AnimeNEXT
| AnimeNEXT | |
|---|---|
| File:Animenext.png | |
| Location(s) | Meadowlands Exposition Center and Holiday Inn Meadowlands Secaucus, NJ |
| Website | http://www.animenext.org |
AnimeNEXT is a fan convention for anime and manga enthusiasts. It is an annual three-day event held over a weekend in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area. The first event was held in 2002 in October, but later moved to June in 2004. The event is organized by Universal Animation, Inc., a non-profit organization incorporated in the state of New York. The official tagline of AnimeNEXT is "the next evolution of anime conventions".
The convention features Japanese creators of anime and manga, voice actors from anime series, artists, vendors and exhibits, panels, workshops, and gaming. Events all focus on aspects of anime, manga, and Japanese culture. With the popularity of anime and manga growing in the 1990's and 2000's, anime conventions have seen great growth in their attendance, and AnimeNEXT is no exception. Organized and financed by a non-profit organization, the event is operated and staffed entirely by unpaid volunteers.
History
AnimeNEXT 2002
The first AnimeNEXT anime convention was in October 2002 and held at the Crowne Plaza Meadowlands in Secaucus, New Jersey. The event's Guest of Honor was Kia Asamiya, and drew 1071 attendees from the area.
AnimeNEXT 2003
In October 2003, AnimeNEXT moved to the Rye Town Hilton of Rye Brook in Westchester County, New York. Although the move placed the event in the state of New York, it actually was 30 miles further from New York City than the previous year. Despite the move outside of metropolitan area, AnimeNEXT saw a 50% increase in attendance to 1571. Making his first appearance at an anime convention, the Guest of Honor was Takehiko Ito, creator of Outlaw Star. The event also featured was Voice Actor James Arnold Taylor, who was making his anime convention debut.
For the first time, the event also had musical guests as the Japanese Punk band, Peelander-Z and techno music band, Cosmicity performed.
AnimeNEXT 2004
In 2004, AnimeNEXT returned to the Crowne Plaza Meadowlands in Secaucus, New Jersey. The month of the event also changed to June, allowing for more students to attend the event. As a result, attendance swelled as over 3200 fans descended upon the Meadowlands. This was the first year that AnimeNEXT did not have a Japanese Guest of Honor in attendance. Fans were excited about the attendance of Richard Cox and Moneca Stori, the voices of InuYasha and Kagome respectively, from Cartoon Network's hit series, InuYasha. Also in attendance was Matt K. Miller, the voice of Tenchi Masaki in the popular Tenchi Muyo! series.
AnimeNEXT 2005
After the event in 2004 AnimeNEXT announced that the event would be relocating to a larger venue in 2005. The organizers targeted the Meadowlands Exposition Center in New Jersey as the site of the next event.
The convention announced two Japanese Guests of honor: Director Akitaro Daichi and Voice Actress Reiko Yasuhara. Notable voice guests included lead characters from Fullmetal Alchemist: Vic Mignogna (Edward Elric, Fullmetal Alchemist), Caitlin Glass (Winry Rockbell), and Travis Willingham (Roy Mustang, the Flame Alchemist) (their second panel and the showing of Mignogna's con-only short film Fullmetal Fantasy on Saturday being the most attended of the convention). Also in attendance were actors from One Piece: Marc Diraison (Roronoa Zolo) and Kerry Williams (Nami).
An interesting side note: Peelander-Z, a Japanese punk band based out of NYC has been performing at AnimeNEXT for the past three out of four years (including AnimeNEXT 2005), and the convention is the band's official sponsor for their Northeast mini-tour, the Mr. "P"-tour.
AnimeNEXT 2006
The fifth incarnation of AnimeNEXT occured June 16-18 at the same venue as the previous year, the Meadowlands Exposition Center and nearby Holiday Inn Meadowlands. Notable guests in attendance were Vic Mignogna, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Laura Bailey, Lauren Goodnight, Bill Rogers, Kari Wahlgren, Mike Pollock, Marc Thompson, Caitlin Glass, and Mike Sinterniklaas (who was invited to attend one week prior to the convention. Sinterniklaas had been invited the two previous years, but had to cancel due to prior engagements). The Japanese Guests of Honor were Rintaro, Masao Maruyama, and Harold Sakuishi. The Musical Guest was D'espairs Ray.
The future of AnimeNEXT
AnimeNEXT became the only anime convention in the New York City area in 2004. The other events that had existed (Big Apple Anime Fest, Anime Expo New York, Shoujocon, Yuricon) all went on hiatus. AnimeNEXT's status among anime conventions in the future will depend somewhat on the status of the other local events in the area. Onna!, a joint event by the founders of Shoujocon and Yuricon, was held in 2005 as a one-time event.
Manga Library
AnimeNEXT is the first Anime Convention to employ a Manga Library. Here attendees enter a quiet room and submit their Convention Pass as a collateral to borrow a manga to read within the confines of the library. It has become popular and AnimeNEXT has taken the library on the road to other conventions.
AnimeNEXT Notes
- Since the first AnimeNEXT in 2002, the convention had exclusive premier episodes of InuYasha prior to their airing on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim. They featured the uncut original opening and closing themes with Japanese text, eyecatches and production time counter. It became a annual event at the conclusion of the convention on Sundays. The episode Shippo Accepts an Angry Challenge was declared by AnimeNEXT as the most popular episode and was aired two years in a row. With the series' run nearing its run in America, AnimeNEXT 2006 was the last year the InuYasha premieres were held, showing up until episode 163 as to not spoil the ending too early to attendees.
- Viz Media has the most appearances at AnimeNEXT.
- The popular anime series at AnimeNEXT are InuYasha, Fullmetal Alchemist and Naruto. All three shows often cosplayed by attendees.