Madman Anime Festival Explained

Madman Anime Festival
Country:	Australia
Status:	Defunct
Genre:	Anime, Japanese popular culture
Venue:	Various
Location:	Melbourne, VIC (2016–2019) Perth, WA (2017–2019) Brisbane, QLD (2017–2019) Sydney, NSW (2019–2020)
First:	2016 (Melbourne)
Organiser:	Madman Anime
Website:	http://www.animefestival.com.au/
Attendance:	4500 (2017, Perth)^[1]

Anime Festival (formerly Madman Anime Festival or MadFest) was an annual Australian anime and Japanese culture convention held in Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Sydney. The convention was organised by Madman Anime.^[2] The convention was inaugurated in 2016 and held in Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre as a two-day event from the 3–4 September 2016 in Melbourne.^{[3] [4]} The convention was later expanded to Perth and Brisbane in 2017 after a successful inaugural event, with each event held a few months apart,^[5] and to Sydney in 2019.

On 29 March 2022, it was announced that Anime Festival would be replaced with Crunchyroll Expo Australia, with the first event scheduled for 17–18 September 2022.^[6] Subsequently, all previously scheduled events were cancelled.

Event history

Date	Location	Venue	Notable Events
3–4 September 2016	Melbourne	Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre	Attendance by Makoto Furukawa, Shingo Natsume, Tomohiko Itō (director), Shingo Adachi, Atsushi Kaneko(A-1 Pictures), Sora Tokui, Cristina Vee, Yuko Miyamura, Tiffany Grant, Matt Greenfield, Tomia, Siera, AmenoKitarou (A.K. Wirru) First to hold a Tokyo Ghoul Exhibit in Australia. Premiere of .	^[7]
4–5 March 2017	Perth	Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre	Attendance by Erica Mendez, Crispin Freeman, Shingo Adachi, Angie, Knitemaya First to hold The World of Sword Art Online exhibit in Australia IA Vocaloid concert Premiere screening of Sword Art Online: Ordinal Scale, English re-dub	^[8]
10–11 June 2017	Brisbane	Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre	Attendance by Cherami Leigh, Ying Tze, Yūko Miyamura, Orochi X, Pinky Lu Xun, Katyuska Moonfox First presentation of Attack on Titan The Exhibition - Wall Australia Itasha Exhibition Premiere screening of, Sword Art Online: Ordinal Scale English dub, Dragon Ball Super English dub	^[9]
4–5 November 2017	Melbourne	Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre	Attendance by Shinichirō Watanabe, Kana Ueda, Atsuhiro Iwakami, Bryce Papenbrook, Ladybeard, AGS102 Attendance by cosplayers: Ely, AmenoKitarou (A.K. Wirru), Orochi X, Pinky Lu Xun, Knitemaya Exclusive Your Name exhibition Exclusive Cowboy Bebop exhibition Premiere screening of Mary and the Witch's Flower,, No Game No Life: Zero, Exclusive access to play Dragon Ball FighterZ before release, Attack on Titan in VR Love Live! Sunshine!! Aqours First LoveLive! ~Step	Zero to One~ concert Announcement of Shinichirō Watanabe's upcoming anime^[10]	^[11]
4–5 March 2018	Perth	Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre	Attendance by Shingo Adachi, Go Suzuki, Tomoya Nishigushi, Ray Chase Attendance by cosplayers: Jin, Miguel, Kirilee, Giorgia Premiere screening of English dub, Attack on Titan: Roar of Awakening Exclusive access to play Attack on Titan 2 before release	^[12]
2–3 June 2018	Brisbane	Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre	Attendance by Yui Ishikawa, J. Michael Tatum, AGS102 Attendance by cosplayers: Baobao, Jutsu Cosplay Premiere screening of, Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions! Take on Me	^[13]
15–16 September 2018	Melbourne	Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre	Attendance by Christopher Sabat, Luna Haruna, Nanaka Suwa, Ayako Kawasumi, Kōki Uchiyama Attendance by cosplayers: Pugoffka World premiere screening of Premiere screening of I Want to Eat Your Pancreas, Penguin Highway,, K: Seven Stories 1 and 2 Access to play My Hero One's Justice, Jump Force, Black Clover: Quartet Knights, Dragon Ball FighterZ for Nintendo Switch,, Soulcalibur VI, Taiko no Tatsujin, Devil May Cry 5 before Australian release Dragon Ball Super exclusive display One Piece display Tokyo Ghoul Twitter art display Hatsune Miku Magical Mirai 2017 concert	^[14]
