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2014 Australian and New Zealand Anime Convention Calendar

by Jon Hayward,

Welcome, we haven't done one of these in quite a number of years (2009 is the last time we can find one) but the basic idea is to give everyone on both sides of the Tasman a one stop resource for what's running in 2014. If other events pop up we'll be sure to update this list.

If you would like to save a copy of all these dates you can just check out the Australian Anime Event Calendar on Google Calendars and save a copy from there.

Before we start, a moment to remember the fallen. In 2013 the Melbourne Anime Festival (Manifest) was shut down due to falling finances and lack of staff. No event has yet been announced to take over from Manifest but we expect to hear something within the year.

Also in terms of events that don't quite fit into this article, Ratime ratime.org.au is an anime and pop-culture event that will not be running their first event until 2015 but are organising associated events in Ballarat over 2014. And Sugar City Con in Mackay, Queensland will apparently run some time this year and Otakelaide has yet to announce their 2014 date.

And a special thanks to Tank from Tank Creates who provided the initial run-down for 2014, be sure to drop by her store at the various conventions running all over Australia.

So with that said lets begin!

February

Room 801 - Sydney, NSW.

A dedicated 18+ pop culture convention focusing on yaoi and yuri to create a safe and inclusive space where anime, manga and gaming fans can come together and share their fandom. We reported on Room 801 back in October with artist Jozef Szekeres and author Mary Borsellino as Guests but since then they have added Aarin, the founder of AarinFantasy forums, Dr Scott Beattie a lawer specialising in media and censorship law, fanfiction author, artist and cosplayer Level4Chaos, game designer Luke Miller (creator of My Ex-Boyfriend the Space Tyrant) and art curator Masahiko Takagi.

Details

  • Where: Y Hotel HYDE Park, 5-11 Wentworth Street, Sydney NSW 2000.
  • When: Friday the 21st to Sunday the 23rd of Feburary 2014.
  • Cost: From $25 for a one day early bird ticket to $55 for a weekend early bird and $95 for all three days early bird premium ticket. Prices will rise from the 30th of November.
  • Website: www.room801.com.au

March

Wai-Con - Perth, WA.

Perth's anime convention returns for it's 10th year with Bryce Papenbrook (Kirito from Sword Art Online) and Tiffany Grant (Asuka from Neon Genesis Evangelion) as guests and a yet to be announced MC. Wai-Con tends to be a reasonably solid event and ANN will be in attendance running at least one panel.

Details

  • Where: Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, Mounts Bay Road, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
  • When: Saturday the 1st & Sunday the 2nd of March 2014
  • Cost: Tickets start from $35 for a single day pass and $50 for a weekend pass with discounts for PANIC mambers and associate organisaton members. Children under 12 are free with paying adult.
  • Website:www.wai-con.org.

Armageddon Expo NZ - Dunedin and Christchurch, New Zealand.

New Zealand's largest pop culture expo doesn't tend to have much focus on anime and manga, but the Dunedin and Christchurch tour has Steve Blum who was the voice of Spike Spiegel in Cowboy Bebop and Mugen in Samurai Champloo, Roger Smith in The Big O and plenty of other roles. And if you're in the area you can't really complain about the entry prices.

  • Where: More FM Arena, Edgar Centre, Dunedin. New Zealand.
  • When: Saturday the 1st & Sunday the 2nd of March 2014.
  • Where: The Stables, Addington Raceway, Christchurch. New Zealand.
  • When: Saturday the 8th & Sunday the 9th of March 2014.

AiCon - Hobart, Tasmania.

The AiCon crew return to a convention centre with energy to spare, after filling out last year's venue they needed to make the move (and their indiegogo helped get them there) and now their focus on cosplay theatre sports and art has the room to grow. Easily the friendliest convention in Australia and well worth the trip to Hobart.

