UlasanAnime.com – I spent a Saturday immersed in Nico Nico Douga streams for ACE (Anime Content Expo), an experience I hadn’t quite had before, though variations might have occurred over the years. Nico Nico Douga’s strength lies in its live content programming, which feels more akin to sports broadcasts than pre-produced uploads. While Nico Nico Douga’s ACE coverage is decent, it’s hampered by streams airing in the early morning for Eastern Daylight Time and some content being unavailable or geoblocked.
Despite only casually following new voice actors, these ACE streams offered my first extended live viewing of some of them. It was particularly interesting to see Kayano perform her “Menma corner” in a unique outfit; “interesting” is the best word I can find for it.
Mizuhashi and Shintani’s promotion of the new Hidamari Sketch TV show was enjoyable. I recall Shintani from when she was much younger, making time truly fly. Mizuhashi was professional and engaging, while the Madoka stage event was mostly uneventful, save for seeing favorite voice actors. For me, that’s largely Nonaka, and I should really seek out more of her work as she perfectly suits my preferences. The lack of dedicated time spent watching voice actor content means there’s a sense of discovery when I do engage with this manufactured marketing material.
Conversely, fully appreciating events like the iM@S x YuruYuri x Milky Holmes variety show requires a deep engagement with that specific content. I was pleased that Nico Nico Douga broadcasted it on their US portal. The iM@S team clearly exhibits better chemistry and more experience, which is unsurprising given their long history and extensive collaborations, including the newer member Asakura/Yukiho.
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Remember the seiyuu phone call app? Initially, it featured a roster of A and B-list voice actors with premium calls requiring payment. Now, it’s populated with numerous C-list voice actors available for free. This provides a valuable way to discover interesting voices, such as Chiyo Ousaki, who is clearly emerging as a prominent figure in eroge voice acting.
While initially a bit unsettling, even for me, exploring the various selections has become quite enjoyable. It’s a fun way to encounter new voices and observe their performance styles and how they portray scenarios, which is fundamental to being a voice actor. This, combined with a card game where players can acquire voice actors based on their voices, offers an innovative platform for emerging voice actors to gain exposure and for fans to access “relevant entertainment” affordably. It’s a win-win for marketing and consumers.
However, there are also instances like this, which are amusing in their own way. You can find a list of these newer talents on Seiyuu+plus’s website.
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Anime Boston, PAX East, and Easter are all coinciding. As mentioned, I’m eagerly anticipating what will hopefully be my first Momoi concert, and I’m a little apprehensive about how the fans, the “Momoists,” will react. While I hope for a fun atmosphere driven by the fans’ dedication, I also wish to see the crowd remain its usual relaxed and socially aware self, without being overly stimulated by wotagei. Although the calls are part of the experience, they can sometimes feel too rigid. Nevertheless, convention crowds are generally easygoing, and I’m not attending the convention primarily for the crowd.
This brings me to the real reason for my trip: to enjoy some fresh and delicious oysters in Boston. I believe oysters are a quintessential Boston experience. Other seafood offerings in Boston feel somewhat overrated; I can easily find a good lobster roll or chowder in Manhattan without the four-hour trip north.
I wonder if there are any notable oyster omelette establishments in Boston.
I am looking forward to Itou Kanako’s performance without any reservations. Thank goodness.
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Returning to ACE, specifically April 1st. Like many, I’m aware of April Fools’ Day. While I understand complaints about it, I found the announcement of OreImo season 2 on April 1st to be a well-executed marketing move. When marketing is this self-aware, it becomes difficult to criticize. It seems some people just don’t grasp the concept, but then again, nobody is perfect.
