Anime Banzai

Anime Banzai is Utah's first anime convention, originally held at and sanctioned by Salt Lake Community College and created and run by members of its anime club. It is held in late summer or fall, originally for one day, expanded to two days in 2006 and 2007, and again to three days in 2009. Anime Banzai features contests, a gaming room, panels, a swap meet, and two anime screening rooms. The 2010 convention will be held October 8-10, 2010 in the Davis Conference Center in Layton, Utah.

Programming
Events typically included origami lessons, how to cosplay, sushi preparation instruction, fact vs fiction about ninjas, a few fan discussion panels, a subtitled vs dubbed debate, several 'How to Draw...' panels and many other events. Some events were more specific to Anime such as the Scavenger hunt for Sakura's feathers based on the Anime/Manga Tsubasa Chronicle.

Contests included karaoke (called Anime Idol), cosplay, an AMV contest, several video & card game tournaments, and a fanart contest.

Other events included a Swap Meet, dance, a themed cafe with cosplayers serving the patrons, and several game shows based on popular television, such as Whose Line is it Anyway? and Anime Jeopardy.

History
The inaugural convention, bringing over 600 attendees, was held on October 15, 2005 for only one day with no special guests.