Oh I hope people go.
I wanna see what comes of this

No news on the Masquerade either. I doubt they'll drop another $10,000 grand prize.

>>mfw I was planning on making this my first AX

FUCK

>stonerplank

>Not going for free just to cosplay and see friends

I go every year, I just never pay for anything but parking and I always have a great time.

>>5782483
Oh that said though, anyone getting those annoying emails like
>"Reason #254 you should attend Anime Expo!"

I also got an email "inviting" me to be a part of artists alley, by someone who was pretending to love my work oooh soo much.
And of course at the end of the email they were like
>"You can have this amazing opportunity for only 100-something dollars!"

LOL

>2012
>Still being butthurt about being fired from an anime convention

Go away Chase Wang

Still gonna go because I like to cosplay and its a big event. I am worried about parking though ngl. I usually park at the hotel im at for extra though... (jw Marriot). Costs an ass ton but I can afford it.

I have too much fun doing cosplay chess, AX Idol and Last Comic Standing in addition to meeting new people and cosplaying to stop going

this is clearly some kind of butthurt thread. i bet the OP is Hakaider from cosplay.com since that guy is a massive anti-anime expo douchebag. seriously who gives a flying fuck that the x-games will be there.

>>5782911
This. It may make parking and transportation an ass but its not going to OMG RUIN the whole convention.

>>5782298
I got my AX tickets a few days before I found out about the games on the same weekend.
It's going to be my first big con (I live in New Zealand, but will be in SF in June/July, I was so excited that it coincided), and now I'm just really scared it'll be a bad experience. :(

Haha yeah this among other reasons is why I don't regularly go to this con. I'll be parking at a friend's nearby business in their private lot for free

(it's the only way i'd ever go to that part of LA)

>>5782948
Everyone last year said AX was going to suck, I went and I had a great time. I'll go this year, and I know I'll have a great time.
Conventions are what you make of it. If you're expecting only the worst you're going to have a bad time since you're only looking for flaws. If you're there to have fun and a great time, that's what will happen.

So just go and have fun, have a great time.

>>5782965
Thanks. :) I know you're right, and I bet you'll have an incredible time. I suppose it doesn't help that I was already super nervous what with this being only my second time in America and first time in LA!
I'm going to do my best to go into it with an open mind and not freak myself out. I'm my own worst enemy!

What do people even do at anime cons other than cosplay? It doesn't seem like your average con could afford to fly out a roster of hundreds of industry guests from Japan...

This totally reminds me of when people were boycotting the fact that it was going to be in downtown LA citing health risks and fear of being shot. Then everyone remembered downtown LA cleaned up a lot. I highly doubt the mere presence of the X Games is going to change much.

lol u mad bro

>Implying presence of x-games just makes me more excited

I love the idea of two entertainment cultures colliding, especially when they attract roughly the same age group. Sucks for parking, but I'm flying in and a mile or so walk isn't gonna bum me out. My hotels are only a few blocks away anywho.

I opted to make Fanime my big con for this year instead of AX. I've been to AX for about 6 years in a row, and I figure it wouldn't hurt to try another big con, and I've heard good things about Fanime as well.

I'm worried that both of the cons still haven't posted much info on musical/industry guests(Yeah, I go to cons for more than cosplay), and something I think AX excels in is getting pretty solid performers. Not the least bit interested in LiSA tbh, So I'm holding out. If they announce any guests I'm interested in, I figure I'll buy a day pass. But no 4 day hotel experience this time around.

>>5783872
That's actually a really good way of looking at it. I've just been nervous about how they will react to weird kids in costume/lolita, but maybe we're ~not so different~ after all.

New Zealand anon, you sound adorable.

I hope AX is a good experience for you and don't let the douchebags ruin the con experience for you!

I don't see how X-Games could be any worse than the Michael Jackson memorial...and that wasn't very bad at all.

I was at Siggraph a few weeks after AX a couple years ago (also held in the convention center) while the x-games were going on.

It was a fucking ghost town.

I don't think we have much to worry about, I really think we're going to outnumber the x-game bros by a huge majority.

>>5784347
The Michael Jackson memorial was held after AX and there were no crowds outside just few people who went down without tickets, oh and the world's press.

At least AX looks better on paper right now while Fanime is shitting itself over no musical guests and trying to run a steampunk con the same weekend

Parking situation is going to suck. But it could potentially be interesting. You never know, some of the people in for the X-games could take interest in AX and come check out the con.

