Otafest

Otafest is an annual anime convention held in May (and previously September, mid-June, or early July), at the Calgary Telus Convention Centre, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The first Otafest was held 1999 and has expanded each year, including a move in 2009 to include a mini-convention called Otafest Lite, which was replaced in 2012 with Otafest Aurora.^[2] At the closing ceremonies in 2015, it was announced that Otafest would be moving to the Calgary Telus Convention Centre from the University of Calgary for Otafest 2016 with a new date, July 1–3, however the event dates returned to May after Otafest 2017. As of May 2015, it is the largest anime convention in Western Canada. Otafest is a fully volunteer-run non-profit, and has raised over $219,000 CAD for charitable initiatives since its inception.^[3]

Otafest
The O-Wing, Otafest's primary logo
Status	Active
Venue	Calgary Telus Convention Centre
Location(s)	Calgary, Alberta
Country	Canada
Inaugurated	1999
Attendance	11,765 (2024)[1]
Organized by	Otafest Film & Cultural Festival Planning Committee
Filing status	Non-profit organization
Website	otafest.com

Mandate

Otafest is a Calgary-based nonprofit organization expressing the values of charity, quality, and transparency. The body of their activity pertains to the promotion of Japanese art, culture, and media in the Canadian community, and the organization rests firmly on the spirit of community collaboration and volunteerism.^[4]

History

Otafest was scheduled to occur May 15–17, 2020 but was postponed to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.^[5]

