View source for MechaCon

{{Infobox Convention
| name       = MechaCon
| image      = [[Image:Jett and Zee.jpg|230px]]
| caption    = MechaCon mascots: Jett and Zee
| status     = Defunct
| genre      = [[Anime]], [[Manga]], [[Transformers]], and Japanese culture.<ref>{{cite press release | url = https://animecons.com/press/post/229/mechacon-returns-to-lafayette-la-in-august | title = MechaCon returns to Lafayette, LA in August | publisher = AnimeCons.com | date = 2006-01-17 | accessdate = 2018-06-06}}</ref><ref name="gam07312016">{{cite news|last1=Stromquist|first1=Kat|title=Androids and anime: a day at MechaCon (slideshow)|url=http://www.bestofneworleans.com/blogofneworleans/archives/2016/07/31/androids-and-anime-a-day-at-mechacon-slideshow|accessdate=5 September 2016|work=Gambit|date=July 31, 2016}}</ref>
| venue      = [[Hyatt Regency New Orleans]]
| location   = [[New Orleans|New Orleans, Louisiana]]
| country    = United States
| first      = 2005
| organizer  = Sennin Productions, LLC<ref name="robo10">{{cite press release | url = http://www.robotech.com/news/viewarticle.php?id=417 | title = MechaCon Celebrates a Quarter Century of Robotech! | publisher = Robotech | date = 2010-07-07 | accessdate = 2012-06-05 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140818070318/http://robotech.com/news/viewarticle.php?id=417 | archivedate = August 18, 2014}}</ref>
| attendance = 18,645 turnstile in 2021<ref name="AC-2021"/>
| website    =
}}
'''MechaCon''' was an annual three-day [[anime convention]] held during the summer at the [[Hyatt Regency New Orleans]] in [[New Orleans|New Orleans, Louisiana]]. It was the oldest active anime convention in Louisiana.<ref name="gam07312016"/>
==Programming==
The convention typically offered an artist's alley, cosplay competition, dealer's room, gaming, and maid/host show.<ref name="gam07312016"/><ref name="tpw10122013">{{cite news|last1=Cannon|first1=Adam|title=An Inside Look at the World of Mechacon|url=https://thepaperwolf.com/2013/09/12/an-inside-look-at-the-world-of-mechacon/|accessdate=5 September 2016|work=The Paper Wolf|date=September 12, 2013}}</ref>
==History==
MechaCon's inaugural weekend in 2005 is unique because [[Hurricane Katrina]] made landfall on the coast of Louisiana hours after MechaCon closed its doors.<ref>{{citation | url = https://animecons.com/news/post/179/katrinas-effects-on-the-anime-community | title = Katrina's effects on the anime community | publisher = AnimeCons.com | date = 2005-09-05 | accessdate = 2018-07-30}}</ref> The dealers room closed early and all but one guest made their flight. In 2006, as a special part of MechaCon's 2006 programming, [[Harmony Gold USA]] provided fans of the [[Robotech]] franchise with the first-ever public screening of the film [[Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles]]. 100% of the funds raised from the screening was donated to [[The Salvation Army]]’s ongoing Hurricane Katrina and [[Hurricane Rita]] recovery efforts.<ref>{{citation | url = http://www.robotech.com/news/viewarticle.php?id=275 | title = Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles Charity Screening at MechaCon!!! | publisher = Harmony Gold USA | date = 2006-06-02 | accessdate = 2008-08-19 | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20150401104657/http://www.robotech.com/news/viewarticle.php?id=275 | archivedate = April 1, 2015}}</ref>
A 2019 press release announced that the final Mechacon, dubbed "Mechacon Omega," would be held in July 2020.<ref name="mechaabout">{{Cite web|url=http://www.mechacon.com/news/about-us/|title=Final MechaCon Anime Convention to Be Held in 2020|last=|first=|date=|website=MechaCon|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-08-21}}</ref><ref name="tv01152020">{{cite news |last1=Sampey |first1=Morri |title=Mechacon is irreplaceable, but Wizard World can fulfill Louisiana con-goers |url=https://www.thevermilion.com/opinion/mechacon-is-irreplaceable-but-wizard-world-can-fulfill-louisiana-con-goers/article_25a0b49a-37db-11ea-a2ac-7fd2a8b70d5a.html |access-date=26 July 2021 |work=The Vermilion |date=January 15, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> MechaCon 2020 was cancelled due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref name="mc2020">{{cite web |title=MechaCon Omega postponed until 2021 |url=http://www.mechacon.com/news/mechacon-omega-postponed-2021/ |website=MechaCon |accessdate=30 May 2020}}</ref><ref name="AC-2020">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/10317/mechacon-2020 | title = MechaCon 2020 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | accessdate = 2020-05-29}}</ref> The final MechaCon was held from July 23-25, 2021.<ref name="mcfinal">{{cite web |title=MECHACON OMEGA: REDUX July 23-25, 2021 |url=http://www.mechacon.com/news/mechacon-omega-redux-july-23-25-2021/ |website=MechaCon |access-date=26 July 2021}}</ref>
===Event history===
{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
|-
! Dates !! Location !! Atten. !! Guests
{{Convention list
| date       = August 26–28, 2005
| venue      = Hilton Lafayette
| location   = [[Lafayette, Louisiana]]
| attendance = 900 warm
| guests     = [[Tiffany Grant]], Limit Break Cosplay, [[Joshua Seth]], Doug Smith, and Alec Willows.<ref name="AC-2005">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/706/mechacon-2005 | title = MechaCon 2005 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | accessdate = 2018-07-30}}</ref>
}}
{{Convention list
| date       = August 11–13, 2006
| venue      = Hilton Lafayette
| location   = Lafayette, Louisiana
| attendance = 1,275 warm
| guests     = [[Garry Chalk (actor)|Garry Chalk]], [[Lisa Furukawa]], [[Brittney Karbowski]], Limit Break Cosplay, Kevin McKeever, [[Scott McNeil]], [[Richard Newman (actor)|Richard Newman]], Doug Smith, [[Kira Vincent-Davis]], [[Brett Weaver]], and Alec Willows.<ref name="AC-2006">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/923/mechacon-2006 | title = MechaCon 2006 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | accessdate = 2018-07-30}}</ref>
}}
{{Convention list
| date       = August 3–5, 2007
| venue      = Hilton Lafayette
| location   = Lafayette, Louisiana
| attendance = 1,700 warm
| guests     = [[Michael Dobson (actor)|Michael Dobson]], [[Richard Epcar]], Lisa Furukawa, Tiffany Grant, [[Matt Greenfield]], Limit Break Cosplay, [[Mike McFarland]], Kevin McKeever, Scott McNeil, [[Ellyn Stern]], and Jonathan M. Thompson.<ref name="AC-2007">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/1235/mechacon-2007 | title = MechaCon 2007 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | accessdate = 2018-07-30}}</ref>
}}
{{Convention list
| date       = August 1–3, 2008
| venue      = Hilton Lafayette
| location   = Lafayette, Louisiana
| attendance = 2,200 warm
| guests     = [[Greg Ayres]], [[Beau Billingslea]], [[Steven Blum|Steve Blum]], John Chambers, Francesco Forni, Lisa Furukawa, [[Ilaria Graziano]], [[Carl Macek]], [[Mary Elizabeth McGlynn]], and [[Tommy Yune]].<ref name="AC-2008">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/1444/mechacon-2008 | title = MechaCon 2008 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | accessdate = 2018-07-30}}</ref>
}}
{{Convention list
| date       = July 24–26, 2009
| venue      = Hilton Lafayette
| location   = Lafayette, Louisiana
| attendance = 2,850 warm
| guests     = [[Christopher Ayres]], Greg Ayres, Garry Chalk, [[Samantha Inoue-Harte]], [[David Kaye (voice actor)|David Kaye]], Kevin McKeever, [[Vic Mignogna]], and [[Wendy Powell]].<ref name="AC-2009">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/1739/mechacon-2009 | title = MechaCon 2009 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | accessdate = 2018-07-30}}</ref>
}}
{{Convention list
| date       = July 16–18, 2010
| venue      = New Orleans Marriott
| location   = [[New Orleans|New Orleans, Louisiana]]
| attendance = 3,700 warm
| guests     = [[Chris Cason]], Richard Epcar, [[Todd Haberkorn]], [[Mari Iijima]],<ref name="annIijima">{{cite web | url = http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-05-18/louisiana-mechacon-hosts-singer/actress-mari-iijima | title = Louisiana's MechaCon Hosts Singer/Actress Mari Iijima | publisher = Anime News Network | accessdate = 2012-06-05}}</ref> Mike McFarland, Kevin McKeever, Vic Mignogna, [[Tony Oliver]], Wendy Powell, Ellyn Stern, [[J. Michael Tatum]], [[Dan Woren]], Tommy Yune,<ref name="AC-2010">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/1939/mechacon-2010 | title = MechaCon 2010 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | accessdate = 2018-07-30}}</ref> and Robotech Convention Tour.<ref name="robo10" />
}}
{{Convention list
| date       = August 26–28, 2011
| venue      = [[Hilton New Orleans Riverside]]
| location   = New Orleans, Louisiana
| attendance = 4,500 warm
| guests     = Amelie Belcher, Steve Blum, [[Johnny Yong Bosch]], Clover, Eyeshine, Lisa Furukawa, [[Kyle Hebert]], Samantha Inoue-Harte, Jonathan Klein, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Kevin McKeever, Scott McNeil, and J. Michael Tatum.<ref name="AC-2011">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/2455/mechacon-2011 | title = MechaCon 2011 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | accessdate = 2020-05-29}}</ref>
}}
{{Convention list
| date       = September 7–9, 2012
| venue      = Hilton New Orleans Riverside
| location   = New Orleans, Louisiana
| attendance = 5,000 warm
| guests     = Amelie Belcher, Eien Strife, Richard Epcar, [[Jason David Frank]], Todd Haberkorn, Samantha Inoue-Harte, Jonathan Klein, Brian "Kuragiman" Navy, April Martin, Carl Martin, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Vic Mignogna, Robby Musso, [[Daran Norris]], Wendy Powell, Ellyn Stern, Jonathan M. Thompson, and Steve Yun.<ref name="AC-2012">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/3023/mechacon-2012 | title = MechaCon 2012 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | accessdate = 2022-07-12}}</ref>
}}
{{Convention list
| date       = August 23–25, 2013
| venue      = Hilton New Orleans Riverside
| location   = New Orleans, Louisiana
| attendance = 11,300 turnstile
| guests     = Karan Ashley, Johnny Yong Bosch, [[Steve Cardenas]], Daniel Coglan, Jillian Coglan, Eyeshine, [[Walter Emanuel Jones|Walter E. Jones]], Jonathan Klein, Cyril Lumboy, [[Jason Narvy]], [[Paul Schrier]], [[Hynden Walch]], [[Greg Weisman]], [[David Yost]], and Tommy Yune.<ref name="AC-2013">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/3430/mechacon-2013 | title = MechaCon 2013 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | accessdate = 2018-07-30}}</ref>
}}
{{Convention list
| date       = August 1–3, 2014
| venue      = Hilton New Orleans Riverside
| location   = New Orleans, Louisiana
| attendance = 13,953 turnstile
| guests = Amelie Belcher, [[Greg Cipes]], Eien Strife, Tiffany Grant, Jonathan Klein, Brian "Kuragiman" Navy, [[Scott Menville]], Jessica Nova, [[Khary Payton]], Jessie Pridemore, [[Andrea Romano (voice director)|Andrea Romano]], Kelli Sarré, [[Spike Spencer]], [[Tara Strong]], Twinfools, [[Hynden Walch]], and Greg Weisman.<ref name="AC-2014">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/3431/mechacon-2014 | title = MechaCon 2014 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | accessdate = 2022-07-12}}</ref>
}}
{{Convention list
| date       = July 17–19, 2015
| venue      = Hilton New Orleans Riverside
| location   = New Orleans, Louisiana
| attendance = 15,180 turnstile
| guests     = Steven Blum, [[Steve Kenson]], Jonathan Klein, Kyle "Ex-Shadow" Mathis, Malinda "Malindachan" Mathis, Mike McFarland, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Courtney "Courtoon" Morelock, Nylon Pink, [[Brina Palencia]], [[Austin Tindle]], Greg Weisman, and Tommy Yun.<ref name="AC-2015">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/3988/mechacon-2015 | title = MechaCon 2015 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | accessdate = 2018-07-30}}</ref>
}}
{{Convention list
| date       = July 29–31, 2016
| venue      = Hilton New Orleans Riverside
| location   = New Orleans, Louisiana
| attendance = 16,567 turnstile
| guests     = Amelie Belcher, Caleb Hyles, Kazha, Courtney "Courtoon" Morelock, Jason Narvy, Khary Payton, Wendy Powell, Paul Schrier, and Steve Yun.<ref name="AC-2016">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/6544/mechacon-2016 | title = MechaCon 2016 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | accessdate = 2018-07-30}}</ref>
}}
{{Convention list
| date       = July 28–30, 2017
| venue      = Hyatt Regency New Orleans
| location   = New Orleans, Louisiana
| attendance = 14,808 turnstile
| guests     = [[Aaron Dismuke]], Richard Epcar, [[Caitlin Glass]], Kyle Hebert, Caleb Hyles, Jonathan Klein, MeltingMirror, [[The Slants]], Ellyn Stern, J. Michael Tatum, and Kimura U.<ref name="AC-2017">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/7578/mechacon-2017 | title = MechaCon 2017 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | accessdate = 2018-07-30}}</ref>
}}
{{Convention list
| date       = July 27–29, 2018
| venue      = Hyatt Regency New Orleans
| location   = New Orleans, Louisiana
| attendance = 16,495 turnstile
| guests     = [[Anjali Bhimani]], Beau Billingslea, Fighting Dreamers Productions, [[Erika Harlacher]], Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Brina Palencia, [[Bill Rogers (voice actor)|Bill Rogers]], and Marc Swint.<ref name="AC-2018">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/10118/mechacon-2018 | title = MechaCon 2018 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | accessdate = 2022-01-06}}</ref>
}}
{{Convention list
| date       = July 26–28, 2019
| venue      = Hyatt Regency New Orleans
| location   = New Orleans, Louisiana
| attendance = 15,897 turnstile
| guests     = [[Leah Clark]], Kara Eberle, Kohei Hattori, [[Lindsay Jones (actor)|Lindsay Jones]], Jonathan Klein, [[Mela Lee]], [[Keith Silverstein]], [[TiA]], Twinzik, and Hynden Walch.<ref name="AC-2019">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/10316/mechacon-2019 | title = MechaCon 2019 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | accessdate = 2022-01-06}}</ref>
}}
{{Convention list
| date       = July 23-25, 2021
| venue      = Hyatt Regency New Orleans
| location   = New Orleans, Louisiana
| attendance = 18,645 turnstile
| guests     = [[Dani Chambers]], [[Cynthia Cranz]], Lisa Furukawa, [[Daman Mills]], and Wendy Powell.<ref name="AC-2021">{{cite web | url = https://animecons.com/events/info/10318/mechacon-2021 | title = MechaCon 2021 Information | publisher = AnimeCons.com | accessdate = 2022-01-06}}</ref>
}}
|}
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
===Other Related News Articles===
*[https://wgno.com/2018/07/29/wgnos-adam-bowles-showcases-all-of-the-crazy-costumes-at-mechacon/ WGNO’s Adam Bowles showcases all of the crazy costumes at Mechacon!] WGNO, Retrieved 2018-08-07
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[[Category:Defunct anime conventions]]
[[Category:Recurring events established in 2005]]
[[Category:2005 establishments in Louisiana]]
[[Category:Annual events in Louisiana]]
[[Category:Festivals in New Orleans]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in New Orleans]]
[[Category:Conventions in Louisiana]]