Pictorial and Review
Photos and Review by Anna Fischer

Anime Next is now in it’s 5th year, and surprisingly still hangs on that
small con feel despite its substantial growth over the years. Logistics have
vastly improved since 2005, with Anime Next’s decision to only have main
events and the dealer’s room on the vast open curtained hall of the expo
center. So while not a complete solution to the open-air noise problems it’s
certainly getting better. On noise, I’ve heard complaints that people
sitting in the back of main events were unable to hear what was being said
or played. I’m not sound engineer enough to offer a solution, but it’s
something I hope is addressed if they continue to use this space in the future.

Having only a few side rooms for panels in the side room of the Expo center
this pushed a lot of the panels and screenings outward in to the sounding
hotels. I think this may have reduced attendance to certain events, I
personally noticed the panels inside the expo center were better attended
then those out side. But I feel the improved acoustics, and more comfortable
seating is well worth the short walk.

As in previous years this years panels at Anime Next continued to be plagued
by speaker no shows. However the panels where the speakers did show were all
excellent, informative and well planed. Some of the last minute replacement
speakers were passable if a little under prepared, however as Anime Next
continues to grow I think the attendees are less forgiving of it’s small con
foibles, and are expecting a more professional performance out of them.

AnimeNext is at an awkward in-between phase. It’s the only convention
serving the heavily populated New York New Jersey area, but was conceived as
and is still run like a small con. In the near future Anime Next staff is
going to have to make some major decisions about where they are taking this
convention. The con is in a good position to become one of the larger anime
cons, and its attendance has defiantly been on a steep incline after the
disappearances of the other NY area conventions Shoujocon and BAAF. However
this would involve a lot more programming and logistical effort as well as a
change in venue. Bigger isn’t necessarily better, many fans would like Anime
Next to start capping attendance, and working to keep the small con feel
they started out with. The majority of the attendees are local to the
convention area, so the sense of community is strong at Anime Next. Unlike a
lot of conventions the people you meet at Anime Next you often run in to
again out side of the concircut. Either way I know I will enjoy seeing what
AnimeNext decides to become over the coming years.
Check later to see some of the footage we took of the event!