Anime Matsuri Convention

What Anime Matsuri Convention does

Anime Matsuri Convention, LLC is a privately held, founder-led event production company that operates an annual anime convention in Houston, Texas, now celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2026 after continuous operation since its founding in 2006. The flagship product is a four-day convention (July 23-26, 2026) held at the George R. Brown Convention Center, a 2 million sq ft venue spanning 3 floors and 7 Exhibit Halls — one of the largest such event footprints in North America. The company also operates year-round community programming through Access Zero monthly meet-ups at The Anime Bar in Sugar Land, TX, and runs ancillary ticketed events including Wrestle Matsuri (professional wrestling), Disney Princess Party, Karaoke Battle, Anime Academy workshops, and a LARP arena. Founder Deneice Trinity Leigh leads the organization, supported by a small management team (Nathalie Mikeska as Vendor Relations Lead, Jonathan as Info Desk Manager, John leading Concert/Club AM, Jetson leading the AM Junior mascot program) with 11-50 total employees.

The core products are tiered attendee badges (Superpass $320, Weekend Badge $95, Kids Badge $30, Single Day $45-$70), exhibitor and artist alley booth rentals, and separate event tickets. The technology stack is intentionally thin and commodity-based: Eventbrite handles all ticketing, PassKey manages hotel block reservations, and a mobile app delivers interactive maps, schedules, and attendee information. There is no proprietary platform, no AI/ML features, and no API exposed externally. A planned online merchandise shop for anime merchandise, cosplay wigs, and costumes is described as "launching soon" and would represent the first year-round e-commerce channel.

The business model is event-driven and direct-to-consumer, monetizing primarily through attendee badge sales (one-time perpetual licenses), exhibitor booth rental fees (transactional, with early-bird tiering), artist alley table sales, and ancillary event tickets. Distribution relies on Eventbrite as the bottom-of-funnel conversion channel, supplemented by Will Call on-site, a hotel partner channel (seven Houston-area properties), and a content-driven marketing layer across Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, YouTube, and Discord. Customer segments span anime/manga fans (primary), cosplayers, voice actor and industry guest fans, artists and creators, families with young children, and content creators, with the Creator Club and #TeamNoSleep volunteer programs driving community-led retention between annual events.

Name

Anime Matsuri Convention

Legal name

Anime Matsuri Convention, LLC

Website

https://animematsuri.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Anime Matsuri Convention, LLC is a privately held, founder-led Houston-based event company that operates a 20-year-running annual anime convention at the George R. Brown Convention Center, supplemented by year-round community meet-ups and ancillary ticketed entertainment events for anime, cosplay, and Japanese pop culture fans.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Anime Convention / Fan Convention Events

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

General Consumer Expos & Trade Shows (MPAGAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Beauty, Fashion & Pop-Culture Conventions (MPAGAFAG), Retail, Consumer Goods & Lifestyle Shows Organizers (THAHABAJ)

Keywords

• Anime convention events
• Cosplay competitions
• Fan convention services
• Convention ticketing
• Japanese pop culture events

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

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, Others, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Attendee Badge Sales: Primary revenue stream from ticket/badge sales. Tiered pricing: Superpass ($320), Weekend Badge ($95), Kids Badge ($30), Single Day passes ($45-$70). Badges grant access to convention floors and main events.
2. Exhibitor/Vendor Booth Fees: Booth rental for vendors in Exhibit Hall. Multiple booth tiers: Standard, Premium, Elite A/B, Custom. Prices vary by time of purchase with early bird discounts.
3. Artist Alley Tables: Table sales for artists and creators. 10x10 booth with table and chair includes one weekend pass. NO AI art allowed policy.
4. Kabukicho 18+ Vendor/Artist Area: Adult content vendor and artist booth fees in designated 18+ area with wristband check requirement.
5. Disney Princess Party Tickets: Separate ticketed events for children: $30 Friday party, $40 Saturday party. Requires separate ticket from convention badge.
6. Wrestle Matsuri Wrestling Tickets: VIP tickets $50 (Ring Side Seats + Event Poster), GA $20. Separate from convention credentials.
7. Karaoke Battle: Competition with qualifier rounds at The Anime Bar. Grand prize of $1500 in cash prizes. Finals at convention.
8. Fashion Show Sponsorships: Brand sponsorship opportunities for the 20th anniversary Fashion Show showcase.
9. Merchandise/Shop Sales: Online shop for anime merchandise, cosplay wigs, costumes. Store launching soon.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Anime Matsuri Convention, LLC hosts a four-day annual anime convention at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas (July 23-26, 2026), with over 1,000 hours of programming across three floors and seven Exhibit Halls. The convention offers tiered attendee badge sales, an Artist Alley for independent creators, vendor exhibit booths, competitive cosplay contests, a karaoke battle, fashion show, Japanese-style pro wrestling, an Itasha car show (Import Reactor), a LARP arena, anime-themed educational workshops (Anime Academy with Asobism Japan), and a family-targeted Disney Princess Party. Core revenue drivers include tiered attendee badges ($20-$320), vendor and artist booth rentals, separately ticketed premium events, sponsorships, and a forthcoming merchandise shop, complemented by year-round Access Zero community meetups at The Anime Bar in Sugar Land, TX.

