Random Anime Expo Thoughts

I spent a fair amount of time in the video rooms, and they were good. I discovered a few new things that I would never have watched before, as well as a few things that I won't watch again.

One of the rooms didn't have the schedule in the program, so instead resorted to having the schedule on a big board outside. Ironically, this was much much very much better than the ones in the program. It's difficult to have the program handy all the time, particularly with a hall costume. With the big board, we could see what was going on in that room very easily, and without peeking in and disturbing people. So, I recommend posting schedules in big print outside all the video rooms.

It would be nice, if possible, to try and split rooms by genre. So, we'd have a room that tried to show shoujo stuff all day, and another room with the serious shounen stuff. It would be hard and probably not worthwhile to do this to all the rooms, but one of each would be nice for fans of one particular genre or the other. And shoujo anime tends to be seriously underrepresented, so this'd help encourage at least one option for shoujo fans at any given time.

True, but that's exactly what other cons did with it. (Heck, I'm not sure that it wasn't fansubbed at A-kon; I was at cosplay and didn't catch it. ;_

It was subbed at Otakon, but the the subs and picture quality were less than desirable.

Laters. =)

Stan

Yes, and I wish they'd played the film. The film made little sense even with subtitles, especially as bad as the sub was (simply skipped large sections of dialogue); I was there to see the pretty animation on the big screen in a nice print, and couldn't. I also am left with a nagging wonder

I was wondering why the hell we all got merged into one line. I couldn't get a straight answer from the two of the staff guys that were monitoring the line near my spot. They had a lot of empathy though and said that I had every right to complain. They did point out I still saved some money for pre-regging anyways. As long as you guys are friendly I can forgive nearly anything (as I eventually cooled off after being very irate for missing Opening Ceremonies).

But honestly now....I thought there would be a GOOD reason, like your computer system was on the blink. You disappoint me so. '^_^'

<snip>

While we were standing in the aforementioned hellacious line, some people and I were discussing the wisdom of having badges *mailed* out to those that preregister.

Is this a viable alternative?

<snip>

I should thank you for that pilot program since that's how I got her autograph.

Very Good. No serious complaints. I do have a question though. I've heard rumors that you guys are moving to strike fansubs from the screening rooms next year. Is there any truth to that? And if so, will you be extending the same policy to things like SM CDs sold in the Dealer's Room (You guys call it an Exhibit Hall but that sounds too much like a museam to me '^_^'.

The reason I ask, and I've brought this up once before here in r.a.a.m., is that while I understand that fansubs might be a little problematic when you guys are more of an industry con, I think it would also be a double standard to not allow the fans to watch fansubs, but allow the merchants in the Dea....err.....Exhibit Hall to sell pirated merchandise like SM CDs. There was a high ratio in favor of SM CDs to legit CDs from what I saw this year (at least 3 to 1).

I am told that Project A-Kon has an anti-SM CD policy for their Dealer's room.

I'm not pushing for an Anti-SM policy jusy yet, but I probably would if you take out the fansubs since that seems a little arbitrary.

Very good. '^_^'

I was lucky that I read a synopsis of the movie before the con, so that helped me out a bit. In contrast, many people came out of there utterly confused.

Laters. =)

Stan

: > >Mike Shogun Tatsugawa wrote: : > >> Film: How was the film program? I heard of one minor problem but : > >> didn't hear much else. : > : > > I would hope the Nadesico movie with English sub. I saw a lot of people : > >left once they found out the film was in Japanese. : > : > Well, when you get the film premiere out of Japan, I think that should : > be expected. It's not like it was a video we could just throw in the : > video rooms.

: True, but that's exactly what other cons did with it. (Heck, I'm not : sure that it wasn't fansubbed at A-kon; I was at cosplay and didn't : catch it. ;_

Which reminds me: Was Spriggan subbed by Sony just for the con?

And at CNAnime, it was raw. I was fairly lost (though not totally), and not getting in there until 15 minutes in didn't help.

Chris Schack

Everyone who attended AnimeExpo 99 and had complaints, contact them through their website at
http://www.anime-expo.org/

and write a nicely worded, polite email that not only points out the problems, but offers thought out solutions. Help these guys; don't just complain on a newsgroup and hope for the best.

Just my two cents.

I figured after nearly ten years in the business you would have anticipated this problem, after seeing this for the last 2 years. I figured you would have got it right by now. No matter, that was and is the biggest gripe for the last 3 cons. Let's hope you solve this problem in 2K.

Bouncers???? Look, Mike this was the con's fault and you know that. You CAN NOT blame the crowd for their behavior. If you didn't have the equipment problem there wouldn't even be a need to bring up bouncers!

What????

Unfortunately, last years fiasco was still fresh in the memories of many.

I think the complaint here, at least, from my point of view is, I think they meant registration $40 at the door, hotel $100 bucks a night, $25 a day for food, etc.... I'm not sure if the complaint was about getting to the con. I think it is more like attending, eating, and staying at the con.

Again, after what happened last year, I think people were just afraid to party or the bad reputation that LA cons are not for parties. There was the FanimeCon party and that was it. Plus I don't think you've made the party policies clear or known to everyone. Maybe if you would post the hotel rules or policies on parties on the net, they can plan for one or at least have an idea where the hotel and the con stand and act accordingly.

I think it was a good idea. I think there are only fans who just want anime goods and don't care for other con activities.

Why not high traffic and longer hours.

I think there were too many guests.

Personally, I'd rather watch them at home or with friends in a small room.

Well, I hope you can prove to the nay sayers wrong. I was informed about the BAAS/A-KON party fiasco last year, that it was NOT your fault. I was told what really happened and that you were not to blame for the shut down. Still I heard Mary and Rob were less than enthusiastic about holding another anime fanparty at AX. You could have coordinated with the hotel last year in advance, that parties were to be expected and blocked off a section or at least advise the patrons(BAAS) the rules governing parties that weren't offically sanctioned by the con. Come on Mike, you've been to too many conventions in the past and NOT know Saturday night parties are part of convention going.

Well, that seems to be an edge for AX. They can draw more and higher caliber people than the other cons.

It's good to be the king....

One of these days I'm really hoping Satoshi Urushihara will come to AX. '^_^'

That trouble is, according to ANN, the parties were shut down partly because of the content. There was an entire party dedicated to Bishouen for instance. The SPJA couldn't possibly forsee or counter this act of