Zenkaikon X

Are you the ultimate Zenkaikon fan? Think you have what it takes to find all the items on our list and win a cool prize? Then sign up for the Zenkaikon Fandom Photo Scavenger Hunt! Forms can be picked up anytime throughout the weekend from the Info Table on the second floor of the convention center. The Scavenger Hunt will end 1pm Sunday.  

Rules: Take a photo of yourself with a list of items/places/people. Participants can use a cellphone/tablet/digital camera, but no downloaded or forwarded pictures from a friend. Photos must include participant's face. Participant's own cosplay will not count for cosplay photos. Please ask permission from cosplayers/people before taking their picture. One entry per person. Entries must be verified at the Info Desk when the list has been completed.

Prizes: Everyone who completes the Scavenger Hunt will win an exclusive, never seen again, Zenkaikon 10th Anniversary Sticker, drawn by our Webcomics Guest of Honor, Kevin Bolk of Interrobang Studios!

PLUS: Be the first person to complete the Scavenger Hunt to win a FREE MEMBERSHIP TO ZENKAIKON 2017!!

Reservations for the Moe Maid Café will be taken through March 27, 2016.

We are taking reservations via the online registration form before the convention only, and will not be accepting them during the convention.

The Cosplay Department believes in Cos-positivity and supporting each other.  This year we are bringing a new idea to life!  Located at the Cosplay Headquarters in the Montgomery House, we will have costume, props, and wig displays for you to look at closely.  There will be ongoing video of past Masquerades and other skits for your viewing pleasure as well as a chance to be in our “What Cosplay Means to Me” video.

Photography is welcome, but only "point and shoot" cameras.

We ask that all attendees are respectful to the Exhibit as well as the Historic Montgomery House. We will not hesitate to escort you to the exit. Thank you in advance.

Friday: 1:00PM- 10:00PM

Saturday: 10:00AM- 10:00PM

Sunday: 10:00AM-1:00PM

Reservations for the Moe Maid Café will be taken through March 27, 2016.

We are taking reservations via the online registration form before the convention only, and will not be accepting them during the convention.

It’s time, once again, to open the battledome to the warriors of multimedia, armed with computers, editing software, and imagination!  We’re taking on all comers this year by accepting FANDOM MUSIC VIDEOS for the special sixth category (see the Rules for details)! We’re expecting the biggest year ever for this competition so get creative and GET PUMPED!

Ryoko Okami, the “wolf” of our story, and her BFF Ringo, also known as Little Red Riding Hood, are members of Otogi Bank—a high school club that helps classmates out of grim situations. One day, a meek young man proclaims his love to Ryoko, who does nothing but bite him in return. So the boy joins Otogi Bank to prove he has the stuff to protect his beloved. He’s no Prince Charming, but will Ryoko allow herself to have her own happily ever after?

Japan's sacred belief is a mess of borrows gods, syncretic practices, and plenty of wheels. And it takes a lot of time to decode and understand. This panel explores the notion of the Kami, those local beings that have led to Japan being called the Land of 1000 Gods, their origins, and their evolution through history. Also included- shrines, temples, festivals, and the experience of interacting with the mystical world in places of sacred power.

With your convention badge, you gain access to unlimited console gaming hosted by Final Boss Gaming. In the Electronic Console Gaming Arena players of all ages and skill levels gather in celebration of intense console gaming action.  Come stop by for a quick game between events, or stay for the whole convention and step your game to the next level.

All games inside are free play!  Tournaments will also be free to compete. We have next-gen and classic consoles, so you don't have to worry about a variety of systems. If you want to see a certain game or if you have any questions on how to play, please ask any uniformed Final Boss Gaming staffer for easy assistance. If you want to play games on an arcade stick or any custom controller, feel free to bring your own.

In our quest to find the elite gamers, tournaments will take place throughout the weekend. Sign-ups for all tournaments will be at the HQ table right inside the entrance the arena.

All tournaments have a roll call to assure attendance. Please make sure to check in 5 minutes before the start of any event. If you show up late, you very well could lose your spot in the tournament. Don't let that happen to you!

We will explore the different types of roles that women embody as characters in the world of anime, how this is evolving, and how this directly impacts you the anime fan! This is a thought provoking, stimulating and interactive panel.

Reservations for the Moe Maid Café will be taken through March 27, 2016.

We are taking reservations via the online registration form before the convention only, and will not be accepting them during the convention.

• Must be an anime song, J-pop song, or Japanese video game song.

