UlasanAnime.com – As Anime Central 2014 is about to begin, here are some preliminary notes for attendees.
Anime Central (ACEN) is recognized as the third largest convention in both the US and Canada based on last year’s attendance, which is a significant achievement. This high attendance means that securing hotel accommodations requires advance booking; otherwise, it becomes quite challenging. Unlike some other major conventions such as Anime Expo (AX) or Otakon, the immediate vicinity around ACEN is not particularly conducive to walking.
Despite the difficulties, rooms were secured for the event. While the accommodation might be a bit cramped, it’s considered manageable. There’s a possibility of a considerable walk to the venue, but the author is prepared to manage. The last time ACEN was visited was in 2005, so a substantial transformation, including increased crowding, is anticipated.
The musical group Wake Up, Girls! (WUG) will be present at the convention, a presence facilitated by Crunchyroll. Crunchyroll will be hosting all their autograph sessions at their dedicated booth. Detailed information regarding these sessions can be found via provided links, with the latter link also containing a schedule of events for WUG and Yamakan/Hiro-san at the convention.
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The convention’s guest coordinator actively monitors the forum, which is a positive aspect. Japanese fans of Wake Up, Girls! are confirmed to be in attendance, as previously mentioned.
Angela, a musical group, has arrived and will be offering merchandise. In addition to the ACEN-sanctioned autograph sessions, they will also hold a booth autograph event. Further details are available through the linked information. The availability of merchandise is a welcome prospect.
Plans for the convention include enjoying music from LPs, engaging in StreetPass games on the 3DS, and navigating potential scheduling conflicts between various events. This also marks the author’s first experience covering ACEN as press. There’s a recollection of past issues concerning press access, which likely contributed to the somewhat complicated press registration process.
There’s a concern that many of the scheduled events, such as the Final Fantasy chamber music performances, might be missed due to these conflicts, which is regrettable.
