Anime NebrasKon is an annual three-day anime convention held during October at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa. It is organized by the Nebraska Japanese Animation Society.[2]

Anime NebrasKon
StatusActive
GenreAnime, popular culture[1]
VenueMid-America Center
Location(s)Council Bluffs, Iowa
CountryUnited States
Inaugurated2004
Organized byNebraska Japanese Animation Society[2]
Websiteanimenebraskon.com

Programming

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The convention typically offers an artist's alley, anime idol, anime music video contest, cosplay contests, cosplay masquerade, dance/rave, dating auction, dealer's room, game room (video, tournaments, tabletop), formal ball, human chess, panels, and talent shows.[2][3][4][5] The convention raised $2,600 for Big Brothers Big Sisters during the 2012 charity auction.[6] Charity auctions prior to 2012 raised around $1,000 which was donated to Make-a-Wish and Open Door Mission. The convention's charity events in 2015 benefited the National Alliance on Mental Illness and raised around $7,500.[7] Basset and Beagle Rescue of the Heartland was 2018's charity.[8] The conventions charity events in 2022 benefited The Trevor Project.[9]

History

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Anime NebrasKon was founded by the members of University of Nebraska-Lincoln's anime club (Otaku Jinrui) in 2004 as a fund-raising project and had 300 attendees at the first convention.[3][10][11] Due to the convention's growth, in 2009 it moved to the Holiday Inn Omaha Convention Center in Omaha, Nebraska, and added 24-hour programming.[3] Weddings have been held at the convention in both 2010 and 2011.[5] The dealers room was expanded in 2012 because of renovations at the Ramada.[12] An attendee on the way to the convention in 2012 was briefly detained by police after entering a bank wearing cosplay from the series Resident Evil.[13] For 2016, the convention moved to La Vista in order to accommodate growth.[14] Anime NebrasKon 2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[15][16]