• Must be six minutes in length or under. Songs that are longer will be cut at six minutes.

• Must not contain profanities.

• You can only sign up to sing one song at a time. Once you have sung your song, you can sign up again.

• It is strongly recommended that you bring the backing track for the song you want to sing, as well as lyrics, if needed. We will have a database of songs you can pick from, but it will by no means have all possible songs.

• You are encouraged to sing and have fun, but no heckling or doing anything that would be deemed dangerous on the stage.

• To make sure you have time to sing, please show up as early as you can. Songs will be banned for the day, if sung too many times.

The cosplay adventure band has been touring anime conventions for over 4 years now and there are some stories to share! Join Eien Strife as they share videos, answer questions, and tell you all about their adventure and what to expect this weekend from them. Cheydra, Raien, Lyren, and Kale are ready to meet all of you!

A crazy fighting game where players choose wacky characters from the Mr. Buckethead films and comics, then duke it out. Very easy to learn and play!

Continuing the five year mission started by Captain James Tiberius Kirk, Star Trek Continues bridges the gap between Star Trek: The Original Series, and The Next Generation. Starring Vic Mignogna as Captain Kirk, Todd Haberkorn as Mr. Spock, Chuck Huber as Dr. ‘Bones’ McCoy, Kim Stinger as Lt. Uhura, Grant Imahara as Mr. Sulu, Wyatt Lenhart as Mr. Chekov, and Chris Doohan as Scotty. Join Vic for an episode screening at Zenkaikon and some discussion of his favorite topic!

Four players battle each other in a test of knowledge about all things Pokémon! Answering questions correctly gives them control of our game board where they will face all sorts of challenges! The winner has a shot at becoming immortalized as Champion of the con! About 90% of the questions will come from the first three generations of Pokémon games…be there at the beginning of the panel if you want a chance to play!

The Hall Cosplay Contest is about craftsmanship – a participant’s ability to accurately recreate a character. Participants do not have to act “in character”. Judges will only be interested in knowing how well the costume is made. They will be looking for items like clean seams and straight hems, wig styling, accessory and prop creation, and the various crafting skills used. Judges may ask questions about how costume parts were made, but the participant should be ready to explain the how, what, and why of their costume’s construction.

This is a separate cosplay event from performing a skit in the Masquerade.

1. Participants may not enter a costume in the Hall Cosplay Contest that they did not make. It is expected that participants are the primary creator of the costume and make at least 75% of it. Youth participants can be expected to have received help with their costumes, however, the youth participant must have had a hand in its construction. If the major part that makes it a costume is purchased (e.g. You are Edward Elric and you made the pants, shirt, and wig, but purchased your cloak, or have created a costume from a “kit”), it cannot be entered.

2. If the costume has ever won a “Best of” award or placed (ie. 1st, 2nd, 3rd), at any convention, it may not be entered in our competition.

3. Reference material is required. Even if a character is popular or well-known, reference material is needed in order to judge for accuracy. Lack of reference will greatly affect scoring, as not every judge has knowledge of every detail of every character. Quality printouts of screencaps and official images of characters, and artbook images are acceptable. Please include images that show front, back, and sides to demonstrate details of your costume. Not every character will have such images available, but the more shown to the judges, the better they can analyze the costume. For original costumes, references should include the creator’s inspiration, such as sketches, a mood board, fanart, etc.  Progress pictures of construction work may also help, but remember that judging time is very limited and the judges do not have the time to look through pages upon pages of reference.

4. All costumes and props are subject to the Zenkaikon Convention Policies.

5. Participants may have models to display their costumes. However, the primary creator must be present to explain their creations, and only the creator will be eligible for any awards for those costumes. No more than five (5) models/costumes may be presented.

6. Groups are welcome to be judged together but no more than five (5) participants may be in any given group.

7. Staged falls, as well as smoke, pyrotechnics, glitter, or other special effects that will leave a mess behind are prohibited. This rule also applies to the “Fashion Show” and Masquerade, for the safety of all entrants.

8. Craftsmanship entries may be from official Asian and sci-fi sources such as anime and other sci-fi and fantasy animation, manga, artbooks, comic books, video games and live-action sources (e.g. Star Wars, Serenity, and Battlestar Galactica). Original character entries from sources such as role-playing campaigns, fanart, or original art (ie. mash-ups, gijinka designs) are also permitted.

9. Participants’ costumes must allow them freedom of movement. Cosplay Staff will be unable to assist entrants with their costumes. For the “Fashion Show”, entrants must be able to navigate stairs and move across the stage unassisted.

