Youmacon back to spread cosplay through downtown Detroit

Youmacon, Metro Detroit’s biggest anime convention, is back this weekend, ready to take over the Detroit Mariott at the Renaissance Center this weekend from Thursday night through Sunday.

And it just keeps growing. Attendance was 9,000 last year, and when I ran into con chair Morgan Kollin at a “Real Steel” screening a few weeks, he told me presales were already on pace to exceed that. 15,000 are expected this year.

Jonathan Geurink, 24, of Jackson dressed up as Cloud from "Kingdom Hearts" last year. (Steve Perez / The Detroit News)

As usual, the con has an impressive list of voice talent dropping by, including Vic Mignogna (“Fullmetal Alchemist,” “Ouran Host Club”), Brad Swaile (“Death Note,” “Gundam Wing”), Caitlin Glass (“Fullmetal Alchemist,” “School Rumble”) and Christopher Robin Miller (“Professor Layton”). New attendees include Tia Ballard (“Fairy Tale,” “Shikabane Hime”) and producer/director/voice actor Tom Wayland (“Yugi-oh 5Ds,” “Pokemon”).

On-site registration opens at 6 p.m. Thursday, plus there are a few starter panels. But things begin in earnest Friday.

There’s way too much to list here, so I suggest heading over to the Youmacon website. But favorites like Youmacon Family Feud, Anime Name That Tune, Cosplay Shougi, Youma Idol and the Maid Cafe are all back. There are dozens of panels and hundreds of hours of anime being screened. There’s also gaming and, of course, the dealer rooms and artists alley.

There’s a concert Friday with Arc Impulse, Lemon Demon and Powerglove. Saturday will have the masquerade and charity ball.

Three-day registration costs $50. Individual days are $20-$30. Each adult admission is also good for one child admission for kids 12 and younger, plus up to four more kids for $10. Note: On-site registration is cash only.

Have fun! Here’s our photo gallery from last year.