>> Driving to AX from Phoenix
>> Already got my hotel room booked
>> Gonna buy my tickets either tonight or later this week

Ill be the fat fuck filming the macabre show with William Draven

>X-Games, OH FUCK PARKING
I've never had a problem with that. Show up at 10AM at the convention center parking and it's $10 for all-day (I usually leave at 11PM or midnight)
>Roads closed OH FUCK
SHIT 5 more minutes of driving! Kill me, please.
Google, mapquest, GPS. These are your friends for finding an alternate route. I never use any of those roads anyway.
It's pretty easy to get there if you're coming from south of LA. I can post directions if you like
>Well, this year will suck
Maybe, maybe not. It's gonna be tough to beat Miku and (getting rid of) 24-hour movies
>
My only problem has been food prices, but that's just a little bitching about something small.
I'll be running a mail service on Day 3, from noon until 6PM. If anyone wants to bring me cookies, feel free! <3

>haven't done shit yet
>might drive, might take amtrak down
>free tickets and i crash at my friends house so it's cheap as fuck for me

>That feel when ASUX

I miss Fanboy Bebop....

Also, Anime Expo has been a shit con ever since they cracked down on the fansub community in the mid 2000's.

I remember my first AX in 1999.

One of the video rooms was showing a crummy VHS copy of the Ruroni Kenshin OVA's, fansubbed (with those old bright yellow fuzzy subs. Classic. haha)

Other rooms were showing anime that never even made it to the states. This tradition continued in AX's later years in the form of the "Rainbow Room" like at LBCC, showing subbed anime not commercially available yet, and doing midnight runs of the more risque shows.

As an animation fan, I felt lucky I got to see shows I would have never otherwise gotten to see. To experience anime as an artform, like the original intent of the convention.

The panels have been mostly awful in the last few years. Especially ever since Pioneer left the anime industry and never lent out their equipment to the convention anymore.

The cost of the convention is comparable to comic con....but at AX you only get 1/10'th the content of comic con for the same price. Also, only 1/10'th the organizational skills.

-con't

>>5785268

It feels like the convention I loved had died in 2005, and some other entity has been wearing it's corpse since around 2008-2011 masquerading as the old convention that I used to love.

I don't know who runs the damn convention anymore. I'm just a fan of the convention, or was, who over time saw the drastic decline in the quality of the convention. The decline started almost EXACTLY the year the heads of the anime localization companies (like Viz, Funi, ect ect) got a seat of power on the AX council. Letting corporate policy dictate convention policy. (Such examples would be "If it's not for sale in the dealers hall, it's not allowed to be shown in the video rooms).

I used to love this con. I think it needs to be toppled and something new needs to take it's place, however.

Or perhaps, maybe the anime industry/fandom needs to go back to being more underground like it used to be in the west. The community as a whole was better when the anime companies and the fans themselves saw each other as equals and mutual fans.

Maybe I just need to make my own convention...

>>5785268
lol what, i spend a lot more on comic con each year than ax

>>5784320
Thanks so much, Anon. I'm 90% sure it'll be incredible, I've just got to convince the other 10%!

>>5785289

You get more bang for your buck at Comic Con than AX.

Look at the events/panels/hosts/guests/schedule/dealers hall of CC.

Then look at AX's.

>>5785311
depends on your interests, i guess. i'm not a huge comics or tv fan so i have more fun at ax with the concerts and panels and for less money. i spend very little in the dealers halls of both because i buy most of my stuff online.

>>5785283
Trust me, running your own con is very, VERY troublesome. The plus side is that if you start planning now, you might be ready to open by 2015.

>>5785348
>you might be ready to open by 2015.

Not a bad idea, and in truth, that's not that far away. Though I'd rather run a publishing/localization company instead. Something with a more "for fans" approach to it, I guess.

I just want people to appreciate Anime as an artform again.

AX went out of it's way to turn the whole fandom as soulless as possible, and now it's entire premise as a convention is bankrupt (both literally and figuratively).

Doing things for profit is not evil. But you can't just keep going full retard with it so long without backlash and disinterest setting in. (see: Capcom)

AX went from being the greatest anime festival and community gathering in the states, to one of the worst marketing time share events in the entire community, that has lost it's identity.

The only value of the convention now is to cosplay in the halls.

i guess my convention standards are pretty low if i enjoy ax even after going to sdcc for many years beforehand

>>5785447

If you have only been going to AX for the last 5 or so years, you never saw the convention at it's best.

I guess I'm just jaded because I've seen AX go through it's changes.