10.The number and types of awards presented are at the discretion of Zenkaikon Cosplay Staff and the Head of Cosplay.

11.Entrants will be judged according to Skill Level. The skill levels for judging are as follows:

Junior - Open to all participants aged 12 or younger. However, any “Junior” group containing non-Junior competitors will be moved out of Junior and into the appropriate non-Junior category.

Novice - Open to competitors who have won 3 Major Awards or less as a Novice. If you have ever won in any division higher than Novice in any competition, you may not enter at Novice or lower.

Journeyman - Open to competitors who have won 3 Major Awards or less as a Journeyman. If you have won more than 3 Major Awards as a Journeyman, you will need to enter at the Master Division. If you have ever won in any division higher than Journeyman in any competition, you may not enter at Journeyman or lower.

Master - Open to all competitors who wish to compete at this level. Professional Costumers* must compete in this category.

If entering in a group - each entry’s appropriate category is determined by the highest ranked division member of their group. For example, a group containing 1 Novice, 3 Journeyman, and 1 Master, will be required to participate at the Master level.

For Division Placement Purposes: Awards of ranking, including but not limited to “Best in Show,” “Best in Division,” “Best Performance or Craftsmanship,” or “First Place,” “Second Place,” etc. in any type of cosplay competition are considered Major cosplay awards. “Honorable Mentions,” “Judges’ Awards,” and similar forms of recognition are not considered Major awards. Participants may be bumped to a higher division at the Judges’ discretion. A competitor may choose to compete in a division higher than the one s/he is eligible to enter. However, if the competitor receives an award in this higher division, they must continue to compete in that division (or higher) in future competitions.

*A Professional Costumer is defined as someone who makes over 50% of their income through costume making or commissions.

With your convention badge, you gain access to unlimited console gaming hosted by Final Boss Gaming. In the Electronic Console Gaming Arena players of all ages and skill levels gather in celebration of intense console gaming action.  Come stop by for a quick game between events, or stay for the whole convention and step your game to the next level.

All games inside are free play!  Tournaments will also be free to compete. We have next-gen and classic consoles, so you don't have to worry about a variety of systems. If you want to see a certain game or if you have any questions on how to play, please ask any uniformed Final Boss Gaming staffer for easy assistance. If you want to play games on an arcade stick or any custom controller, feel free to bring your own.

In our quest to find the elite gamers, tournaments will take place throughout the weekend. Sign-ups for all tournaments will be at the HQ table right inside the entrance the arena.

All tournaments have a roll call to assure attendance. Please make sure to check in 5 minutes before the start of any event. If you show up late, you very well could lose your spot in the tournament. Don't let that happen to you!

Picking up where we left off last year at Magical Girl Bootcamp, Zenkaikon's homegrown geek comedian  is going to walk on stage. From there, we make no guarantees. Most likely screaming, cartoon references, memes deconstructed, movie quotes and Pokemon. The geek have inherited the Earth, so why haven't we saved the world yet?

With a career spanning over two and a half decades, Dante Basco is a Hollywood actor who has become a cult classic and pioneering figure in Asian American cinema. He is known for such roles as Rufio in Hook, Jake Long in American Dragon: Jake Long, and Prince Zuko in Avatar: The Last Airbender. Come spend an hour with Dante and get those BURNING questions answered. Pun intended. BANGARANG!

An introduction to the wide world of Japanese live action television and movies where imaginative special effects are the norm. Tokusatsu has a history as rich and layered as any Japanese art form, and most of it has never officially reached Western shores. From the traditional roots and spiritual side of toku, to the constant evolution and experimentation of the form, we'll attempt to discuss tokusatsu from yesterday, today and tomorrow.

With your convention badge, you gain access to unlimited console gaming hosted by Final Boss Gaming. In the Electronic Console Gaming Arena players of all ages and skill levels gather in celebration of intense console gaming action.  Come stop by for a quick game between events, or stay for the whole convention and step your game to the next level.

All games inside are free play!  Tournaments will also be free to compete. We have next-gen and classic consoles, so you don't have to worry about a variety of systems. If you want to see a certain game or if you have any questions on how to play, please ask any uniformed Final Boss Gaming staffer for easy assistance. If you want to play games on an arcade stick or any custom controller, feel free to bring your own.

In our quest to find the elite gamers, tournaments will take place throughout the weekend. Sign-ups for all tournaments will be at the HQ table right inside the entrance the arena.