Details

  • Where: Wrest Point Convention Centre, Hobart, Tasmania.
  • When: Saturday the 8th and Sunday the 9th of March.
  • Cost: Pre-registration has a weekend pass for $35, if you purchase at the door tickets are $25 per day. Children under 10 are free.
  • Website: www.aicon.org.au

    • Oz Comic-Con Perth and Adelaide

    The first round of Oz Comic-Con comes around, not too much of interest for anime fans but this round will have Sean Schemmel (Goku in Dragon Ball Z) Mike McFarland, the voice of Master Roshi in Dragon Ball Z and will be joined by Todd Haberkorn, the voice of Kerokero in Sgt/.Frog, Firo Prochainezo in Baccano! and Allen Walker in D.Gray-man.

    Details

    • Where: Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, Mounts Bay Road, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
    • When: Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th of March.
    • Where: Adelaide Showgrounds, Adelaide, Southern Australia.
    • When: Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th of April.

    April

    Supanova Pop Culture Expo Gold Coast and Melbourne

    Will have Neil Kaplan (voice of Optimus Prime RID, various Digimon and Power Rangers roles) , Eric Stewart, the original voice of Brock, James and the Pokedex from Pokémon, Meta Knight from Kirby, Right Back Atcha! and Seto Kaiba from Yu-Gi-Oh!. Niel will be joined by Veronica Taylor, the original voice of Ash Ketchum from Pokémon, Amelia Wil Tesla Saillune in Slayers and Leo Kliesen in the Tekken series of games (among many other roles).

    The Gold Coast and Melbourne legs will also have the cast of Adventure Time (Jeremy Shada aka Finn, John DiMaggio aka Jake) and Hynden Walch who plays Princess Bubblegum and has a history of voice acting anime including Emiri Kimidori in The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Yutaka Kobayakawa in Lucky Star and Nia Teppelin in Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. And the Madman National Cosplay Championship will be starting here with heats in each respective city.

    Details

    • Where: Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre, Gold Coast, Queensland.
    • When: Friday the 4th to Sunday the 6th of April.
    • Where: Melbourne Showgrounds, Melbourne, Victoria.
    • When: Friday the 11th to Sunday the 13th of April.
    • Cost: Weekend passes are 47.50 online and $55 at the door, single day passes are 27.50 online and 30 at the door. You can only attend the friday night preview night with a pre-purchased weekend pass.
    • Website: http://www.supanova.com.au/.

    May

    GammaCon - Canberra, ACT.

    Previously known as Anime.AU, Gamma.Con is Canberra's pop culture convention focusing mainly on anime. The team running this event knows how to put on a fun convention (ex-AVCon at the helm) and the smaller events tend to hold something special for attendees. If you're anywhere near Canberra it's worth setting aside the day.

    Details

    • Where: The Hellenic Club, Woden, Canberra, ACT.
    • When: Saturday the 24th of May.
    • Cost: Tickets are $16 online or $20 at the door.
    • Website: http://www.gammacon.org/.

    Armageddon Expo NZ Hamilton and Wellington

    No Details as yet for the Hamilton and Wellington shows, but here's what we know.

    Details

    • Where: Claudelands Arena, Hamilton. New Zealand.
    • When: Saturday the 24th & Sunday the 25th of May 2014.
    • Where: Westpac Stadium, Wellington. New Zealand.
    • When: Saturday the 31st of May to Monday the 2nd of June 2014.

      • June

      Supanova Pop Culture Expo Sydney and Perth

      The second tour of the year runs from one extreme to another. Sydney and Perth. This will be the two local heats for the Madman National Cosplay Championship and while the guest list isn't fully announced, Yuri Lowenthal and Tara Platt will be in attendance as special guests.

      Details

      • Where: Sydney Showground, Olympic Park, Sydney, NSW.
      • When: Friday the 13th to Sunday the 15th of June.
      • Cost: Weekend passes start from $62.50 online and $70 at the door. Daily tickets from $27.50 online or $30 at the door. The event is now all three days with the entire expo open from 1pm to 8pm on Friday.
      • Where: Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, Perth, WA.
      • When: Friday the 20th to Sunday the 22nd of June.
      • Cost: Weekend passes start from $47.50 online and daily tickets from $27.50 online. In order to attend the Opening Night events on Friday you are required to purchase a weekend pass.
      • Website: http://www.supanova.com.au/.