Event history

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Dates Location Atten. Guests
October 9, 2004 University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Lincoln, Nebraska[17]
300[3]
November 4–6, 2005 University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Lincoln, Nebraska
500
(est)[11]
Matt Burke, Tiffany Grant, Jan Scott-Frazier, and Shannon Townsend.[18]
November 17–19, 2006 University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Lincoln, Nebraska
Steve Bennett, Tiffany Grant, Kyle Hebert, Jan Scott-Frazier, Richard Townsend, and Shannon Townsend.[19]
November 16–18, 2007 University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Lincoln, Nebraska
Steve Bennett, Tiffany Grant, Matt Greenfield, Richard Townsend, and Shannon Townsend.[20]
November 14–16, 2008 University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Lincoln, Nebraska
Tiffany Grant, Matt Greenfield, James Hatton, Richard Townsend, Shannon Townsend, and Kira Vincent-Davis.[21]
November 6–8, 2009 Holiday Inn Omaha Convention Center
(Coco Key Water Resort)[22]
Omaha, Nebraska
1,470[23]Buranden, Tiffany Grant, Matt Greenfield, Yuri Lowenthal, Tara Platt, Richard Townsend, and Shannon Townsend.[23]
November 5–7, 2010 Holiday Inn Omaha Convention Center
(Coco Key Water Resort)[2]
Omaha, Nebraska
2,100[5]Tiffany Grant, Jerry Jewell, Keith Silverstein, Richard Townsend, and Eric Vale.[24]
November 4–6, 2011 Ramada Plaza Omaha Hotel & Convention Center
(CoCo Key Water Resort) (Formerly the Holiday Inn)[25]
Omaha, Nebraska
David Brehm, Chris Cason, Tiffany Grant, Matt Greenfield, Christopher Sabat, Keith Silverstein, and Stephanie Young.[26]
November 2–4, 2012 Ramada Plaza Omaha Hotel & Convention Center
Omaha, Nebraska
Steve Blum, David Brehm, Richard Epcar, Kyle Hebert, Keith Silverstein, John Swasey, and Stephanie Young.[27]
November 1–3, 2013 Ramada Plaza Omaha Hotel & Convention Center
Omaha, Nebraska
Dante Basco, Richard Epcar, Fredd Gorham, Wendy Powell, Keith Silverstein, April Stewart, and Alexis Tipton.[28]
October 31 - November 2, 2014 Ramada Plaza Omaha Hotel & Convention Center
Omaha, Nebraska
Robert Axelrod, David Brehm, Chris Cason, Richard Epcar, Fredd Gorham, Kyle Hebert, Erica Mendez, Eric Stuart, Alexis Tipton, Cristina Vee, and Stephanie Young.[29]
November 6–8, 2015 Ramada Plaza Omaha Hotel & Convention Center
Omaha, Nebraska
Amber Lee Connors, Fredd Gorham, Kyle Hebert, Amanda C. Miller, Chii Sakurabi, Keith Silverstein, Karen Strassman, Cristina Vee, and Doug Walker.[30]
November 4–6, 2016 La Vista Conference Center
La Vista, Nebraska
6,530Colleen Clinkenbeard, Aaron Dismuke, Caitlin Glass, Fredd Gorham, Todd Haberkorn, Cassandra Lee Morris, Kirby Morrow, Chii Sakurabi, Jad Saxton, Keith Silverstein, Sonny Strait, and Alexis Tipton.[31]
November 10–12, 2017 Hotel RL Omaha
Omaha, Nebraska
Barbara Dunkelman, Kara Eberle, Katelyn Gault, Todd Haberkorn, Lindsay Jones, Erica Lindbeck, Elizabeth Maxwell, Kyle McCarley, Keith Silverstein, and Arryn Zech.[32]
November 2–4, 2018 Ramada Plaza Omaha Hotel & Convention Center
Omaha, Nebraska
6,000 (est.)[33]Clifford Chapin, Aaron Dismuke, Chris Guerrero, Kyle Hebert, E. Jason Liebrecht, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Erica Mendez, Vic Mignogna, Tony Oliver, Ryter Rong, Cristina Vee, and David Vincent.[34]
November 1–3, 2019 Ramada Plaza Omaha Hotel & Convention Center
Omaha, Nebraska
Almost 7,000[9]Leah Clark, Jerry Jewell, Brittney Karbowski, Lauren Landa, Erica Lindbeck, Joel McDonald, Xander Mobus, Ian Sinclair, Eric Vale, and Sarah Anne Williams.[35]
October 22–24, 2021 Mid-America Center
Council Bluffs, Iowa
SungWon Cho, Kara Edwards, Fredd Gorham, Chris Hackney, Billy Kametz, Lisa Ortiz, Keith Silverstein, and Abby Trott.[36]
October 21–23, 2022 Mid-America Center
Council Bluffs, Iowa
Kimberly Anne Campbell, Amber Lee Connors, Amanda Gish, Kellen Goff, Joel McDonald, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Daman Mills, Max Mittelman, Xander Mobus, Ciarán Strange, Kit Strange, and Strangecat Cosplay.[37]
October 20-22, 2023 Mid-America Center
Council Bluffs, Iowa
Bryn Apprill, Katelyn Barr, Griffin Burns, Bill Butts, Khoi Dao, Lucien Dodge, Chris Hackney, Erica Lindbeck, Kristen McGuire, Risa Mei, Erica Mendez, Alejandro Saab, Lindsay Seidel, Keith Silverstein, Laura Stahl, and Ciarán Strange.[38]
October 18-20, 2024 Mid-America Center
Council Bluffs, Iowa
Tia Ballard, Griffin Burns, Bill Butts, SungWon Cho, Aaron Dismuke, Chris Guerrero, Kyle Hebert, Brittney Karbowski, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Xander Mobus, and SnarkyJay.[39]

NebKon Abridged

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NebKon Abridged is a one-day event held during July at the Hilton Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska.

