What Anime Central does

Anime Central (ACen) is the largest anime, manga, and Japanese popular culture convention in Chicago and the Midwest, operated by Midwest Animation Promotion Society (MAPS), an Illinois-registered nonprofit organization founded in 1991. The company produces a single annual three-day convention at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center and Hyatt Regency O'Hare in Rosemont, Illinois, drawing 36,000+ unique attendees. The event features a Retailer Hall, one of the largest Artist Alleys in the country, free-to-play video and tabletop gaming halls, escape rooms, concerts, dances, educational panels, workshops, premiere screenings, autograph sessions, a 24-hour video room, a manga library, and an Anime Music Video Contest, plus a virtual Anime Central Online component.

The business operates on a multi-stream event revenue model. Income is generated through attendee registration fees, exhibit hall and Artist Alley booth rentals, advertising and sponsorship packages distributed across the website, convention book, newsletter, and mobile application, and merchandise sales including branded and partner collaboration products such as specially engraved whiskey glasses and KOVAL Distillery collaboration spirits. GTM is event-driven: acquisition occurs through attendee registration, exhibitor booth sales, and Artist Alley participation, with marketing distributed via email newsletters and a broad social media presence across X, Bluesky, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, Discord, and Threads.

Anime Central serves four primary customer constituencies: anime and manga fans attending for entertainment and community; retailers and exhibitors renting booth space for merchandise sales; independent artists selling original artwork in Artist Alley; and Japanese and US anime/manga industry professionals attending as guests for fan engagement and networking. Notable industry partnerships include Bang Zoom Studios, Viz Media, Bandai Gashapon Official Shop, Global Anime Challenge, the Consulate of Japan, Japanese Culture Center, KOVAL Distillery, KADOKAWA, and Japanime Games. The organization offers MAPS Scholarships as part of its nonprofit mission, and no external venture, private equity, or institutional investor ownership is indicated in the available materials.

Name

Anime Central

Legal name

Midwest Animation Promotion Society

Website

https://acen.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Anime Central is an Illinois nonprofit that operates the largest annual anime, manga, and Japanese popular culture convention in Chicago and the Midwest, drawing 36,000+ attendees through registration fees, booth rentals, sponsorships, and merchandise.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Convention and Cultural Event Services

NAICS

Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711), Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Culture, Entertainment & Fan Conventions Organizers (THAHABAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Beauty, Fashion & Pop-Culture Conventions (MPAGAFAG), Collectibles & Hobby Shows (MPAGAFAN)

Keywords

• Anime conventions
• Pop culture events
• Convention management
• Fan gatherings
• Exhibit hall rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

Prospect Heights

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Attendee Registration: Ticket/registration fees from convention attendees
2. Exhibit Hall and Retailer Spaces: Booth rental fees from retailers and exhibitors in the exhibit hall
3. Artist Alley: Booth rental fees for artists selling prints, original artwork, and handmade crafts
4. Advertising and Sponsorship: Advertising opportunities on website, in convention book, newsletter, mobile application, and various sponsorship packages
5. Merchandise Sales: Sale of Anime Central branded merchandise including specially engraved whiskey glasses and collaboration products
6. Event Merchandise: Convention-specific merchandise including collaboration items with partners like KOVAL Distillery

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Anime Central (ACen) is an annual anime, manga, and Japanese popular culture convention held at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center and Hyatt Regency O'Hare in Rosemont, Illinois. The convention offers a multi-day program that includes a large exhibit hall, one of the largest artist alleys in the country, free-to-play video and tabletop gaming halls, escape rooms, live concerts and dances, cosplay gatherings, masquerades, an on-site manga library, educational panels and workshops, premiere screenings, autograph sessions, and 24-hour video rooms.

Product overview

Anime Central (ACen) is a single annual convention event focused on anime, manga, and Japanese popular culture. The event features a large exhibit hall (Retailer Hall), one of the largest Artist Alleys in the country, free-to-play gaming areas (Tabletop Gaming, Video Gaming), escape rooms, live events (concerts, dances, cosplay gatherings, masquerade), a Manga Library, Anime Music Video Contest, and online programming. The convention serves as a gathering point for fans to meet anime industry professionals, purchase merchandise, participate in gaming activities, and attend educational panels and workshops.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Anime Central Convention (ACen) The main annual three-day convention event that brings together anime, manga, and Japanese pop culture fans with industry professionals. Includes exhibit halls, gaming areas, concerts, dances, educational panels, workshops, premiere screenings, autograph sessions, video rooms, and tabletop gaming.
• Artist Alley One of the largest artist alley spaces in the country where independent artists sell prints, original artwork, handmade crafts, and fan merchandise to attendees.
• Retailer Hall Expansive exhibit hall featuring booths rented to retailers and vendors selling anime/manga-related merchandise including figures, apparel, art prints, and collectibles influenced by Japanese culture.
• Tabletop Gaming Hall Free-to-play gaming area offering tabletop gaming activities and events for attendees during the convention.
• Video Gaming Hall Free-to-play gaming hall featuring tournaments, arcade, PC, and console gaming for convention attendees.
• Escape Rooms Interactive escape room experiences available at the convention for attendee entertainment.
• Live Events Programming Live programming including concerts, dances, cosplay gatherings, masquerade, and children's programming held during the convention.
• Concerts Live music performances held as part of the convention's entertainment programming.
• Dances Themed dance events held during the convention for attendees.
• Manga Library On-site library of manga collections available for attendees to read during the convention.
• Anime Music Video Contest Competition event recognizing fan-created anime music videos at the convention.
• Attendee Registration Convention pass/badge purchase program that grants individuals access to the convention, its programming, exhibit halls, and amenities.
• Anime Central Branded Merchandise Convention-specific merchandise sold to attendees, including branded products and collaboration items such as specially engraved whiskey glasses and KOVAL Distillery collaboration bottles.
• Anime Central Online Virtual/online programming component of the convention extending content beyond the physical event.

