Status Active Inaugurated 2005 Location Detroit | Country United States Attendance 21,036 in 2016 | |
Genre Anime, Manga, Video Games, and Internet culture Venue Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center
Cobo Center Organized by Defying Conventions / Youmacon Enterprises | ||
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Youmacon is an annual four-day anime convention held during October/November at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center and Cobo Center in Detroit, Michigan. Youmacon's creation was inspired by other conventions including Anime Central and Ohayocon 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, and the 10th largest North American anime convention as of 2016. Midwest Media Expo is the convention's sister event.
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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 Cafe, masquerade, Mystery Science Theater 4000, rave, table-top gaming, talent competitions, and video gaming.
The convention runs programming for 24 hours a day in the Cobo Center. The walk between the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center and Cobo Center is about 15 minutes. The conventions 2013 Cosplay Ball benefited the Detroit Institute of Arts. In 2009, 2010, and 2014 it benefited the Cornerstone Schools of Detroit.
History
The first Youmacon took four years to plan. In 2010, the 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 was unable to enter the United States from Canada for their 2014 Youmacon appearance due to not having P visa's. In 2016, the maid cafe expanded to two days, the Renaissance Center had construction occurring, and panel rooms in the Cobo Center were challenging to locate.