Retro Matsuri

2-bit Photography: The Game Boy Camera

Lantis - Fan Panel - Friday 2:30 pm
Launched 32 years ago, the Game Boy Camera has enjoyed a passionate fan community, especially recently. Come and see some of what they've come up with for this tiny 2-bit camera.

A Railroad of Influence: Kenji Miyazawa's timeless masterpiece

hamstar138 - Fan Panel (13+) - Saturday 1:00 pm
Kenji Miyazawa wrote one of the timeless classic in Japanese literature, Night of the Galactic Railroad. But, how deep does this story go? In this panel we not only take a small look into Miyazawa's life and influence but by extension the influence Night of the Galactic Railroad has had in anime for decades.

Action Flicks

Retro Matsuri Staff - Screening (13+) - Saturday 3:00 pm
Aviators? Check. Explosions? Check. Ready to rock and roll? You bet cha. AMVs that are action packed! Don't forget the popcorn.

Also-Rans: Video Game Consoles That Missed

Lantis - Fan Panel - Saturday 4:00 pm
Over the past 40 years, there have been many memorable video game systems, and even more that have largely been forgotten. In this panel, we look at some of the ones in the later category, and maybe find some nuggets of gold.

AMV Contest - First Showing

PotsAndPants - Event (13+) - Friday 5:00 pm
Retro Matsuri 2025 will be hosting an AMV (Animated Music Video) contest at this year’s event. We are inviting members of the community to submit their videos to this contest.

AMV Contest - Second Showing

PotsAndPants - Event (13+) - Saturday 11:00 am
Retro Matsuri 2025 will be hosting an AMV (Animated Music Video) contest at this year’s event. We are inviting members of the community to submit their videos to this contest.

An Intro to the Legend of Heroes

sean murphy - Fan Panel - Saturday 3:00 pm
Beginning in 2004 the trails series is a jrpg spanning 13 games and counting. come see where it all began and learn about excellent starting games for this storied series

Animation Cel Collecting

Colin Harvie - Fan Panel - Friday 3:30 pm
Have you ever wanted to own a physical piece of your favorite animated show? Well, once upon a time, before thing went digital, you could own the one of the very animation frames you saw on your television! Those days are long past, but the animation cels from those old shows are still around! Come learn the ins and out of cel collection, preservation, and why cels are the ultimate collectors item!

Anime theme Bingo

Big Tire - Event - Saturday 4:30 pm
Do you still remember those early 2000 anime openings? Come test your skills at this anime themed bingo! (Limit 50 cards will be handed out during the start of the event)

Art Mingle & Make-a-button!

Momo - Event - Saturday 12:00 pm
Come hangout with fellow artists in a chill environment and design your own 3" pin button! All materials will be provided and you will get to keep your button at the end!

Bubblegum Crisis (OVA 1987-1991) Episode 1

Artmic & AIC - Screening (13+) - Saturday 1:00 pm
It is the year 2032 A.D. Like a Phoenix, the city of MegaTokyo is rising from the ashes of a devastating earthquake. In the twisted canyons of the megalopolis, the Knight Sabers, a small band of high tech mercenaries, fight a lonely battle against the evil GENOM Corporation and its sinister androids, the Boomers. Venture into an all too probable future, where technology has run amuck, and emotion is all that separates Man from Machine. (Source: AnimEigo.com)

Closing Ceremonies

Retro Matsuri Staff - Event - Saturday 5:30 pm
A recap of the weekend's activities, including a screening of the AMV Contest Winners.

Ctrl+Alt+Design Your Own Floppy Disk!

Kayley Finney - Event - Saturday 2:30 pm
Remember those really old things? What are they called? Floppy disks? Do they even make those anymore?
Yes they do!
Come hang out and retro-fy your very own floppy disk with paint, markers, stickers, and more! The world is your storage space!

Eureka 7 and the rise of studio bones

The Toddfather - Fan Panel (13+) - Friday 7:30 pm

A scrappy new animation studio called Bones decided to throw everything at the wall—and somehow it all stuck beautifully. "Eureka Seven" wasn't just mecha anime; it was a love letter to counterculture, wrapped in stunning sakuga and powered by the best Supercar soundtrack money could buy. This was Studio Bones announcing themselves as the kings of kinetic animation, where every aerial battle felt like poetry in motion and every character moment hit with emotional weight that older studios couldn't touch. From the iconic surfing mechs to Renton's painfully relatable teenage angst, E7 proved that fresh blood could revitalize tired genres. Join us as we explore how Bones carved out their identity with this ambitious 50-episode fever dream that somehow balanced giant robots, environmental themes, and coming-of-age drama without missing a beat.

