UlasanAnime.com – Attending Anime NYC 2022 felt like a peculiar experience, especially while also being present at its smaller counterpart, Anime Frontier in Fort Worth. Anime Frontier mirrors the setup of Anime NYC but on a more intimate scale, and notably, it had the HG Gundam Aerial in stock.
Anime NYC made its return after a 2021 edition shadowed by the Omicron variant, and once again, its timing presented challenges. Japan’s reopening in mid-October made securing guests feasible. However, record-high inflation and robust US demand for entertainment in 2022 meant a surge in international acts seeking to perform stateside, leading to a backlog of performer visa applications. This situation had previously affected groups like fhana and Flow at A-Kon earlier in the year. Despite various efforts, Anime NYC struggled to confirm many international guests. With assistance from CR, the Mogra DJs managed to reach the US, including DJ Wildparty, who had previously been denied a visa for a Porter Robinson show in October. The rock band [alexandros] was announced on the Friday of the convention, with a concert scheduled for Sunday, thanks to Bandai Namco’s significant Gundam promotion. A video documenting their visa struggles is available, capturing the quintessential American event experience of 2022.
Anime NYC 2022 was, in essence, a large Gundam convention. Approximately a fifth of the programming, including guest appearances, screenings, and the [alexandros] concert, was dedicated to Gundam. Bandai Namco displayed two massive Gundam models and operated a substantial Gundam Base shop, alongside other Bandai Namco merchandise. The presence of Gundam was so extensive that it took considerable time to locate the booths for Tensura and music-related items. Mixbox also had a booth, collaborating with MAL, which could be considered another Bandai Namco affiliation. Bandai Namco brought the producer and director of Hathaway’s Flash to the event. This provided an opportunity to express feelings about Witch Hunter Robin, and perhaps it was fortunate that Reina Ueda was not the guest, avoiding a potentially awkward encounter. Regardless, Bandai Namco had a significant impact on the convention.
Slightly overshadowed by Bandai Namco were Aniplex and Toei. However, it was difficult to overshadow the immense One Piece displays present at the hall. A colossal Luffy balloon towered over the entire area, and regular cosplay gatherings were seen, capitalizing on the popularity of the Film Red movie.
Aniplex delivered their usual high-quality programming, and the panels attended were thoroughly enjoyable, at least those that could be accessed. The Kagura panel was particularly entertaining and is still available for viewing via stream. The large displays for Mahoyo exuded a distinct atmosphere, prompting a desire to revisit the game on the Switch during the holidays.
As primarily an industry-focused event, Anime NYC allowed major companies to showcase their offerings, and this strategy proved successful. Bandai Namco, Aniplex, and Toei demonstrated their significant presence and capabilities, leaving a strong impression. The Gundam Base shop experienced brisk sales throughout the weekend. Attendees who spent $500 at the Gundam Base were eligible for front-row seats at the [alexandros] concert, a valuable perk that may have been underestimated by many.
[alexandros] proved to be a remarkably friendly and engaging band. Two of the members were fluent in English, which greatly facilitated communication. While this was the first in-person performance by the band, they are established chart-toppers, having previously performed in NYC in 2018. Their ability to perform with essentially only two days’ notice was remarkable. The audience successfully managed to coax an encore out of them, adding to the positive experience.
For various reasons, a significant portion of the Mogra events were missed. While regrettable, it was unavoidable. The Mogra showcase was combined with a Japanese DJ and a Los Angeles-based DJ (reportedly of Taiwanese descent) who played for approximately half the allotted time. LIO from NIOLION was present, along with Teddy, whom the author was able to see on Sunday.
The final significant programming thread at Anime NYC revolved around Tensura. The movie had just been released in Japan shortly after the convention. Mindaryn and RON from Stereo Dive Foundation were in attendance to perform music from the movie. Notably, Mindaryn had to fly back on Saturday to attend a movie event the very next day. The mini-concert held during the Tensura panel was enjoyable. RON also held a solo performance the Wednesday after Anime NYC (the day before Thanksgiving), featuring a similar setlist along with several of his older compositions. RON has composed music for numerous anime and games, and his solo work with SDF only scratches the surface of his extensive catalog, making his solo performances highly recommended.
The convention was exceptionally large, attracting over 49,000 unique attendees, partly due to not utilizing the entire Javitz Center. The implementation of a lottery system for panels effectively mitigated long wait times this year. However, the lottery system itself was somewhat disorganized, and improvements are anticipated for the 2023 event.
On a related note, the band Flow mentioned during their panel at Anime Frontier their interest in performing in New York City, having previously only played in New Jersey and touring New York during their days off (referencing Anime Next). This sentiment could be an indicator of future opportunities.
Regarding the rest of the convention, despite working on Friday, a considerable amount of time was spent at the event. The convention was crowded, with the exhibit floor consistently bustling. Due to the lottery system for many panels, attendance was not actively pursued. The opportunity to see Kawasumi was missed, and the aforementioned absence from the Mogra DJ event left a disappointing impression, especially after purchasing VIP access, as the schedule for the DJs was announced rather last minute. Despite these issues, Anime NYC was ultimately a positive and energizing experience, even occurring at the tail end of a busy event schedule. It provided valuable time spent with friends, making the convention particularly special as the impact of COVID-19 on events continues to diminish.
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PS. Regarding dining experiences, from Friday to the Wednesday following SDF’s concert, three izakayas were visited, all of which were quite good. The Henn na Hotel in Midtown features a proper izakaya, albeit at a high price point. Two other establishments were visited in the Gramercy area; one is a long-standing favorite, and the other is more traditional. A “hot pot” experience, akin to Japanese-style meat fondue, was enjoyed. Another spot has become a regular haunt, offering tebasaki (chicken wings) and boozy milkshakes made from nigori sake. A late-night dim sum meal was had on Wednesday, following ramen as a pre-show appetizer. It’s worth noting the limited dining options available at 11:30 PM the day before Thanksgiving.
