Press Release: The organizers of the third annual Anime-zing! anime festival today announced that the Quad Cities anime convention will be held June 1-3, 2012 at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center in Davenport, Iowa. This year's convention will feature several special guests of honor, a bigger cosplay masquerade, and a diverse selection from anime vendors and artists. Last year's event drew over 580 people to the RiverCenter in downtown Davenport. Guests included Johnny Yong Bosch, Eyeshine, Sonny Strait, Robert Axelrod, Trevor Mueller, Russell Lissau, Samurai Dan, and Lady Jillian.

Events at Anime-zing! 2012 will include an expanded cosplay masquerade, a dealer's room, a rave dance, a formal ball, video gaming tournaments, guest discussions, panels, workshops, board gaming, collectible card gaming, anime screenings, and a hall cosplay contest. Anime-zing! also features a ConSuite hospitality suite offering attendees free ramen, free rice, and free soda all weekend. Hotel rooms can be booked for only $95 per night.

"Rooms are closer to the events, so there's a lot less walking," said organizer Ryan Kopf. "The new hotel is absolutely perfect for an anime convention."

Early all-weekend pre-registration for the convention is $25 through March 3rd, 2012. Late pre-registration is $30 until May 3rd, 2012, while badges can be purchased at the door for only $35 per person. This one price is for the entire weekend. One-day-only badges will be available at the door for $25 per day.

"This year's convention will be both better and less expensive," said convention executive Jesse Larson. "It was already amazing last year."

Dealer booths are also available, for $90 per 10' x 10' section, including one badge per section. Artist alley tables will be available for $55, including one badge.

Anime-zing! is a three-day festival celebrating Japanese animation and Japanese culture, along with the fandom surrounding them. Activities ranging from various cosplay events and video game tournaments to Japanese conversation lessons and Japanese brush writing lessons. More information about events and registration can be found on the convention website, at www.qcanimezing.com.