Kami-Con

Kami-Con is an anime convention held annually in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Kami-Con is a nonprofit convention and is open to the general public free of charge.

History
Kami-Con was started in the fall of 2008 by a handful of students at The University of Alabama. They felt that there was no place in the state for fans of anime and otaku culture to meet and share their hobbies and interests. Together they formed the Bama SOS Brigade which became the planning and administrative arm of Kami-Con. The name "Kami-Con" as well as the name of Kami-Con's administrative branch the "SOS Brigade" are both references to the popular light novel and anime franchise, Haruhi Suzumiya. The official mascot of Kami-Con is Shio-chan. This is a pun based on The University of Alabama's nickname the "Crimson Tide" as Shio is the is Japanese word for "tide." The first official Kami-Con was held on April 25 and 26 of 2009.

Programming
Kami-Con is a two day event consisting of several different panels, seminars, demonstrations, and workshops relating to anime and otaku culture. The events include a cosplay contest, maid cafe, gaming tournaments, anime music video (AMV) tournaments, and anime screenings. There are also guest speakers and performers. Previous guests that have visited Kami-Con include: The Abridged Community (T.A.C.), Aaron Pabon, Stephanie Yanez, Kittyhawk, Bryan King, and Mini-Komix. Guests for Kami-Con Season 2 include LittleKuriboh, creator of Yu-Gi-Oh the Abridged Series, Vic Mignogna who is known for his voice acting roles as Edward Elric in Fullmetal Alchemist and Tamaki Suou in Ouran High School Host Club, and Robert Axelrod (actor) who voiced the role of Lord Zedd and many others in the Power Rangers franchise.