Overload (convention)
{{Short description|Anime convention in New Zealand}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=November 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox Convention
| name = Overload
| image = Overload convention logo 2021.png
| caption = 15th anniversary event logo in 2021, with the convention's mascot Nindoro-kun
| status = Active
| venue = The Cloud
| location = Auckland, New Zealand
| country = New Zealand
| first = 2006
| organizer = Overload Committee
| attendance = 8000+ in 2024{{Cite tweet|number=1783798219580813486|user=pixiv_en|title={{proper name|pixiv English on X: "Huge thanks for letting us feature your art at the pixiv...}}|author-link=Pixiv|access-date=April 27, 2024}}
| website = {{URL|http://overload.co.nz}}
}}
Overload, also known as Overload NZ (formerly Doujin Overload), is an annual two-day anime convention focusing on doujin, Japanese pop culture, exhibitors and artists held in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the first of its kind to run in New Zealand, and is considered the country's biggest anime and manga-focused convention.{{cite web|title=Overload: About|url=http://overload.co.nz/about/about/|work=Website|publisher=Overload}}{{cite web|title=Overload NZ - Can we get a hell yeah for NZ's biggest anime and...|url=https://www.facebook.com/Overloadnz/posts/934544448673309|work=Facebook|publisher=Overload NZ}} Overload is regularly hosted at The Cloud, and acquired additional use of Shed 10 on Queens Wharf starting in 2024.
Origins
Overload (the Doujin Overload) was set up based on conversations in the Auckland doujin community about helping local artists showcase and sell their work, specifically inspired by the Comiket in Japan.{{cite web|title=Overload: History|url=http://overload.co.nz/about/history/|work=Website|publisher=Overload|access-date=23 September 2012|archive-date=31 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180331164055/http://www.overload.co.nz/about/history/|url-status=dead}}
Programming
Overload previously ran as a single-day event every year apart from 2011 when it took place over two days. In 2023, the convention became an annual two-day event. Aside from the sale of artists' work, it includes comic and art competitions (since 2012), an art exhibition (since 2012) also featuring pieces from users of the Japanese art sharing website Pixiv, and a cosplay competition (since 2010). Overload has added events to its schedule such as live performances and Q&A panels on its main stage. There is an itasha display of cars decorated with anime-themed artwork, and a cosplay café with reservation and take-out options.{{Cite tweet|number=1770731844884910545|user=OverloadNZ|title={{proper name|Overload NZ Anime & Manga Convention on X: "The Cosplay Café will be re...}}|access-date=October 16, 2024}}
History
Overload has become more diverse in recent years following the dropping of "Doujin" from the convention's name, with a focus on wider comic work from 2011 on.{{cite news|last=Davies|first=Johanna|title=Drawn in|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/aucklander/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503372&objectid=11034873|accessdate=24 August 2013|newspaper=NZ Herald|date=15 July 2011}} Additional events have included the 2011 Game Development panel,{{cite web|title=Gaming Panel|url=http://nzgamer.com/all/news/5227/overload-convention-in-auckland-features-gaming-panel.html|work=Article|publisher=NZ Gamer|access-date=23 September 2012|archive-date=2 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111102163200/http://nzgamer.com/all/news/5227/overload-convention-in-auckland-features-gaming-panel.html|url-status=dead}} and the 2012 art exhibition at Unitec Snow White Gallery of Japanese anime artist Fuzichoco.{{cite web|title=Art Exhibition|url=http://overload.co.nz/events/art-exhibition/|work=Article|publisher=Overload}}{{cite web|title=藤色 fuzishiki – Fuzichoco|url=http://www.unitec.ac.nz/unitec/snowhite/?p=1186|publisher=Unitec New Zealand|accessdate=24 August 2013|archive-date=22 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922185044/http://www.unitec.ac.nz/unitec/snowhite/?p=1186|url-status=dead}}
