Convention Policies

• Keep your behavior family-friendly. Play-fighting and/or rough-housing is not allowed. Still poses for photographs are allowed.
• Anime Central does not condone illegal activities, including underage drinking, smoking, or the use of illegal substances. Attendees found breaking the law will be turned over to the local authorities and may have membership privileges revoked.
• Children ages 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. If a child is found unattended, our staff will contact you to accompany them.
• In accordance with curfew laws, attendees who are 17 or under must be off hotel grounds by midnight, unless they are registered guests of the hotel or accompanied by a legal guardian.
• You, or your parents/guardians, will be held responsible and pay for any damage that you cause to hotel and convention center property.
• Midwest Animation Promotion Society (MAPS) memberships and passes, as well as additional membership options, are non-transferable and non-refundable; use of a MAPS membership badge or pass by any person other than the original holder is not allowed and will result in membership badge or pass confiscation. Membership badges and passes may not be duplicated in any fashion. The holder of a membership badge or pass shall agree to surrender the badge to any MAPS officer or representative on request. When you purchase a badge or pass for ACen, you purchase a membership for MAPS for the current convention year. There will be no recompense if you are found with a counterfeit badge. If you purchase a badge from someone other than Anime Central, you will not have a valid membership to our event. Scalping badges only hurts our event. If you find people scalping badges, please report them to Registration immediately at registration@ACen.org.
• All membership badges and pass names are subject to staff approval. We are a family friendly convention and names deemed inappropriate by staff will be changed without notice.
• MAPS reserves the right to use the membership holder’s image or likeness for any current or future promotional consideration.
• Under no circumstance, are drones or objects allowed to be deployed or flown in any lobby, live event, panel, in the exhibit hall or any indoor space during the convention.
• The solicitation of money for any commercial or other use is prohibited without written consent from the Midwest Animation Promotion Society (M.A.P.S.).
• Real firearms are not allowed on convention premises. Bows and crossbow props may not carry any arrows, bolts, or be fireable in any way.
• Passing out flyers, solicitation cards or posting signs to the walls in any of our convention spaces is not allowed. Flyers or cards left on an open table will be thrown out.
• If you are sleeping in a public area you will be asked to go back to your hotel room. If you do not have a hotel room you will be asked to leave.
• Any announced guests or events are subject to change with or without notice. We will do our best to communicate these changes as they become available; however, last minute changes may occur. Anime Central does not guarantee admittance to any particular event or an autograph from any particular guest to any attendee. Refunds will not be issued on the basis of not being able to attend or see a particular event or guest.
• Selfie sticks are not allowed outside of the cosplay photoshoot area.
• No smoking is allowed inside any building the convention resides in, this includes vaping. Smoking is also not permitted while in line for ACen events. Smokers need to stand at least 15 ft from the line and/or doors if they need to smoke. The Hyatt sets up special smoking areas, please be advised that smokers will be asked to move into these. PUBLIC HEALTH (410 ILCS 82/) Smoke Free Illinois Act.

Anime Central does not allow harassment of any kind, including but not limited to behaviors such as: stalking, offensive comments, hate speech, inappropriate or unwelcome physical contact, recording or taking pictures without permission, and repeatedly disrupting conversations you have been asked to leave. The aforementioned comments or hate speech could be in relation to (but not limited to): age, race or ethnicity, color, citizenship, relationship status, sexual orientation, gender identity or presentation, appearance or body size, pregnancy, disability, or religion.

Keep an eye on what you say to people and how you act around them. Be cautious: ask first and respect a person’s right to say no. Remember, cosplay is not consent.

If you feel harassed or see someone else being harassed, notify a staff member immediately. Anime Central will take any action necessary to stop the behavior, up to and including badge revocation and expulsion from convention premises. We will also take steps to help you feel safe again, such as helping you contact Rosemont police, escorting you to a safe location, or contacting your friends or family. This policy applies to everyone at the convention, including attendees, panelists, vendors, guests, and staff.

If, at any time, you feel your personal safety or the safety of others is at risk, please contact the Rosemont Police Department by dialing 911. For non-emergencies, the Rosemont Police department can be reached by calling (847) 823-1134.

