Debuting in 2009, Kitacon began life as a residential anime convention in the New Park Inn in Northampton. For two years, the upstart convention welcomed anime and geek pop culture fans to take part in classic convention events like the Cosplay Masquerade and Kita’s Got Talent, as well as more creative ones in the form of Build-A-Mecha.
In 2011, Kitacon began to grow in popularity and to accommodate more attendees the event shifted to the Birmingham Hilton Metropole NEC hotel. With a bigger venue and more attendees, the convention continued to thrive with impressive staging, exciting panels, hallmark events, and building the legend of the epic nightly Kitacon parties.
Between 2009 to 2012, the convention welcomed guests such as voice actors Chris Patton (Full Metal Panic), Leah Clark, Brina Palencia (My Hero Academia), Ellen McLain (GLaDOS from Portal & Portal 2) along with cosplayers such as Pixiekitty, Neon Genocide, Volpin Props and even musical acts including Lamia Cross, Gothika, and HITT.
Kitacon Returns
Returning under new leadership with Shenny (Chairman) and Digi (Vice-Chairman), Kitacon would finally return to Warick Arts Centre following a transitional break. With a committee full of fresh faces, a surprisingly new number of attendees were introduced to the fantastic events, panels and parties that Kitacon had to offer.
Kitacon Quest
It was time to go on a new exciting adventure in 2017 as Kitacon said farewell to the Hilton in Birmingham and travelled the short distance through the Midlands to arrive at the fabled convention lands of the Warwick Arts Centre based within Warwick University. Joining us as guests were Petrea Burchard (Ryoko from Tenchi Muyo) and cosplayer Dudus Arrrt.
This event would serve to be the last under the leadership of DJ LastKnight and The Dekker Dane who stepped down, along with several of the core committee members of the previous several events, following the success of this Kitacon.
Kitacon Karnival
Attendees only had to wait 7 months for the next Kitacon as this smaller event brought in a circus and carnival feel. It may have been smaller in size but it still packed enough of the fun and excitement to entertain new and returning attendees. Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer returned for another performance as part of this convention circus.
Back to the Kitacon
A new generation for Kitacon began in 2015 as Back to the Kitacon marked the convention’s first summer event. Under the new stewardship of DJ LastKnight (Chairman) and The Dekker Dane (Vice-Chairman), a new era of Kitacon began with the convention’s first summer event at the Hilton. Time travel was the theme of choice and the event welcomed Ashly Burch (Aloy from Horizon Zero Dawn) along with Naraku Brock as our invited cosplay guest plus musical performances from Mr B. The Gentleman Rhymer and Professor Elemental.
Kitacon Invasion
Following a hiatus in 2013 and its FATE web series, Kitacon returned in 2014. Ditching the numbers, Kitacon embraced theming and Kitacon Invasion delivered intergalactic sci-fi branding, artwork and staging. It marked the debut The Dekker Dane as the Kitacon MC and welcomed back Ellen McLain along with John Patrick Lowrie (Sniper in Team Fortress 2), musician Professor Elemental and cosplayers Leon Chiro and Philippe Lauby as guests.