>>5785470
>>5785387
Sage for no contribution to this thread, but it bothers me that you aren't using the correct form of possessive "its" and kept using "it's (it is)". You make a valid point, but the grammatical error is taking away from your argument.

>>5785570

It's like 3am, if you're wondering about the errors.

Though that does make me realize I should have proof read a bit more (but fuck it, it's 4chan)

Bump

There may not be many guests listed, but they'll always have a handful of good panels each day.

These questions is for AX (or any con) veterans.
What panels were your favorites?
Which ones were shitty?
How can I avoid wasting my time at a shit panel?

>>5785311
Depends on what you go for.

SDCC is a huge money sink for me because I have to stay in a hotel (I'm local to AX) and I basically only go to cons anymore for cosplay, and to cosplay. Cosplay is almost nonexistant at SDCC compared to AX.
Plus its just one huge clusterfuck. I'm not a big enough fan of ANYTHING to warrant going to SDCC really, so AX is much better for me.

>>5787467
Uh, unless literally every attendee of AX is a cosplayer, you're misinformed about SDCC. There's a shitton of cosplay there every year.

>>5787540
Compared to the volume of people out of costume? No, there really isn't.

AX is like 80% cosplay. SDCC is like 10%. I've been to both multiple times, I'm not just pulling this out of my ass.

SDCC is the only place I've had people actually ask "What are you dressed up for?" ugh ..

>>5787543
Your comparisons are heavily flawed. AX pulled about 45,000 attendees last year, whereas SDCC had over 125,000. Sure, the PERCENTAGE of cosplayers is probably lower at SDCC, but I'd bet my sewing machine the NUMBER was higher.

I wouldn't mind going to AX, but flying from DC to LA plus hotel costs, then having to turn around and spend money at Otakon in a few weeks.

My wallet would collapse into a gravitational singularity at the thought of doing all that.

>>5787543
like half of the so-called "cosplay" at AX is closet cosplay and fags running around in Naruto headbands and cat ears. i haven't been to SDCC but i seriously doubt that's the case at a con that's not an anime con

>>5787600
Awesome, then I hope you have fun taking pictures at SDCC
>>5787543
Awesome, then I hope you have fun dressing up at AX

>>5787446
I STILL WANT THESE ANSWERED! How do I avoid shitty panels?

>>5787564
But the percentage is what matters to me lol. Like I said, I'm not a big fan of anything represented at SDCC, that coupled with the fact that I have to pay for a hotel and then end up getting asked why I'm dressed up by normalfags is why I prefer AX. If you like SDCC better then good for you ..?

>>5787600
actually like half the cosplay at sdcc is people in hallowen store batman costumes and the like. theres some impressive stuff but its few and far between.

>>5787938
hm maybe it's just universal then

oh well, just makes good costumes look better

>>5787927
Not trying to talk you into going to SDCC, just letting you know that the cosplay scene at SDCC is robust, since you seemed to think it wasn't.

>>5787958
true. with the volume of cosplay at AX i feel there's more good stuff. but that could be just because there's more to choose from and less people. with the amount of people that go to sdcc i'm pretty sure i end up missing like 3/4ths of the cosplayers actually there because its so huge.

OP I don't know what the fuck you're talking about, me and all of my friend are going, we already have a hotel walking distance from the con reserved, and it's gonna be a shit ton of fun.

>>5787980
It's true. There's also a lot fewer people who go JUST to cosplay and stand around having pictures taken - they actually go to panels and do stuff during the con - and no centralized location for cosplayers like the lobby of the LACC. It's likely just your perception of the experience.

>>5787968
I'd gone for 4 years in a row. Last time I went was 2010 and I would not by any stretch call it robust. Sorry. :\

How does AX compare with Otakon in terms of venue and generally being overcrowded? Like, is it big enough to hold everyone or is every hallway a giant chokepoint clusterfuck?

Also, how uncomfortable would a heavily layered cosplay be in the LA heat? Like, think longsleeve shirt, long pants, and possibly a trenchcoat. Unbearably heat-stroke inducing levels of hot?

>>5785311
>You get more bang for your buck at Comic Con than AX.

One could argue that Comic Con is just as "soulless" as AX. With the larger emphasis on big name movies and stars (infamous example as twilight) many people have been echoing the opinion that comic con is now just "Media Con."

Then you got super crowded hallways, panels where you need to line up 3+ hours to get a seat and a badge system where it feels like if you don't buy a badge at con for next year, you won't get in.

