UlasanAnime.com – AnimeNext, a convention known for its light and sweet atmosphere, recently held its event.
The decision to move AnimeNext to Atlantic City appears to be a positive one overall. The convention center there feels quite modern and offers ample space for an event of this size, likely remaining underutilized. It provides significant room for growth, though accommodating an influx of 20,000 attendees would undoubtedly present challenges. Fortunately, this year’s attendance likely fell far short of that number.
As a resident of New Jersey, I find Atlantic City to be a less-than-desirable destination, akin to a rundown tourist trap built upon a foundation of urban decay and crime. The city’s primary attractions are its beaches, the sights along the Boardwalk, and its culinary offerings. The convention, however, capitalized on very little of the former and only a portion of the latter. Nevertheless, within the convention center itself, one could almost forget they were in Atlantic City, which proved to be a beneficial aspect. Despite the less tourist-friendly surroundings, reaching Atlantic City can be geographically inconvenient, with the nearest major airport being at least an hour away. Unless one opts for Spirit Airlines or a private charter, the local Atlantic City International Airport (ACY) offers limited service.
[“Spirit Airline” somewhat encapsulates the disappointing sentiment many individuals familiar with Atlantic City through personal experience, rather than just reputation, feel about the city.]
For me personally, transitioning from a local “backyard” convention to a more distant “destination” convention represents a significant loss. However, after speaking with out-of-town attendees who stayed in Atlantic City for the weekend, it seems they generally enjoyed the experience more than having the convention back at the GSEC. The Atlantic City Convention Center’s architecture bore a resemblance to the Honolulu Convention Center, albeit with less glass. I believe attendees, on the whole, appreciated the facilities and the less crowded, open spaces. Nevertheless, I still hold a preference for local conventions, given the extensive travel I undertake for other cons, and the unique value they offer.
My participation in AnimeNext was as a panelist, which brings its own set of specific grievances. Firstly, communication regarding panel details was delayed, with information only arriving the day before the convention. Secondly, my panel descriptions were not uploaded to the Guidebook app, unlike some other panels. Thirdly, there were technical difficulties, primarily related to my MacBook’s compatibility with the provided HDMI cable. The absence of a dedicated technician in the panel room to oversee such issues led to time being consumed until a staff member could assist. Despite these issues, the convention was otherwise adequate for a panelist, and the staff was generally helpful. Some confusion also arose regarding the panel registration and refund process, though I acknowledge some responsibility for not thoroughly investigating it beforehand.
The panel itself proceeded well. I received feedback from a few friends who attended, primarily that I used too much jargon. I wish I had the opportunity for a dry run to gather such feedback beforehand. The presentation slides are available [here](https://omonomono.com/2016/06/10/mster-of-idol-ip-world-at-anime-next/). Approximately 25 people attended my panel, and distributing the tenth pamphlet might have been the most effective approach. I even gave away my bottle of tenth water as a prize.
Regarding the convention itself, I only attended on Saturday, as I felt there was little to miss on Friday, allowing me to conserve paid time off. The drive was uneventful and swift. Parking cost $15 for the day, and I paid $12 to park overnight at the hotel, followed by another $15. Walking to and from the hotel (Courtyard) was not ideal, which I attribute to the individual who arranged the hotel possibly underestimating Atlantic City’s condition. However, this is where cars and taxis become useful. Similar logistical challenges affected dining plans, as parking was an additional expense everywhere, and it was a significant walk to any desirable dining locations (a minimum of 15 minutes). Consequently, we frequented Wingcraft on multiple occasions.
You might also be interested in : Master of Idol IP World at Anime Next
I did not make any significant purchases in the dealer’s room, only stopping by to acquire CDs and bromides for later photo sessions. Beyond my own panel, I attended only two others: the Trigger Infernal Cop panel and ZAQ’s focus panel. The latter involved considerable conversation between ZAQ, Yaz, and the attendees. I inquired about “Rebellion,” and it seems my eventer friends there may have conveyed the impression that this is a recognized entity. ZAQ and Yaz also solicited input on current trends, leading to a mention of Re:Zero.
ZAQ also incorporated a “Jersey Milk” joke during the panel, and mentioned Hoboken, engaging in some wordplay.
The Infernal Cop panel was highly entertaining, and while I will refrain from detailed descriptions, Amemiya came across as a sincere, honest, and upright individual. I also did not anticipate chanting “New Jersey” during the event.
My primary disappointment at this convention was missing all the Kouno Megumi-related events. On paper, this made AnimeNext 2016 a mission failure, as she was the main reason for my attendance. However, the disappointment was more of a mild sadness than strong anger. The reason for her absence from Saturday’s events, which constituted most of Trigger’s planned schedule, was that she was feeling unwell. She did appear on Sunday, but I was not mentally agile enough to adjust my plans to attend her rescheduled panel during the Luluco screening, as it overlapped with the ZAQ concert by approximately 30 minutes. Some attendees did manage to see her, and they were rewarded, which felt like a twist of the knife.
Ultimately, I did not get to see Kouno at all, nor acquire any related merchandise. This might have been less disheartening than attempting to see her and failing. I also did not actively seek opportunities to see her with the Trigger group at the press event, a realization that led to a moment of self-reproach.
I did, however, manage to see Hiroe Rei, Daichi Akitaro, and Matsui Naoko. Matsui Naoko, despite cosplaying a ninja with a full head covering, appeared frail, and I surmised she was older than my mother. Hiroe Rei looked much the same as I remembered him. Daichi appeared both older and younger than during our last encounter, suggesting he might be enjoying his current phase of life more than his younger years. It was a pleasure to briefly meet and converse with this veteran duo.
The highlight of the convention for me was watching the 10th with some Producers. I would love to repeat that experience. This is the essence of a local convention, where social interaction can take precedence, and local resources can be leveraged to facilitate such gatherings. While I wouldn’t mind AnimeNext evolving into a destination convention with appealing guests (which it had this year), it would be ideal if this appeal also served as a draw for social activities, as it did in previous years. Now, such interactions are confined to hotel rooms, with all the associated compromises, especially considering the Atlantic City hotel rooms. Will I adapt? Yes. But it represents an overall downgrade. Perhaps the lingering disappointment will fade with time, but this year’s AnimeNext could certainly have been better. Issues like overcrowding and line management do not deter me from seeing a guest if necessary, assuming it’s the right guest. However, being prevented from seeing guests at all is a separate matter, even if it’s not attributable to anyone’s fault.
PS. We did visit White House Subs at the Taj Mahal. We spotted a mouse! We also enjoyed some excellent hoagies. This encompassed the full Atlantic City experience, including the walk along the Boardwalk and through the casinos to reach the dining area.
PPS. Still feeling salty? Yes. We’ll see how long this lasts.