16–17 March 2019	Sydney	International Convention Centre Sydney	Attendance by Cherami Leigh, Sumire Morohoshi, Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Satoshi Tsuruoka, Shizuka Kurosaki, Hideaki Itsuno, Matthew Walker, Eir Aoi, Asuka Ōkura, DJ Kazu, Shinichiro Miki, Kazuki Yao, AGS102 Attendance by cosplayers: Ely Premiere screening of,, Love Live! Sunshine!! The School Idol Movie: Over the Rainbow Dragon Ball Super Broly photo spot Tokyo Ghoul: Sui Ishida manga artwork display Sword Art Online exhibition Fate/Grand Order experience One Piece display	^[15]
25–26 May 2019	Brisbane	Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre	Attendance by: Erica Mendez, Shingo Adachi, Go Suzuki, Yumiko Yamamoto, AGS102 Live online meet and greet with: Ayahi Takagaki, Aki Toyosaki Attendance by cosplayers: Mangalphantom Premiere screening of Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? The Movie: Arrow of the Orion World premiere screening of episode 8 Tokyo Ghoul:re Kagune display The Promised Neverland exhibition	^[16]
14–15 September 2019	Melbourne	Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre	Attendance by: Cherami Leigh, Natsuki Hanae. Akari Kito, Aina Aiba, Shinichiro Miki, Yuu Asakawa, Yuuma Takahashi, Shizuka Kurosaki, AGS102 Attendance by cosplayers: Aza Miyuko, K & A.K Wirru Premiere screening of One Piece Stampede, Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dreaming Girl, BanG Dream! FILM LIVE, Promare, My Hero Academia Season 4 English dub, Anemone: Psalm of Planets Eureka Seven: Hi-Evolution World premiere screening of episode 24 Screening of Human Lost	^[17]
5–6 October 2019	Perth	Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre	Attendance by: Cristina Vee, Haruo Sotozaki, Akira Matsushima, Yuuma Takahashi, AGS102 Live link with Sally Amaki as Sakura Fujima from 22/7 Screening of Promare, One Piece Stampede, My Hero Academia Season 4 English dub, Anemone: Psalm of Planets Eureka Seven: Hi-Evolution World premiere screening of Sword Art Online: Alicization - War of Underworld episodes 1 and 2 Screening of episodes 1 and 2	^[18]
7–8 March 2020	Sydney	International Convention Centre Sydney	Attendance by: Bryce Papenbrook, Ricco Fajardo, David Matranga, Shingo Adachi, Arisa Uki, AGS102 Attendance by cosplayers: Mon, A.K Wirru Premiere screening of Premiere screening of World premiere of Season 2 World premiere of My Hero Academia Season 4 Episode 21 Screening of Live Spectacle NARUTO ～Song of the Akatsuki～ Access to play Final Fantasy VII Remake before release Access to play Bandai Namco games before release	^[19]
23–24 May 2020 (cancelled)	Brisbane	Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre	The event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic	^[20]
29–30 August 2020 (cancelled)	Melbourne	Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre	The event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic	^[21]
3–4 October 2020 (cancelled)	Perth	Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre	The event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic	^[22]
March 2021 (cancelled)	Sydney	International Convention Centre Sydney	The event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic	^[23]
May 2021 (cancelled)	Brisbane	Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre	The event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic	^[24]
2021 (cancelled)	Melbourne	Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre	The event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic	^[25]
2021 (cancelled)	Perth	Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre	The event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
12–13 March 2022 (cancelled)	Sydney	International Convention Centre Sydney	The event was cancelled and replaced with Crunchyroll Expo Australia
21–22 May 2022 (cancelled)	Brisbane	Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre	The event was cancelled and replaced with Crunchyroll Expo Australia