All tournaments have a roll call to assure attendance. Please make sure to check in 5 minutes before the start of any event. If you show up late, you very well could lose your spot in the tournament. Don't let that happen to you!

Join Cosplay Burlesque for another great Zenkaikon performance! Cosplay Burlesque provides bawdy entertainment for the adult crowd featuring comedy and striptease while dressed as some of your favorite characters. We are fan fiction come to life!

Join comic artist, humorist, and cartoon connoisseur Kevin Bolk as he shows off clips from some of the best, worst, and most obscure cartoons from his vast and eclectic VHS collection. You will believe that dinosaurs can shoot laser beams.

Are you the ultimate Zenkaikon fan? Think you have what it takes to find all the items on our list and win a cool prize? Then sign up for the Zenkaikon Fandom Photo Scavenger Hunt! Forms can be picked up anytime throughout the weekend from the Info Table on the second floor of the convention center. The Scavenger Hunt will end 1pm Sunday.  

Rules: Take a photo of yourself with a list of items/places/people. Participants can use a cellphone/tablet/digital camera, but no downloaded or forwarded pictures from a friend. Photos must include participant's face. Participant's own cosplay will not count for cosplay photos. Please ask permission from cosplayers/people before taking their picture. One entry per person. Entries must be verified at the Info Desk when the list has been completed.

Prizes: Everyone who completes the Scavenger Hunt will win an exclusive, never seen again, Zenkaikon 10th Anniversary Sticker, drawn by our Webcomics Guest of Honor, Kevin Bolk of Interrobang Studios!

PLUS: Be the first person to complete the Scavenger Hunt to win a FREE MEMBERSHIP TO ZENKAIKON 2017!!

The Hall Cosplay Contest is about craftsmanship – a participant’s ability to accurately recreate a character. Participants do not have to act “in character”. Judges will only be interested in knowing how well the costume is made. They will be looking for items like clean seams and straight hems, wig styling, accessory and prop creation, and the various crafting skills used. Judges may ask questions about how costume parts were made, but the participant should be ready to explain the how, what, and why of their costume’s construction.

This is a separate cosplay event from performing a skit in the Masquerade.

1. Participants may not enter a costume in the Hall Cosplay Contest that they did not make. It is expected that participants are the primary creator of the costume and make at least 75% of it. Youth participants can be expected to have received help with their costumes, however, the youth participant must have had a hand in its construction. If the major part that makes it a costume is purchased (e.g. You are Edward Elric and you made the pants, shirt, and wig, but purchased your cloak, or have created a costume from a “kit”), it cannot be entered.

2. If the costume has ever won a “Best of” award or placed (ie. 1st, 2nd, 3rd), at any convention, it may not be entered in our competition.

3. Reference material is required. Even if a character is popular or well-known, reference material is needed in order to judge for accuracy. Lack of reference will greatly affect scoring, as not every judge has knowledge of every detail of every character. Quality printouts of screencaps and official images of characters, and artbook images are acceptable. Please include images that show front, back, and sides to demonstrate details of your costume. Not every character will have such images available, but the more shown to the judges, the better they can analyze the costume. For original costumes, references should include the creator’s inspiration, such as sketches, a mood board, fanart, etc.  Progress pictures of construction work may also help, but remember that judging time is very limited and the judges do not have the time to look through pages upon pages of reference.

4. All costumes and props are subject to the Zenkaikon Convention Policies.

5. Participants may have models to display their costumes. However, the primary creator must be present to explain their creations, and only the creator will be eligible for any awards for those costumes. No more than five (5) models/costumes may be presented.

6. Groups are welcome to be judged together but no more than five (5) participants may be in any given group.

7. Staged falls, as well as smoke, pyrotechnics, glitter, or other special effects that will leave a mess behind are prohibited. This rule also applies to the “Fashion Show” and Masquerade, for the safety of all entrants.

8. Craftsmanship entries may be from official Asian and sci-fi sources such as anime and other sci-fi and fantasy animation, manga, artbooks, comic books, video games and live-action sources (e.g. Star Wars, Serenity, and Battlestar Galactica). Original character entries from sources such as role-playing campaigns, fanart, or original art (ie. mash-ups, gijinka designs) are also permitted.

9. Participants’ costumes must allow them freedom of movement. Cosplay Staff will be unable to assist entrants with their costumes. For the “Fashion Show”, entrants must be able to navigate stairs and move across the stage unassisted.

10.The number and types of awards presented are at the discretion of Zenkaikon Cosplay Staff and the Head of Cosplay.

