Wasabi Anime


Wasabi Anime, also known as Green Mustard Entertainment, is a company specializing in the production of events and programming for anime conventions and other fan conventions in North America, as well as hosting their own standalone conventions. The company's journey began in 2001 with the registration of the WasabiAnime.com website. It started as an anime club, later evolving into a limited liability company in 2007, and ultimately becoming a corporation in 2010. As of July 2012, Wasabi Anime had organized events in California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, and Las Vegas.

History

Wasabi Anime was founded by Tom Croom and a group of passionate anime enthusiasts shortly after the successful completion of Anime Festival Orlando II in Kissimmee, Florida. Recognizing the need to support a broader spectrum of fandoms, Wasabi Anime established a network of anime clubs, providing assistance to existing clubs while nurturing the growth of new ones. Members of the Wasabi Anime clubs were issued photo ID cards that granted discounts at local anime and comic stores in Florida.
Some of the clubs included in the Wasabi Anime network were:
  • Anime Goes Anime Club Miami
  • Gator Anime
  • HIYAH! The Southwest Florida Anime Club
  • Japanese Animation Club of Tallahassee
  • Lake Brantley High School Anime & SciFi Club
  • Mile Stretch Anime Club
  • North Port Anime Club
  • Oukyuu Anime Club
  • Wasabi Anime: Deltona
  • Wasabi Anime: Englewood
  • Wasabi Anime: Ft. Lauderdale
  • Wasabi Anime: Green Cove Springs
  • Wasabi Anime: Jacksonville
  • Wasabi Anime: Miami
  • Wasabi Anime: New Smyrna Beach
  • Wasabi Anime: Orlando
  • Wasabi Anime: Tampa
  • Wasabi Anime: Titusville
  • Wasabi Anime: Treasure Coast
  • Wasabi Anime: West Palm Beach
Periodically, the core team at Wasabi Anime hosted standalone events aimed at bringing these clubs together. Notable among these were the Wasabi Anime Halloween Cosplay Parties in 2001 and 2003.
Around 2004, Wasabi Anime shifted its focus from networking clubs to designing and organizing events for anime and fan conventions. These events encompassed themed panels, game shows, dances, and stage performances, including the well-known "Wasabi Animusical."

Appearances

Wasabi Anime has designed entertainment and programming for several anime and fan conventions since starting in 2001.
California
Florida
Georgia
Indiana
Nevada
  • NeonCon 2010

Conventions

In 2007, Wasabi Anime began producing its fan conventions. Since some of these productions were not anime-centric, they often operated under corporate names
Convention NameThemeDatesLocationAttendanceGuests
ASSIMILATION
'		Science FictionSeptember 29–30, 2007Radisson Worldgate Resort Orlando
Kissimmee, FL		160 attendees
Ethan Phillips, Glenda Finkelstein, Michael A. Stackpole, Richard Horvitz, Rooster Teeth Productions, & Tracy Scoggins
MuggleCon
'		Harry PotterNovember 21–22, 2008Ramada Orlando Celebration Resort & Convention Center
Kissimmee, FL		TBDThe House of Black & Witherwings
InvaderCONInvader ZIMMarch 26–27, 2011Marriott Century Center
Atlanta, GA		TBDAndy Berman, Eric Trueheart, Melissa Fahn, Richard Horvitz, & Rikki Simons
Florida Anime Experience 2011AnimeMay 27–29, 2011Ramada Orlando Celebration Resort
Kissimmee, FL		1931 attendees
Anime World Order, Brett Weaver, Brittney Karbowski, Daric "Jingoro" Jackson, & Steve Blum
Florida Anime Experience 2012AnimeMay 25–27, 2012International Palms Resort & Convention Center
Orlando, FL		2167 attendees
Anime Addict Anonymous, Dan Woren, Darrel Guilbeau, Daric "Jingoro" Jackson, & Terri Hawkes
Project Anime 2012
Anime ConventionsJune 27–28, 2012Westin Bonaventure
Los Angeles, CA		33 uniqueN/A
InvaderCON II: DOOMCONInvader ZIMJuly 28–29, 2012Torrance Marriott South Bay
Torrance, CA		TBDAaron Alexovich, Eric Trueheart, Jason Stiff, Jhonen Vasquez, Melissa Fahn, Richard Horvitz, Rikki Simons, Rodger Bumpass, & Wally Wingert
PinUpaloozaPin-Up, Burlesque, & RockabillyOctober 6, 2012International Palms Resort & Convention Center
Orlando, FL		TBDTBD
WasabiConGeek CultureOctober 27–28, 2012Jacksonville Marriott
Jacksonville, FL		TBDTBD
Florida Anime Experience 2013AnimeMay 24–26, 2013International Palms Resort & Convention Center
Orlando, FL		TBDTBD