Family Feud

Big Tire - Event - Friday 3:00 pm
In the style of the popular TV game show, Family Feud takes your answers to our survey questions and pits two families against each other trying to guess what the top answers are!

Fan Subs and File Sharing: How We Actually Watched Anime in 2005

The Toddfather - Fan Panel (13+) - Saturday 4:30 pm

Before Crunchyroll, before legal streaming, there was the sacred ritual: firing up BitTorrent at 2am, praying your 56k could handle a 350MB file, and waiting three days for [HorribleSubs] to bless you with the latest episode. We huddled around our chunky CRT monitors, squinting at pixelated subtitles while fansub groups like Lunar and Eclipse became our underground heroes. These weren't just translations—they were love letters, complete with translator notes explaining every cultural reference and opening karaoke that let us butcher Japanese lyrics in Comic Sans glory. Join us for a nostalgic dive into the wild west of anime distribution, where patience was a virtue, hard drive space was precious, and knowing which IRC channel had the good stuff made you a legend.

Friday Afternoon Karaoke

Karaoke Staff - Event - Friday 1:00 pm
Come select your tracks from our library of classic hits. Participation by all is welcome.

From D&D to Final Fantasy: The History of RPGs

Logan Chamberlain - Fan Panel - Saturday 3:30 pm
Gary Gygax created the RPG in 1974. Just over a decade later, Final Fantasy came into the world. But how did we get from point A to point B?

Gems From the Waldo Archive

Retro Matsuri Staff - Screening (13+) - Friday 9:00 pm
The Waldo Archive, run by several people over its lifetime (late 1990s-c. 2004) but most famously by the editor Waldo (hence the name), was one of the first publicly-accessible archive of AMVs on the internet. Take a peek back into the past with this block of some of the best videos from this historical archive.

Gnosticism, Kabbalah, and the Japanese Artists Who Love Them

Logan Chamberlain - Fan Panel - Saturday 11:00 am
From Evangelion’s Sefirot to the many demiurges of Megami Tensei, Kabbalah and Gnosticism are big in Japanese pop culture. But how did these ancient forms of Levantine mysticism become so popular in the present day?

Goldeneye Tournament

Retro Matsuri Staff - Tournament (13+) - Saturday 4:00 pm
A bracket-style Goldeneye tournament. This tournament is free to enter and sign-ups will be on site in the arcade until 10 minutes before the event.

Jackbox

Big Tire - Event (13+) - Saturday 11:00 am
Wanna say the funny word a bunch of times? In a bunch of room with other funny people? This panel is for you! Cell phone with data is needed.

Jackbox 18+

Big Tire - Event (18+) - Friday 9:00 pm
Wanna say the funny word a bunch of times? In a bunch of room with other funny people? This panel is for you! Cell phone with data is needed.

Jokes that Aged Well

Retro Matsuri Staff - Screening (13+) - Friday 4:30 pm
Sometimes humor doesn't age well, other times comedy is timelessly funny. These are classic videos that more fit the second category. :)

Kandi Krafting

Momo - Event - Friday 6:00 pm
Come join us and make your own Kandi! We'll provide all the beads and materials you need to make your own bracelet!

Lame Genie Concert

Lame Genie - Concert - Friday 8:00 pm
Lame Genie is not just your ordinary band and YouTubers; they breathe new life into classic and modern video game soundtracks, with their high production and a live show with a fun factor of 5!

Laserdisc Karaoke

Karaoke Staff - Event - Saturday 10:00 am
Experience Karaoke like... sometime before. This Karaoke block will exclusively use laserdiscs! Come select your tracks from our library of classic hits. Participation by all is welcome.

Learn to Play Fabula Ultima - Friday Session

Logan Chamberlain - Fan Panel (13+) - Friday 2:00 pm
Come and learn to play Fabula Ultima, a tabletop RPG inspired by the great JRPGs of yesteryear. We'll go over the rules for combat and exploration as we work our way through a short introductory adventure. Then, we'll have a brief conversation about how to create your own characters, how to start your own campaigns, and how to create your own monsters.

Event is for up to 6 players, first come first served. Players may arrive no earlier than 15 minutes before event start, and may arrive no later than 15 minutes after event start. No RPG experience is required. All materials will be provided by the host (although feel free to bring your own lucky dice).