11.Entrants will be judged according to Skill Level. The skill levels for judging are as follows:

Junior - Open to all participants aged 12 or younger. However, any “Junior” group containing non-Junior competitors will be moved out of Junior and into the appropriate non-Junior category.

Novice - Open to competitors who have won 3 Major Awards or less as a Novice. If you have ever won in any division higher than Novice in any competition, you may not enter at Novice or lower.

Journeyman - Open to competitors who have won 3 Major Awards or less as a Journeyman. If you have won more than 3 Major Awards as a Journeyman, you will need to enter at the Master Division. If you have ever won in any division higher than Journeyman in any competition, you may not enter at Journeyman or lower.

Master - Open to all competitors who wish to compete at this level. Professional Costumers* must compete in this category.

If entering in a group - each entry’s appropriate category is determined by the highest ranked division member of their group. For example, a group containing 1 Novice, 3 Journeyman, and 1 Master, will be required to participate at the Master level.

For Division Placement Purposes: Awards of ranking, including but not limited to “Best in Show,” “Best in Division,” “Best Performance or Craftsmanship,” or “First Place,” “Second Place,” etc. in any type of cosplay competition are considered Major cosplay awards. “Honorable Mentions,” “Judges’ Awards,” and similar forms of recognition are not considered Major awards. Participants may be bumped to a higher division at the Judges’ discretion. A competitor may choose to compete in a division higher than the one s/he is eligible to enter. However, if the competitor receives an award in this higher division, they must continue to compete in that division (or higher) in future competitions.

*A Professional Costumer is defined as someone who makes over 50% of their income through costume making or commissions.

• Must be an anime song, J-pop song, or Japanese video game song.

• Must be six minutes in length or under. Songs that are longer will be cut at six minutes.

• Must not contain profanities.

• You can only sign up to sing one song at a time. Once you have sung your song, you can sign up again.

• It is strongly recommended that you bring the backing track for the song you want to sing, as well as lyrics, if needed. We will have a database of songs you can pick from, but it will by no means have all possible songs.

• You are encouraged to sing and have fun, but no heckling or doing anything that would be deemed dangerous on the stage.

• To make sure you have time to sing, please show up as early as you can. Songs will be banned for the day, if sung too many times.

The Cosplay Department believes in Cos-positivity and supporting each other.  This year we are bringing a new idea to life!  Located at the Cosplay Headquarters in the Montgomery House, we will have costume, props, and wig displays for you to look at closely.  There will be ongoing video of past Masquerades and other skits for your viewing pleasure as well as a chance to be in our “What Cosplay Means to Me” video.

Photography is welcome, but only "point and shoot" cameras.

We ask that all attendees are respectful to the Exhibit as well as the Historic Montgomery House. We will not hesitate to escort you to the exit. Thank you in advance.

Friday: 1:00PM- 10:00PM

Saturday: 10:00AM- 10:00PM

Sunday: 10:00AM-1:00PM

Natsume Takashi has the ability to see spirits, which he has long kept secret. However, once he inherits a strange book that belonged to his deceased grandmother, Reiko, he discovers the reason why spirits surround him.

Ryoko Okami, the “wolf” of our story, and her BFF Ringo, also known as Little Red Riding Hood, are members of Otogi Bank—a high school club that helps classmates out of grim situations. One day, a meek young man proclaims his love to Ryoko, who does nothing but bite him in return. So the boy joins Otogi Bank to prove he has the stuff to protect his beloved. He’s no Prince Charming, but will Ryoko allow herself to have her own happily ever after?

It’s time, once again, to open the battledome to the warriors of multimedia, armed with computers, editing software, and imagination!  We’re taking on all comers this year by accepting FANDOM MUSIC VIDEOS for the special sixth category (see the Rules for details)! We’re expecting the biggest year ever for this competition so get creative and GET PUMPED!

ALL AGES

Ever wonder what it would be like if Cloud Strife dated Usagi Tsukino?  Or, if Eren Jaeger found true love with Ryuko Matoi?!  These matches might not happen, but you never know what wild matches will be made at Zenkaikon's Cosplay Dating Game! Who knows, maybe Deadpool will fall in love with The Borg Queen!

The Cosplay Dating Game is similar to the traditional 'Dating Game' of yesteryear TV. Three bachelors or bachelorettes sit on one side of a curtain. On the other side is the 'prize,' an elusive bachelor or bachelorette for one of the 3 contestants to 'win.' The twist is that participants are in costume and are the character. The prize will ask several questions, which contestants must answer in character. Then “the prize” will choose which date they want. Unlike the real 'Dating Game,' this event is purely for the amusement and entertainment of the participants and audience. No real dating is involved.

