# Kami-Con

Kami-Con is an annual three-day anime convention held during January or February in Birmingham, Alabama at the Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex by the Bama SOS Brigade, a student organization from the University of Alabama.

## Programming

The convention typically offers anime screenings, concerts, cosplay contests, dodgeball tournaments, a Pokecenter, rave, tabletop games, vendors, and video game tournaments. The convention contains a storyline/plot, which allows attendees to pick sides, and affect the outcome of the story by participating in various contests.

## History

Kami-Con is organized by the Bama SOS Brigade, which was started by Raymond Lenzner and a handful of students at the University of Alabama. Construction in the Ferguson Center during the 2010 convention caused some events such as video gaming to change locations. The convention moved to the Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex in 2013. Kami-Con 2021 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2022 convention had COVID-19 policies that required masks and either vaccination or a negative test.

### Event history

| Dates | Location | Atten. | Guests |
| April 25–26, 2009 | University of Alabama – Ferguson Center Tuscaloosa, Alabama | 460 | Mandy Clark, Bryan King, Kittyhawk, Aaron Pabon, Seraphina, and Stephanie Yanez. |
| April 24–25, 2010 | University of Alabama – Ferguson Center Tuscaloosa, Alabama | 1,267 | Robert Axelrod, Martin Billany, Lisa Furukawa, Kevin "Chicknwings" Hicks, Vic Mignogna, Aaron Pabon, and Seraphina. |
| February 19–20, 2011 | University of Alabama – Ferguson Center Tuscaloosa, Alabama | 2,600 | 91.8 The Fan, Martin Billany, Johnny Yong Bosch, Carly Dorsey, Kyle Hebert, Kevin "Chicknwings" Hicks, Aaron Pabon, Seraphina, Micah Solusod, and Charity Youngblood. |
| February 3–5, 2012 | University of Alabama – Ferguson Center Tuscaloosa, Alabama | 2,500 | 501st Legion, 91.8 The Fan, Robert Axelrod, Martin Billany, Electric Moon, Crispin Freeman, Kevin "Chicknwings" Hicks, Marble Hornets, Marin M. Miller, Chris Niosi, Aaron Pabon, Seraphina, Ashley Serena, Sonny Strait, Eric Stuart, Leo "That SciFi Guy" Thompson, Cristina Vee, Doug Walker, and Nick Wright. |
| February 15–17, 2013 | Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex Birmingham, Alabama | 3,700 | 91.8 The Fan, Martin Billany, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Kevin "Chicknwings" Hicks, Laugh Out Loud, Vic Mignogna, Marin M. Miller, Chris Niosi, Aaron Pabon, Michelle Ruff, Christopher Sabat, Seraphina, Leo "That SciFi Guy" Thompson, Doug Walker, Greg Wicker, and Nick Wright. |
| February 14–16, 2014 | Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex Birmingham, Alabama | 4,172 | Linda Ballantyne, Martin Billany, Beau Billingslea, Steve Blum, Melissa Fahn, Katie Griffin, Laugh Out Loud, Wendee Lee, Marin M. Miller, Aaron Pabon, Toby Proctor, Susan Roman, Leo "That SciFi Guy" Thompson, Greg Wicker, and Nick Wright. |
| February 27 – March 1, 2015 | Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex Birmingham, Alabama | 4,800 | 91.8 The Fan, Curtis Arnott, Martin Billany, Ed Chavez, Mr. Creepy Pasta, Scott Frerichs, Kazha, Nick Landis, Laugh Out Loud, Marin M. Miller, Aaron Pabon, Bryce Papenbrook, Jessie Pridemore, Lawrence Simpson, Micah Solusod, Leo "That SciFi Guy" Thompson, Cristina Vee, Doug Walker, Greg Wicker, Nick Wright, and Apphia Yu (Ayu Sakata). |
| March 11–13, 2016 | Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex Birmingham, Alabama | 4,700 | 91.8 The Fan, Robert Axelrod, Linda Ballantyne, Chalk Twins, Cosplay, Inc., Mr. Creepy Pasta, Richard Epcar, Jacob Grady, Catherine Jones, Kazha, Aaron Pabon, Jessie Pridemore, Toby Proctor, Ian Sinclair, Ellyn Stern, Nicki Taylor, Cristina Vee, Aurelio Voltaire, and Greg Wicker. |
| January 27–29, 2017 | Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex Birmingham, Alabama | 6,800 | Yuu Asakawa, Martin Billany, Zach Callison, Mr. Creepy Pasta, Kara Eberle, Scott Frerichs, Caleb Hyles, Kazha, Nick Landis, Vic Mignogna, Marin M. Miller, Aaron Pabon, Malcolm Ray, Lawrence Simpson, Leo "That SciFi Guy" Thompson, Tokyo Attack!, Greg Wicker, and Alexander Shunnarah. |
| January 26–28, 2018 | Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex Birmingham, Alabama | 7,527 | John Anderson, Dante Basco, Martin Billany, Johnny Yong Bosch, Greg Cipes, Mr. Creepy Pasta, Jonny Cruz, Barbara Dunkelman, Kara Eberle, Andy Field, Scott Frerichs, Jacob Grady, Todd Haberkorn, Catherine Jones, Lindsay Jones, Kazha, Phil LaMarr, Nick Landis, Marin M. Miller, Aaron Pabon, Jessie Pridemore, Malcolm Ray, Michelle Ruff, Lawrence Simpson, Corinne Sudberg, Vofan, Doug Walker, Rob Walker, and Arryn Zech. |
| February 22–24, 2019 | Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex Birmingham, Alabama | 9,000 | John Anderson, Brentalfloss, SungWon Cho, Mr. Creepy Pasta, Estelle, Katie George, Caitlin Glass, Chuck Huber, Catherine Jones, Kazha, Lauren Landa, Erica Mendez, NateWantsToBattle, Aaron Pabon, Jeremy Shada, Micah Solusod, Vitamin H Productions, and Apphia Yu (Ayu Sakata). |
| January 31 – February 2, 2020 | Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex Birmingham, Alabama | | Zach Aguilar, Steve Blum, Leah Clark, Mr. Creepy Pasta, Jim Cummings, Yaya Han, Samantha Inoue-Harte, Catherine Jones, Kazha, E. Jason Liebrecht, Aaron Pabon, Rob Paulsen, Jad Saxton, Cristina Vee, and Vitamin H Productions. |
| February 11–13, 2022 | Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex Birmingham, Alabama | 9,000 (est.) | Corina Boettger, Kira Buckland, Mr. Creepy Pasta, Aaron Dismuke, Yaya Han, Erika Harlacher, Jill Harris, Caleb Hyles, Samantha Inoue-Harte, Kazha, Faye Mata, Adam McArthur, Casey Mongillo, Sarah Natochenny, Aaron Pabon, Dallas Reid, Jonah Scott, Synth Reality Productions, Vitamin H Productions, and Anne Yatco. |
| February 10-12, 2023 | Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex Birmingham, Alabama | | Rodger Bumpass, Alejandra Cazares, Jillian Coglan, Samurai Dan Coglan, Justin Cook, Grey DeLisle, Jack DeSena, Caitlin Glass, Olivia Hack, Haenuli, Yaya Han, Richard Horvitz, Samantha Inoue-Harte, Catherine Jones, Kazha, Peter Kelamis, Jennie Kwan, Amanda "AmaLee" Lee, The Living Tombstone, Jamie Marchi, Brandon McInnis, Michaela Jill Murphy, OR3O, Aaron Pabon, Kyle Phillips, Synth Reality Productions, J. Michael Tatum, TeddyLoid, Eric Vale, Natalie Van Sistine, and Vitamin H Productions. |
| February 9-11, 2024 | Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex Birmingham, Alabama | | Greg Baldwin, Greg Cipes, Kellen Goff, Kyle Hebert, Catherine Jones, Kazha, Michael Kovach, James Landino, Ashley Nichols, Chris Niosi, Aaron Pabon, Khary Payton, Zeno Robinson, Keith Silverstein, Synth Reality Productions, Kirk Thornton, and Kari Wahlgren. |
| February 7-9, 2025 | Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex Birmingham, Alabama | | Bryson Baugus, A.J. Beckles, Tracy J. Butler, Samurai Dan Coglan, Lizzie Freeman, Karen Fukuhara, Samantha Inoue-Harte, Catherine Jones, Takanashi Kiara, Lex Lang, PAiDA, Atelier Pierrot, Anairis Quiñones, Mallorie Rodak, Brandon Rogers, Saberspark, Synth Reality Productions, Abby Trott, Vitamin H Productions, Hynden Walch, Matthew Waterson, and Suzie Yeung. |

