St. Pete’s first-ever anime convention happens this month at the Coliseum

Lovers of all things fantasy, action and animation will soon have a signature event in St. Petersburg with the city’s very first anime convention happening in later this month.

Tickets to Anime St. Pete happening Sept. 17-18 at the Coliseum in downtown start at $28 and are available now.

There’s a $28 single-day pass and $43 for the weekend. VIP passes are available for $128, which give early access both days, access to the VIP party Saturday night and a gift bag. Prices increase by $5 on Sept. 16.
The convention is being put on by the same organizers of this year’s St. Pete Comic Con—another first for the city—which organizers say sold more than 3,500 tickets. Almost every other major Florida city already has anime conventions, said convention organizer Dewey Caruthers.

“It puts St. Pete on the map,” Caruthers told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. “We’re coming out as a first year convention very strong in terms of our offerings to attendees.”

Attendees can take part in more than 50 panel discussions, visit almost 100 vendors, participate in events like “Anime Jeopardy,” compete in cosplay contests and a lip sync competition and even enjoy a TikTok film festival.

But the biggest draw, Caruthers said, is the six big-name anime voice actors who will be featured at the convention. Featured actors include Aaron Dismuke, known for work in “My Hero Academia,” “Fullmetal Alchemist” and “Dr. Stone” and Ryan Bartley, who voices characters in “Hunter x Hunter,” “Demon Slayer” and “Neon Genesis Evangelion.” Actors Bryson Baugus, Chris Guerrero, Jill Harris and Dallas Reid will also be featured.

Caruthers said the intention is to make this an annual event, so Anime St. Pete can continue bringing the city the anime hub it’s never had.