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ANO Archive

This is a collection of data and stories of ANO and Animarathon's past.

For our collection of news and pictures, please visit their respective pages.

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Table of Contents

History of Anime In Northwest Ohio

Although Anime In Northwest Ohio documents reference dates as old as , Anime In Northwest Ohio became a official Bowling Green State University student organization in , starting with 12 student members. Meeting in the then brand new Bowen Thompson Student Union Theater, Anime In Northwest Ohio (ANO) members would watch their favorite animes. Satisfied with what they had created, they celebrated just over one year later by holding the first Animarathon. Since then Anime In Northwest Ohio has continued to watch Anime and host Animarathon every year since then.

Timeline of Animarathon

Name # Year Month Day Opening Closing Attendees Venue Note
Anime Marathon 0 2002 September 28 05:00PM 11:59PM Unknown Bowen-Thompson Student Union The precursor to Animarathon!
Animarathon 1 2003 March 1 10:00AM 11:59PM ~200 Bowen-Thompson Student Union The first Animarathon!
Animarathon II 2 2004 April 17 *10:00AM *11:59PM *225 Bowen-Thompson Student Union Guests who took a flyer with them received a free raffle ticket!
Animarathon III 3 2005 April 2 *10:00AM *11:59PM ~250 Bowen-Thompson Student Union The last "small" Animarathon at the Union.
Animarathon IV 4 2006 April 8 10:00AM 11:59PM 644 Olscamp Hall The move to Olscamp hall was done for additional space. This was also the introduction of Hayabusa Taiko to Animarathon.
Animarathon V 5 2007 April 14 10:00AM 11:59PM >700 Olscamp Hall Unexpectedly high attendance.
Animarathon VI 6 2008 March 29 10:00AM 11:59PM >1000 Olscamp Hall The year Animarathon surpassed one thousand attendees. 972 Guests confirmed at a minimum + staff & vendors. More guests were additionally likely not counted due to a mistake.
Animarathon VII 7 2009 March 28 10:00AM 11:59PM >1500 Olscamp Hall The last Animarathon in Olscamp hall
Animarathon VIII 8 2010 March 27 10:00AM 11:59PM ~1750 Bowen-Thompson Student Union The return of Animarathon to the Student Union, this time occupying almost the entire building. This Animarathon also introduced the Manga Library.
Animarathon IX 9 2011 March 26 10:00AM 11:59PM ~2000 Bowen-Thompson Student Union This Animarathon raised $1,077.70 for victims of the Fukushima event. This was also the first year registration became mandatory for events. Return of Special Guests.
Animarathon X 10 2012 March 24 10:00AM 11:59PM ~3100 Bowen-Thompson Student Union The tenth Animarathon and the first year non-students were needed as volunteers.
Animarathon XI 11 2013 March 23 10:00AM 11:59PM ~3100 Bowen-Thompson Student Union Last Animarathon to open at 10:00.
Animarathon XII 12 2014 March 22 09:00AM 11:59PM >3300 Bowen-Thompson Student Union First Animarathon to open at 9:00AM
Animarathon XIII 13 2015 March 21 09:00AM 11:59PM ~3300 Bowen-Thompson Student Union Featured a new and excellent banner and badges by BG Alumna artist Michelle Czajkowski.
Animarathon XIV 14 2016 March 26 09:00AM 11:59PM ~3000 Bowen-Thompson Student Union This Animarathon took place while the Student Union was undergoing renovations. Future Animarathons will have even more space to work with!
Animarathon XV 15 2017 March 25 09:00AM 11:59PM ~3000 Bowen-Thompson Student Union The first Animarathon in the renovated Union!

* Indicates an extrapolated value.

~ Indicates an approximate value.

^ Indicates an minimum confirmed value.

History of the Society for Fandom and Gaming

The Society for Fandom and Gaming was founded in at the BGSU Firelands campus in Huron Ohio to create an environment where student fans could express themselves.

In the Society for Fandom and Gaming started a new series of spring events called FalCon.

In late , the Society for Fandom and Gaming decided to change the name of FalCon to TakoCon and to move the date from spring to fall.