To help reduce elevator congestion in the Hyatt Regency O’Hare, during peak hours, staff will direct the use of the elevators to ensure that the flow of traffic is as smooth as possible. When using elevators:

• Plan to get off on the Lobby Level, unless your mobility is impaired and you need to get off on the ground floor.
• The elevator is not board-able from the ground level unless you have an event accessibility pass, everyone else can navigate to the Lobby Level queue.
• Please press the elevator call button only once.
• Please hold the doors open using the Open Door button inside the elevator, rather than by holding the elevators open with your hands.
• Please keep all bags and arms inside the elevator and to yourself at all times and enjoy your ride.

• Photographers are not allowed to set up photo booths in any convention or hotel function space.
• While you can take pictures and videos in most convention spaces, some events, concerts and areas do not. Photography, videos and audio recording is not allowed during any concert. This may also apply to some guest panels and events.
• For the safety of all on stage Volunteers, Guests and Performers flash photography is not permitted.

We encourage everyone to cosplay, but please make sure your cosplay complies with local laws and convention policies. The Membership Services Chairperson has the final say on the acceptability of any prop or costume.

• If you are found with an unacceptable prop or costume, you will be asked to return to your room to fix the issue. If you are repeatedly asked to return an unacceptable prop to your room, your prop may be confiscated by the event.
• Body paint must be sealed, dry, and non-transferable. If you sit on any venue furniture and ruin it with body paint you will be responsible for all damage expenses.
• Cosplays cannot leave your feet bare. Sandals are acceptable, being barefoot or using footpads is not acceptable.
• No roller-wear is allowed in convention areas including but not limited to heelys, hoverboards, and skateboards.
• Costumes or clothing that contain vulgar remarks, illustrations or hate speech in any language are not acceptable.
• Cosplay that has dangerous protrusions such as spikes or sharp edges is not allowed.
• If your costume has any visual impairments, you are required to have a handler. If you do not have a handler, you will be asked to remove your costume while traveling.
• For your safety, your costumes safety, and the safety of others please be conscious of your surroundings while in cosplay. If you are wearing an oversized costume or carrying a larger than you prop please be conscious of narrow hallways, doorways, and ceilings. If you break or damage venue grounds you will be responsible for the charges.
• If your cosplay impedes the view of others during seated events, you may be relocated to the back of the event room.
• Props with laser pointers or similar capabilities are not allowed.
• Live steel is not allowed within the convention. This extends to metal props or cosplay that have blades or come to a point, regardless of whether it is sharp or blunt. If a metal prop does not have any points or blades it is acceptable. Live steel purchased from a vendor must stay boxed while in convention spaces.
• Real firearms are not allowed on convention premises. This extends to real firearm, airsoft, and pellet guns regardless of whether they are disabled or not.
• Non realistic gun-like props are required to have an orange tip and have their firing mechanisms disabled with no ammunition loaded.
• All costumes are expected to not violate Illinois indecent exposure laws.

Press Membership Expectations

As a Press Member, you represent yourself, your outlet, and Anime Central.  All Press Members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional, respectful manner while attending the convention.

Your Press Membership Badge does not qualify you for preferential treatment at any event over the course of the convention, and Press Members are subject to all stated convention policies.  This includes autograph/sketch sessions, live events, etc.

Your Rights & Privacy

An Anime Central Press Membership Badge grants you all rights and privileges given to General Attendees.

• Health & Safety
• Event Accessibility
• Convention Policies

Anime Central does not sell or make public our Press Members’ private information.  This private information is used internally only to process your application and Press Registration.

Anime Central reserves the right to list your outlet’s name on digital & print material as a member of Press.

Anime Central reserves the right to release your outlet name and point-of-contact information to an Industry or Talent partner on a need-to-know basis, if required for a Press Interview.

For further questions, contact the Press Department Manager at eric.leitzen@acen.org

Badge Pickup & Requirements

Press Membership Badges are not eligible to be mailed and must be picked up in the Registration Hall during the convention.  Press Membership badge pickup will begin Thursday evening of the convention and runs through Sunday at noon.  Each approved outlet member will be required to pick up their own badge and provide valid government-issued ID at point of pickup.

Your Membership Badge is non-transferrable and non-resellable.

Press Membership Badges must be carried at all times in non-public/badge-access areas of the convention.  Without your Press Membership badge, you will not have access to the convention, access early seating where applicable, or the ability to request interviews with Guests.

Press Interviews

Anime Central is proud to facilitate interviews between our Press Members and Guests of Honor, either as individual 1-on-1 interviews, or as larger Press Sessions/moderated interviews.  These interviews are exclusive for approved Press and are not open to the public or non-Press attendees of Anime Central.

