UlasanAnime.com – The 2024 iteration of Anime Expo marked a significant improvement over the previous year, which the author found to be a less than ideal experience. This year’s event offered a much more polished and enjoyable convention for attendees.
The revamped layout played a crucial role in enhancing the attendee experience. With more entrances available, the flow of people into the convention center during peak hours was significantly smoother. The author noted a wait time of approximately 30 minutes on a Thursday morning, a considerable improvement. The exhibit hall also saw a better distribution of vendors, with more space allocated to the AA hall (Kantia) and a more organized arrangement. The R18 vendors were relocated downstairs, making overall navigation of the hall easier than ever before.
The area requiring badge access at the LACC was expanded to encompass the entire front yard along Figueroa. Furthermore, the cross street adjacent to the Crypto.com Arena was exclusively for Anime Expo throughout the entire event, not just on weekends. This expansion allowed for more food vendors, drift spaces, and an increased presence of performers.
A major upgrade was the transition to an online autograph system. Despite an initial hiccup on the first day due to printer failures, the barcode and ID check system proved to be far superior. Even same-day tickets were reportedly distributed via ShowClix and email. The arduous overnight camping for autographs, a common practice in previous years, has been eliminated. While challenges like the one highlighted in a linked tweet still occurred, the author expressed immense gratitude for these improvements. Ultimately, the author secured only one autograph, from Shoji Kawamori, as they did not actively pursue others, though they speculated they could have obtained one from Arifureta.
In terms of content, Anime Expo is increasingly aligning with the industry track offerings seen at Anime Japan. The convention also successfully maintained ample space for fan panels and supplementary content to thrive. The author felt that this year, AX struck an excellent balance, exemplified by the vibrant street MJ gang. Raves and concerts were a staple from day 0 through day 5. A particular highlight was the One Piece Orchestra, where Kouhei Tanaka performed “We Are” alongside Hiroshi Kitadani, with the audience joining in. Moments at Anibash evoked memories of Mogra, with Mizushima seen enjoying the vibe in the background. The author also enjoyed the chill and fun mixing during Constellation vol 5 on Monday, which provided an opportunity to connect with local friends during the day. Hamu’s performance was as impressive as ever, as was Teddy’s strong set, and Kotono House, whose technically impressive but perhaps too mainstream set was noted.
The Uma Musume: Pretty Derby (Uma Musume) presence was a significant draw for the author. They visited the Cygames booth first thing on Thursday. While videos were taken, the author believes they are readily available on YouTube and don’t require separate posting. Cygames also featured a party game demo, which the author found to be quite fun. The author praised the enthusiasm of the Umamuusme fans, particularly those who were clearly having a blast.
A visit to the customary Idolmaster (IM@S) gathering allowed the author to appreciate a Matsuri cosplayer. The author posed the rhetorical question: “Is this the power of anime?”
On the industry side, it was noteworthy to see Sumire Uesaka engaging in overseas activities. Several other personalities crossed paths in the Entertainment Hall, including those promoting Hypnosis Mic (HypMic) and instances where Mamoru Miyano and KENN encountered each other. Sumipe’s anniversary panel allowed for photos at the conclusion, and she even interacted with the crowd, high-fiving attendees. This uninhibited and fun interaction led to her lucking into a signed t-shirt for a fan.
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The author had the opportunity to see Asami Seto in person for the first time at AX, which was a great experience. They also attended a talk by Aviot, featuring Yuya Hirose and Shion Wakayama. Aviot is a brand that produces character-voice earphones and headphones. They also sponsored Kawamori, along with two of the Gridman voice actors, leading to discussions about Gridman and the available Gridman headsets.
Despite the improvements, the prerequisite camp time for panels remained a challenge, making it difficult to attend multiple sessions. The schedule also presented numerous conflicts, resulting in brief encounters with Yuki Kuwahara (approximately 60 seconds) and a more substantial, though still limited, viewing of Akari Kito (about 30 minutes). The author’s biggest regret was skipping the Bocchi the Rock panel to attend the baseball game.
The author casually watches MLB games and had always intended to visit Dodger Stadium. Having already visited Los Angeles twice this year, the Hololive collaboration event at AX on Friday presented a logical opportunity. Although it coincided with Anibash, the desired DJs were scheduled for later in the evening. Aniplex later announced Yoppi’s involvement. The author expressed no regret about attending the game, finding it enjoyable. Will Smith’s solo home run to bring the Dodgers back from a Brewers Grand Slam was a memorable moment, and the home crowd responded enthusiastically to the comeback win. A less positive aspect was the exceptionally long queue for the Hololive collaboration merchandise. The baseball cards obtained at the game were reportedly selling for thousands of dollars on Japanese Mercari, a phenomenon the author described as “wild.” Friends of the author waited for hours to purchase shirts, and the line to sell these items extended from gate opening until closing.
The drone show was impressive, as was the opportunity for fans to go onto the field. The author humorously wondered when a Gindaco (a popular takoyaki chain) would appear at Yankee Stadium. Witnessing and hearing Suisei (along with Inotac) perform at an MLB game was described as surreal. The author thanked the LA Dodgers, expressing hope that they would have more than eight cashiers available for future Hololive collaborations.
The author made time to visit the Akiba Maid Wars collaboration cafe at Asayoru Little Tokyo on Sunday. This was due to a lack of conflicts on Sunday, with the only other option being the charity auction. The group later went to karaoke with friends until late in the evening after the convention concluded. The collaboration cafe was described as impressive, with Asayoru executing it well. The author gave a shoutout to their maid, Nana, and enjoyed the extended cosplay skit.
In conclusion, AX2024 was deemed “not terrible,” a significant improvement from the author’s previous designation of AX as the worst anime convention in the USA due to safety hazards from crowding and heat. This year, the convention showed marked improvement in addressing crowding issues and made some progress on heat management. However, EMS still had to intervene for the CDawgVA/Ironmouse line, and someone fainted at the Cygames booth on Thursday, likely from exhaustion. Given the scale of the convention, such incidents are not entirely unexpected. Nevertheless, the author emphasizes the importance of AX getting the fundamentals right. This year, the convention appears to have taken a substantial step away from being labeled the “worst con,” though its future improvements remain to be seen.