>>5788046
>Overcrowded?
Some areas do have lots of people. There's the main hall and west hall where a lot of people gather for photos. Hallways tend to not get overcrowded, but there's always a few people around you.
The Exhibit Hall and Artist Alley are crowded as fuck, though.
>Can I wear heavy clothing?
Check the weather. I haven't had a problem. It's pretty well air-conditioned inside and some people with shirtless/skimpy outfits say it gets chilly so they go outside to warm up.

>>5788046
You'll be super hot outside but as >>5788093
said, its very air conditioned inside. There's lots of space to be inside that's basically just cosplay areas.

>>5788067
>media con
lol this. my friends call it 'general entertainment con'
its just such a hassle. you can't go to panels unless you really plan ahead, and have the motivation to waste possibly your entire con waiting in lines for things.
its just a bunch of normalfags who decided they wanted to go to a con because they like watching tv and movies.

its bad.

>>5788150
that's only in the past couple years. up until maybe 2008/2009 comic con was still a nerd event

>>5788150
>its just a bunch of normalfags who decided they wanted to go to a con because they like watching tv and movies.

And what's wrong with that? Normalfags are way better than screaming weeaboos and are way easier to talk to as you can talk about other shit besides nerdy stuff

>>5788170
because they make it unnecessarily crowded and make the primary focus things like twilight and hollywood comic book movies instead of actual comic books?
its just not what it was originally meant to stand for, and that's sad.

this was my second option since i couldn't get into comic-con, but i'm sure it will be fun regardless. i really hope it isn't as bad as everyone's saying it will be.

if it ends up sucking, i'm really not sure what i'll be doing in california other than sitting in a hotel room and DIDNEY WORL.

I signed as a staffer. What am I in for?

>>5788291
No worries, you can just party with Matt and I.

>>5788291
DID SOMEONE SAY DIDNEY WORL?!

>>5788983
Probably a lot of telling people not to stand in the middle of hallways.

>>5789077
GIF MUTHAFUCKIN RELATED

>>5789003
so
many
shenanigans

>>5788291
I HAVE AN ANNUAL PASS TO DIDNEY WORL.
I WANNA SEE YOU THERE.

>>5789003

A fucking headache and prepare to lose your voice by Day 3 for yelling at people. Being a red vest sucks dick.

>>5787991
>we already have a hotel walking distance from the con reserved

If you're staying at the Luxe or JW Marriott, have fun spending time trying to get around the X-Games.

Anime Conji just sold itself to the devil.
http://animeconji.org/announcement.html

It also can't get any worse internall for the SPJA.
http://otakulife.net/so-long-ax-live/

>The CEO’s conduct and commentary in front of representatives of several organizations during a trip to Japan from March 20th, 2012 through April 2nd, 2012.

I can see why AX is slow in announcing GoHs.

Technically Didney Worl (Disneyworld) is in Orlando, FL and Didney Lan (Disneyland) is in California.

I spent 8 months of my life being a didney worl slave.

Im more interested in the GoH list this year than I was last year, even if it only has 2 people on it.

not sure if going this year, maybe its just me but I couldn't really find much of anything I wanted in the dealers room. so disappointed.

>Going to AX to show off costume

You can do that for cheap at ALA, PMX, and AM2. AX is the con you totally want to geek out at by buying stuff, attending panels, concerts, and various events.

Are there any panels worth going to at this convention?? No one has said anything about that

>I've gone to AX two times
>Now live in small town
>Small town has small anime con
>Like, pretty small
>It's okay, not great
>Friend and her sister want to go to AX
>Talk about how awesome it would be to volunteer and get free access to con
>Me: No.
>Friend asks why
>I cannot begin to explain the crazy shit that goes down at cons, like sexual harassment and stalkers
>She doesn't believe me and still plans on going

Our small town Anime Convention is monitored pretty well and there is pretty much a no-glomping policy and shit. They're no-nonsense, which is why I like it. Sure we have the creepers but any form of sexual harassment? Nope. They're directed out of the con.

She's seriously naive about shit like this though. I work in the mall and she doesn't believe me when I tell her just how many teens shoplift each day. She thinks just because I grew up in LA and saw a lot of violent shit growing up, that I have these 'exaggerated ideas' about how things are.

>>5789277

It depends on who is running it. The Gundam fan panel is a personal favorite of mine. I haven't gone to it for the last 2 years because AX seems to give it a shitty timeslot (right after Opening Ceremonies or during a bigger event). The industry panels can be very informative if you're into them. The GoH panels are always great if you're into them.

