UlasanAnime.com – The author recounts their experience at Anime Central 2018 in Chicago, highlighting the musical performances, guest interactions, and overall convention atmosphere.
The trip to Chicago involved enjoying deep-dish pizza and attending a fhana live concert. Kevin also performed a DJ set at the Saturday Night rave. Other notable guests at the convention included Inoue Kikuko, Iso Mitsuo, and Sonoda Kenichi, alongside other prominent animators and illustrators. The author expressed that the event was too good to miss.
A significant draw was the desire to experience what was considered the best con rave in America. Unfortunately, due to issues with CBP/immigration, some DJs, including Kors K and Ryu, were unable to attend. Instead, the author enjoyed Kevin’s DJ set featuring anisong remixes.
The convention saw the usual group of friends in attendance. The author spent a considerable amount of time interacting with Sujay, including trying to understand the last-minute room change for fhana’s panel on Saturday, which was announced only 40 minutes prior. This was one of several instances of conflicting information encountered, with Guidebook being surprisingly inaccurate.
For the author, fhana was the main attraction. While the Regency Ballroom’s acoustics were decent, the sound setup seemed to have issues, and some elements might not have functioned correctly. Despite some hiccups during the performance, the author was too engaged to note them down.
The setlist was partially shared via a Twitter link, and non-flash photography was permitted, allowing for some fun snapshots. The author enjoyed the performance and looked forward to fhana’s upcoming show in Sapporo. Additional details about fhana were also shared.
Awesome. Today is Beginning of the day to be World Famous DJ “Kevin”.
— ???? (@yuxuki) May 20, 2018
The “kusorip” was described as great. Overall, fhana was perceived as very chill, in line with the typical Anime Central experience. The author shopped more this time compared to previous visits. Kevin’s new sneakers, which looked like they were glowing on stage, were a notable purchase.
The fhana panel was found to be somewhat boring and not well-attended. The author attempted to ask a question but felt it was too complex. A memorable moment occurred when a question about favorite Dragon Maid characters elicited a shy “Ka….waii” response from Yuuki. Sato also briefly explained the band’s origins, leading to a humorous comment from a staff member about breaking up bands, which amused Kevin and Yuuki but less so Towana and Sato.
A backstage interview video was recorded after Sujay selected a group of attendees during the signkai following the live performance. However, the author felt the video did not turn out well.
The Saturday autograph session had low attendance, allowing the author to get multiple items signed, including “What a Wonderful World Line” and “LTA02,” as well as “World Atlas” on Friday.
Kevin’s DJ set on Saturday night was well-received. The setlist included:
- Connect (Madoka)
- Sparkling Daydream (Chuunikoi)
- Step (Nisekoi OP2)
- Irony (Oreimo)
- Hana wa Odoreya Irohaniho (Hanayamata OP)
- Ugoku, Ugoku (Girls’ Last Tour OP)
- Eufonia (Aria OP1)
- Daydream café (Gochiusa OP1)
- One More Night (Girls’ Last Tour ED)
- Tiny Lamp (Uchoten ED1)
- Aozora no Rhapsody (Maid Dragon OP)
A dance from Dragon Maid was also featured:
https://twitter.com/fhana_info/status/998957527004938240
The DJ set was a mix of remixes and anikura tracks. Kevin’s remixes of Claris songs were particularly strong. He reportedly had two sets and made a mistake during a switchover for HNYMT, causing the music to stop. The author left after the next DJ, DJ Kagamine, began, noting a Lion King transition between sets.
— omo@KawaiiKon2024 (@omonomono) May 20, 2018
Sunday involved purchasing raffle tickets and attending more autograph sessions. The author stayed to say goodbye to the band, getting their amp signed as they had run out of other items to sign.
Other Activities:
The author met Kikko-san, though without an autograph, they managed a two-shot photo. Both of her panels were attended, and she was described as engaging. Her presence was noted as being like any other middle-aged Japanese tourist when not actively engaging with fans.
Two live drawing panels were attended: one featuring Sonoda/Hamakawa Shujiru, and another with Yokota and Yoshimatsu. Yokota was humorously noted for eating a lot.
The author was present during Sonoda’s Kickstarter launch announcement at the Project BB panel. Later, at Sonoda’s live drawing panel on Saturday, the author won a sketch and purchased an autographed fundraising poster. Hamakawa Shujiru, collaborating with Sonoda, was recognized as a fast and skilled artist.
Iso was missed entirely, despite his connection to the new FLCL and his extensive work. The author believes they might have seen him briefly walking around the convention.
Regarding other art guests, Vofan was seen multiple times. The author had a board and a Monogatari scroll signed, and purchased $80 worth of his books. The Vertical booth, essentially a Vofan exhibit, was noted for its unusual setup where items could be purchased through Kinokuniya’s booth.
The dealer’s room was considered adequate in size, though perhaps a bit small for a convention of this scale, but still larger than Otakon’s vendor count. Cospa, a vendor selling shirts, was the most notable, and coincidentally, they were also fans of fhana.
Anime Central 2018 implemented a ticketing policy for autographs. Ticket holders received priority access for up to 30 minutes past the scheduled time, after which standby lines were allowed. Most Japanese guests utilized the ticketed system. The distribution system, with tickets given out twice daily, was seen as somewhat inconvenient, requiring attendees to line up the night before for early autograph sessions.
Kikko-san was praised for her dedication in staying past her scheduled time to accommodate all fans. Her deliberate and slow interaction style was appreciated for providing a good experience, though it presented management challenges.
On Saturday, the morning ticket line experienced disarray as attendees were asked to re-queue just 30 minutes before the scheduled time. This was seen as an unnecessary hassle and a less efficient way to manage crowd control compared to previous days.
Wrap-up:
Anime Central was described as a chill convention, offering a good experience. Despite its large size and numerous guests, the atmosphere remained relaxed. The music guests were a significant highlight, with the additional events adding to the overall value. This marked the author’s fourth Anime Central, recalling past interactions with Fred and Okamoto Maya from their first visit.
The convention was also a great place to socialize, with thanks extended to friends encountered and new acquaintances made, as well as the hardworking staff. A special mention was given to MTF old-timers Becky and Cat for their art endeavors.
PS: Food experiences…
Gibson’s steakhouse was highly recommended for its Chicago cut, noting the discernible difference in quality. While the preparation was simple and classic, the experience was deemed worthwhile. The author noted the steakhouse had a mobster-like ambiance, reminiscent of old-timer steakhouses in NYC. Portions, especially desserts, were noted as being very large, with one chocolate mousse pie order being sufficient for five people.
The buffet dinner at the Hyatt, where fhana had also dined, was surprisingly good for the price and considered a potential repeat option. The author watched a portion of a Boston/Cleveland game during dinner. The buffet lacked a beef option, but the dessert selection was a strong point. Chun also had the steak at the Hyatt, which looked appealing.
Giordano’s was visited on Friday after the convention. After a 60-minute wait for the pizza, the author was full by midnight. The bratwurst pizza was a unique and liked option, though other choices were more typical deep-dish offerings. Appetizers, such as fried cheese curds, were also solid. Giordano’s, being a major Chicago chain, was finally experienced after four Anime Centrals. The author expressed a preference for trying sandwiches at such establishments.
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The most unexpected culinary delight was from an ice cream stand at the convention, offering cones for $2.50, a stark contrast to the $14 spent on takeout fried rice and a Pepsi.
