Eighteen celebrity voice actors, cosplay contests, gaming tournaments, and an indoor car show will take over Vibe Credit Union Showplace in Novi on Saturday, August 1, and Sunday, August 2, when the MI Anime Convention returns for a two-day celebration of anime, manga, and Japanese pop culture.

The convention runs 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday at the Grand River Avenue venue, according to C&G Newspapers' weekend events roundup published Tuesday, July 28.

Organizer Really Cool Comic Con LLC has booked a guest lineup heavy on English-language anime dub talent, including Colleen Clinkenbeard, Monica Rial, Cherami Leigh, Ian Sinclair, Clifford Chapin, and Kira Buckland, according to the convention's listing on AnimeCons.ca. All 18 guests are scheduled to appear both days.

Beyond the celebrity panels, attendees can expect workshops, interactive anime photo set scenes, 360-degree photo booths, ribbon games, and a vendor hall featuring artists and merchandise sellers. An indoor car show produced with JDM Detroit will display Itasha vehicles (cars wrapped in anime-themed graphics) alongside other Japanese domestic market builds.

Comic creator Dan Mendoza, known for the series Zombie Tramp, announced on X on Tuesday, July 28, that he would bring a 10-by-20-foot booth stocked with merchandise.

@ARTofDANMENDOZA: "This weekend come visit Us at MiAnime - Michigan Anime Convention in Novi Michigan. we will have a HUGE 10x20 ft booth with all kinds of goodies."

The event is family friendly. Children age 10 and under get in free, according to the convention's website. Advance tickets are available at michigananime.com/tickets and cost $5 less than door prices, though specific dollar amounts were not listed on the site as of Thursday, July 30.

Vibe Credit Union Showplace, formerly the Suburban Collection Showplace, sits at 46100 Grand River Ave. on Novi's civic campus.

The Novi Public Library's iCube Makerspace recently hosted a cosplay crafting workshop on working with EVA foam for attendees ages 12 and up, offering residents a chance to prep costumes ahead of the convention.

What's ahead

  • Saturday, August 1: MI Anime Convention, 9 a.m.–11 p.m., Vibe Credit Union Showplace, 46100 Grand River Ave., Novi
  • Sunday, August 2: MI Anime Convention, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., same venue
  • Tuesday, August 4: National Night Out, Lakeshore Park, Novi (hosted by Novi Police)