The convention typically offers anime screenings, artist room, concerts, cosplay masquerade contest, date auction, dealers room, fan panels, formal dance, guest autographs, karaoke, Maid Cafe, rave dances, tabletop gaming, video game tournaments, and workshops.[1][5][6][7][8][9][10] The convention hosts a free ConSweet with free ramen noodles, rice, oatmeal, and soda for attendees.[11][12]
History
Anime Midwest moved to the Hyatt Regency O'Hare in Rosemont, Illinois, for 2013.[1] The convention in 2015 had long registration line waits.[13] Guests Deadlift Lolita, FEMM, Fuki, and Zwei could not attend Anime Midwest in 2019 due to visa issues.[14] Anime Midwest 2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[15][16] In 2021 the convention required masks, and had a reduced ConSweet due to the convention having a short amount of organization time.[17]
Airship O'Reilly, Dr. Awkward, Orlando Belisle, Jillian Coglan, Samurai Dan Coglan, Alan Evans, FanService Renji, Quinton Flynn, Todd Haberkorn, Brian Heinz, Steve Horton, Krazy Krow, Rob "Vash" Lewis, Russell Lissau, Lewis Lovhaug, John Patrick Lowrie, Ellen McLain, Midwest Karaoke Madness, Trevor A. Mueller, The Pillowcases, Malcolm Ray, Sleeping Samurai, Spike Spencer, Steam Powered Giraffe, Sonny Strait, Rachel Tietz, Doug Walker, and YTCracker.[24]
Curtis Arnott, Dr. Awkward, Greg Ayres, Orlando Belisle, Johnny Yong Bosch, Jillian Coglan, Samurai Dan Coglan, D.C. Douglas, Michelle Ann Dunphy, Eyeshine, Frenchy and the Punk, Scott Frerichs, Caitlin Glass, Brian Heinz, Steve Horton, Akinori Isobe, Brad Jones, Masumi Kano, Nick Landis, Russell Lissau, Lewis Lovhaug, Trevor A. Mueller, Chris Patton, The Pillowcases, Laura Post, Raj Ramayya, Malcolm Ray, Sleeping Samurai, Steam Powered Giraffe, Sonny Strait, Alexis Tipton, V is for Villains, Doug Walker, and YTCracker.[25]
Greg Ayres, Zach Callison, Jillian Coglan, Samurai Dan Coglan, Emily DeJesus, D.C. Douglas, Frenchy and the Punk, Brian Heinz, Chuck Huber, Kid Yuki and the Otakus, Shigeto Koyama, Krazy Krow, Russell Lissau, Lewis Lovhaug, Mega Ran, Trevor A. Mueller, The Pillowcases, Genevieve Simmons, Juliet Simmons, Steam Powered Giraffe, Brooke Stephenson, Sushio, V is for Villains, Hiromi Wakabayashi, Steven Wallace, and YTCracker.[27]
Misako Aoki, Arc Impulse, Greg Ayres, Morgan Berry, Luci Christian, D.C. Douglas, Sandy Fox, Frenchy and the Punk, Brian Heinz, Takafumi Hori, Chuck Huber, Hiroyuki Imaishi, Kid Yuki and the Otakus, Knight of the Round, Shigeto Koyama, Krazy Krow, Lex Lang, Mason Lieberman, Russell Lissau, Lewis Lovhaug, Josh Martin, David Matranga, Mega Ran, Rob Mungle, The Pillowcases, Chris Rager, Molly Searcy, Oscar Seung, Yakov Smirnoff, Steam Powered Giraffe, Dave Trosko, V is for Villains, Hiromi Wakabayashi, Billy West, Yoh Yoshinari, and YTCracker.[28]
Greg Ayres, Morgan Berry, Luci Christian, Jillian Coglan, Samurai Dan Coglan, D.C. Douglas, Gigi Edgley, Doug Erholtz, Andy Field, Aki Glancy, Brian Heinz, Chuck Huber, Aya Ikeda, Hiroaki Inoue, Kid Yuki and the Otakus, Knight of the Round, Russell Lissau, Lewis Lovhaug, Mega Ran, Trevor A. Mueller, The Pillowcases, Alejandro Saab, Carrie Savage, Molly Searcy, Oscar Seung, Steam Powered Giraffe, Dave Trosko, Gareth West, Greg Wicker, YTCracker,[29]Epic Rap Battles of History, and Gregory Brothers.[30]
Hyatt Regency O'Hare Donald E. Stephens Convention Center Rosemont, Illinois
Awesomus Prime, Greg Ayres, Morgan Berry, Jillian Coglan, Samurai Dan Coglan, Cynthia Cranz, Tod Fennell, Quinton Flynn, Heroes 4 Hire, Chuck Huber, Bryan Massey, Wendy Powell, Whitney Rodgers, John Swasey, V is for Villains, Heather Walker, Kiba Walker, Tyler Walker, Barry Yandell, and YTCracker.[32]
July 1–3, 2022
Hyatt Regency O'Hare Donald E. Stephens Convention Center Rosemont, Illinois
Major Attaway, Greg Ayres, Morgan Berry, Jillian Coglan, Samurai Dan Coglan, Dorothy Fahn, Tom Fahn, Cole Feuchter, Quinton Flynn, Tiffany Gordon, Kohei Hattori, Jay Hickman, Marcus M. Mauldin, The Microphone Misfitz, Rob Mungle, Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld, John Swasey, V is for Villains, Heather Walker, Kiba Walker, Tyler Walker, Gareth West, and YTCracker.[33]
July 7–9, 2023
Hyatt Regency O'Hare Donald E. Stephens Convention Center Rosemont, Illinois
Arc Impulse, Greg Ayres, Jillian Coglan, Samurai Dan Coglan, Cynthia Cranz, Cole Feuchter, Quinton Flynn, Diana Garnet, Amanda Gish, Kohei Hattori, Jay Hickman, Mason Lieberman, Mint, Shihori Nakane, Tyson Rinehart, V is for Villains, Kiba Walker, Gareth West, and YTCracker.[34]
July 5-7, 2024
Hyatt Regency O'Hare Donald E. Stephens Convention Center Rosemont, Illinois
Arc Impulse, Greg Ayres, Corina Boettger, Jillian Coglan, Samurai Dan Coglan, Quinton Flynn, Cris George, Kohei Hattori, Brian Mathis, Chris Patton, Raj Ramayya, Gareth West, and Barry Yandell.[35]
Collaborations
In 2012 Anime Midwest sponsored a cosplay prom.[36]
Controversies
Ryan Kopf, the organizer behind Anime Midwest and several other conventions, was banned from Anime Milwaukee during the 2018 convention due to a sexual assault allegation involving the Milwaukee Police Department. Kopf was at the convention as part of Anime Midwest and denies the allegations.[37]
Gallery
A wall of empty Maruchanramen noodle boxes with a cardboard figure from Attack on Titan being swatted at by a member of Anime Midwest's staff
The maids at Anime Midwest's maid cafe
The crowd waiting to see Steam Powered Giraffe perform at Anime Midwest 2014 in the Rosemont Ballroom