Otafest event history

Dates[4][6]	Location	Atten.[4][6]	Guests
July 3–4, 1999	University of Calgary Calgary, Alberta[7]	700[7]
June 17–18, 2000	University of Calgary Calgary, Alberta[8]	900[1]	Yasuyuki Ueda.[8]
September 15–16, 2001	University of Calgary Calgary, Alberta[9]	700[9]
May 24–26, 2002	University of Calgary Calgary, Alberta[10]
May 24–25, 2003	University of Calgary Science Theaters Calgary, Alberta[11]
May 15–16, 2004	University of Calgary Calgary, Alberta[12]		The 404s.[12]
May 21–22, 2005	University of Calgary Calgary, Alberta[13]		Jonathan Love.[13]
May 21–22, 2006	University of Calgary Calgary, Alberta[14]
May 19–20, 2007	University of Calgary Calgary, Alberta[15]	2,709[1]	The 404s.[15]
May 16–18, 2008	University of Calgary Calgary, Alberta[16]	4,278[1]	The 404s, Mohammad "Hawk" Haque, Dr. Antonia Levi, Jonathan Love, Midnight Taiko, Ananth Panagariya, Dave Rathnow, and Shin Ken Kai Nobara.[16]
May 15–17, 2009	University of Calgary Calgary, Alberta[17]	4,361[1]	The 404s, Johnny Yong Bosch, Mohammad "Hawk" Haque, Bob the Chair, Dr. Antonia Levi, Midnight Taiko, Ananth Panagariya.[17]
May 21–23, 2010	University of Calgary Calgary, Alberta[18]	3,697[1]	The 404s, Michelle Ruff, Todd Haberkorn, Scott Ramsoomair, Synaptic Chaos Theatre, Midnight Taiko, Dave Rathnow & Shin Ken Kai Nobara, Thwomp, Pinko Polkadotsu.[18]
May 20–22, 2011	University of Calgary Calgary, Alberta[19]	4,135[1]	The Fool, Midnight Taiko, Dave Rathnow & Shin Ken Kai Nobara, Sun Ergos, Synaptic Chaos Theatre, Thwomp.[19]
May 18–20, 2012	University of Calgary Calgary, Alberta[20]	4,938[20]	Andrea Libman, Brendan Hunter, Lix, Thwomp, Midnight Taiko, Dave Rathnow & Shin Ken Kai Nobara, Synaptic Chaos Theatre.[20][21]
May 17–19, 2013	University of Calgary Calgary, Alberta[22]	4,947[22]	Michael Daingerfield, Carol-Anne Day, Lucas Gilbertson, Adam Hunter, Brendan Hunter, Midnight Taiko, Kirby Morrow, Dave Rathnow & Shin Ken Kai Nobara, Scott Roberts, Kieran Strange, Synaptic Chaos Theatre, Umbrella.[22]
May 16–18, 2014	University of Calgary Calgary, Alberta[22]	7,787[22]	Yuu Asakawa, Chris Cason, Brad Swaile, Yaya Han, Midnight Taiko, Dave Rathnow, Rose Noire, Chii Sakurabi, Kieran Strange, Synaptic Chaos Theatre, Thwomp.[23][24][25]
May 15–17, 2015	University of Calgary Calgary, Alberta[26]	8,990[26]	Shinichi Watanabe, UchuSentai:Noiz, Meg Turney, Synaptic Chaos Theatre, Dave Rathnow, Toby Proctor, Midnight Taiko, Jessica Merizan, Yui Makino, Quinton Flynn, Randy "Birdy" Crisologo, Linda Ballantyne.[26]
July 1–3, 2016	Calgary Telus Convention Centre Calgary, Alberta[27]	7,995[27]	Johnny Yong Bosch, Todd Haberkorn, J. Michael Tatum, Nogod, Kamui Cosplay, Smile.dk, Shinichi Watanabe, Drunk Gaming, Justin Currie, Yumi Akai, Yaya Han, Synaptic Chaos Theatre, Brendan Hunter, Caitlynne Medrek.[27][28][29]
June 30 – July 2, 2017	Calgary Telus Convention Centre Calgary, Alberta[30]	7,724[30]	Carolina Ravassa, Jerry Jewell, The Runaway Guys, Gladzy Kei, Jill Frappier, Ron Rubin, Pingame, Reika Cosplay, James Landino, WTCHDCTR, Drunk Gaming, Tracey Moore, Birdy, Synaptic Chaos Theatre[30][31]
May 18–20, 2018	Calgary Telus Convention Centre Calgary, Alberta[32]	9,572[32]	Capcom Live!, Leon Chiro, Andy Rae, Leah Clark, Caitlin Glass, Matthew Mercer, Jinnie McManus, Midnight Taiko, Synaptic Chaos Theatre, Fakku, Arda Wigs [32]
May 17–19, 2019	Calgary Telus Convention Centre Calgary, Alberta[33]	9,222[1]	SungWon Cho, Wendee Lee, The Slants, FAKKU, Rider4Z, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Steve Blum, James Landino, Rusty Meeks, Rocky Mountain Taiko [33]
May 21–22, 2022	Calgary Telus Convention Centre Calgary, Alberta[34]	9,122[1]	The 404s, Griffin Burns, Fighting Dreamers Productions, Brendan Hunter, Jinnie McManus, Keith Silverstein, A.K. Wirru [35]
May 19–21, 2023	Calgary Telus Convention Centre Calgary, Alberta	11,469[1]	The 404s, Lucien Dodge, Brendan Hunter, Erica Lindbeck, Jinnie McManus, Erica Mendez, Rock M. Sakura, Windrise, Shellanin, Dave Rodgers, Digital Planet, Girl_DM_, KristiclesGG, Yosakoi Soran Calgary, Yama no Oto, Anime Night Club 3, The Runaway Guys, NΣΣT[36]
May 10–12, 2024	Calgary Telus Convention Centre Calgary, Alberta	11,765[1]
May 16-18, 2025	Calgary Telus Convention Centre Calgary, Alberta	12,252[1]	The 404s, Yama no Oto, Yosoca, girl_dm_, CottontailVA, AdvanceRatio, Rie Tanaka, Nagi Yanagi, Allegra Clark, Kaiji Tang, Joe Zieja, Aurora Matrix

Otafest Lite/Aurora event history

Otafest Lite

Dates[4]	Location	Atten.[4]	Guests
November 14, 2009	University of Calgary Calgary, Alberta	900 (estimated)[37]
November 13, 2010	University of Calgary Calgary, Alberta	800 (estimated)[38]
November 12, 2011	University of Calgary Calgary, Alberta	700 (estimated)[39]

Otafest Aurora

Dates[4]	Location	Atten.	Guests
December 15, 2012	University of Calgary Downtown Campus Calgary, Alberta	843[2][6]	Samuel Vincent, Maryke Hendrikse[2]
November 30, 2013	University of Calgary Downtown Campus Calgary, Alberta	1,716[40][41]	Andrea Libman, Tabitha St. Germain, Thwomp[40][42]
November 29, 2014	SAIT Polytechnic Calgary, Alberta	2,040[4][43]	Carol-Anne Day, Brendan Hunter, Cherami Leigh, J. Michael Tatum, Kieran Strange, Twinfools & Nova Cosplay[43]
November 13–14, 2015	SAIT Polytechnic Calgary, Alberta	2,542[44]	Vic Mignogna, Ani-Mia, Josh Hart[28][44]
November 4–5, 2016	SAIT Polytechnic Calgary, Alberta	1,824[45]	Eric Stuart, Stephanie Sheh, Enayla Cosplay[45][46]