About

Anime Milwaukee is an annual anime convention, typically held in the latter half of February.

Founded in 2007 by the Japanese Animation Association at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Anime Milwaukee is one of the largest Japanese animation conventions in Wisconsin. The convention, abbreviated as AMKE, promotes the celebration, interest in and awareness of the culture of Japan, Japanese animation (anime), Japanese comics (manga), gaming, and cosplay (costume play), as well as other related sub-cultures.

Beginning its 2007 debute with a snowstorm, which was demoted to Anime Milwaukee 0.5, the one day convention has grown by leaps and bounds into a 3 day extravaganza. In 2008, the attendance was over 400, and by 2011, the attendance surpassed 2,500.

In 2011, AMKE left its first home, in the Student Union of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, for The Hyatt Regency Hotel and adjoined Frontier Airlines Center in downtown Milwaukee. Downtown Milwaukee offers room to grow and 24 hr/ 3 day programming.

AMKE features industry guests, informative guest and fan panels, an Exhibit Hall (dealers and artists), a Masquerade contest (cosplay contest), children’s programming, the Hoshi No Yume maid café in the Hyatt’s Polaris rotating restaurant, Lolita fashion show, a table top gaming room, a rave dance, an anime music video contest (AMV), adult programming, a video game room with contests, the Midwest Karaoke Madness events, and so much more.

The Masquerade contest has arguably been the most popular event for AMKE since the convention's second year, filling the room to standing only. AMKE welcomes Japanese cultural panels and demonstrations, and other educational events. We encourage our attendees to have a blast, as well as learn and expand their horizons.

AMKE is now organized by the Entertainment and Culture Promotion Society (ECPS) and run by volunteers in Milwaukee and Midwest area, which includes members of local anime clubs, such as the Japanese Animation Association at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the Vision of Anime club, along with staff members of various conventions, such as Madison’s Geek.kon and Rosemont, Illinois’ Anime Central. AMKE is proud to provide you this year's convention and strives to offer the best possible experience to all attendees.