The event is notable for early support of cos-players from 2008 on.{{cite news|last=Tan|first=Lincoln|title='Cosplayers' craze grows|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10521591|accessdate=24 August 2013|date=15 July 2008|work=The New Zealand Herald}} In 2011, former World Cosplay Champion Yuri Inaba was an invited participant of Overload.{{cite web|last=작성자|title=오버로드(Overload) 2011 행사 2009년 세계 코스프레 챔피온 유리 이나바 참가|url=http://www.goodday.co.nz/interview/58034|accessdate=24 August 2013|date=15 July 2011|archive-date=22 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922173557/http://www.goodday.co.nz/interview/58034|url-status=dead}}
In 2022, Overload held an exhibition featuring production art from the Evangelion series, supported by Groundworks Co., Ltd. and Bandai Namco Asia.{{cite web|title=Overload Anime & Manga Convention - Powered by Eventzilla|url=https://events.eventzilla.net/e/overload-anime--manga-convention-2138818833/|website=Overload|accessdate=2 May 2024|ref=aboutoverload}} In 2023, the convention hosted an art exhibition showcasing the anime works of Studio Trigger, such as key background and concept art from Kill la Kill, Little Witch Academia and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, supported and approved by Studio Trigger.{{Cite tweet|number=162900981677676953|user=OverloadNZ|title={{proper name|Overload NZ Anime & Manga Convention on X: "Overload is ...}}|access-date=May 2, 2024}}
Notable international guests have included Junji Ito, creator of Tomie and Uzumaki; Paru Itagaki, creator of Beastars; Masahiko Ōtsuka and Hiroyuki Imaishi, directors from Gainax and founders of Studio Trigger. Autographed shikishi from guests and original drawings from mangaka who have attended previous Overload events are framed and displayed at the Graphic Novel Cafe in Auckland.{{cite web|title=Exciting announcement coming soon?? Yes! The mystery...|url=https://www.facebook.com/reel/1493649041299570|work=Facebook|publisher=Overload NZ}}
= Event History =
| class="wikitable" border="1" |
| Year
! Dates ! Venue ! Attendance ! Featured Artists & Guests |
|---|
| 2006
| 9 July | Mercure Hotel | [http://ethird.deviantart.com Ethird (Simon Kao)] |
| 2007{{cite news|title=What's On: NZ Herald|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10449636|work=Website|publisher=New Zealand Herald|accessdate=23 September 2012|date=5 July 2007}}
| 8 July | rowspan="2"| The Hyatt Auckland | | [http://ichi-graphics.blogspot.com Jianran Pan] & W.L.Wong |
| 2008
| 8 July | | [http://ethird.deviantart.com Ethird (Simon Kao)] |
| 2009
| 26 July | Mercure Hotel | | Paolo Alinea |
| 2010
| 25 July | rowspan="2"| The Hyatt Auckland | [http://www.snowwaltz.com Jeremiah W.] & [http://alt-l.deviantart.com Anthony Lau ] |
| 2011
| 26–27 July | 800 | [http://www.collateralds.com Eddie] & [http://www.snowwaltz.com SnowWaltz ] |
| 2012
| 22 September | The Pullman Hotel | 600 | [http://www.fuzichoco.com Fuzichoco] |
| 2013
| 28 September | rowspan="3"| ASB Stadium | Range Murata{{cite web|title=Range Murata to Attend Overload NZ 2013 as Special Guest|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-09-20/range-murata-to-attend-overload-nz-2013-as-special-guest|publisher=Anime News Network|accessdate=19 September 2013|date=20 September 2013}}{{cite news|title=进击的漫展！overload漫展9月28日再次引爆奥克兰|url=http://news.skykiwi.com/na/yl/2013-08-19/165139.shtml|accessdate=24 August 2013|date=20 August 2013}} |
| 2014
| 4 October |
| 2015
| 26 September | | Noizi Ito, Yuegene Fay |
| 2016
| 24 September | rowspan="7"| The Cloud | | Yun Kōga, Reika (cosplay), A.K.Wirru |
| 2017
| 30 September | | Takuya Satō, Marina Kawano, Ying Tze (cosplay) |
| 2018
| 24 September | | Hiromi Igarashi, Seiji Mizushima, KANAME (cosplay) |
| 2019
| 28 September | | Junji Ito, Kurumi Purarine |
| 2021
| 24 April | | Hiroyuki Asada, Alisa, Guillaume Devigne (Crypton Future Media) |
| 2022
| 8 October | |
| 2023
| 15-16 April | | Masahiko Ōtsuka and Hiroyuki Imaishi (Studio Trigger), Namihei Koshige, Vye (cosplay), CyYu |
| 2024
| 20-21 April | rowspan=2| The Cloud, Shed 10 | Paru Itagaki, Setsuo Itō, SUOL, Shinnosuke Uchida, Thames (cosplay) |
| 2025
| 26-27 April | | Yūki Kuwahara, Ilya Kuvshinov, Aki Irie, Kaoru Mori, Yosuke (cosplay), Wendy Martin, Acky Bright |
See also
- Armageddon Expo, New Zealand's largest pop culture convention with a focus on anime, holding two annual events in Auckland at Auckland Showgrounds
External links
- {{Official website|http://overload.co.nz}}
- [http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/whats-on/5332204/Anime-ted-response-to-Kiwi-comic-fair 2011 Convention in Photos (stuff.co.nz)]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWuVeZOZ5r8 2009 Overload (Asia Down Under)]