Metrocon is Florida’s largest anime convention held annually in Tampa, Florida. And Metrocon 2021 is July 23-25 at the Tampa Convention Center. Here are 7 ginormous reasons you should be there:
Ginormous reason # 1: Anime voice actors
There are five anime voice actors that are available for photos, signatures and getting-to-know-them conversations (prices vary.) And, all five have voiced characters from My Hero Academia.
Justin Briner
Justin Briner is a voice actor best known for his roles as Mikaela Hyakuya in Seraph of the End, Qwenthur Barbotage in Heavy Object, Izuku “Deku” Midoriya in My Hero Academia, Alfonso San Valiante in Garo: The Animation, Kensuke Hanasaki in Trickster, and Ichi in the game Cibele.
Emily Neves
Emily Neves is a voice actor with a long list of notable roles. Here it is: My Hero Academia (Sirius), Tokyo Ghoul: Re (Nutcracker), Pop Team Epic (Popuko, ADR script writer), Magical Girl Raising Project (Ruler), Angel Beats (Kanade “Angel” Tachibana), Clannad (Kotomi Ichinose), Future Diary (Uryuu Minene), Himouto: Umaru-chan! (Umaru Doma), Watamote (Yuu Naruse, ADR director), Kakuriyo: Bed and Breakfast for Spirits (Aoi Tsubaki, ADR scriptwriter), Starship Troopers: Invasion (Trig, Motion Capture), Starship Troopers: Traitor of Mars (Amy Snapp, Motion Capture), From the New World (Saki Watanabe), Grave of the Fireflies (Setsuko).
David Matranga
David Matranga is a voice actor best known as the voice of Shoto Todoroki from My Hero Academia, Hideki Hinata from Angel Beats, Bertholdt Hoover from the popular Attack on Titan series, to name only a few.
Christopher Wehkamp
Christopher Wehkamp brings characters to life in anime and video games. His anime roles include Shota ‘Eraserhead’ Aizawa (My Hero Academia), Miles Edgeworth (Ace Attorney), Susumu Kodai (Star Blazers: Space Battleship Yamato 2199), Solid Silva (Black Clover), Inazuma (One Piece), to name only a small portion of his work. His video credits include Katagawa Jr (“Borderlands 3” Gearbox Games), and Cutting Edge Ullr, Sun Wukong Infinite Shift and Trickster Loki (“SMITE” Hi-Rez Studios), to name only a couple.
Anairis Quiñones
Anairis Quiñones is a voice actress best known for Mirko in My Hero Academia, Rika Kawai in Wonder Egg Priority, Echidna in Re:Zero, Yuki Yoshikawa in Horimiya, Camilla in RWBY, and Nessa in Pokémon Twilight Wings.
Ginormous reason # 2: It’s a big event that lasts three days
Nearly 12,000 people attended Metrocon in 2019. And Metrocon 2021 is a three-day convention that provides fans with access to more than 100,000 square feet of vendors and artists, and nearly 500 hours of scheduled shows, panels, contests and gaming.
Ginormous reason # 3: Anime Human Chess
Anime Human Chess combines Renaissance Faire combat chess with cosplay of anime characters. And much like a Renaissance Faire event, the chess match is scripted, which allows for complex combat sequences and a robust storyline. Metrocon innovated the event in 2004.
Great reason # 4: Metro Fire Show
The Metro Fire Show is a themed, live-fire performance that is choreographed to music. And the show includes live fire-breathing and fire-dancing, as well as juggling and an occasional visit from 12-foot tall fire-breathing dragon, as happened in 2016. The Metro Fire Show 2021 is inspired by the Cyberpunk 2077, an action role-playing video game that is a story of the eternal struggle between human beings and the systems that oppress them. Metrocon describes the show as “a visually thrilling cyberpunk aesthetic.”
Great reason # 5: This year’s theme is “Mortals vs. Machines”
One of the things that makes Metrocon different is that each year there is a convention theme, which is used throughout the event with guests, entertainment and branding. The theme for Metrocon 2021 is “Mortals vs. Machines.”
Metrocon began their “versus” themes in 2004. Here are their past themes:
- 2004: Schoolgirls vs Catgirls
- 2005: Ninjas vs Pirates
- 2006: Kawaii vs Kowaii
- 2007: Anime vs Video Games
- 2008: Light vs Dark
- 2009: Sci Fi vs Fantasy
- 2010: Ninja vs Samurai
- 2011: Monsters vs Hunters
- 2012: Agents vs Outlaws
- 2013: East vs West
- 2014: Old School vs New School
- 2015: Brains vs Brawn
- 2016: Order vs Chaos
- 2017: Faithful vs Fallen
- 2018: Guardians vs Invaders
- 2019: Virtue vs Vice
Ginormous reason # 6: Metrocon 2019
Do you still want to know more about Metrocon? A news story of the 2019 event by local TV station WFLA News Channel 8 shows the excitement of the last Metrocon.
Ginormous reason # 7: Florida Cosplay Digital Magazine will be there
Florida Cosplay Digital Magazine, published by Florida Comic Cons, will be at Metrocon 2021 in search of talented cosplayers. Here are some of our past magazines, which are always free. Learn more and read mags (covers below)
Metrocon tickets are available
Metrocon Tickets for single days include: Friday $35, Saturday $45, Sunday $40. A three-day pass is $85.
Event hours
Event hours are Friday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.–3 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.
Need help finding comic cons in Florida?
Florida Comic Cons curates the Con Calendar, which is the most comprehensive calendar of comic convention in The Sunshine State. If you live in Florida, you’re likely closer to more comic cons than you realize. Our Con Map can help you.