Product overview

Anime Matsuri Convention is a single-venue anime convention event (not a software platform) comprising its main 4-day convention product plus ancillary products including badge tiers (Superpass, Weekend Badge, Kids Badge, Single-Day Passes), a mobile app, and event programming (cosplay contests, karaoke battles, fashion shows, wrestling events, gaming tournaments). The product portfolio also includes community engagement programs (Creator Club, Volunteer Program, Access Zero meetups), educational workshops (Anime Academy – Game Programming and Manga Illustration taught by Asobism Japan), and exhibit areas (Artist Alley, Kabukicho 18+ area, Import Reactor car show, LARP arena). The convention is hosted at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas, with ticketing handled via Eventbrite and hotel bookings via PassKey.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Anime Matsuri Convention (Annual 4-Day Event + Tiered Badges) A four-day annual anime convention spanning over 1,000 hours of programming across three floors and seven Exhibit Halls, hosted at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Tiered access badges ($20-$320) include Superpass, Weekend Badge ($95), Kids Badge ($30), single-day passes ($45-$70), and Exhibit Hall Only ($20); children under 6 are free.
• Anime Matsuri Mobile App Convention mobile application providing interactive maps of the Exhibit Hall, event schedules, and attendee information delivery for Anime Matsuri attendees.
• Main Cosplay Contest Annual cosplay competition with over $2,500 in cash prizes across Beginner, Journeyman, and Advanced categories. Best in Show prize includes $1,000 plus 2027 badges.
• Hallway Cosplay Contest Craftsmanship-based cosplay contest for solo cosplayers ages 16 and up, limited to 34 contestants. Two awards offered: Best Beginner and Best Overall, each receiving two 2027 tickets.
• Karaoke Battle Anime-themed karaoke competition with $1,500 in grand cash prizes. Eight finalists are determined through five monthly qualifiers at The Anime Bar plus one convention qualifier, with finals held at the convention.
• Anime Bingo! Bingo game with anime themes, characters, tropes, and iconic moments. High-energy experience with prizes for winners.
• Club AM Largest rave in Houston. Main event concert venue in Hall A hosting music events and performances during the convention.
• AM Fashion Show Fashion showcase featuring Japanese and local designers on a 60ft stage with a 30ft runway. Includes middle-school, high-school, and adult model categories. Free with badge. Open to fashion show sponsorships.
• Disney Princess Party Family event featuring 10 Disney Princesses with singing, dancing, parade, and photo ops or craft stations. Friday party $30 (no photo ops), Saturday party $40 (with photo ops). Limited to 100 tickets per party. Separate ticket required.
• Wrestle Matsuri Japanese-style pro wrestling event with separately ticketed VIP ($50, ring-side seats plus event poster) and General Admission ($20) tickets. Includes autograph sessions. Produced in partnership with Texas New Pro Wrestling.
• Artist Alley Tables Exhibit area for amateur and professional artists to sell original art, fan art, prints, comics, and commissioned drawings. A 10x10 booth with table and chair is provided and includes one weekend pass. A NO AI art policy is enforced.
• Kabukicho (18+ Goods Area) Adult content vendor and artist booth area within the exhibit hall. Requires an 18+ wristband obtained with ID at the Info Desk. Artists and vendors sell uncensored adult-themed content.
• Import Reactor (Itasha Car Show) Car show and exhibition featuring imported vehicles and Itasha culture. Free to attend for badge holders; Red Carpet event showcasing Japanese car culture.
• Console Gaming and Tournaments Gaming area with tournaments and free play for attendees during the convention; multiple tournament offerings available.
• LARP Expansion (Witch Ditch) Live Action Role-Playing arena hosted by Dagorath. Features the Witch Ditch battle game and spell ball combat. Open to all ages as part of the 2026 convention programming.
• Anime Academy – Game Programming Interactive game programming workshop taught by Asobism Japan using the omochim sandbox game. Two-hour sessions open to students ages 9-18, with completion certificates awarded.
• Anime Academy – Manga Illustration Manga illustration workshop hosted by Asobism Japan for the 2026 convention. 90-minute sessions open to students 8 years and older, with completion certificates awarded.
• Access Zero Monthly Community Meetups Monthly community meetup events leading up to the main convention, hosted at The Anime Bar venue in Sugar Land, TX. Free admission; serves as year-round touchpoint for the Anime Matsuri community.
• Cosplay Meet-ups Coordination Organized photoshoot and meetup coordination service for cosplayers. Organizers can submit meet-up requests to be listed in the convention app.
• Panel Submission Service Fan-hosted panel and workshop submission system. Approved panels are typically 1 hour with 10-minute setup/teardown, and each approved panel receives one complimentary convention badge.
• Exhibit Hall Vendor Booths Booth rentals for vendors in the Exhibit Hall across four tiers: Standard, Premium, Elite A, Elite B, and Custom. Prices vary by time of purchase with early-bird discounts.
