AnimeIowa begin in 1997 as a small convention with 150 attendees at the Highlander Inn in Iowa City, IA. The two special guests were Steve Bennett and Kuni Kimura. Events were limited to an Artists' Alley, Video Games, and a Dealers' Room. Attendance of anime fans doubled for its second year, which also included the addition of one guest, Robert DeJesus. AnimeIowa has been held for anime fans every year since for 10 years, and the guest list and attendance has increased each year. Attendance to AnimeIowa, along with the guest list, has grown every year, and there were reportedly more cosplayers at AnimeIowa 2003 than the total number of fans who attended the first AnimeIowa. As a result, the convention has had to switch hotels and convention centers many times.
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