Anime Festival Orlando is a multi-day celebration of all matters associated with Japanese animation and popular culture held at the Wyndham Orlando Resort. Anime Festival Orlando has earned the title of “Florida’s Favorite Anime Convention” and has been voted one of the best anime events in the world since its inception in 2000.
This festival is considered a meetup for thousands of Otaku to meet, greet, and have a good time in a Japanese animated environment. Fans from all over the country gather and promote the anime community. Prominent artists also take part in the festival as chief guests.
For the remaining ten years, Anime Festival Orlando’s team of workers has crafted a unique sport called “Tales of Orlandia” after completing the “Swords of Orlandia” trilogy. The sport provides an interactive RPG tale for our attendees to voluntarily play all through the weekend while participating in the conventional fare presented at anime conventions.
Programming
The conference generally offers an artist alley, cosplay content, a maid cafe, panels, a rave, vendors, and an online game room. The interactive game “Orlandia” takes place all through the conference. The conference’s charity occasion in 2009 benefited Child’s Play.
Why is the Anime Festival in Orlando a famous place all over the country?
Every man or woman enjoys an exceptional story, genre, and fashion in anime! The huge variety of genres in anime is the primary reason it’s so popular. Romance, comedy, action/adventure, mystery/suspense, and horror are only some of the various genres explored via anime plots. So you can start with an exciting location you enjoy.
Anime collections include distinctive sorts of testimonies. There are many areas for the artist to supposing creatively and create new plots. This is why anime enthusiasts can get an exceptional flavor from every show. Furthermore, there are testimonies that everyone can enjoy making genuine gifts to their friends and family. And now, this event has become Florida’s favorite anime convention, including a multi-day celebration.
How do I be a part of the events?
1. Be a Dealer
If you want to promote your wares at this year’s AFO, fill out our Dealer Application. Spots are going fast, so declare yours now!
2. Be an artist
Show off your artwork at this year’s AFO. Register beneath if you want to promote your artwork and merchandise today. Limited spots are available!
3. Become a Panelist
Have something you would like to proportion with the complete convention? Set up a panel and place your hazards in the spotlight to discuss anything!
4. Be a Volunteer at the Anime Festival Orlando’s Staff
Support us this time and come to be a part of the AFO family. Earn your badge and laugh on equal time! Register today. It’s first come, first served.
5. Attend as a Press Member
Interested in covering AFO as a journalist this year? Be sure to fill out the form to get your pass to cover our various events this year.
Fun Activities
The Anime Festival in Orlando provides fun activities every year like:
- Cosplay Costume Contest
- Anime Music Video Competition
- Interactive Main Events and traditional fares offered
- Artists and dealers
- Warriors of Orlando Card Game
- Concerts
- Rave featuring special music guest
- Panels, Fan Events
History
The Convention’s organization started in December 1999. AFO shared an area with other conference websites hosting Governor Jeb Bush in 2006. Because of the bad situation, the Anime Festival Orlando 2020 was moved from June to November but was later canceled.
Some of the important AFOs over the years are mentioned below.
- The first convention was held in August 2000, on August 19 and 20, at the Ramada Plaza Hotel and Inn Gateway Kissimmee, Florida. The chief guests were Steve Bennett, Marshall Hash, and Wendee Lee.
- It is considered one of the most memorable anime events. The next year, July 27-29, 2001, the Hilton Orlando/Altamonte Springs was the venue, and the special guests were Steve Bennett, Chynna Clugston-Major, Marshall Hash, Wendee Lee, Doug Smith, and Yoshiki Tokushu.
- It was held from August 16 to 18, 2002, at the Renaissance WorldGate in Kissimmee, Florida, with a larger number of attendees. Stars like Hiroshi Aro, Steve Bennett, Keith Burgess, Lindsay Cibos, Chynna Clugston-Major, Robert DeJesus, Ben Dunn, Marshall Hash, Jared Hodges, Wendee Lee, Jan Scott-Frazier, Doug Smith, Miyuki Sugimori, and Yoshiki Tokushu were invited.
- 2003 was special at Wyndham Orlando Resort, Orlando, Florida, with invitees such as Steve Bennett, Lindsay Cibos, Robert DeJesus, Tiffany Grant, Jared Hodges, Wendee Lee, Chris Patton, Meredith Placko, Jack Povlitz, and Jan Scott-Frazier.
- August 15-17, 2008, was the venue for the meetup of anime fans at the Wyndham Orlando Resort in Orlando, Florida, where the special guests were Colleen Clinkenbeard, Aaron Dismuke, Richard Epcar, Jason David Frank, Reuben Langdon, Chris Patton, Monica Rial, Doug Smith, Ellyn Stern, Travis Willingham, and Stephanie Yanez.
- The least attended was in 2009, when it was held at the Wyndham Orlando Resort in Orlando, Florida. The guests were Robert Axelrod, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Aaron Dismuke, Jason David Frank, Reuben Langdon, Vic Mignogna, Chris Sabat, Doug Smith, and Sonny Strait.
- The event was held on August 3-5, 2018, at the Wyndham Orlando Resort International Drive. Floridabruce Carr, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Dorah Fine, Reuben Langdon, and John Swasey were the chief invitees.
- Wyndham Orlando Resort International Drive, Orlando, Florida, was decided as the place to organize the 19th event on August 9-11, 2019. This time the fortunate ones to be the special visitants were Steve Blum, Johnny Yong Bosch, Dorah Fine, Jason David Frank, Billy Kametz, Reuben Langdon, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Megan Ran, Tony Oliver, and Dan Southworth.
- The latest event took place at the Wyndham Orlando Resort International Drive in Orlando, Florida, June 24-26, 2022, in the presence of chief guests Doug Cockle, Dorah Fine, Kyle Hebert, Jeremy Inman, Brittney Karbowski, Kazha, Christina Marie Kelly, Aaron Pabon, Aaron Roberts, John Swasey, and Howard Wang.
Conclusion
Anime Festival Orlando is a mesmerizing place for anime fans or so-called Otaku. Also. Even if you are not an anime lover, this place will be fanciful for you and your friends. The festival has been a huge success recently, and thousands of fans have attended it. Hopefully, next year’s festival will bring more exciting things.
I hope this article helps you.
Last Updated on by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology
