AnimeCon

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Anime Con was an anime convention held only once between August 30 and September 2, 1991 at the Red Lion Inn in San Jose, California. It is generally regarded as the second anime convention held in the United States after Project A-Kon, and the first one to have major backing from the anime industry.

Guests included Hideaki Anno of Neon Genesis Evangelion fame. Attendance was officially estimated at 2,000.[1]

The convention was co-sponsored by GAINAX, Cal-Animage, the founders of BayCon, BAAS, and Studio Proteus.[2]

During its inaugural year, Anime Con went deeply into debt, and a management dispute erupted which imperiled the chance of a follow-on. Many of the staff went on to form Anime Expo, while others went on to form a rival convention, Anime America (which was canceled in 1997 and went defunct shortly thereafter). The period between late 1992 and early 1997 is sometimes referred to as the "Con Wars" by attendees and staffers of both conventions. It was typified by a number of personal attacks and allegations of sabbotage on and off the Internet.

Although Anime Expo is, for all practical purposes, considered separate from Anime Con, the SPJA (AX's parent organization) bought out Anime Con in 1992 and assumed many of its legal and financial obligations (including all debts incurred), and existing stocks of unsold merchandise. Pre-registrations for Anime Con '92 were converted into Anime Expo '92 pre-registrations.

Today, Anime Con merchandise is considered a collectible item by some. Program booklets and T-shirts can still be found.