>>5789296

How old is your friend? She'll be fine. I have yet to be harassed by bums and drunkards when walking around downtown LA at night during AX.

As long as they still have at least two solid concerts I'll consider it good. Because god knows most of those artists will never come down to this neck of the woods without a reason like a convention.

>>5785268
the fuck? you must be one of those old lardass 40 year olds who still think fans are superior because of fansubs and other hardcore old school bullshit. here's a tip oldtimer, nobody gives a flying fuck about fansubs or watching videos at cons. There's this thing called the internet and people who go to cons do so to socialize and have fun, not to care about worthless crap like VHS fansubs.

>>5789296
why are you so fucking overprotective of your sister? let her do her own thing and experience life herself rather than being sheltered by a big puss like you.

>>5789429

This.

I would rather crash some random panel then sit in a video room if I want to kill time.

>Spending time sitting in a video room at any con

Has there ever been any anime convention that didn't have a video room?

>>5789429

You sound like an absolute douchenozzle, but I agree. Watching anime at a con was a MUCH bigger thing before you had a 24-hour turnaround time for new fansubs. I go to cons solely for cosplay and for meeting people.

not to mention things like torrents and file sharing sites. people had to use irc and that might as well been a mystic artform as far as some people were concerned. add in the ever increasing speed of internet and you don't need conventions playing shows anymore. hell, a fair number of series are streamed by crunchyroll so you can get your subs legit.

the days of the vhs tape being passed around in college has long been gone.

I already bought my ticket like a month or two after last AX to get that shit where you can cut lines or whatever, fuck waiting. I usually enjoy myself anyway since I like the music and meeting with friends. I figure they'll invite some nice musical guests and announce them in the next month. Also last year the tabletop room said they would get mahjong for the next year so.. AX this year already sounds exciting to me.

Oh yeah, and I can buy the new Tanto Cuore set that I'm too lazy to order online. I wish I wasn't too lazy to make costumes, but it's a pain so I won't.

>>5789140
hduhdufwehdfew YES OUI SI
fuck it's too early for my brain to function, but any other way you can say yes.

>>5789161
i'm bringing elmo anyway

>>5789597

>Buying a Premier Pass

Hahahaha oh my sides

I personally don't understand the ruckus. Someone sum up for me in a short paragraph or checklist just what's wrong with AX/attending AX.

>>5790377
there's been a lot of changing of staff and general fuckery by AX higher-ups. 2009 had a positive net income (as declared on their IRS forms, +$100k I think), 2010 had a slight negative (think it was -$50k), and 2011 isn't available yet. Depending on how 2011 and 2012 go you can say whether or not it is a downwards trend. Also by guest listing but since we're about two months out nothing can really be said yet. The next couple weeks will be important as this is when we knew of Kalafina, Miku concerts.

Its my first year going to AX, I wanted to go because of the Miku concert last year, then someone tells me that theres no Miku concert this year...

>>5789597
Mahjong you say... This might be salvageable, but then again if I start playing mahjong again I might end up losing another bet before AX...

>>5790590
Repeat appearances by Japanese guests and musical talent is very rare because of the costs involved. It isn't unheard of but it is definitely uncommon. If you ever see a guest you really want to see, you'd better find a way to get there.

Im flying out to phoenix and driving with a few friends, bought my 4 day pass and booked my hotel already. Deal with it.

No Miku for a few reasons:

1. They had to hijack the Nokia Theatre for 2 days to set up for the Miku concert, and that cost AX way too much as I understand it. The Nokia theatre is being used exclusively by X Games this year so no venue.

2. The Miku concert series just ended in Japan, so its doubtful they'll reboot it

The X games will be entertaining, but it will occupy a lot of what AX usually uses (such as the Nokia Live plaza and attached venues). Its still up in the air where the concerts will be held, but they won't be as good this year if not in Nokia Theatre or Club Nokia. Whether AX can use Club Nokia is still a possibility, but unknown.

>>5792067
I think they prefer to use Club Nokia anyway. Smaller venue means less people fill it up so it makes guests happier, cheaper to use than Nokia Theater which is usually half-empty. The only bad thing about Club Nokia is that it isn't as conductive for photography because they stick you in the top deck.

>Club Nokia is probably the X-Games now
>AX lost Nokia Theater
>AX isn't announcing GoHs

Whelp, this con's done. I'm glad I only want to go for hanging out.

