From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| MomoCon |
 |
| Status |
Active |
| Venue |
Georgia Institute of Technology |
| Location |
Atlanta, Georgia |
| Country |
United States |
| First held |
2005 |
| Organizer |
Anime O-Tekku |
| Attendance |
4,600 in 2008 (4,840 total) |
| Official Website |
http://www.momocon.com/ |
MomoCon, held in Atlanta, Georgia at Georgia Tech, is one of the top five largest free fan conventions in North America (as of 2006). The multi-genre convention is orchestrated by Anime O-Tekku every year in March since its inception in 2005. The convention encompasses Anime, Video Games, LARP, webcomics, Comics, costuming, card games, board games, and prop armor construction, among other things. In its first year, MomoCon was held in the Georgia Tech student center. In 2006 it expanded to include several events, mostly video game tournaments, in the nearby Instructional Center.
MomoCon is unusual in that the convention began without any starting capital, and there is no entry fee to cover the costs for the next year. Every MomoCon to date has been free admission, with sales of T-shirts funding the next year. The convention also offers DVDs with the highlights of the previous years. MomoCon 2008 DVDs will be available in the future.
Upcoming convention
MomoCon 2010
- Date: March 20-21, 2010[1]
- Time:10 am to Midnight (Saturday)10 am to 10 pm (Sunday)
- Theme: The planned theme for MomoCon 2010 is music.
- Events:Events are in the early planning stages for 2010.
- The 2010 convention has an attendance cap of 7000 attendees.[2]
Past conventions
MomoCon 2005
- Date: March 26-27, 2005[3]
- Attendance: Attendance was estimated at over 700 attendees.[4][3]
- Theme: "Southern Hospitality" and T-Shirts were black and featured the MomoCon mascot, as created and drawn by H. M. Ogburn.
- Events:
- MomoCon 2005 was presented by an estimated 35 staffers, and opening ceremonies included a mock Patton speech by convention chair Jessica Merriman.
- The convention welcomed over 30 guests and many special demo teams, as well as several special events and feature movies.
- An article on the anime club and the convention was featured in the February 2005 issue of Newtype USA, and professionally-made commercials were seen around Georgia Tech campus before on-campus movies in the Student Center.
MomoCon 2006
- Date: March 18-19, 2006
- Attendance: Attendance was estimated at over 1800 attendees.[4][5]
- Theme: T-shirts for 2006 were black and featured the same MomoCon mascot in a purple kimono in the moonlight,[5] to coincide with the Tsukimi theme.
- Events:
- MomoCon 2006 had a convention motto of "Because You Shouldn’t Have to Pay for Quality" and featured an opening ceremonies video that was a parody of Iron Chef (Japanese version), with "Chairman Panda" and the "Iron Staff."
- Key events for 2006 included a Tsukimi festival with kimono-clad wait staff, a Gaming Decathlon, a Pocky Stop cafe, and a rain-cancelled Sidewalk Art competition.
- Guests included numerous webcomic and comic artists, voice actress Amy Howard-Wilson of Starblazers fame, prop maker Robert "Vaderpainter" Bean, and various other guests.
MomoCon 2007
- Date: March 17-18, 2007
- Attendance: Attendance was estimated at over 2600 attendees.[4][6]
- Location: Georgia Tech Student Center, Student Services Building, and Instructional Center, as well as the Kessler Campanile, Skiles Garden, and surrounding green space.
- Theme: T-shirts for 2007 were hunter green and featured the MomoCon mascot. The staff theme was "The Family."
- Events and Features:
- The video game tournaments were reworked to feature a few large tournaments, as opposed to many smaller tournaments.
- Many of the past guests and new presenters were present.
- A larger costume contest was held at the Georgia Tech campanile. The new costume contest location provided seating for a greater number of attendees, and was held earlier in the evening. However, it was rather chilly that day.
- Local area groups stepped forward to run workshops and seminars on their respective expertise, including a plethora of costuming panels and workshops, Japanese ceremonial demonstrations, game demos, and many more events.
- Sunday Afternoon Incident: On Sunday the 18th of March 2007, The con was closed nine hours ahead of time. That afternoon, several con attendees attempted to set off firecrackers inside the building. The police became involved and the con had to close.[6]
MomoCon 2008
- Date: March 15-16, 2008
- Attendance: 4,600 estimated non-staff attendees (4,840 estimated total)
- Location: Georgia Tech Student Center, Student Services Building, and Instructional Center, as well as the Kessler Campanile, Skiles Garden, and surrounding green space.