BGSU Firelands conventions are held by the Society for Fandom and Gaming which is related to, but not under Anime In Northwest Ohio.

Timeline of BGSU Firelands Conventions

Name # Year Month Day Opening Closing Attendees Venue Note
FalCon 1 2014 March 29 10:00AM 09:00PM ~165 BGSU Firelands Cedar Point Center The first FalCon!
FalCon 2 2015 March 28 09:00AM 10:00PM ~90 BGSU Firelands Cedar Point Center Held during a blizzard!
FalCon 3 2016 April 23 09:00AM 10:00PM ~50 BGSU Firelands Cedar Point Center Held on the 50th Anniversary of BGSU Firelands! Was space themed.
TakoCon 1 2017 September 23 10:00AM 10:00PM Unknown BGSU Firelands Cedar Point Center The first TakoCon!

~ Indicates an approximate value

History of Japanese Interest at BGSU

The first known Otaku at BGSU was Professor Lincoln Edwin Moseley who became a professor in . Although Otaku is commonly used to refer to fans of Anime or Manga, it applies to anyone with an obsessive interest in a subject. In his life Professor Moseley created an truly impressive collection of preserved plant and animal specimens that remains at the University to this day,

The first known mention of Japan in a university document occurs in volume 1, issue 1 of the Bee Gee News from May 1920 which discusses a recreation of a Japanese Garden in a gymnasium. Soon after in the edition of the Bee Gee News a flury of Japanese Mania swept over campus, with two events being noted in relationship to Japan. The Foreign Language department held a program "Sidelights on Japanese Art" to advocate for a Japanese program at BGSU. This event featured panels such as "Fine Arts in Japan", and "Japanese Folk Story". One might think of this as a proto-anime convention. That same week Dr. Chew from China gave an address at BGSU on multiple current events in Asia, including Japanese Relations.

BGSU President Frank Prout founded the secret organization SICSIC on . Although not explicitly about Japanese culture, the group arguably became one of the oldest active cosplay groups in America, as they were only seen in public wearing costumes of their favorite characters, who were often from popular culture.

The oldest active student organization on campus dedicated to Japanese culture is the Japanese Club, which was founded by Akiko Jones in

Japanese Alumni and alumna have often left their mark on the BGSU campus. Of particular note is Hiroko Nakamoto, who is responsible for the Nakamoto Clocktower in the Bowen Thompson Student Union built in 2002, The Nakamoto Art Gallery and Tea Ceremony Room built in 1991, and the Hiroko Nakamoto Room in Offenhauer towers built in 1991.

In BGSU received a generous donation of Cherry trees from Japanese citizens and companies. The cherry trees were planted in the then newly remodled Alumni mall, and across campus. To commemorate this gift from Japan, The Japanese Club has hosted an excellent Cherry Blossom Festival since .

Timeline of Other-ANO events

Name Year Month Day Opening Closing Attendees Venue Note
First Advertised ANO meeting 2002 February 1 Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown The first advertised meeting of Anime In Northwest Ohio
Ohayocon Presentation 2002 November 1 5:00PM Unknown Unknown Olscamp Rom 115 A Presentation by Adam Beaton on Ohayocon 2003. Possibly held the next Friday the 8th.
Halloween Masquerade 2012 October Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Bowen Thompson Student Union A celebration of cosplay for Halloween.
Animapathon I 2016 November 15 5:00PM 7:30PM ~25 Room 208 Bowen Thompson Student Union A mapathon held as educational programming. An accidental collaboration with the NCNW
Hackathon.Moe 0 2016 December 27 00:06AM 00:07AM 0 (1 Observer) The public sidwalk next to the University Of Findlay's Griffith Arch. Our Anime/Time Travel Hackathon! Time travel to the event and say any anime-related phrase to our observer and win our grand prize! ($1 value!). As a special bonus, in-person pre-registrations for Animarathon XV made during this time will be donated to help solve the Year 2038 Problem!

Timeline of Non-ANO events

Name Year Month Day Opening Closing Attendees Venue Note
Sidelights on Japanese Art 1922 March 21 Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown The first known convention on Japanese culture at BGSU and discussed Japanese Fine Arts, Chalk, and Folk Story. This event was hosted by the Foreign Language Department.

