AnimeNEXT | |
---|---|
Status | Active |
Genre | Anime, Manga, Japanese culture [1] |
Venue | New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center |
Location(s) | Edison, New Jersey |
Country | United States |
Inaugurated | 2002 [2] [3] |
Attendance | 11,026 in 2018 [4] |
Organized by | Universal Animation, Inc. [1] [2] [3] |
Website | http://www.animenext.org/ |
AnimeNEXT (AN) is an annual three-day anime convention held at the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center in Edison, New Jersey. The convention was previously held at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, New Jersey, the Garden State Exhibit Center in Somerset, New Jersey, and the Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
The convention typically offers anime music video (AMV) screenings, cosplay chess, a dance, dealer's room, karaoke, panels, masquerade, video gaming, and video rooms. [2] [5] [6] [7]
The first convention in 2002 was put on with limited staffing and was planned in eight months. [6] In 2008 parts of the convention were held in the parking garage below the Meadowlands Exposition Center. [8] The convention then moved to the Garden State Exhibit Center, although it experienced crowding issues in 2012 with outdoor space used for lines. [9] AnimeNEXT moved to the Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey for 2016, with the deal lasting until 2020. [2] [10] The convention moved due to outgrowing the Garden State Exhibit Center. [2] In 2016, the United States finals of the World Cosplay Summit were held at AnimeNEXT. [2] [11] Major communication and scheduling issues with panels occurred before and during the 2017 convention. [12] Accusations of past staff member harassment were published in 2019, with former con chair Eric Torgersen being suspended in April. [13] [14]
AnimeNEXT 2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [15] [16] The convention was changed to an online only event for 2021, due to the Atlantic City Convention Center being used as a large scale COVID-19 vaccination center. [17] [18] [19] AnimeNEXT 2022 was cancelled due to problems with the Atlantic City Convention Center. Issues included significant price increases for the venue, lack of COVID-19 policies, and no communication about another event in the area during the same weekend, the Orange Loop Rock Festival. [20] [21]
AnimeNEXT would move to the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center in Edison, NJ in 2023. The organizers would shift the COVID-19 policy from "masks required" to "masks encouraged" just two weeks prior to the 2023 event. [22]
In February 2024, AnimeNEXT management made a post across their social media accounts stating that "Universal Animation, Inc., the parent company of AnimeNEXT, recently faced circumstances that brought planning for our 2024 convention to a screeching halt." The post went on to confirm that the convention would not be held that year, stating that "As a result, we will not be holding AnimeNEXT 2024." [23]
Dates | Location | Attendance | Guests |
---|---|---|---|
October 11–13, 2002 | Crowne Plaza Meadowlands Secaucus, New Jersey | 1,071 | Kia Asamiya, Robert Bricken, C.B. Cebulski, Richard Ian Cox, Robert DeJesus, Mike Hayes, Jamie McGonnigal, Kristen Nelson, Frank Pannone, Steve Pearl, Bill Rogers, Michael Sinterniklaas, Myriam Sirois, and Toshifumi Yoshida. [24] |
October 3–5, 2003 | Rye Town Hilton Rye Brook, New York | 1,571 | B! Machine, Steve Bennett, Chris Beveridge, Robert Bricken, C.B. Cebulski, Clark Cheng, Tiffany Grant, Wayne Grayson, Jon Guttierez, Daniel Kevin Harrison, Himawari, Takehiko Ito, Trish Ledoux, Rob Malda, Jamie McGonnigal, MegaZone, Kristen Nelson, Frank Pannone, Peelander-Z, Mike Pollock, Georgette Reilly, Bill Rogers, Jan Scott-Frazier, Trisha Lynn Sebastian, Michael Sinterniklaas, John Sirabella, Moneca Stori, James Arnold Taylor, Marc Thompson, Bill Timoney, Tom Wayland, David L. Williams, Barry Winston, and Toshifumi Yoshida. [25] |