- Theme: Because the number 4 is considered unlucky in Japanese culture, MomoCon 2008 (the 4th event) featured a gothic horror-style theme.
- Events:
- In addition to several events from past MomoCons, 2008's event included a Twilight Tea event, at the end of the day on Sunday, in lieu of a closing ceremony. Con-goers were asked to stop by for some fresh-brewed tea under the light of red paper lanterns at dusk and let the staff know what they would like to see at the event in the future.
- Due to the security problem in 2007, subsequent MomoCon events (starting with 2008) have required registration to enter. Attendees were required to present a valid photo ID to enter, and children under the age of 16 needed to be accompanied by an adult. Badges were provided, and the event remained free for congoers.
MomoCon 2009
- Date: March 14-15, 2009
- Attendance: 7,000 estimated non-staff attendees (7,200 estimated total)
- Theme: The theme for MomoCon 2009 was retro-campy science fiction.
- Events:
- Additional Japanese cultural events were held, including community support from local groups who specialize in these events.
- The second floor of the Instructional Center building, previously used only for tournaments, was opened up fully for additional panel, workshop and anime viewing space.
- Special events included screenings of public domain science fiction movies from the 1950s and 1960's and a Mechas and Monsters late-night programming block, featuring Kaiju and mecha movies.
- The first band performance at MomoCon happened in 2009: The Extraordinary Contraptions, a Steampunk-themed rock band.
- The convention experienced crowding issues. The staff are working with Georgia Tech on future events to solve the issues.
Peripheral events
MomoCon also sponsors local events that bolster awareness of the convention and of Japanese culture. Anime O-Tekku began this tradition by bringing many movies and gatherings to Georgia Tech's campus and Atlanta, and MomoCon continues it.
- Savannah Photoshoot 2005 – In January 2005, a crew from MomoCon and Peach State Cosplay Society brought professional photographer James Garner and numerous costumers to Forsyth Park in Savannah, Georgia for a free cosplay photoshoot and benefit spaghetti dinner. The photoshoot was attended by approximately 30-35 people and provided an opportunity to the anime fan community in Savannah. MomoCon welcomed students from Armstrong Atlantic State University, Savannah College of Art and Design, as well as many Savannah locals.
- Georgia Tech Riki-Oh Night 2005 - MomoCon helped staff and financially sponsor the annual Georgia Tech cult film festival and Super Smash Brothers Melee tournament, Riki-Oh Night. The convention paid in part for the banner and prizes for the tournament.
- Cosplayers on Ice 2007 - On December 8, 2007, a photoshoot took place for local Atlanta costumers at Centennial Olympic Park, making use of the annual ice skating rink set up in the park. Costumers skated on the ice or had photos taken in the grass area.
- Cosplayers on Ice 2008 - On December 13, 2008, a second ice skating photoshoot event took place at Centennial Olympic Park.
- Steampunk Photoshoot 2008 - On May 24, 2008, MomoCon in association with Peach State Cosplay Society hosted a Steampunk photoshoot on Georgia Tech campus. The shoot took advantage of some of the unique campus architecture and was open to all types of costumers.
- MomoCon Winter Ball - On January 17th, 2009, MomoCon hosted a winter semi-formal ball event. It featured wintery decorations, DJs playing danceable anime/video game tunes as well as classic pop, rock, big band, lounge, and jazz music. A special website is set-up to take any song suggestions attendees might have. Entrance to the event was $8 in advance and $10 at the door.
- MomoCon on the road - Many members of MomoCon staff volunteer to run numerous events at other conventions. Some staffer from MomoCon also staff for the Anime Track at Dragon Con and at Anime Weekend Atlanta. The chairman of MomoCon, Jessica Merriman, is also the Animation Track Director for Dragon Con. Staffers from MomoCon also sit on many panels at these events, and at special MomoCon-sponsored panels at Atlanta Comic Expo. Some staffers from these events also help staff MomoCon events.
MomoCon on Tour
In 2009, MomoCon opened a second website and premiered MomoCon on Tour, a collection of various peripheral events between each year's main convention
- Spring Photoshoot 2009 On May 30, 2009, MomoCon in association with Peach State Cosplay Society hosted a photoshoot at Historic Roswell Mill and the surrounding trails for local costumers. Old mill machinery and a man-made waterfall were used as backdrops.
- Summer Gaming Festival 2009 On June 27, 2009, MomoCon will host a Summer Gaming Festival at the Georgia Tech Student Center. Admission is $5 at the door, and events will center around board, card, and RPG gaming, as well as retro video gaming.
Notes
External links
Wikis
Search