>>5792067

All the Main Events were held at the West Hall in 2009. It's going to be shit accoustic-wise because the sound was bouncing off everywhere.

I went in 2009 to see Morning Musume, and I felt bad that they had to endure that. No one deserves to perform at a convention center hall, they were not meant for concerts.

>>5792618
>AX going down the shitter
>No guest announced for Fanime nor is the scheduled up
>Comic-con is now media con and almost impossible to get into
>ALA is flooded with tripfags and is just /cgl/ con

Wow, the CA convention scene has taken a huge nose dive

>>5792626
ALA isn't that bad. Best experience I've had at cons in recent years, AND they have their shit together.

>>5792626
fuck yeah, pro badge for SDCC, automatic in.
I feel bad for the new pros though. They still haven't opened up new pro registration yet. They had it open last year in February.
Fanime I've heard through insiders has zero guests and to come back next year. There's only one thing I do want to go to, thank god I get in free there because I swear I'm just going for that one thing I know is happening.
As far as AX goes... very unfortunate that they are on the same weekend as X-games. I still have faith in them. The last two years were good in my book but we'll see how things go this year.

California: no money mo problems

Not even sure if I want to go to Fanime this year, not seeing anything that really stands out. Music should have been announced awhile ago, this is not looking good. Seems like an overall bad year for the Cali scene.

>>5792684
At this moment it's ironic in that there are better standalone concert tours than there are convention guests.

Shit California, get it together yo

>>5792626
Even worse for NorCal

>Fanime getting worse
>Y-con moved to Sol Cal
>Wondercon moved to Sol Cal
>Only other cons in Nor Cal are Sac Anime, AOD and Daicon

>>5792729
Wondercon is only in SoCal for this year.

>>5792747
This. Wondercon will most likely be back up in Norcal in a year or two.
Even if the anime con scene in socal is shakey right now, at least the comic scene seems to be going strong since they've been adding in more options besides SDCC with Comikaze and LBCC. Saves the headache of having to try to get tickets for SDCC.

Fanime has been going downhill since 2010 I feel.
It's a shame we don't have Wondercon up here this year.

>>5792764
Yeah, WonderCon was only down in SoCal because of some sort of remodeling. It'll be back up in NorCal for 2013.

I won 2 free tickets to Comikaze last year and didn't go. I'm contemplating going this year, since they have easy as hell contests at Frank and Sons (Winning in a yugioh/MTG game).

>Pico Blvd
LOL

>>5792775
Parallel to Boku Ave, Diagonal to Chico Drive.

>>5789523
you're a retard for calling that guy a douchenuzzle. The only douchenuzzle is the faggot who thinks AX has sucked for the last 10 years or whatever simply because it abandoned the fansub scene. Nobody gives a flying fuck about the fansub scene.

>>5792626
>ALA is flooded with tripfags and is just /cgl/ con
>60 some odd people floods out a con witha 3000 some odd attendance this year.

>>5789429
>>5789491
>>5792790
>The only douchenuzzle is the faggot who thinks AX has sucked for the last 10 years or whatever simply because it abandoned the fansub scene. Nobody gives a flying fuck about the fansub scene.

You all don't seem to be realizing, it's not about the fansubs.

Its the purpose of the convention, and the original goals of the SPJA, and how that is no longer being put across by the convention.

Disallowing fansubs was just a symptom of the problems caused by the heads of the industry being put on the council for AX.

Fansubs in rooms shouldn't even "be" an issue. It's all about showing off anime as an artform and promoting it.

Also, yes, I go to panels and social events more than anything else. Haven't sat in a video room for years unless I was just resting a bit or a movie was premiering.

AX is no longer meant for fans.

The only purpose of the convention now is to cosplay in the halls for free.

>>5792853
ALA is totally brocon though.

ASUX is the con of all cons!

....wait, I don't think that came out right.

>>5792774
Yeah. It's an okay con. Now it's called Stan Lee's comikaze. I really don't sweat the anime cons to much. I get AX free this year, and I enjoy ALA. Even if anon complain about the tripfags, it's still a nice hang out con(not to mention they try hard to accommodate the attendants). If I'm that worried about cosplay, I can always arrange photoshoots.
Also bonus of LBCC, if youhave a badge, you can get into the aquarium of the pacific after 2pm for $5. Found that out when AX was there. I know a good chunk hated when AX was at LBCC, but I think for Long Beach comic con. It works out well.

>>5792881
>Fansubs in rooms shouldn't even "be" an issue. It's all about showing off anime as an artform and promoting it.