Four participants were pre-selected prior to the convention for each session. The other bachelor/bachelorette contestants will be selected from the audience.

Do you want to be a contestant on Password? Bring a friend and come to the tryout for a shot to be on the show! You need to be able to communicate passwords to your partner well in order to be chosen as a contestant! Good luck!

On Japanese Monster girls. (prior panel needed to be replaced due to a technical bug. 

With your convention badge, you gain access to unlimited console gaming hosted by Final Boss Gaming. In the Electronic Console Gaming Arena players of all ages and skill levels gather in celebration of intense console gaming action.  Come stop by for a quick game between events, or stay for the whole convention and step your game to the next level.

All games inside are free play!  Tournaments will also be free to compete. We have next-gen and classic consoles, so you don't have to worry about a variety of systems. If you want to see a certain game or if you have any questions on how to play, please ask any uniformed Final Boss Gaming staffer for easy assistance. If you want to play games on an arcade stick or any custom controller, feel free to bring your own.

In our quest to find the elite gamers, tournaments will take place throughout the weekend. Sign-ups for all tournaments will be at the HQ table right inside the entrance the arena.

All tournaments have a roll call to assure attendance. Please make sure to check in 5 minutes before the start of any event. If you show up late, you very well could lose your spot in the tournament. Don't let that happen to you!

Reservations for the Moe Maid Café will be taken through March 27, 2016.

We are taking reservations via the online registration form before the convention only, and will not be accepting them during the convention.

Monsters! Monsters! Everywhere! Kaiju Designer and Manga Artist Alex Strang will host a titanic event of gigantic proportions. Two exciting parts....
1. Custom Kaiju by Alex: it's challenge time! Give Alex a crazy giant monster idea and he'll draw it for you. For example: mix two or three things (a pineapple, ostrich and UFO) and see what he does. Anything can happen! You get to keep the signed original. No ideas too wild!
2. Kaiju Kontest! A timed segment where participants must design their own kaiju. There will be several challenge 'twists' and this is perfect for any skill level (it's more about the original concepts than the drafting)

Learn the science of making things adorable under a trained master of all things soft, squishy, and sweet. A fun and humor-filled drawing workshop with artist Kevin Bolk (I'm My Own Mascot, Ensign Sue Must Die!). Just try not to get cavities.

Reservations for the Moe Maid Café will be taken through March 27, 2016.

We are taking reservations via the online registration form before the convention only, and will not be accepting them during the convention.

This is your chance to spend a full hour personally with Vic, and ask the questions you've longed to know the answer to! You never know what will happen in a solo panel with Vic... don't miss it!

It’s the classic word association game where you and a celebrity guest try to convey secret passwords to each other using only one-word clues! Solving a password gives you a shot at our puzzle, which can be anything at all related to anime, video games or fandom! Solve the puzzles to earn a chance at our end game for big winnings! There is a tryout to get onto the show; check the schedule! The password is FUN!

Can you hang with the old-school NES games? Eien Strife invites you to play select games with a little ‘twist” to it. Are you up for the challenge to win some prizes?

With your convention badge, you gain access to unlimited console gaming hosted by Final Boss Gaming. In the Electronic Console Gaming Arena players of all ages and skill levels gather in celebration of intense console gaming action.  Come stop by for a quick game between events, or stay for the whole convention and step your game to the next level.

All games inside are free play!  Tournaments will also be free to compete. We have next-gen and classic consoles, so you don't have to worry about a variety of systems. If you want to see a certain game or if you have any questions on how to play, please ask any uniformed Final Boss Gaming staffer for easy assistance. If you want to play games on an arcade stick or any custom controller, feel free to bring your own.

In our quest to find the elite gamers, tournaments will take place throughout the weekend. Sign-ups for all tournaments will be at the HQ table right inside the entrance the arena.

All tournaments have a roll call to assure attendance. Please make sure to check in 5 minutes before the start of any event. If you show up late, you very well could lose your spot in the tournament. Don't let that happen to you!

Come hear all about Ghost in the Shell by the voice actors for Batou (Richard Epcar) and Haraway (Ellyn Stern).

Reservations for the Moe Maid Café will be taken through March 27, 2016.

We are taking reservations via the online registration form before the convention only, and will not be accepting them during the convention.

