UlasanAnime.com – AnimeNEXT 2018 proved to be a rather subdued affair this year, with the author attending primarily to reconnect with friends, distribute merchandise, and experience the convention firsthand. Despite returning to the States just days before, the author managed to navigate the pre-convention preparations with a sense of anticipation.
The convention featured a modest lineup of guests, including two regular music artists and a couple of notable production figures, Aramaki and Kamiyama, known for their work on GITS and Patlabor. All Off, a familiar anisong-themed rock band, made their usual appearance, while Marina Kawano, a winner of the Anisong Grand Prix, showcased her continued musical endeavors after a change in management.
While familiar with Kawano’s earlier work, particularly her contributions to A-Channel and other Sony/Aniplex projects, the author had not closely followed her career trajectory. Her current affiliation with Dearstage, a record label, was noted as part of the evolving landscape of the music industry.
Attendance at AnimeNEXT this year mirrored that of the previous year, with no significant increase observed. In fact, the convention felt somewhat emptier than before. The author noted that several friends were absent due to a perceived lack of compelling draws. This sentiment might be indicative of a broader trend, especially considering the abundance of smaller, more affordable anime and comic conventions in the Atlantic Midwest and Southern New England regions. The frequent mention of “Colossalcon” throughout the weekend further underscored this point.
Prior to the event, the author delved into Kawano’s background and rediscovered her strong affinity for baseball. A highlight for her was attending a major league game in New York City during AnimeNEXT. She witnessed a historic Subway Series game between the New York Yankees and the New York Mets at Citi Field, which also featured Masahiro Tanaka’s pitching start. This event held particular significance for the author, evoking memories of Tanaka’s impact on the Rakuten Eagles during her high school years.
Kawano expressed profound emotion upon hearing of Tanaka’s start, recalling his pivotal role in the Rakuten Eagles’ success in 2012. The author emphasized the extraordinary alignment of circumstances that enabled her to attend such a game, drawing a parallel to the challenges faced by Japanese guests attending Anime Expo who might miss out on seeing Shohei Ohtani due to his injury status.
During Kawano’s concert and panel, discussions often revolved around baseball. A notable question from an attendee inquired about whether high school pitchers in Japan were overused. Kawano’s response was insightful and demonstrated a deep understanding of the sport, solidifying her status as a genuine baseball enthusiast.
The author arrived at the convention late on Friday, missing a portion of the day’s activities. A scenic drive from Central New Jersey with the top down was unfortunately marred by severe pollen allergies, leading to a weekend of discomfort. Despite this, the author was able to watch the same Subway Series game on television and witnessed Tanaka’s brief appearance before his subsequent placement on the disabled list.
The author lamented the limited time available for meaningful conversations with fellow attendees and expressed regret for missing certain panels and the opportunity to connect with Otabrew. The All Off concert on Saturday night was described as a standard, hour-long performance, similar to Marina Kawano’s concert on Sunday morning.
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The dealer’s room at AnimeNEXT maintained its modest yet comprehensive layout from the previous year. A peculiar configuration required exiting through the back of the room and entering the game room, with badge control in place. The game room featured an array of rhythm game cabinets and Gundam Pods. Amidst helping friends set up in the game room late at night, a fire alarm was unexpectedly pulled in the ACCC.
The incident, occurring around 12:30 AM, caused a disruption. While no significant damage occurred, the author missed the opportunity to play the Gundam Pod game without a queue, as there had been no line earlier. Similarly, the desire to play Taiko was thwarted by the presence of only one machine and extensive wait times throughout the weekend.
Returning to Marina Kawano’s events, the author joined the queue for her 1 PM concert and panel. Her schedule was generally relaxed, with no events commencing before 11 AM. On Saturday, she hosted a meet-and-greet at her booth in the exhibit hall, where CDs, merchandise, and autographed items were available. Purchasing $40 worth of merchandise granted a “cheki” ticket, which the author utilized twice on Saturday and once on Sunday. Autograph sessions were held on Saturday and an impromptu one on Sunday following her panel.
#AnimeNEXT2018 Thank you for your comming! I’m happy to meet you! Let’s have fun tomorrow!
??????????????????????????????????????????NieR?2B?????????????????????????????????? #???????? pic.twitter.com/4ak8nrK2zX— ????? 5/25????????? (@Marina148cm) June 9, 2018
The concert and panel took place simultaneously in the Main Events hall. The turnout was modest, with approximately 50 attendees. The concert commenced promptly at 1 PM with “Morning Arch,” catching many off guard. Despite the upbeat nature of the songs, the audience remained seated for the most part.
The performance lasted about an hour. At certain points, the main speakers interfered with the vocals. This issue culminated in the final song, where the vocals were entirely absent, necessitating a technical break. During the MC segments, Kawano’s English proficiency was admirable, though she relied on the convention interpreter. A humorous instance occurred when she mistakenly used the word “transformer” instead of “translator.”
MC?????(translator)??????????????????I need transformer!????????????????????????????????????????
????????????????? #???????? #AnimeNEXT2018 pic.twitter.com/lp0o7Mawig
— ????? 5/25????????? (@Marina148cm) June 10, 2018
The entire Sunday event was streamed on AnimeNEXT’s Twitch channel, with the video archived for a period.
Beyond baseball, Kawano’s panel touched upon her upbringing in a sports-oriented family and her childhood participation in various sports. She was a member of the girls’ softball team, playing right field, which contributed to the inclusion of “#9” in her online moniker. Her transition to a music career stemmed from her passion and desire to pursue it professionally. As a fan of anime, she acknowledged reading some of the series she contributed music to, such as the Monogatari series, viewing anisong tie-ins as a direct form of engagement with the works. She also mentioned frequenting Meiji Jingu to watch baseball games, indicating a significant portion of her panel was dedicated to the sport.
In a personal anecdote, the author wore an IM@S baseball jersey on Saturday, which Kawano noticed during their cheki photo. On Sunday, she referred to the author as “IDOLM@STER-san,” a nickname the author found acceptable given the intention. This marked the second such nickname received from a convention guest this year.
As an aside, the author indulged in a celebratory dinner at Gordon Ramsay’s, describing it as a highlight of the weekend. While acknowledging the high cost, the author found the expensive pub fare at the Atlantic City casino resort to be surprisingly palatable, exceeding expectations compared to similar establishments in Las Vegas. The beef wellington was particularly recommended.
The duck confit poutine was deemed quite good but lacking in cheese curds, suggesting a need for a doubled portion. The weekend concluded with an early dinner at Wingcraft, where the author tried the poutine burger. While the burger itself was decent, the bun reportedly detracted from the subtle flavors of the poutine, leading to a less-than-stellar overall experience.
