivals in Detroit Tourist attractions in Detroit Culture of Detroit Conventions in Michigan

Programming

History

Event history

See also

References

External links