      July

      Oz Comic-Con Melbourne

      This is the Melbourne round of Oz Comic-Con, but seeing as there are no guests of Interest to anime / manga attendees listed at the moment this entry is just here for completeness sake. We will update with further information closer to the date.

      Details

      • Where: Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne, Victoria.
      • When: Saturday the 5th and Sunday the 6th of July.
      • Cost: No general ticket prices for Melbourne are yet available.
      • Website: http://www.ozcomiccon.com/.

      AVCon - Adelaide, SA.

      Adelaide's Anime and Video Games Convention is back on and not fighting with PAX in the same month. A very large gaming presence coupled with cosplay and art galore makes for an excellent time and AVCon has been able to bring out some great guests in the past few years. No details beyond date and venue at the moment but we will keep you posted.

      Details

      • Where: Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide, South Australia.
      • When: Friday the 18th to Sunday the 20th of July.
      • Cost: No ticket prices yet listed.
      • Website: www.avcon.org.au.

      August

      SMASH - Sydney, NSW.

      This year Sydney Manga and Anime Show moves from it's previous (and now demolished / renovating) home in the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre to the Rosehill Gardens in Western Sydney and expands out into a two day event. It will be interesting to see how SMASH utilises the extra time (they have done this before, one of the years at Roundhouse). But considering SMASH's reputation for musical and japanaese guests they will yet again be worth attending.

      Details

    • Where: Rosehill Gardens, James Ruse Dr, Rosehill NSW 2142.
    • When: Saturday the 9th and Sunday the 10th of August 2014.
    • Cost: Prices are currently unknown.
    • Website: http://www.smash.org.au.

      • CHAOz - Melbourne, Vic.

      A brand new event on the Australian calendar scene, CHAOz (The Cosplayers, Hobbyists and Artists of Australia (Oz)) will be running a two day event at the original location of Manifest, Melbourne University. Details are currently thin on the ground but the event is aimed at creators of not just anime and Japanese culture but at the larger culture of makers with a shared focus on comics and figures.

      Details

    • Where: University of Melbourne, Wilson Hall and Old Arts Building, Parkville VIC 3010.
    • When: Saturday the 23th and Sunday the 24th of August 2014.
    • Cost: Prices are currently unknown.
    • Website: http://chaoz.com.au/.

      • September

      MAICon - Launceston, Tasmania.

      The AICon team yet again run their Mini-Anime Island Convention (MAICon) in Launceston, pulling in anime fans that prefer not to leave the hustle and bustle of Launceston for the quiet and sleepy nature of Hobart once a year. Just like AICon there's a focus on cosplay and theatre sports so it's well worthwhile attending the day. We are told more details will be released after AICon in March.

      Details

      • Where: Somewhere in Launceston, Tasmania.
      • When: Saturday the 6th of September.
      • Cost: Tickets will be $15 at the door.
      • Website: www.aicon.org.au

        • Oz Comic-Con Brisbane and Sydney

        Oz Comic-Con runs it's final tour for the year in Brisbane and Sydney. No guests announcements or general tickets are yet available and anime and manga are not Oz Comic-Con's focus. However if you're looking for a pop-culture fix Oz Comic-Con does cover that. A quick note, their site states that Sydney will be held at “Harbour Expo”, that site does not exist but the Sydney Exhibition Centre at Glebe Harbour does (and the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre does not) so we assume they mean the Glebe Harbour site.

        Details

        • Where: Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. Merivale St, South Brisbane QLD 4101 .
        • When: Saturday the 6th and Sunday the 7th of Sepember.
        • Where: Sydney Exhibition Centre @ Glebe Harbour. Sydney, New South Wales.
        • When: Saturday the 13th and Sunday the 14th of September.

