Category: AnimeNEXT

AnimeNEXT 2013: Guests

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It is so nice to be able to have a whole section on guests for AnimeNEXT again. I missed being able to see people like Kenji Kamiyama or Harold Sakuishi and not have to go several states over and spend lots of money I don’t have. This year Sayo Yamamoto and Hiroshi Shimizu were a special treat. Sayo Yamamoto’s two major directorial credits are Michiko to Hatchin and Lupin III: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine which are both extremely nice bullet points to have on your CV. She has also storyboarded some extremely visually inventive animation like both openings to Arakawa Under the Bridge and the Attack on Titan ending. Hiroshi Shimizu on the other hand has been a key animator on more anime than some fans have ever seen in their lives.

At the same time on the American front I am sure several people I know were super sad that they were not able to attend a convention where Mike Toole was a guest. Lets put it this way: As people are getting their panels rejected left and right for Otakon more often than a case of Near Beer at Oktoberfest it seems that Mike Toole had his panels auto-accepted as soon as they were submitted. I think that fairly well sums up his status as a respected commentator on anime.

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AnimeNEXT 2013: Panels and Events

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It is funny. I decided to take a short little break after finishing my general impressions post and look and see what other people were talking about when it came to AnimeNEXT this year. And funnily enough there was a video review of the event that mentioned that the panel selection this year was really weak. I on the other hand thought there was a fairly strong turnout this year. Other than one panel I really enjoyed the selection this year. While I don’t think AnimeNEXT has the reputation for panels like Otakon or Anime Weekend Atlanta they do have a good selection that includes everything from high-minded academic ruminations and feminist theory discussions to fun video panels and dynamic guest panels.

And this year so many less “Me and my friend’s answer dumb questions in character while cosplaying”  panels which I HATE so very much. So what panels did I go see that this review so clearly missed out on?

Just in case you were wondering I am saving Mike Toole, Sayo Yamamoto, and Hiroshi Shimizu for the next post that just talks about the guests of the convention.

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AnimeNEXT 2013: General Impressions

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I usually have a very unified impression of a convention. A single thread or theme tends to pop out to tie these general impressions posts around. But oddly enough this year I will say that each day felt very different. I can’t think of a convention that I attended where I could so easily separate my feelings of the experience into such distinct and finite categories. Usually each day blends together and creates a unified if slightly blurry memory. But each day at AnimeNEXT 2013 for one reason or another had its own feel.

This was not really the fault or goal of AnimeNEXT. It was more the coincidence of my choices plus purely chaotic elements that led to that impression as opposed to any particular planning on my part or that of the convention staff. It was just an odd kismet that led to this occurring. (Unless the AnimeNEXT has a strange combination of weather machines, mind control rays, and a TARDIS. And in that case they should REALLY be using those devices for something much grander than segmenting my personal con experience.)

Friday was the chilly day full of rain where I mostly went to other people’s panels and explored Artists Alley and the Dealers room. Saturday had moderate weather and I focused more on my own panels but also got sidetracked by other things. Sunday was just centered around events with Sayo Yamamoto and Hiroshi Shimizu. There was a little overlap with these themes as some days had elements of the other days but overall they did little to deter from the fact that all three days had very signature vibes. I can’t say that was really a good thing or a bad thing. It just was how it was.

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