Past Special Guests at Animarathon

Name Date Website
Dirk Manning 2016 Nightmare World
Nicki Rapp 2016 Wikipedia
Amanda Miller Wikipedia
Dirk Manning 2015 Nightmare World
Leah Clark Wikipedia
Max Gilardi HotDiggedyDemon
Michelle Czajkowski Ava's Demon
Nicki Rapp 2015 Wikipedia
Dirk Manning 2014 Nightmare World
Martin Billany Abridged
Marianne Miller Wikipedia
Phil Machi 2013 Livestock Productions
Robert Axelrod Wikipedia
Barbra Goodson Website
Trixie J. Valentine
Phil Machi 2012 Livestock Productions
Darrel Guibeau Wikipedia
Jacob Hope Chapman
Doug Walker Channel Awesome
Flash Flash Revolution Flash Flash Revolution
Japanese Connection
LiMEDUST
The Mindless Tripod Experience
Robert DeJesus DeviantArt
Mikhail Koulikov
Misty Caldwell (Unconfirmed)
Adam Beaton 2004
Adam Beaton 2003
Adam Beaton October 2002*
Ronald Robertson March 21st 1922
Professor Biery March 21st 1922
Alice Cole March 21st 1922
Kathryn Canard March 21st 1922

* Indicates a special meeting

Past Sponsors for ANO Events

A table of organizations, companies, groups, individuals who have sponsored, worked with, or helped ANO or Animarathon in the past.

Name Date Website
OSM Geo Week OSM Geo Week
Super Craft Bros Wood Shop Super Craft Bros
Arda Wigs Arda Wigs
Nerd Nation Nerd Nation
Matsuricon (Helped us bring Nikki Rapp to Animarathon!) Matsuricon
Colossalcon (Helped us bring Nikki Rapp to Animarathon!) Colossalcon
RightStuf RightStuf
Joy You - Maid Cafe
Weaboo Workshop
Arda Wigs Arda Wigs
Trotcon Trotcon
Home Circle Media Home Circle Media
KantaiCon KantaiCon
Insomnia Cookies Insomnia Cookies
Colossalcon Colossalcon
Gold Star Anime & Games
Weaboo Warehouse (Cosplay Competition Sponsor)
Timeless Photography
Anime Midwest Anime Midwest
Animinneapolis Animinneapolis
Glass City Con Glass City Con
Buffalo Wild Wings BW3
BGSU Ethnic Cultural Arts Program BGSU.edu
4Kids (Screening Permissions) Wikipedia
ADV Films (Screening Permissions) Wikipedia
FUNimation (Screening Permissions) Funimation
Bandai Entertainment (Screening Permissions) Bandai
Geneon Entertainment, Inc. (Screening Permissions) Wikipedia
Route50 Route 50
Strictly Anime
Metal Artisan Studios
Chou Anime
Corruptions.LTD & Corruptions.Co
Sisshi's Studio
Gaia Online (Supplied two prize bags!) Gaia Online
Ikasucon Ikasucon
kratosaurion2007 YouTube Channel
Strictly Anime
AVI
The Happy Badger
The Cookie Jar Twitter
Friends, Family, Anime, And Games Arbonne
Cinemark Cinemark
C & C Games
Big Boy Big Boy
2-Play
Purrsia Press
Atlus USA Atlus
ADV Films Wikipedia
FUNimation Productions, ltd. FUNimation
Geneon Wikipedia
ADV Films Wikipedia
Central Park Media Wikipedia
Animeigo Animeigo
Media Play Wikipedia
Right Stuff
Bandai Entertainment Bandai
Pepsi Pepsi
Bandai Entertainment Bandai
Pepsi Pepsi

Note: The Coca-Cola company has sponsored us since Pepsi left campus, however, we have yet to determine this exact date.