Learn to Play Fabula Ultima - Saturday Session

Logan Chamberlain - Fan Panel (13+) - Saturday 4:30 pm
Come and learn to play Fabula Ultima, a tabletop RPG inspired by the great JRPGs of yesteryear. We'll go over the rules for combat and exploration as we work our way through a short introductory adventure. Then, we'll have a brief conversation about how to create your own characters, how to start your own campaigns, and how to create your own monsters.

Event is for up to 6 players, first come first served. Players may arrive no earlier than 15 minutes before event start, and may arrive no later than 15 minutes after event start. No RPG experience is required. All materials will be provided by the host (although feel free to bring your own lucky dice).

Mail it like it's 1985: Retro Postcard Workshop!

Kayley Finney - Event - Friday 4:00 pm
Design and create your very own little piece of Retro Matsuri -- in a post card!
Decorate your card with paint, very cool? stickers, and more! Post cards and supplies provided - bring yourself and a friend!

Mario Kart Tournament

Retro Matsuri Staff - Tournament - Friday 3:00 pm
A bracket-style tournament through several games in the Mario Kart franchise. This tournament is free to enter and sign-ups will be on site in the arcade until 10 minutes before the event.

Megazone 23 (Film - 1985)

Artland & Artmic - Screening (16+) - Saturday 5:30 pm
The year is 1985--at least, Shogo Yahagi thought it was. A few days ago, the young biker was out living it up on the streets of Tokyo--listening to the latest Eve tape, running around with his friends, and trying to flirt with the girl he almost ran over! But everything changed when a deadly encounter with a mysterious motorcycle sent him speeding into danger. With a shadowy cabal now hot on his heels, Shogo quickly realizes that he's stepped into the deep end of a conspiracy that's about to tear his reality asunder. (Source: MediaOCD.com)

Metal huh?

Big Tire - Staff Panel (13+) - Friday 6:00 pm
If you are a fan of Metal gear or a new gamer looking for a place to start, come check out this deep dive into the Metal Gear franchise that started in 1987

Modern Retro

Retro Matsuri Staff - Screening (13+) - Friday 8:00 pm
Retro sources never truly go out of style, enjoying new videos using them even today. This is a block of modern videos using those retro sources.

Nasu: Summer in Andalusia (Film - 2003)

Madhouse - Screening (13+) - Saturday 10:00 am
It’s been a nonstop swelter in Andalusia this summer—even before the hot-blooded cyclists of this year’s La Vuelta came zooming in! Competing as a second-string racer for a third-rate sponsor, Andalusian native Pepe Benengeli isn’t exactly the favorite to win. Well, that is unless you’re talking to the folks at his brother’s wedding reception! But when a series of mid-race revelations leave him at a crossroads, Pepe explodes in an all-out attack toward the finish line!

From MADHOUSE and famed animator Kitaro Kosaka (Director of Okko’s Inn, animation director of Spirited Away, The Wind Rises), comes the first anime feature film to ever compete in the prestigious Cannes Film Festival! (Source: MediaOCD.com)

Now on Home Video: VHS, Beta, LaserDisc, and the fight for living room dominance

Adam Cornwell - Staff Panel - Saturday 5:00 pm
Long ago, a war was waged by analog video formats. VHS lives on in many memories, but what about the others? We'll cover some of the history and features of these formats, as well as things to know when getting into collecting.

Opening Ceremonies

Retro Matsuri Staff - Event - Friday 2:00 pm
Check out a preview of the upcoming weekends events, guests, and other activities.

Otaku no Video (OVA - 1982) 2 Episodes

GAINAX - Screening (13+) - Friday 1:00 pm
A true treat for true fans of any genre, Otaku no Video ("Fan's Video") is an outrageous mockumentary that combines the superb animation that made GAINAX one of Japan's best-loved animation studios with truly strange interviews with "real animation fans." The result is a thinly fictionalized history of GAINAX that segues into a truly strange SF adventure.

Sit back and enjoy as a small band of Otaku (fans) set out to "Otakunize" the human race! (Source: AnimEigo.com)

Overflow

Retro Matsuri Staff - Screening (13+) - Saturday 4:00 pm
With only five slots per category, not every video submitted to our AMV contest makes it into the finals. This block is dedicated to showcasing the rest of our contest submissions.

Pirate Haus Sing-a-long!

Ggpuck - Fan Panel - Friday 4:30 pm
Come sing shanties of video games of yore with the crew of Pirate Haus Gaming!

