UlasanAnime.com – Anime NEXT 2017 proved to be a memorable event, filled with enjoyable moments and a strong sense of community. The convention was significantly enhanced by the presence of a dedicated crew and the enthusiastic support from attendees, making it a well-executed event overall. A special acknowledgment goes to the convention organizers for successfully bringing together guests and managing the event with commendable professionalism. The author also expressed gratitude to the approximately 30 individuals who attended their panel, highlighting the engaging wota demo that took place.
A key factor contributing to the positive experience was the appearance of seiyuu Reina Ueda as a guest. She attended alongside Tomochi Kosaka, the series director for ReLIFE, and Junko Yamanaka, the character designer. Kosaka’s notable works include the opening theme for Yowamushi GR, while Yamanaka is recognized for her work on Nobunaga no Shinobi. Ueda Reina’s involvement with Bakuon was also mentioned. It was observed during the panels that Kosaka had a wealth of insights to share, making it somewhat disappointing that time constraints, with half the panel dedicated to Q&A and the other half to ReLIFE presentations, limited her ability to elaborate fully. This arrangement was presumed to be a decision made by TMS.
The two panels featuring the ReLIFE guests were conducted in a structured format, with Reina Ueda serving as the MC. Her hosting style was described as typical of Japanese events, and the interpreter received praise for their efforts in facilitating communication. Both panels followed a similar pattern, including a live sketching segment where the resulting artwork was awarded to the attendee who won a rock-paper-scissors match against Ueda.
Regarding Reina Ueda herself, the author found her to be much as expected: a vibrant and expressive individual with a charming, albeit slightly rural, demeanor. Her nickname, “Uebaba,” was noted as fitting, and her occasional dorkiness was seen as an endearing quality. The author felt there was a fine line between awkwardness and charm, which Ueda consistently navigated successfully. For those familiar with her work, her presence was a source of joy, making the weekend a special occasion despite the limited interaction.
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— Moy (@1moy) June 11, 2017
Sharing the weekend with fellow fans of Reina Ueda and acquaintances within the broader anime community added another layer of enjoyment. The author’s panel on events ran concurrently with a panel on wota culture hosted by friends, reflecting the growing intersection of these interests in the United States. The weekend also included viewings of Million Live 3rd and an episode of HPTalk, which the author intended to share soon.
While there weren’t many outlandish occurrences, one notable moment involved a fan purchasing gifts and flowers to have their “Umimi POP” signed by Ueda. Beyond this, the event proceeded without major unexpected incidents.
The author arrived on Thursday night, allowing for a relaxed start and ample time to work on Friday. They even managed to briefly leave work to attend a Trigger panel before returning to complete their tasks. This schedule proved effective, especially with food brought from home. The availability of free time slots in the convention schedule was particularly helpful.
The two Trigger panels were well-received. The Friday panel featured a screening of Infernal Cop, projected on small screens that were not ideally positioned. This led to some viewing difficulties when attendees stood up to sing “America ga daisuki.”
The second Trigger panel focused on LWA (Little Witch Academia). The author arrived late, having initially feared they wouldn’t be able to enter the crowded room after the TMS panel concluded. They ended up sitting at the back, regretting having missed a quiz earlier in the panel. The quiz, which offered an Imaishi autograph as a prize, asked for Handa’s debut work. The author incorrectly guessed Panty Stocking, when the correct answer was Hanamaru Yochien. Despite the difficulty of being selected, the author was chosen to participate.
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On Sunday, the author attended the latter part of the Capcom Live concert. They enjoyed hearing a couple of anime songs, including “Guren no Yumiya” and a One Piece theme. The lead singer was noted for their engaging performance. The video game music segment was also appreciated, although the author wished for more Rockman tracks.
A walk through the dealer room and artist alley revealed limited offerings, with not many vendors present. Nothing particularly caught the author’s eye.
Overall, the convention was described as a fun and relaxed experience for both the author and other attendees. The Otabrew event was a highlight, with assistance from a convention organizer making the coordination smooth. The author discovered some enjoyable beers, particularly Equilibrium Photon Citrus, and appreciated the opportunity to socialize with a different group of people.
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— KOSAKAtomochi????? (@neginuking) June 12, 2017
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Postscript: The author was able to explore more this year and enjoyed meals at Wingcraft twice. They also found a pho restaurant near the Bass Pro Shop to be a solid choice, despite being slightly more expensive due to its location. A mention was made of a convenience store where Ueda reportedly bought a hot dog, though the author questioned the idea of walking around town eating one. A photo was taken while returning from Pho, and it was noted that a bike tournament was taking place on Sunday, which coincidentally related to their guest of honor.