Would you like to be a contestant on Pyramid? Come to the tryout and bring a friend! Your communication skills are key! Good luck!

Everyone join in the rampaging fun in this massively monstrous card game where players must build the perfect island, designed to withstand a kaiju attack. 

The worlds of Ghibli are brimming with colorful characters, wondrous places, powerful magics, and sinister foes. This panel looks at these films, how they reflect the world we live in, how they respond to the challenges and milestones of our lives, and how they display the philosophies of a filmmaking team without peer. 

Reservations for the Moe Maid Café will be taken through March 27, 2016.

We are taking reservations via the online registration form before the convention only, and will not be accepting them during the convention.

With your convention badge, you gain access to unlimited console gaming hosted by Final Boss Gaming. In the Electronic Console Gaming Arena players of all ages and skill levels gather in celebration of intense console gaming action.  Come stop by for a quick game between events, or stay for the whole convention and step your game to the next level.

All games inside are free play!  Tournaments will also be free to compete. We have next-gen and classic consoles, so you don't have to worry about a variety of systems. If you want to see a certain game or if you have any questions on how to play, please ask any uniformed Final Boss Gaming staffer for easy assistance. If you want to play games on an arcade stick or any custom controller, feel free to bring your own.

In our quest to find the elite gamers, tournaments will take place throughout the weekend. Sign-ups for all tournaments will be at the HQ table right inside the entrance the arena.

All tournaments have a roll call to assure attendance. Please make sure to check in 5 minutes before the start of any event. If you show up late, you very well could lose your spot in the tournament. Don't let that happen to you!

The classic game show where two teams of one contestant and one celebrity guest attempt to convey seven words and phrases to each other. The winning team moves on to the Winner’s Circle for a shot at a huge payout! Want to be a contestant? Come to the tryout! Check the schedule for its time and location!

Comics scholar, Caitlin McCabe, and comics entrepreneur, Interrobang Studios' Sarah Martinez will take you on a tour some of the darkest, most complex psychological horror manga in print today--each masterwork reflecting very real fears on the part of their creators, fears fed by then-current living conditions in Japan. You may come for the horror, but witnessing its inspiration? Terrifying!

Eien Strife is a cosplay musical group that has been touring anime, comic, and gaming conventions all over the US. Their high energy show is a unique concert experience which consists of four members bringing to life a story that has never been seen before! Having a sound that is best described as an adventure soundtrack, the members of Eien Strife perform songs that share their quest with the audience while interacting by way of animations and cosplay..

Eien Strife is excited to journey back to Zenkaikon with two brand new shows! Get ready for the adventure!

With your convention badge, you gain access to unlimited console gaming hosted by Final Boss Gaming. In the Electronic Console Gaming Arena players of all ages and skill levels gather in celebration of intense console gaming action.  Come stop by for a quick game between events, or stay for the whole convention and step your game to the next level.

All games inside are free play!  Tournaments will also be free to compete. We have next-gen and classic consoles, so you don't have to worry about a variety of systems. If you want to see a certain game or if you have any questions on how to play, please ask any uniformed Final Boss Gaming staffer for easy assistance. If you want to play games on an arcade stick or any custom controller, feel free to bring your own.

In our quest to find the elite gamers, tournaments will take place throughout the weekend. Sign-ups for all tournaments will be at the HQ table right inside the entrance the arena.

All tournaments have a roll call to assure attendance. Please make sure to check in 5 minutes before the start of any event. If you show up late, you very well could lose your spot in the tournament. Don't let that happen to you!

18+ Wristbands required.

Ever wonder what it would be like if Cloud Strife dated Usagi Tsukino?  Or, if Eren Jaeger found true love with Ryuko Matoi?!  These matches might not happen, but you never know what wild matches will be made at Zenkaikon's Cosplay Dating Game! Who knows, maybe Deadpool will fall in love with The Borg Queen!

The Cosplay Dating Game is similar to the traditional 'Dating Game' of yesteryear TV. Three bachelors or bachelorettes sit on one side of a curtain. On the other side is the 'prize,' an elusive bachelor or bachelorette for one of the 3 contestants to 'win.' The twist is that participants are in costume and are the character. The prize will ask several questions, which contestants must answer in character. Then “the prize” will choose which date they want. Unlike the real 'Dating Game,' this event is purely for the amusement and entertainment of the participants and audience. No real dating is involved.

Four participants were pre-selected prior to the convention for each session. The other bachelor/bachelorette contestants will be selected from the audience.

