Metrocon 2 Dates

TAMPA BAY, FL, October 24, 2003 – AnimeMetro.com officially announced METROCON 2 – Tampa Bay, Florida's only full-fledged anime convention – will take place on the weekend of July 9-11, 2004, at the Crowne Plaza - Tampa at Sabal Park, 10221 Princess Palm Ave. More than 1,600 Japanese animation fans turned out for 2003's inaugural event, establishing a new, first-year attendance record for Florida anime conventions.

METROCON is a weekend-long celebration of the numerous facets of Japanese popular entertainment – from anime (Japanese animation), manga (Japanese comics), J-pop and J-Rock (Japanese pop and rock music, performed by “idols”) to cosplay (costume design and performance) and video games.

Tampa Bay's first, dedicated anime convention included: - The first-ever “Anime Idol” J-Pop/J-Rock Competition; - An art show and Artists' Alley; - A cosplay competition and a runway-style costume contest; - A dealers'/exhibition room; - Three “DDR Extreme” Tournaments; - An Anime Music Video contest; - Official convention screenings of new North American releases; - Panels with North American anime industry guests; - Dances and karaoke; - The METROCADE video game room; and last – but certainly not least – 212 continuous hours of Japanese anime and related programming.