• Anime Matsuri Online Merchandise Shop Online shop for anime merchandise, cosplay wigs, and costumes. The store is launching soon.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1000 hours of programming delivered across 3 floors
• +2 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Marriott Marquis HoustoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 23 July 2026Official hotel partner in convention hotel block. Starting at $189/night. Provides hotel room upgrade giveaway for attendees. Part of benefits for booking via convention hotel block.
• Hilton Americas HoustoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 23 July 2026Official hotel partner. Starting at $179/night. Part of convention hotel block with perks for attendees.
• Cambria Hotel Houston DowntownminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 23 July 2026Hotel partner with early bird rates starting at $139/night. Giving away weekend stay during the year for convention attendees.
• Springhill Suites DowntownminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 23 July 2026Partner hotel starting at $154/night. Part of Marriott portfolio.
• Embassy SuitesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 23 July 2026Partner hotel starting at $189/night in convention hotel block.
• Hampton InnminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 23 July 2026Partner hotel at $179/night in convention hotel block.
• Homewood SuitesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 23 July 2026Partner hotel at $189/night in convention hotel block.
• Asobism JapancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 July 2026Japanese game development company hosting Anime Academy workshops at convention. Provides Introduction to Video Game Programming (ʘmʘchim game) and Manga Illustration workshops taught by Japanese industry professionals.
• The Anime BarcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 July 2026Local venue hosting monthly Access Zero community events and Karaoke Battle qualifiers leading up to convention. Located at 11773 S Hwy 6, Sugar Land, TX. Co-organizer of community event series.
• Texas New Pro WrestlingminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 July 2026Professional wrestling promotion producing Wrestle Matsuri main event and additional matches throughout convention weekend.
• NeomeetsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 February 2026Community organization co-hosting Access Zero events with The Anime Bar. Partner for networking and social events.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Otakon: Otakon is a major US anime convention (Washington DC/Baltimore) that competes head-to-head with Anime Matsuri for voice talent guests, cosplay contests, and attendee share. It is a direct peer on programming mix and target demographic.
• Anime Expo: Anime Expo is the largest anime convention in North America, held annually in Los Angeles. It is the most directly comparable competitor to Anime Matsuri, with similar badge tiers, exhibit halls, artist alley, cosplay contests, and Japanese guest programming — but at significantly larger scale.
• Anime Boston: Anime Boston is a regional anime convention with comparable badge pricing, artist alley, and guest programming. It is a direct peer competing for East Coast anime fans.
• Sakura-Con: Sakura-Con is a long-running anime convention in Seattle operated by the Asia Northwest Cultural Education Society. It competes directly with Anime Matsuri for anime fans in the Pacific and Mountain time zones with similar guest, artist alley, and cosplay programming.
• San Japan: San Japan is a Texas-based anime convention held annually in San Antonio, directly competing with Anime Matsuri for the same Texas and south-central US attendee pool with comparable badge tiers and programming mix.
• Anime NYC: Anime NYC is a large anime convention in New York City with similar tiered badges, industry guests, and exhibit halls. It is a direct competitor in the US anime convention market.
• Project A-Kon: Project A-Kon is one of the oldest US anime conventions, held in the Dallas–Fort Worth area of Texas. It directly competes with Anime Matsuri within the Texas market for attendees, vendors, and industry guests.

Regional players

• AnimeJapan: AnimeJapan is the largest anime convention in Japan, held annually in Tokyo. It is a regional peer — same category but different geography — that benchmarks programming scale and serves as the Japanese content pipeline for Anime Matsuri guests.

Others

• Eventbrite: Eventbrite is the third-party ticketing platform Anime Matsuri uses for badge and event-ticket sales. It is a technology enabler/distributor rather than a competitor, but is a critical operating dependency.

Broad incumbents

• Dragon Con: Dragon Con is a major multi-genre pop-culture convention in Atlanta with broader scope (anime, sci-fi, gaming, comics). It is a broad incumbent that overlaps with Anime Matsuri on anime programming but serves a wider fandom portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/animematsuri
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCdIjRh7-lPVHqTTKpaf8PLA
• Facebookfacebook.com/AnimeMatsuri
• Instagraminstagram.com/animematsuri
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/anime-matsuri-convention

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

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 Matsuri Convention