Notes and References

1. Web site: https://event.cofesta.go.jp/jp/cofesta-event/cofesta-event-detail.html?m=4&eid=245&form.area=53. ja:マッドマン アニメ フェスティバル - パース 2018. Madman Anime Festival - Perth 2018. CoFesta. 24 January 2018.
2. Web site: ANNOUNCING MADMAN ANIME FESTIVAL: Presented by Madman Entertainment and AnimeLab!. Madman Entertainment. 26 June 2016.
3. Web site: Madman Anime Festival - September 3rd & 4th 2016 - Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre. Madman Entertainment. Madman Anime Festival - September 3rd & 4th 2016 - Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre. 26 June 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160620090350/http://www.animefestival.com.au/general-info. 20 June 2016.
4. Web site: Madman Anime Festival, Event, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Tourism Victoria home. 30 June 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160817080431/http://www.visitmelbourne.com/Regions/Melbourne/Events/Lifestyle/Madman-Anime-Festival.aspx. 17 August 2016. dead.
5. Web site: The Madman Anime Festival is Hitting the Road in 2017 – Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. 13 November 2016. The Otaku's Study. 16 February 2017.
6. Web site: First-Ever Crunchyroll Expo Australia Heads to Melbourne This September. 29 March 2022. Crunchyroll. 18 April 2022. 21 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220421065709/https://www.crunchyroll.com/en-gb/anime-news/2022/03/29/first-ever-crunchyroll-expo-australia-heads-to-melbourne-this-september. dead.
7. Web site: First Madman Anime Festival on in Melbourne This Weekend. Anime News Network. 2 September 2016. 11 March 2017.
8. Web site: Quick Reminder - Madman Anime Festival on in Perth this Weekend. Anime News Network. 3 March 2017. 11 March 2017.
9. Web site: Brisbane 2017 - Madman Anime Festival. Madman Anime Festival. 25 April 2017. 24 August 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190824084018/https://www.animefestival.com.au/conventions/brisbane-2017/. dead.
10. Web site: 'Cowboy Bebop' Director is storyboarding a new series with 'My Hero Academia' studio. Rizzo-Smith. Julian. 6 November 2019. Special Broadcasting Service. 27 April 2019.
11. Web site: Melbourne 2017 - Madman Anime Festival. Madman Anime Festival. 24 January 2018. 8 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190708050933/https://www.animefestival.com.au/conventions/melbourne-2017/. dead.
12. Web site: MadFest Perth Guests and Screenings Announced. 7 February 2018. Madman Anime Festival. 9 February 2018.
13. Web site: MadFest Brisbane Guests and Screenings Announced. 2 May 2018. Madman Anime Festival. 7 May 2018.
14. Web site: Melbourne 2018. Madman Anime Festival. 24 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180914194503/https://www.animefestival.com.au/conventions/melbourne-2018/. 14 September 2018. dead.
15. Web site: Sydney 2019. Madman Anime Festival. 17 January 2019. 27 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190427142840/https://www.animefestival.com.au/conventions/sydney-2019/. dead.
16. Web site: MadFest Brisbane 2019. Madman Anime Festival. 27 April 2019. 12 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190612141824/https://www.animefestival.com.au/conventions/brisbane-2019/. dead.
17. Web site: Melbourne 2019. Madman Anime Festival. 29 August 2019. 16 August 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190816191553/https://www.animefestival.com.au/conventions/melbourne-2019/. dead.
18. Web site: Perth 2019. Madman Anime Festival. 9 September 2019. 27 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190427142832/https://www.animefestival.com.au/conventions/perth-2019/. dead.
19. Web site: Sydney 2020. Madman Anime Festival. 17 October 2019. 9 March 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200309144954/https://www.animefestival.com.au/conventions/sydney-2020/. dead.
20. Web site: Brisbane 2020. Madman Anime Festival. 17 October 2019. 27 February 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210227005448/https://www.animefestival.com.au/conventions/brisbane-2020/. dead.
21. Web site: Melbourne 2020. Madman Anime Festival. 17 October 2019. 27 February 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210227005535/https://www.animefestival.com.au/conventions/melbourne-2020/. dead.
22. Web site: Perth 2020. Madman Anime Festival. 1 December 2019. 27 February 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210227005603/https://www.animefestival.com.au/conventions/perth-2020/. dead.
23. MadFest. Madman Anime Festival. 1301369338021249024. 3 September 2020. An important update from us. ❤️ #madfest #animefestival #anifestaus. 27 May 2021.
24. MadFest. Madman Anime Festival. 1339080337276669952. 16 December 2020. An update from us on #AnimeFestival - Brisbane 2021. #AniFestAUS. 27 May 2021.
25. MadFest. Madman Anime Festival. 1412954612634636289. 8 July 2021. An important update from us on Anime Festival 2021 - Melbourne and Perth events. . 9 July 2021.