Quantifiable outcome

• 36,000+ unique attendees annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• KADOKAWAminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 April 2026Major Japanese publishing and media company. Partner in GAC 2026 Bottled in Bond Rye Whiskey collaboration release.
• KOVAL DistillerycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 April 2026Chicago-based organic spirits distillery. Partnership includes special collaboration bottles (Goodbye, Lara Cranberry Gin and GAC 2026 Bottled in Bond Rye Whiskey), tasting experiences at convention booth IND 11, and merchandise featuring specially engraved whiskey glasses with complimentary tour passes.
• Shinanoya Co., Ltd.minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 April 2026Tokyo-based premium retailer and leading specialty liquor retailer in Japan. Partner in KOVAL collaboration for tasting flights and exclusive bottle releases at convention.
• Milwaukee's Club BarminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 April 2026Renowned whisky bar celebrating 35th anniversary. Partner in KOVAL collaboration for tasting experiences at convention.
• Bandai Gashapon Official ShopminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial Bandai merchandise retailer; appears as partner at convention
• Global Anime ChallengecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational initiative to foster cross-cultural exchange and support emerging anime talent. Global Anime Challenge 2.0 features four directors as guests of honor. First introduced at Anime Central 2025, expanded in 2026 with collaboration merchandise.
• DAN DA DANminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnime series with official booth exhibition at convention 2026
• Consulate of JapancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial Japanese diplomatic mission; supports cultural exchange programming at convention
• Japanese Culture CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural organization promoting Japanese culture; partner at convention
• VitalantminorOthersBlood donation services; appears as partner on website

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Otakon: Otakon is a long-running US anime convention (formerly Washington DC, now Baltimore) with tens of thousands of attendees, exhibit halls, and artist alley. Directly comparable to Anime Central as a fan-run, large-scale anime/manga convention of similar size and programming mix.
• Anime Boston: Anime Boston is a regional anime convention held in the Boston metro area, organized by the New England Anime Society. Directly comparable to Anime Central as a fan-run convention with similar exhibit hall, panel, and artist alley programming serving a regional anime/manga fan community.
• Anime Expo: Anime Expo is the largest anime convention in North America, held annually in Los Angeles. It is directly comparable as a multi-day anime, manga, and Japanese pop-culture convention with exhibitor halls, artist alley, and industry guests targeting the same fan base as Anime Central.
• Anime NYC: Anime NYC is a major New York-based anime convention operated by LeftField Media featuring industry guests from Japan and the US, exhibit halls, and artist alley. Directly comparable as a similarly structured annual anime convention competing for the same East Coast/Midwest attendee base.
• Sakura-Con: Sakura-Con is Seattle's annual anime convention run by the Asia Northwest Cultural Education Association. Directly comparable to Anime Central as a similarly sized, nonprofit-run regional anime convention with exhibit hall, artist alley, and Japanese cultural programming.

Regional players

• AnimeJapan: AnimeJapan is one of the world's largest anime expositions held annually at Tokyo Big Sight. Comparable to Anime Central as a major anime industry convention with exhibitor booths, artist alley, and stage programming, though operating in Japan rather than directly competing in the US Midwest.

Broad incumbents

• PAX (Penny Arcade Expo): PAX is a major US gaming convention series (East, West, South, Unplugged) with a similar attendee scale and exhibit hall format. Comparable to Anime Central as a multi-day convention drawing tens of thousands of attendees with industry exhibitors, panels, and tournaments, though focused on gaming rather than anime.
• MCM Comic Con: MCM Comic Con (operated by ReedPop) is a series of pop-culture conventions held across the UK and other markets. Comparable to Anime Central as a multi-city convention format with exhibitor halls and anime content, though broader in scope across comics, gaming, and film.
• San Diego Comic-Con: San Diego Comic-Con is the largest US pop-culture convention, with anime/manga as a significant programming track alongside comics, film, and TV. Comparable to Anime Central as a large-scale convention with major industry exhibitors and exclusive merchandise partnerships, though broader in scope.
• New York Comic Con: New York Comic Con (operated by ReedPop) is a much larger pop-culture convention with broader comics/film/TV focus but overlapping anime industry exhibitors and attendees. Comparable as a multi-day convention with tiered registration, exhibitor booths, and major industry partnerships in the same pop-culture ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/animecentral
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/AnimeCentralOnline
• Facebookfacebook.com/animecentral
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/anime-central
• Instagraminstagram.com/animecentralofficial

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Anime Central