Right and this is why people over at comic con can sell bootleg dvds/comics....oh wait they can't.

>AX is no longer meant for fans.

Sure, this is why they had huge money prizes for cosplay events, got Hatsune Miku to perform in the states, have voice actors (both Japanese and American) to host panels and interact with fans and have events where fans can compete to be a professional V...that sure is AX giving fans the cold shoulder

>>5793025
>Right and this is why people over at comic con can sell bootleg dvds/comics....oh wait they can't.

Showing off the latest shows from Japan (or shows that are too niche and will never ever get a localization) in a video room =/= selling bootlegs in the dealers hall. Nice try though.

>Sure, this is why they had huge money prizes for cosplay events, got Hatsune Miku to perform in the states, have voice actors (both Japanese and American) to host panels and interact with fans and have events where fans can compete to be a professional V...that sure is AX giving fans the cold shoulder

Cosplay is the one thing ASUX can't destroy no matter how hard they try, and they know fucking it up will lose them attendees.

As for getting Guests, ASUX can't even seem to get that right. Many guests refuse to return to the convention after the shitty treatment they get. (CLAMP is a good example). So the people in charge of the con are capable of getting "one off" guests, and then basically making it a negative experience so those guests never want to come to a big convention again.

Yeah, really looking out for the fans there.

somehow they're still managing to get guests even post-CLAMP appearance. somehow they've gotten big names like Morning Musume, AKB48, Kalafina, and Hatsune Miku.

If you've got other names who were mistreated and never went to another convention again, I'd be interested to know.

>>5793061

Name me "returning" big name guests, and I will concede my point.

>>5793064
When working with limited funds for use on the entire guest pool it is not feasible to constantly have returning guests. Some guests whose stars were once high at the time of their appearances have drooped. For others their popularity may not have turned out to be as popular as expected and so either party (convention or guest's agency) may have deemed that they should discontinue. With the fickleness of anime and manga fans (as evidenced by meteoric rise and fall of popular series) it is important to continually cycle.

Seriously, if you've got info about how some guests were mistreated and swore off coming to the U.S. again or anything like that, I'm interested.

Lets see, how about that one Japanese cast member from Haruhi literally crying her eyes out because the con didn't even book her a room, and also the poor treatment she received?

How about the people from CLAMP receiving no help from the staff after the panel, and instead the staff berated CLAMP for autographs instead of helping?

I'm not talking about rising and falling stars. I mean guests that would still be relevant to the con, that the con just simply CANNOT get to return.

>>5793074
Like I said, they have to cycle because they don't have unlimited funds or time slots to work with. I'll admit those are two cases of absolute failure in guest relations but they cannot dwell on them and have to keep moving

>>5793081

You can't keep "moving" if word spreads over in Japan, and no one wants to come be a guest at your con anymore besides Crispin Freeman.

>>5793083
So CLAMP in 2006, Haruhi was 2007. Word spreads fast in the entertainment industry if going overseas gets you a pile of shit in your face and if they were getting slammed that hard they would not have gotten anywhere near the guests they have in the last few years.

>>5793086
>>5793081
>>5793072
>>5793072
>>5793061

ASUX DEFENSE FORCE. Welcome to the party, friends.

That reminds me, a friend of mine used to work at a shitty motel near Knotts Berry Farm, and one of the main head guys from AX stayed there (overweight guy sorta) I think this was in-between 2009-2011. Don't remember too well.

My friend made sure to give him the "whore room". The one they send the possible prostitutes to so they don't get complaints from other customers. Also the dirtiest room.

My friend no longer works there, so it's safe to post about it. hahahaha!

>>5793096
Haha I was waiting for that to come out. Actually I was waiting for a "YOU MUST WORK FOR THEM" (which I do not). Yeah, I'm defending them as I don't see them as the giant shit you seem to. You're the only one using "ASUX" to refer to them. You're not doing any better. Shit, I'm amazed you haven't said anything about Mark Perez or Lattanzio yet. That would have been an easier and much more valid angle to attack. Or go for the money. Hell, free shots, on the house. Go for it.

>>5793106

Listen, I'm just some random schuck who started going to AX back in 1999, and have physically seen the con drop in quality post 2005.

I don't know who these people are who run the cons, personally. But I do know the entire feel of the convention changed for the worse.

At first I was all "Ok, maybe I'm just getting older", but then I go to other cons, and the feeling is still there.

Perhaps this is the fallout after anime got a little too big for itself in the states. Maybe we were supposed to stay a sub-culture. I'm not sure.