ANO & Animarathon in the News

Title Publication Date
ANO presents anime marathon The BG News September 17th, 2002
ANO screening ends up being a positive event The BG News October 8th, 2002
Interest in Japanese Animation has Grown Into a Subculture in the United States The BG News November 1st, 2002
Instructional Media Services Does a Good Job on Campus The BG News December 16th, 2002
Anime Club hosts Festival The BG News Febuary 28th, 2003
Anime Marathon at Bowling Green State University Anime News Network March 29th, 2004
Anime Is More then Just Cartoons The Independent Collegian November 18th, 2004
Anime In Northwest Ohio Presents Animarathon Anime News Network March 21st, 2005
Gathering at BGSU to Celebrate anime in film and in person The Toledo Blade April 6th, 2006
Anime Comes to BGSU The BG News April 12th 2007
Convention animates Olscamp Hall The BG News March 28th 2008
Fans from across the state support each other's anime obsession The BG News March 30th, 2009
Animarathon The BG News March 30th, 2009
Animarathon to Take Over Union Saturday The BG News March 26th, 2010
Animarathon provides education on Japanese culture. The Parthenon March 17th 2011
Celebrate Spring at Special Attractions: Travel in 3s. Ceveland.com March 20th 2011
Animaniacs The BG News March 28th, 2011
Students watch, promote Anime On Campus The BG News October 12th, 2012
BG on TV Episode 406 (Season Finale) WBGU-TV 2012
Animarathon Celebrates Japanese Culture The BG News March 25th, 2013
Animarathon Invades BGSU bg24news April 2nd, 2013
Animarathon Returns Saturday The BG News March 21st 2014
Anime Lovers Convene at BGSU The Sentinel-Tribune March 21st 2014
3,700 Guests Gathered to Discuss Manga, TV Shows; Share Art at Animarathon The BG News March 23rd, 2014
University Students Get Animated The BG News March 24st, 2014
Animarathon 2014 bg24news March 30th, 2014
Master of suspense The Toledo Free Press Febuary 22nd, 2015
BG24 Producer's Panel (@6:40) bg24news March 28th, 2015
16 comic-cons and anime-cons in Ohio - cleveland.com July 2016

Previous Anime In Northwest Ohio Websites

See archival copies of past ANO & Animarathon websites on the Internet Archive's wayback machine!

Mascots

ANO & Animarathon Mascots

Animarathon has had a variety of mascots since it was founded.

The four canonical mascots are the twins, Floopsie, the fox, and the cat.

  • 2016 - Floopsie the Alpaca - A fluffy pink alpaca who wears a bandanna
  • ~2014 - Serious Kitsune
  • ~2010 - Orion - The blonde haired twin of Ann.
  • ~2010 - Ann - The black haired twin of Orion.
  • ~2011 - Cat
  • ~2009 - Chibi Steve - Popular around 2009
  • ~2009 - Black Snake - A slithering snake that is coiled around the ANO logo
  • Unknown - Cleaver Girl - A smiling yandere girl in a dress holding a cleaver.
  • ~2003 - Joly Kitsune - A Jolly kitsune mascot. Probably one of ANO's first mascot!

~ Indicates an aproximate date, based on first seen example.

~ mascots may have existed at an earlier date

BGSU Firelands Mascots

  • 2014 - Top Hat
  • 2015 - Oswald Purple Octopus - Wears a tux and a golden monocle.
  • 2016 - Human Oswald wearing suit and tiny top hat.
  • 2016 - Cecilia, a blonde girl in pink dress

ANO Officer Corps

  • Alex Kidd - President
  • William Williams - Vice President
  • Haylie Hager - Treasurer
  • Amanda Morris- Secretary
  • Maxwell Brickner - Marketing Director
  • Alexander Holsinger - Webmaster
  • Kelvin Tyler - Auditor
  • Dr. Heath A. Diehl - Advisor

  • Alex Kidd - President
  • William Williams - Vice President
  • Haylie Hager - Treasurer
  • Pamela Hennessey & Amanda Morris- Secretary
  • Maxwell Brickner - Marketing Director
  • Alexander Holsinger - Webmaster
  • Charlie Begy & Kelvin Tyler- Auditor
  • Dr. Heath A. Diehl - Advisor