Interviews are scheduled by prior approval only and require pre-submission of interview questions through our Interview Request form.  Approved Press Members will receive a link to the form in their approval email and may submit requests until the form closes (generally 1 week prior to the convention).

Anime Central reserves the right to approve/deny requests and/or questions submitted.

Press Interviews with Guests of Honor may also be subject to specific requirements, such as:

• Moderated interviews (host asks pre-submitted questions)
• Audio recording only
• Video recording for transcription purposes only
• Approved photos only
• Approval of content prior to publishing/posting

Live Event Recording

Rights to record live events such as concerts, performances, panels, or exclusive Previews held at Anime Central are governed by the agents & Labels that represent the Guest(s) of Honor, and Anime Central honors their requirements.  (Please be advised that these conditions are subject to change without prior notice.)

A Press Membership Badge does not grant any Press Member or Outlet additional rights to record at a live event, and listed requirements for General Attendees apply to Press as well.

Any requirements for recording at a live event will be made available at the time of Press Membership Badge pick-up, or as information becomes available.  Violations of any arrangements in regards to our live event Guests are responded to with disciplinary action up to and including legal action, depending on the infringement.

Publishing & Posting Rights

Video or audio recordings made in public areas around the convention are subject to local laws and building policies.

Video or audio recordings of any Anime Central-sponsored events such as the Masquerade, fashion shows, concerts, etc. may not be made available to the public in their entirety.  This includes release to a private or subscriber-based channel like Twitch, Patreon, OnlyFans, etc or live-streaming of an event.  Your coverage may use “highlight” or “quote” clips, but any use otherwise is in violation of the Rights held by Anime Central.

Any recording containing audio of third-party content (such as a song, audio track, movie/show clip, etc.) must have audio removed prior to posting, as its usage is governed by copyright rules of the artist, production company, or label.

Any coverage involving content from Press Interviews is subject to the requirements set at those interviews.

NO 18+ EVENT AT ANIME CENTRAL MAY BE RECORDED IN ANY CAPACITY.

Reserved Seating & Access Policy

Certain Anime Central events are highly attended and as a result, space is limited. Reserved Press seating, if available at an event, is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed at any event.

Press Members are required to follow the guidelines set by Anime Central Programming Staff for each event. These guidelines may include pre-registration of Press for an event, additional coverage requirements, etc. In the case of additional requirements for Press attendance at an event, Press members will be notified as information is available.

• The Masquerade will have limited seating which will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. For outlets with a Press membership, access to Main Programming may be made available prior to the start of attendee load-in for the event.
• If room space is available for a given event, it will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis, and may include a specific Press area for tripods and cameras. Press access to the event room is typically made available prior to attendee access, for this purpose. If you have questions about seating or space for a given event, please ask the Press Department Manager or Assistant Manager.
• In any event that does not have dedicated Press seating or space, space is given solely at the discretion of the Anime Central staffer in charge of the room.

Content Submission & Quality Control

All Press Outlets are required to submit coverage to the Press Department Manager by email no later than 90 days following the convention.  This submitted coverage is reviewed for quality control and to verify that requirements were met.

The Press Department also performs quality control “spot checks” for additional mentions or posts that may have been missed for submission.

Any Press Outlet who does not submit or post/publish coverage of the convention may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including Press Membership disqualification or ban.

Violation of Rules & Policies

Anime Central takes the behavior of approved Press Members very seriously, and will review carefully any reports of abuse of Press privileges.  Violation of convention policies or Press rules by any Press Member or Outlet may be grounds for disciplinary action, such as:

• revocation of badges
• expulsion from the convention
• disqualification from future requests
• Press or convention ban

If an outlet feels that their membership is revoked unjustly or that they were unfairly disciplined, they may discuss it with the Press Department Manager. The revocation of a membership is a last resort, and the Press Department will do all they can to be certain that members of the Press understand why such actions are necessary and how to avoid them.

Press Members may discuss any questions/disputes regarding these policies with the Press Department Manager and/or Assistant Department Manager.

Please note: Anime Central reserves the right to modify rules & regulations at any time without prior notice, and may deny you a Press Membership for any reason. Submitting the Press Membership Registration Form does not guarantee you a Press Membership for Anime Central.