## Mascots

The official mascots of Kami-Con are Shio-chan (light/shiny) and Kosho (dark), who battled with the help of convention attendees choosing sides and participating in contests, to decide 2011's mascot. In 2013, Shio and Kosho battled with the new turtle mascot, Shoyu, and its previous evil owners.

## Mississippi Anime Invasion

The Mississippi Anime Invasion was a two-day anime convention held during October at the Oxford Conference Center in Oxford, Mississippi. It was created by Kami-Con and students from the University of Mississippi.

### Event history

| Dates | Location | Atten. | Guests |
| September 14–15, 2013 | Oxford Conference Center Oxford, Mississippi | | Kyle Hebert, Laugh Out Loud, Micah Solusod, Greg Wicker, and Apphia Yu (Ayu Sakata). |
| October 25–26, 2014 | Oxford Conference Center Oxford, Mississippi | | Laugh Out Loud, Bryce Papenbrook, Christopher Sabat, and Greg Wicker. |

## Kami-Con HAI

Kami-Con HAI is a three-day anime convention held during September/October at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

### Event history

| Dates | Location | Atten. | Guests |
| September 29 - October 1, 2023 | Von Braun Center Huntsville, Alabama | | Linda Ballantyne, Dante Basco, Ian James Corlett, Katie Griffin, Richard Horvitz, Caleb Hyles, Kazha, The Living Tombstone, Alejandro Saab, Synth Reality Productions, Vitamin H Productions, Jonathan Young, and Stephanie Young. |
| October 4-6, 2024 | Von Braun Center Huntsville, Alabama | | Alistair Abell, Samantha Béart, Britt Baron, Grey DeLisle Griffin, Barbara Dunkelman, Kara Eberle, Ricco Fajardo, Sandy Fox, Megan Hollingshead, Lindsay Jones, Kazha, Brianna Knickerbocker, Wendee Lee, Emi Lo, Matt Riddle, Synth Reality Productions, Briana White, and Arryn Zech. |

## Gallery

* KamiCon 2009 logo.