New York Anime Festival & New York Comic Con

Gonzai · Post by **Gonzai** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 11:53 am

Ok, so I happened to be browsing a list of the biggest
Anime Cons in the US, and I see that New York Anime
Festival ranked #3 on the list last year after AX and
Otakon. This seemed very strange to me, since I
don't believe I have ever heard anyone post about it
on the board before. Now I see that they are combing
with New York Comic Con and having the conventions
on the same weekend. Between them, that is close
to 100,000 people, yet I have never heard anything
about either one.

So, has anyone here ever been to NYAF or NYCC??
What was it like? I have a friend who lives in NY
and has been wanting me to come out, so I was just
wondering if I should make it the weekend of the
cons. I just don't want to go if they suck.

Shampoo · Post by **Shampoo** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 12:22 pm

Ray's been to it before, I think 2ice in the past.
(Thou one of them was called Anime Expo NYC if I remember correctly..??)

He seemed to like it as he spoke fondly about it when I asked at the time.

I'll have to prod him after work about what it was like and the crowds.

Lucky SOB got to meet Murakami at one of them.

*jealous*

Gonzai · Post by **Gonzai** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 2:36 pm

I am totally surprised that it has never been mentioned on
the board before. Well, at least not that I have seen. I
would think an event that normally brings in almost as
many attendees as Otakon would have had some cel
collectors. Now, throw NYCC in the mix, how would you
not want to check it out - at least once. @_@

Sounds like Ray liked it, which has just piqued my
curiosity even more. Anyone else ever go and have
anything to say about it?? ^_^

Also, if you have never gone before, would you go, or
would the fact it is in downtown Manhatten turn you off??

syan · Post by **syan** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 7:41 pm

I went to NYAF in 2008 since Yoshitaka Amano was a guest. It had a large number of people recorded, but it didn't seem anywhere close to topping AX or Otakon. The con itself was only on one side of the Javits Center, so it was crowded since there wasn't much space.

Part of the inconvenience of the con for me was the location of the convention center - no hotels nearby. Or maybe nothing cheap; I can't remember to be honest. If you're staying with a friend, that's a moot point. Another annoyance to me was how they handled autographs - it was limited to 50 tickets per guest session, which were handed out to people in line when the doors to the con opened on the day of the autograph session.

Due to another collector here prodding me to ask if I could get an autograph without a ticket was I able to get my Amano autograph when the staffer caved and let me in.

Unless NYAF had a guest I really wanted to see, I probably wouldn't go again. In comparison to Otakon, which I go to annually, the dealers room was maybe a quarter of the size; there wasn't as much anime showing; and limited number of panels.

Shampoo · Post by **Shampoo** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 7:41 pm

I just asked and he says when he went it was either 99' or 00'
so the con was rather small. It was more like the size of that
Atlanta con we all went to (AWA?).
It was located in a hotel right smack in Midtown near Time Square area
so getting around was no prob and plenty of eateries and things
to do afterwards.
Honestly, I'd go just to kill the afternoon at the anime-con
and spend the evening and wee morning hrs rockin in the city.

Shopping+foodies+booze > anime

LOL!!

Gonzai · Post by **Gonzai** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 8:46 pm

Thanks for the info Syan. The con is the 3rd largest anime
con, however, this year it is combining with New York Comic
Con, which brings in about 80,000 people. If you buy a
ticket to Anime Festival you get admission to Comic Con
and vice versa. They are taking up the whole convention
center this year. I think it might be kind of interesting,
however, if there is no hotels near by, that would suck.
Although I have a hard time picturing downtown Manhattan
and no hotels. Must have been the cost thing. Of course,
staying at the JW Marriot at AX this year isn't exactly cheap.

syan · Post by **syan** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 10:15 pm

Using the whole convention center would be nice! I think there was a health fair going on in the other half, so it was definitely different crowds in that building.

The hotel issue probably was cost - that was the same year I bought my house and moved, so my funds were diverted.

I know it was a quick taxi ride back and forth.

I'd still be interested to see who they're bringing for guests this year. There are a couple people I'd be willing to travel to see no matter.

oxypetalus · Post by **oxypetalus** » Sat Sep 11, 2010 11:35 am

I'm thinking of going. I might be able to get a Press pass through a club at my school out on Long Island. Anyone else know if they're going for sure? I heard a certain cel dealer from Japan will be selling sketches and cels there. I've always wanted to see what it was like to browse a selection of cels in real life.

Kata · Post by **Kata** » Sat Sep 11, 2010 11:46 am

I wanted to go for many years, but never was able to go due to living so far away from it.

I don't know if I can make it this year, but if I am I will be going with a few of my friends that live around me to NY. It all depends on though. I wont know if I go until probably the week of.

Sue · Post by **Sue** » Sun Sep 19, 2010 2:23 am

I'll be there. I've never gone in 4 years I've lived here and figured I should go at least once before I move away. Plus J. Scott Campbell is going to be there. Yay!~

Killua · Post by **Killua** » Sun Sep 19, 2010 8:53 am

I'm going to be there... as a dealer!

One of my friends talked me into it so we have a 10x10 foot booth. It's booth number 2966, Eclectic Collectibles. We'll be selling vintage action figures, both loose and MOC, various collectible cards and other toys, thousands of anime/geekish keychains, and handcrafted DnD merchandise and amigurumi. We'll also have a really wide selection of animation art, both American and Japanese.

Here's the map to our booth. So please come and stop by!

Black Johnson · Post by **Black Johnson** » Wed Sep 22, 2010 1:48 pm

I will be there this year. I might as well, since I live in NY. It sucks that I will have to go after working at night though. I have a funny costume in store for maybe day one or all the days of the con.

Killua, I will definitely have to check your booth out! I like the Berserk cels and Metropolis dougas.

Killua · Post by **Killua** » Thu Sep 30, 2010 2:55 pm

I'm going to be having original art from the following American shows:

Ren & Stimpy
Doug
Rugrats
Real Monsters
Aeon Flux
Beavis and Butthead
Rocko's Modern World
The Land Before Time

And a few more you'll see if you come to my booth.

Black Johnson · Post by **Black Johnson** » Thu Sep 30, 2010 3:00 pm

All of those cartoons you mentioned I love! Save all the good stuff for me! LOL

oxypetalus · Post by **oxypetalus** » Thu Sep 30, 2010 8:25 pm

Killua wrote:I'm going to be having original art from the following American shows:

Ren & Stimpy
Doug
Rugrats
Real Monsters
Aeon Flux
Beavis and Butthead
Rocko's Modern World
The Land Before Time

And a few more you'll see if you come to my booth.

Ohh, I just confirmed that I'm going. I like all those shows :3 I esp want to see your Aeon Flux cels though!