Metrocon
Encyclopedia
METROCON is an annual anime convention based in Tampa
, Florida
. It was first presented in 2003 out of a Crowne Plaza Hotel nearby to the Florida State Fairgrounds
, and beginning in 2005 moved to the Tampa Convention Center
after two years of rapid growth.
Match, Fantasy Masquerade, Fire Show and Costume and Cosplay Contests), dances/raves, contests, panels, video game rooms, video rooms screening anime, tabletop game rooms, LAN gaming, and cosplay
.
, who is best known for his Final Fantasy
character designs and Vampire Hunter D
illustrations. Amano's work was visible everywhere, from the banner at the entrance to the convention to every weekend pass ticket. Amano often made sketches of those with VIP
passes to his panel and continued to sign fans' artbooks and pictures over an hour past when he was scheduled to finish.
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. It was first presented in 2003 out of a Crowne Plaza Hotel nearby to the Florida State Fairgrounds
Florida State Fairgrounds
The Florida State Fairgrounds is located in Tampa, Florida. In addition to holding the annual Florida State Fair, the fairgrounds also hosts a wide variety of other events throughout the year....
, and beginning in 2005 moved to the Tampa Convention Center
Tampa Convention Center
The Tampa Convention Center is a mid-sized convention center located in Downtown Tampa, Florida. Its location has both waterfront views and views of the skyline. In 2006, a 20-story Embassy Suites hotel opened next door, with a skybridge connecting it to the convention center. Harbour Island is...
after two years of rapid growth.
Features
Metrocon hosts a variety of events and experiences for fans of anime, manga, video games, fantasy, science fiction, and more. The convention's typical features include a vendor's room, "artist alley", special guests, autograph sessions, main events (such as the Anime Human ChessHuman chess
Human chess is a variant of chess, often played at a Renaissance fair, where people each take on the role of a chess piece. Human chess is typically played on an outdoor field, with the squares of the board marked out on the grass. Many Human Combat Chess Matches are choreographed stage shows that...
Match, Fantasy Masquerade, Fire Show and Costume and Cosplay Contests), dances/raves, contests, panels, video game rooms, video rooms screening anime, tabletop game rooms, LAN gaming, and cosplay
Cosplay
, short for "costume play", is a type of performance art in which participants don costumes and accessories to represent a specific character or idea. Characters are often drawn from popular fiction in Japan, but recent trends have included American cartoons and science fiction...
.
Change of Ownership
On January 4th, 2010 Metrocon announced a change in ownership, from Metrocon LLC run by Roy Harms, to Team Dynamite Productions LLC operated by Nick Fazio and Alex Craddock. This change followed previous owner Roy Harms pleading nolo contendre in court to a second degree felony, and being listed as a state sex offender.Amano's World
On the weekend of October 14-15, 2006, a second anime convention was held by AnimeMetro, known as METROCON: Amano's World. The guest of honor was Yoshitaka AmanoYoshitaka Amano
is a Japanese artist. He began his career as an animator and has become known for his illustrations for the anime Vampire Hunter D and for his character designs, image illustrations and title logo designs for the Final Fantasy video game series developed by Square Enix . His influences include...
, who is best known for his Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy
is a media franchise created by Hironobu Sakaguchi, and is developed and owned by Square Enix . The franchise centers on a series of fantasy and science-fantasy role-playing video games , but includes motion pictures, anime, printed media, and other merchandise...
character designs and Vampire Hunter D
Vampire Hunter D
is a series of Japanese novels written by Hideyuki Kikuchi and illustrated by Yoshitaka Amano since 1983.To date, twenty-two novels have been published in the main series, with some novels comprising as many as four volumes...
illustrations. Amano's work was visible everywhere, from the banner at the entrance to the convention to every weekend pass ticket. Amano often made sketches of those with VIP
Very Important Person
A Very Important Person, or VIP is a person who is accorded special privileges due to his or her status or importance.Examples include celebrities, heads of state/heads of government, major employers, high rollers, politicians, high-level corporate officers, wealthy individuals, or any other...
passes to his panel and continued to sign fans' artbooks and pictures over an hour past when he was scheduled to finish.
Event history
| Dates | Location | Atten. | Guests |
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