See hilarious outtakes from Lupin the Third, Noein and Bobobo-bobobobo! This panel is always a hit so get there early to get a seat! 18 and older only, due to adult language.

• During scheduled hours


• In the Exhibit Hall during Hall hours when not otherwise busy with panels or activities

There are some things that just should not be said in public . . . and then there is Cards Against Humanity. Yes, the party game that will make you a worse person for playing and an even worse one for laughing at what our Guests of Honor will be saying. Come one Come All, but only if you are 18 +, and laugh your inappropriate tush off.

BRAIIIINSSSSS! BRAIIINSSSS! But seriously folks, while the Walking Dead and Resident Evil insist that zombies are a force to be slaughtered, beneath those shambling corpses and decayed bodies lies very real concerns over safety, security, autonomy, diluted culture, and fears of annihilation. This panel explores how media encounters and presents zombies, from Lovecraft to Dawn of the Dead to Zone One and beyond. 

Learn to shimmy and shake with members of Cosplay Burlesque. Our workshop will cover many burlesque basics including dance moves, costuming, & building an act. Stop by, ask questions and learn a fun short routine!

Are you the ultimate Zenkaikon fan? Think you have what it takes to find all the items on our list and win a cool prize? Then sign up for the Zenkaikon Fandom Photo Scavenger Hunt! Forms can be picked up anytime throughout the weekend from the Info Table on the second floor of the convention center. The Scavenger Hunt will end 1pm Sunday.  

Rules: Take a photo of yourself with a list of items/places/people. Participants can use a cellphone/tablet/digital camera, but no downloaded or forwarded pictures from a friend. Photos must include participant's face. Participant's own cosplay will not count for cosplay photos. Please ask permission from cosplayers/people before taking their picture. One entry per person. Entries must be verified at the Info Desk when the list has been completed.

Prizes: Everyone who completes the Scavenger Hunt will win an exclusive, never seen again, Zenkaikon 10th Anniversary Sticker, drawn by our Webcomics Guest of Honor, Kevin Bolk of Interrobang Studios!

PLUS: Be the first person to complete the Scavenger Hunt to win a FREE MEMBERSHIP TO ZENKAIKON 2017!!

The Cosplay Department believes in Cos-positivity and supporting each other.  This year we are bringing a new idea to life!  Located at the Cosplay Headquarters in the Montgomery House, we will have costume, props, and wig displays for you to look at closely.  There will be ongoing video of past Masquerades and other skits for your viewing pleasure as well as a chance to be in our “What Cosplay Means to Me” video.

Photography is welcome, but only "point and shoot" cameras.

We ask that all attendees are respectful to the Exhibit as well as the Historic Montgomery House. We will not hesitate to escort you to the exit. Thank you in advance.

Friday: 1:00PM- 10:00PM

Saturday: 10:00AM- 10:00PM

Sunday: 10:00AM-1:00PM

As part of our 10th year anniversary celebration and 2016 "cyberpunk" theme, Zenkaikon will be hosting a fanmade vocaloid concert featuring Miku and her Vocaloid friends! So grab your leeks, your glow sticks, and your dance shoes and prepare to rock out! 

This promotion and concert features an adaptation of Hatsune Miku, © Crypton Future Media, Inc. 2007, licensed under CC BY-NC: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/.

Are you interested in knowing more about Voice acting, animating, performing music and everything else that goes into an Eien Strife concert? Well then this panel is for you. The members of Eien Strife will show you everything that goes into their performance as well as offer you a chance to record some parts with them during this panel.

The intersection of the secular and spirit worlds in Japan and beyond is ripe for encounters between humans and otherworldly entities. And sometimes those encounters lead to disappearances, abductions, or something more. This panel explores the idea of kamikakushi- literally being stolen by the gods themselves- and how it serves as a narrative formula for literature, media, fairy tales, and storytelling.

• Must be an anime song, J-pop song, or Japanese video game song.

• Must be six minutes in length or under. Songs that are longer will be cut at six minutes.

• Must not contain profanities.

• You can only sign up to sing one song at a time. Once you have sung your song, you can sign up again.

• It is strongly recommended that you bring the backing track for the song you want to sing, as well as lyrics, if needed. We will have a database of songs you can pick from, but it will by no means have all possible songs.

• You are encouraged to sing and have fun, but no heckling or doing anything that would be deemed dangerous on the stage.

• To make sure you have time to sing, please show up as early as you can. Songs will be banned for the day, if sung too many times.