Plushies In Peril or Fandom First Aid

Garret T. DeJong, NRP - Fan Panel - Saturday 2:00 pm
Bring your favorite plushie and learn how to manage the perils of Fandom. Learn and practice First Aid on your favorite plushie taught by a decorated Critical Care Paramedic and Emergency Services Instructor.

Q & A with Amanda and Carrie

Amanda Goodman and Carrie Savage - Guest Panel (13+) - Saturday 3:00 pm
Come join Amanda Goodman and Carrier Savage as they answer your questions. This will be a moderated Q&A.

Quake III Tournament

Retro Matsuri Staff - Tournament (16+) - Friday 6:00 pm
A bracket-style Quake III Arena tournament. This tournament is free to enter and sign-ups will be on site in the arcade until 10 minutes before the event.

Real Robots: How Gundam (and Gunpla) Transformed the Anime Industry

Logan Chamberlain - Fan Panel - Friday 8:00 pm
In 1979, Mobile Suit Gundam was a middling success. Two years later, the compilation movies and Gunpla became a massive phenomenon and transformed the anime industry. What happened?

Retro DJ Set & Cash Bar

Staff Entry - Event (16+) - Friday 6:30 pm
Come listen to some retro tunes played on certified DJ gear from yesteryear. Our cash bar (21+ ID required) will be open during this set as well as during the concerts that follow.

Sam Mulligan Concert

Sam Mulligan - Concert - Friday 7:00 pm
Sam Mulligan plays fun rock songs with silly lyrics, distorted guitars, and gameboys. With an emphasis on equal parts positivity and absurdity, Sam’s goal is to make you smile, but hey, it’s your face and you should do what you want with it.

Samurai Heart: A Ronin Warriors/Yoroiden Samurai Troopers Panel

Jesse Marie MacDougall - Fan Panel - Friday 8:30 pm
An introduction to the classic anime about five young men and their battle against an evil demon army, we’ll discuss the history of the show’s localization, maybe (probably) make fun of the English dub, and get into some other mildly interesting facts about the series.

Saturday Afternoon Karaoke

Karaoke Staff - Event - Saturday 5:00 pm
Come select your tracks from our library of classic hits. Participation by all is welcome.

Secret Retro Fighter Tournament

Retro Matsuri Staff - Tournament (13+) - Saturday 1:00 pm
A bracket-style fighting game tournament where the games are secret. Fighting games will be chosen from our staff selection of console fighting games, and the game will change each round. This tournament is free to enter and sign-ups will be on site in the arcade until 10 minutes before the event.

The Campaigns of Shouzou Kaga

Logan Chamberlain - Fan Panel - Saturday 12:00 pm
Shouzou Kaga created Fire Emblem, yet may fans have never played his games. Let’s look back at his career and see what makes his work so special.

The Directorial Style of Satoshi Kon

Logan Chamberlain - Fan Panel (13+) - Friday 7:00 pm
The late Satoshi Kon is widely regarded as a great director. But what is a director’s role in making anime, and where can we see his influence?

The Politics of One Piece

Jesse Marie MacDougall - Fan Panel (13+) - Friday 4:00 pm
Did you know the silly pirate anime talks about high octane political topics ranging from racism, bodily autonomy, censorship, climate change, and more? No? Or maybe even yes? Then come on down and talk about Eichiro Oda’s magnum opus with us.

This is Otakudom

Retro Matsuri Staff - Screening (13+) - Friday 7:00 pm
The original classic fan parody by No.N.D.E. Fanfilms. A mocumentary in the style of "This is Spinal Tap" about a group of American anime fans headed to a convention - hilarity ensues.

Umm, Actually

Big Tire - Event - Saturday 1:30 pm
Nerds love correcting people, and you're a nerd. So come join us as I spit facts that are 100% correct and you correct them in the game show, Umm, Actually.

Weird, Beautiful, and Depressing: The 2005 Aesthetic

The Toddfather - Fan Panel (13+) - Friday 5:30 pm
Step into the uncanny valley of mid-2000s anime, where digital experimentation met existential dread and created something unforgettable. From the ethereal melancholy of "Haibane Renmei's" winged outcasts to "Wolf's Rain's" apocalyptic journey through dying worlds, this was anime that wasn't afraid to hurt you beautifully. 2005 gave us stories wrapped in muted color palettes and crushing atmosphere—where every frame felt like a fever dream and every ending left you staring at the ceiling at 3am. Join us as we dissect the beautiful disasters, technological growing pains, and surprisingly profound emotional depths of an era that dared to make depression look gorgeous. Warning: May contain traces of early CGI