Wikipedia

Wasabi Anime

Wasabi Anime, also known as Green Mustard Entertainment, is a company specializing in the production of events and programming for anime conventions and other fan conventions in North America, as well as hosting their own standalone conventions. The company's journey began in 2001 with the registration of the WasabiAnime.com website. It started as an anime club, later evolving into a limited liability company (LLC) in 2007, and ultimately becoming a corporation in 2010. As of July 2012, Wasabi Anime had organized events in California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, and Las Vegas.

Wasabi Anime
IndustryFan Conventions & Events
FoundedAugust 13, 2001
FounderTom Croom
HeadquartersFlorida
ParentGreen Mustard Entertainment, Inc.
WebsiteGreenMustard.com

History

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Wasabi Anime was founded by Tom Croom and a group of passionate anime enthusiasts shortly after the successful completion of Anime Festival Orlando II in Kissimmee, Florida. Recognizing the need to support a broader spectrum of fandoms, Wasabi Anime (initially known as "Wasabi Anime of Florida") established a network of anime clubs, providing assistance to existing clubs while nurturing the growth of new ones. Members of the Wasabi Anime clubs were issued photo ID cards that granted discounts at local anime and comic stores in Florida.

Some of the clubs included in the Wasabi Anime network were:

  • Anime Goes Anime Club Miami
  • Gator Anime
  • HIYAH! The Southwest Florida Anime Club
  • Japanese Animation Club of Tallahassee
  • Lake Brantley High School Anime & SciFi Club
  • Mile Stretch Anime Club
  • North Port Anime Club
  • Oukyuu Anime Club
  • Wasabi Anime: Deltona
  • Wasabi Anime: Englewood
  • Wasabi Anime: Ft. Lauderdale
  • Wasabi Anime: Green Cove Springs (which later became the Anime Belle Club)
  • Wasabi Anime: Jacksonville
  • Wasabi Anime: Miami
  • Wasabi Anime: New Smyrna Beach
  • Wasabi Anime: Orlando
  • Wasabi Anime: Tampa (which eventually formed the original volunteer staff for MetroCon 2003)
  • Wasabi Anime: Titusville
  • Wasabi Anime: Treasure Coast
  • Wasabi Anime: West Palm Beach

Periodically, the core team at Wasabi Anime hosted standalone events aimed at bringing these clubs together. Notable among these were the Wasabi Anime Halloween Cosplay Parties in 2001 and 2003.

Around 2004, Wasabi Anime shifted its focus from networking clubs to designing and organizing events for anime and fan conventions. These events encompassed themed panels, game shows, dances, and stage performances, including the well-known "Wasabi Animusical."

Appearances

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Wasabi Anime has designed entertainment and programming for several anime and fan conventions since starting in 2001.

California

Florida

Georgia

Indiana

Nevada

  • NeonCon 2010

Conventions

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In 2007, Wasabi Anime began producing its fan conventions. Since some of these productions were not anime-centric, they often operated under corporate names (either Green Mustard, LLC or Green Mustard Entertainment, Inc.)

Convention Name Theme Dates Location Attendance Guests
ASSIMILATION
(as Green Mustard, LLC)		 Science Fiction September 29–30, 2007 Radisson Worldgate Resort Orlando
Kissimmee, FL		 160 attendees
(85 unique)		 Ethan Phillips, Glenda Finkelstein, Michael A. Stackpole, Richard Horvitz, Rooster Teeth Productions, & Tracy Scoggins
MuggleCon
(as Green Mustard, LLC)		 Harry Potter November 21–22, 2008 Ramada Orlando Celebration Resort & Convention Center
Kissimmee, FL		 TBD The House of Black & Witherwings
InvaderCON Invader ZIM March 26–27, 2011[1] Marriott Century Center
Atlanta, GA		 TBD Andy Berman, Eric Trueheart, Melissa Fahn, Richard Horvitz, & Rikki Simons
Florida Anime Experience 2011 Anime May 27–29, 2011[2] Ramada Orlando Celebration Resort
Kissimmee, FL		 1931 attendees
(925 unique)		 Anime World Order, Brett Weaver, Brittney Karbowski, Daric "Jingoro" Jackson, & Steve Blum
Florida Anime Experience 2012 Anime May 25–27, 2012[3] International Palms Resort & Convention Center
Orlando, FL		 2167 attendees
(1027 unique)		 Anime Addict Anonymous, Dan Woren, Darrel Guilbeau, Daric "Jingoro" Jackson, & Terri Hawkes
Project Anime 2012
(with Anime Expo)		 Anime Conventions June 27–28, 2012 Westin Bonaventure
Los Angeles, CA		 33 unique N/A (conference; no guests)
InvaderCON II: DOOMCON Invader ZIM July 28–29, 2012[4] Torrance Marriott South Bay
Torrance, CA		 TBD Aaron Alexovich, Eric Trueheart, Jason Stiff, Jhonen Vasquez, Melissa Fahn, Richard Horvitz, Rikki Simons, Rodger Bumpass, & Wally Wingert
PinUpalooza Pin-Up, Burlesque, & Rockabilly October 6, 2012 International Palms Resort & Convention Center
Orlando, FL		 TBD TBD
WasabiCon Geek Culture October 27–28, 2012 Jacksonville Marriott
Jacksonville, FL		 TBD TBD
Florida Anime Experience 2013 Anime May 24–26, 2013 International Palms Resort & Convention Center
Orlando, FL		 TBD TBD

References

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  1. ^ "InvaderCON on AnimeCons.com". AnimeCons.com.
  2. ^ "Florida Anime Experience 2011 on AnimeCons.com". AnimeCons.com.
  3. ^ "Florida Anime Experience 2012 on AnimeCons.com". AnimeCons.com.
  4. ^ "InvaderCON II: DOOMCON on AnimeCons.com". AnimeCons.com.
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