        Animaga Expo - Melbourne, Vic.

        A new convention on the block, Animaga Expo aims to "develop the anime industry and to broaden the horizons for anime and Japanese culture in Australia". Their first event will be taking place in the same venue as Oz Comic Con Melbourne and they plan to have Karaoke, Cosplay, Gunpla, Concerts, Maid Cafes and more. We inquiried with Animaga Expo as to what they would be planning and Animaga responded that they are looking into inviting guests and will have many surprises in the months to come.

        Details


        October

        Overload - Auckland, New Zealand.

        This year Overload will be hosting artist Yoshitoshi ABe as their special guest and he will be running a live drawing session and a Q & A alongside an art exhibition featuring his work. The event will also have over 160 local comic and manga artists, traders, comic and cosplay competitions, anime screenings and more. All the reports I recieved of the 2013 event was that it was simple, fun and a enjoyable day focusing on the artists. Well worth checking out if you can.

        Details

        • Where: ASB Stadium, Kohimarama, Auckland. New Zealand.
        • When: Saturday the 4th of October 2014 from 10am to 6pm.
        • Cost: $5 at the door, 5 and under free.
        • Website: http://www.overload.co.nz/.

        Armageddon Melbourne and Auckland

        This pop culture and comics show has been running for several years and is mostly in New Zealand now, aside from the one Melbourne show. They don't have much focus on anime and manga but they do have a cosplay competition called the “Trans-Tasman Cosplay Cup”. And this tour runs from Melbourne to Auckland the following weekend.

        Details

        • Where: Melbourne Showgrounds, Victoria.
        • When:18th and 19th of October 2014.
        • Where: ASB Showgrounds, Greenlane, Auckland. New Zealand.
        • When:24th and 27th of October 2014.

        PAX Australia - Melbourne, VIC.

        This is an event with little to no anime or manga focus, it's all about the games from video to board and physical. However due to the sheer size and scale of the event (which has made the event move from the Melbourne Showgrounds to Jeff's Shed) it pulls in everyone from all around Australia which means a hefty anime fanbase still attends. The only problem is that three-day passes are already sold out and only single days remain and the date before spring racing carnival means travel and accommodation will be expensive.

        Details

        • Where: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Melbourne, Victoria.
        • When:31st of October to the 2nd of November.
        • Cost: Three day tickets are sold out,single day tickets are $55 each.
        • Website: http://aus.paxsite.com/.

          • November

          Supanova Pop Culture Expo Adelaide and Brisbane

          Supanova' s final tour of the year starts in Adelaide and then rolls onto Brisbane a week later for Supanova's largest event of the year. No guests have been announced yet but we suspect a couple of voice actors of interest to readers of this article will be attending.

          Details

          • Where: Adelaide Showgrounds, Adelaide, South Australia.
          • When: Friday the 21st to Sunday the 23rd of November.
          • Where: Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Brisbane, Queensland.
          • When: Friday the 28th to Sunday the 30th of November.

          December

          Take a break and watch some anime!


          Cancelled Events

          M.A.M.F (Melbourne Anime and Manga Festival) - Melbourne, Vic.

          On the 8th of July the group announced via facebook that 2014 MAMF was postponed to 2015. No alternate date has been set.

          Aiming to promote the culture aspects of fandom involved with Anime and Manga, MAMF is being organised by the Swinburne Anime Club and for a first will be held in Federation Square and free to attend. Cosplay, Anime and Traders is being organised for this event and more details to come.

          Details

          As per usual, let us know if any details are incorrect on the forums.

          Note: If you're wondering why Animania is not listed, ANN does not promote known bootlegging operations or events that support bootlegging. And the event is now closing it's doors in March.


          Update List

          • 20140226: Corrected Supanova Brisbane in November, added AICon, modified prices for Gamma.Con
          • 20141707: Moved MAMF to cancelled events.

          Cover Image © Kiyohiko Azuma • MediaWorks / AzumangaDaioh Committee All rights reserved

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