Event history

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Dates Location Atten. Guests
July 9, 2022[40] DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Omaha Downtown
Omaha, Nebraska
July 6, 2024[41] Hilton Omaha
Omaha, Nebraska

Mascot

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Anime NebrasKon's mascot is the Husker Ninja.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Best. Convention. Ever. Anime NebrasKon draws hundreds in Omaha". Omaha.com. November 2014. Retrieved 2014-11-17.
  2. ^ a b c d "Anime NebrasKon Expects More than 2,000 Attendees at 7th Annual Convention". Star City Blog. Archived from the original on October 10, 2015. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  3. ^ a b c d "Anime NebrasKon expected to draw 1,500 to Omaha". Journal Star. 5 November 2009. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
  4. ^ a b Ryan Kopf. "Something Fun in Nebraska - Anime Nebraskon 2010 Review". UpcomingCons.com. Archived from the original on 2014-11-12. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  5. ^ a b c "Nebraska anime convention to unite fans from around the world". Daily Nebraskan. 3 November 2011. Retrieved 2013-10-07.
  6. ^ "NebrasKon auctions off anime collectibles for Big Brothers Big Sisters". Daily Nebraskan. 5 November 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-11.
  7. ^ Elliott, Jacob (November 9, 2015). "Anime Nebraskon tradition benefits fans and mental health research". Daily Nebraskan. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  8. ^ "Over 7,000 people expected at local anime convention". KETV. October 31, 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  9. ^ a b Adcock, Brayden (October 20, 2022). "Anime NebrasKon hopes to connect fans of anime and pop culture". The Daily Nebraskan. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  10. ^ "An eye-opening look at Anime NebrasKon". The Gateway. December 2010. Retrieved 2012-06-14.
  11. ^ a b "Convention proves anime popularity on campus". Daily Nebraskan. 7 November 2005. Retrieved 2013-10-07.
  12. ^ "Anime NebrasKon brings something for every fan". The Daily Nonpareil. November 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-11.
  13. ^ "NebrasKon convention costume causes confusion". KETV. 5 November 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-11.
  14. ^ Alecci, Alex (November 4, 2016). "Anime NebrasKon Convention this Weekend". KETV. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
  15. ^ Hazra, Adriana (August 4, 2020). "Anime NebrasKon 2020 Canceled". Anime News Network. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  16. ^ "Anime NebrasKon 2020 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2020-09-12.
  17. ^ "Anime NebrasKon 2004 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2008-04-16.
  18. ^ "Anime NebrasKon 2005 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2008-04-16.
  19. ^ "Anime NebrasKon 2006 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2008-04-16.
  20. ^ "Anime NebrasKon 2007 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2008-04-16.
  21. ^ "Anime NebrasKon 2008 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
  22. ^ "Anime NebrasKon 2009". UpcomingCons.com. Retrieved 2009-08-11.
  23. ^ a b "Anime NebrasKon 2009 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2012-06-12.
  24. ^ "Anime NebrasKon 2010 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2012-06-12.
  25. ^ "Anime NebrasKon 2011". UpcomingCons.com. Retrieved 2013-08-26.
  26. ^ "Anime NebrasKon 2011 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2011-10-20.
  27. ^ "Anime NebrasKon 2012 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2012-11-06.
  28. ^ "Anime NebrasKon 2013 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2013-10-03.
  29. ^ "Anime NebrasKon 2014 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2014-11-01.
  30. ^ "Anime NebrasKon 2015 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2015-11-30.
  31. ^ "Anime NebrasKon 2016 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
  32. ^ "Anime NebrasKon 2017 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2017-12-22.
  33. ^ Haave, Matthew (1 November 2019). "Anime Nebraskon convention kicks off". KMTV. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  34. ^ "Anime NebrasKon 2018 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
  35. ^ "Anime NebrasKon 2019 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  36. ^ "Anime NebrasKon 2021 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  37. ^ "Anime NebrasKon 2022 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2022-10-24.
  38. ^ "Anime NebrasKon 2023 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  39. ^ "Anime NebrasKon 2024 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
  40. ^ "NebKon Abridged 2022 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
  41. ^ "NebKon Abridged 2024 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
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41°13′40.3″N 96°01′16.8″W / 41.227861°N 96.021333°W / 41.227861; -96.021333