Ever since they stopped holding the New York Anime Festival there had been two repeated complaints at the feedback panels at New York Comic Con. The first is people recounting their Walking Dead horror stories and the second is people wondering was why is there was not more anime and manga content. I admit most of the time when pressed people wanted American voice actors and ignored the few Japanese productions guests that attended the convention but at least it was an interest in seeing more anime and manga. The general anime blogging community might have written off the event but the fans still felt like they might get their slice of the pie at New York Comic Con. This year New York Comic Con came with a far better selection. Enough to make most fans take notice.

Having Takeshi Obata, the US premiere of the 25th episode of Kill La Kill, and The Kakehashi Project would be a slightly underwhelming if it were the only guests at Otakon but an amazing lineup for any medium-sized convention. In the case of New York Comic Con it shows a solid commitment to getting fans of Japanese popular culture the material they have been asking for. I for one was very happy with the lineup. It let me get a solid about of anime and manga content each day while still letting me indulge my other geeky hobbies as well. Exactly what I wanted.

 Last year, at the NYCC feedback panel there was a resounding plea for better anime and manga content beyond basic industry panels. I’m happy to say that NYCC listened, or maybe the anime and manga companies realized the potential again, either way us fans were reaping the benefits this year.

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 As much as there is still a certain sentiment of there being “no anime and manga content at New York Comic Con,” there are still a good deal of anime and manga companies in attendance and plenty of casual fans who show up to the convention looking to see what is being presented. The companies at the convention have an opportunity to connect with a part of the fandom that might otherwise not know what is going on outside of the most popular titles.

Therefore, while New York Comic Con might not get the announcement blitz of a convention like Anime Expo, the anime and manga companies tend to save some of their bigger cards for the convention to play to a larger audience.

 Anime and manga is just part of the larger pie of New York Comic Con, much like the big West Coast show in San Diego. It is the biggest thing going on on the East Coast so you better believe anime and manga companies are turning out and playing up their new announcements as much as anyone else. There were the usually licenses of new and recent anime and manga but also some big surprises during the con as well.

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