  • Brett Lippian - President
  • Meg Carroll - Vice President
  • Dehbia Messaoudene - Treasurer
  • AJ Gordon - Secretary
  • Allison Durrant - Marketing Director
  • Alexander Holsinger - Webmaster
  • Sarah Fagerhaug - Programming Researcher
  • Dr. Heath A. Diehl - Advisor

  • Brett Lippian - President
  • Meg Carroll - Vice President
  • Dehbia Messaoudene - Treasurer
  • AJ Gordon - Secretary
  • Allison Durrant - Marketing Director
  • Alexander Holsinger - Webmaster
  • Sarah Fagerhaug - Programming Researcher
  • Dr. Heath A. Diehl - Advisor

  • Brett Lippian - President
  • Mark Kelly - Vice President
  • Dehbia Messaoudene, Amanda Fritz - Treasurer
  • AJ Gordon - Secretary
  • Allison Durrant - Marketing Director
  • Nate Martin - Webmaster
  • Sabrina Bialy - Programming Researcher
  • Dr. Heath A. Diehl - Advisor

  • Brett Lippian - President
  • Mark Kelly - Vice President
  • Dehbia Messaoudene, Amanda Fritz - Treasurer
  • AJ Gordon - Secretary
  • Allison Durrant - Marketing Director
  • Nate Martin - Webmaster
  • Sabrina Bialy - Programming Researcher
  • Dr. Heath A. Diehl - Advisor

  • Brett Lippian - President
  • Mark Kelly - Vice President
  • Dehbia Messaoudene, Amanda Fritz - Treasurer
  • Tia Anderson - Secretary
  • Rachel Gast - Marketing Director
  • Nate Martin - Webmaster
  • AJ Gordon, Sabrina Bialy - Programming Researcher
  • Dr. Heath A. Diehl - Advisor

  • Brianna Tomlinson - President

  • Caroline Coates - President
  • Brianna Tomlinson - Vice President
  • Ariel Tarr & Mike Hewitt - Treasurers
  • Tia Anderson - Secretary
  • Rachel Gast - Marketing Director
  • Sabrina Bialy - Programming Researcher
  • Mark Kelly - Vice President in Training

  • Caroline Coates - President
  • Amanda Hull - Vice President
  • Michelle Lehr - Secretery

  • Caroline Coates - President
  • Amanda Hull - Vice President
  • Michelle Lehr - Secretery

  • Caroline Coates - President

  • Jonathan Edwards - President
  • Sara Haase - Secretary

  • Jonathan Edwards - President
  • Erin Lillie - Vice President
  • Caitlyn Savage - Treasurer
  • Sara Hasse - Secretary
  • Stephanie Edwards - Marketing Director
  • Steve Karns - Program Researcher
  • Stephanie Edwards - Webmaster

  • Stephanie Edwards - President
  • Erin Lillie - Vice President
  • Jennifer Cooper - Treasurer
  • Sara Hasse - Secretary
  • Danielle Victor - Marketing Director
  • Steve Karns - Program Researcher
  • Shane Barret - Webmaster

  • Jonathan Edwards - President
  • Mark Virgint - Vice President
  • Bill Schlatter - Treasurer
  • Nathan Nolte - Secretary
  • Bart Walls - Marketing Director
  • Steve Karns - Program Researcher

  • Alicia Smith - President

  • Ryan Fernandez - President
  • Alicia Smith - Vice President
  • Angie - Treasurer
  • Adrian - Secretary
  • Snake - Marketing Director
  • Luke Dubin - Program Researcher

  • Joe Ferrone - President
  • Val - Vice President
  • Angie - Treasurer
  • Ben - Secretary
  • Ryan - Marketing Director
  • Luke - Event Coordinator
  • Sasha - Cosplay/Artists Alley

  • Joe Ferrone - President
  • Adam Beaton - Provided external assistance

Note: This time consisted of 4-5 members setting the group up. By the end of the year membership had grown to 30.

Please note that this time period may possibly be 2001 Fall depending on the interpretation of the word "year" as an academic one.

  • Joe Ferrone - President & Founder
  • Darrell Daniels - Possible Founder