UlasanAnime.com – As the schedule for NYCC/NYAF unfolded, a realization struck: beyond the usual impressive Japanese guests, the anime presence felt somewhat diminished this year. This observation, while subjective, becomes more apparent when examining the overall convention panel scheduling. While San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) might have a less prominent anime programming track and a smaller artist alley representation, the focus here is on NYCC/NYAF. The article posits that a significant portion of anime convention artist alleys often feature repetitive merchandise, with many vendors selling character art that treads a fine line of trademark infringement. The prevalent designs often feature overused internet memes, a trend the author finds predictable and uninspired.
Instead, the author expresses a preference for the non-anime selections, believing they often showcase more original creations. There’s a positive note regarding Makoto Shinkai’s growing international recognition, with the author suggesting that Comix Wave should leverage this opportunity. The prospect of a new work from a fresh artist is also mentioned, though it’s unclear if it warrants a special trip. The combination of female directors and science fiction is highlighted as a potentially potent mix.
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Despite these reservations, the author intends to visit familiar NYAF staples like Ryu Moto and his collaborator bkub. The author admits a fondness for bkub’s art without a clear explanation, even humorously noting it might be a “problem.” A sketch of Deadpool purchased from them last year now adorns the author’s bathroom, a placement deemed fitting. The hope is to find something new this year, though a single day visit might make catching the artists a challenge, potentially requiring a proxy purchase. A mention of Hanamoto’s art is made, with a lighthearted remark about its potential to be misconstrued.
In preparation for the convention, the author has been working on a Home Theater PC (HTPC). The investment, around $80 after rebates, involved repurposing components from an older system. While a cheaper setup might have been possible, the author values the speed of SSDs and the necessity of HDMI output on video cards, which older models lacked. The author also finally tested Crunchyroll’s Boxee app. A persistent bug had prevented premium content playback for paying customers for about a month, and a workaround proved ineffective. A fix was eventually implemented, as announced by a developer on the Crunchyroll forums.
The Crunchyroll experience on Boxee is described as akin to using a browser pointed at the Crunchyroll website, with the primary benefit being a TV-optimized interface that simplifies navigation. The author is looking into getting their Dinovo mini’s media playback buttons to function correctly, possibly by installing drivers. The possibility of enabling “wake on Bluetooth keyboard” is also mentioned as a desirable feature. Despite occasional playback hiccups, the convenience of watching Crunchyroll on a TV is deemed acceptable, especially considering the aging hardware being used.
Furthermore, DirectX Video Acceleration (DXVA) is praised for its effectiveness, offering benefits similar to 10-bit video without the complexity of transcoding for portable devices. The author concludes with a plea for a 10-bit supported version of AviSynth to streamline their workflow.
The article ends with an open invitation for fellow attendees to meet up at the convention, acknowledging that plans are tentative but could lead to an enjoyable experience.