But AX definitely is not leading us anywhere positive.

>>5793116
And I'm some guy who has gone to a lot of SDCC and some anime conventions. I have more fun at AX than I ever have at SDCC, ironic because I work in a comics company working with IP like Star Wars. AX is currently in a transitioning phase that is currently still too early to ultimately tell whether they are going up or down. The declared money numbers say they're going down (at least from 2009-2010. 2011 is pending and not publicly available yet). Staff upheaval say they're going down (they have had a LOT, going as far as the recent closing of AX Live which was mentioned in this thread). But somehow unique attendance is going up steadily and somehow they keep getting big guests. In a year or two we will be able to see what is going on. If their declared money keeps going negative then they're dying (or they're running a loss which isn't unheard of for businesses). If their guests dry up after repeated years they are dying. If attendance goes down repeatedly they are dying. You can't say for certainty yet just what is happening. The next few years are especially vital.

And really, you want to watch a clusterfuck, talk SDCC. I've watched it in person myself. It's managed to get itself to the point where its a self-sustaining culture machine that regardless of its quality will continuously sell out as long as they can keep Hollywood involved.

It is of my opinion that for anime fandom to move forward, AX must be destroyed from without and from within.

Only from it's ashes shall a newer, better convention arise.

Or perhaps, nothing at all will rise, and it will be the doom for larger anime conventions in the west as we know it, showing they are unsustainable.

Perhaps it's a risk worth taking. The end result could cause of rebirth of the anime convention circuit, or destroy that which has grown too larger for it's own niche demographic.

I'd rather see it reborn, or dead, then carry on the way it's going now.

>Note: These are my views, and yes I'm being melodramatic.

>>5793048
Point I'm trying to make is that is that AX is an industry con. Comic Con is just as big, industry driven and more about promotion of current shows yet your ire isn't shifted at them.

Damn I should have come to this board sooner. The epic drama in here is amazing. I didn't know ppl still dressed up once they reached a certain age... Thats like dressing up for halloween... I think your all faggots.

>>5793546
>Point I'm trying to make is that is that AX is an industry con

It is now. It didn't use to be. Sure, the industry always had a presence, but that was usually delegated to them having their own panels and spot in the dealers hall.

But now, the Industry is dictating convention policies and are decision makers on the board. It's shitted up the whole con.

>Comic Con is just as big, industry driven and more about promotion of current shows yet your ire isn't shifted at them.

Comic cons isn't "as big". It's MUCH larger than AX, both in terms of content and attendance. And despite the influx of Hollywood, Comic Con has roughly always been run the same way, and run very well.

>>5794117
>>5794117
Comic-con is no longer about comics meanwhile AX is still about anime,

Comic con has its own problems, panels where fans have to line up at least 4 hours in advanced to get in, crowded hallways that discourage elaborate costumes, scarce badges where you need to be willing to wait half a day in line in order to buy a badge for NEXT year, meanwhile a fucked up online ticket system where they emailed broken links to the online waiting room where the only way to fix the issue was to copy and paste the link in the browser despite the fact users were instructed not to.

>>5793061
I can also say that Morning Musume won't be coming back to AX after having to perform at the West Hall. To them, that was an insult after they found out that AKB48 got to perform at Nokia Theater. Also, Lattanzio wanted a huge cut from the AX DVD sales Hello Project was making and they said no.

As for AKB48, they were promised by Lattanzio they would get a sold out crowd. Guess what, AX was only able to fill up barely half the theater. I was at the concert and it was no where to what Miku drew, and AKB48's management was not very happy with the results that there was an article in Japan the next day and they called it a disaster. I think one of the girls that was interviewed sounded very sad and upset. The article even tried to compare it to their New York concert. Well their New York concert was sold out because it was held in a way smaller venue then Nokia, so that was full of shit. There was also a promo video of AKB48's international concerts which came out late last year and LA was never mentioned.

>>5794117
I've seen it grow too. This year will be my 18th consecutive SDCC and I like how they were able to adjust the growing size and work within their resources unlike the SPJA, who just can't do anything right.

>>5794240
>Rumors about stupid shit
That's nice and all but can anyone explain why Fanime, a con that's supposed to treat their guests well and not have a comically evil CEO, has only one shitty guest announced three weeks before the con.

>>5794331
Fanime's guests were never that good in addition the convention is fan run and not for profit so they dont have deep pockets

>>5794331

It's out there use this amazing tool called Google. Damn you're dumb as a brick.