June 18–20, 2004 | Crowne Plaza Meadowlands Secaucus, New Jersey | 3,400 | Alissyn Brock, Kelli Shayne Butler, C.B. Cebulski, Cosmicity, Richard Ian Cox, Edwin De La Cruz, Lauren Goodnight, Trish Ledoux, Rob Malda, Kenneth Robert Marlo, Matt K. Miller, Mari Morimoto, Merideth Mulroney, Lisa Ortiz, Stephen Pakula, Peelander-Z, Mike Pollock, Bill Rogers, Michael Sinterniklaas, The Spunks, Moneca Stori, Veronica Taylor, Marc Thompson, Matt Thorn, Tom Wayland, David L. Williams, Barry Winston, and Toshifumi Yoshida. [26] |
June 17–19, 2005 | Meadowlands Exposition Center Holiday Inn Meadowlands Secaucus, New Jersey | 4,200 | Alissyn Brock, Akitaroh Daichi, Mark Diraison, Caitlin Glass, Lauren Goodnight, Wayne Grayson, Lance Heiskell, Mayumi Kobayashi, Trish Ledoux, Vic Mignogna, Sean Molyneaux, Merideth Mulroney, Ed Paul, Peelander-Z, Mike Pollock, Justin Sevakis, Uzuhi, Tom Wayland, David L. Williams, Kerry Williams, Travis Willingham, Reiko Yasuhara, and Toshifumi Yoshida. [27] |
June 16–18, 2006 | Meadowlands Exposition Center Holiday Inn Meadowlands Secaucus, New Jersey | 6,000 | Laura Bailey, Colleen Clinkenbeard, D'espairsRay, Caitlin Glass, Lauren Goodnight, Wayne Grayson, Trish Ledoux, Masao Maruyama, Vic Mignogna, Mari Morimoto, Mike Pollock, Rintaro, Bill Rogers, Harold Sakuishi, Michael Sinterniklaas, Marc Thompson, Kari Wahlgren, David L. Williams, and Toshifumi Yoshida. [28] |
July 6–8, 2007 | Meadowlands Exposition Center Holiday Inn Meadowlands Secaucus, New Jersey | 7,100 | 12012, Eric Calderon, Daisuke Gomi, Wayne Grayson, Toyo Ikeda, Jonathan Klein, Michele Knotz, Mari Morimoto, Kensuke Okabayashi, Frank Pannone, Chris Patton, Ed Paul, Mike Pollock, Monica Rial, Bill Rogers, Michael Sinterniklaas, Gustavo Sorola, Tom Wayland, and Kathleen Zuelch. [29] |
June 20–22, 2008 | Meadowlands Exposition Center Holiday Inn Meadowlands Secaucus, New Jersey | 7,900 | Greg Ayres, Steve Bennett, Leah Clark, Joe Digiorgi, Aidan Drummond, Brian Drummond, James Harknell, Michele Knotz, Chris "Kilika" Malone, Rich McNanna, Dallas Middaugh, Mari Morimoto, Kensuke Okabayashi, Rentrer en Soi, Bill Rogers, Brad Swaile, Michael "Mookie" Terracciano, Alison Viktorin, and Tom Wayland. [30] |
June 12–14, 2009 | Garden State Exhibit Center Somerset DoubleTree Hotel Somerset, New Jersey | Shihan Carbonaro, Fake?, Wayne Grayson, Kyle Hebert, Michele Knotz, Dave Lister, Chris "Kilika" Malone, Misako Rocks!, Mike Pollock, Stacie Renna, Bill Rogers, Michael "Mookie" Terracciano, Bill Timoney, Tom Wayland, and Toshifumi Yoshida. [31] | |
June 18–20, 2010 | Garden State Exhibit Center Somerset, New Jersey | Greg Ayres, Martin Billany, Eirik Blackwolf, Gashicon, Kyle Hebert, Kenji Kamiyama, Anthony Kresky, Dave Lister, Chris "Kilika" Malone, Kevin McKeever, Tony Oliver, Stacie Renna, Sleeping Samurai, Stereopony, and Uncle Yo [32] | |
June 10–12, 2011 | Garden State Exhibit Center Somerset, New Jersey | Robert Axelrod, Greg Ayres, Chipocrite, Leah Clark, Joe Foering, Onezumi Hartstein, Kanon, Yu Kimura, Michele Knotz, Dave Lister, Scott A. Melzer, Vic Mignogna, Mix Speaker's,Inc., Satoru Nakamura, Trina Nishimura, Promise Sisters, Matt Pyson, Bill Rogers, Takamasa Sakurai, Sixh, Uzuhi, Mike Wall, Tom Wayland, Steve Yun, and Tommy Yune. [33] | |
June 8–10, 2012 | Garden State Exhibit Center Somerset, New Jersey | 9,850 | Berryz Kobo, Kevin Bolk, C.R.A.Z.Y.O.T.A.K.U., Chipocrite, Leah Clark, Kara Edwards, Bill Ellis, Toshihiro Fukuoka, Kyle Hebert, Michele Knotz, Dave Lister, Kevin McKeever, Dani O'Brien, Satsuki, and Z8 (Z-Ann). [34] |
June 7–9, 2013 | Garden State Exhibit Center Somerset, New Jersey | 10,283 | The Asterplace, Greg Ayres, C.R.A.Z.Y.O.T.A.K.U., Chris Cason, Chipocrite, Greg Houser, Akinori Isobe, Masumi Kano, Michele Knotz, Kevin McKeever, Mint, Moon Stream, Mike Pollock, Bill Rogers, Hiroshi Shimizu, Saki Tachibana, Mike Toole, Uncle Yo, Hiro Usuda, Sayo Yamamoto, Steve Yun, and Tommy Yune. [35] |
June 6–8, 2014 | Garden State Exhibit Center Somerset, New Jersey | 11,940 | C.R.A.Z.Y.O.T.A.K.U., Chipocrite, Richard Epcar, Jessie James Grelle, Luna Haruna, Greg Houser, Kimura U, Jonathan Klein, Michele Knotz, Shigeto Koyama, Matthew Mercer, Gerald Rathkolb, Bill Rogers, ROOKiEZ is PUNK'D, Ellyn Stern, Daryl Surat, Alexis Tipton, Hiromi Wakabayashi, and Lex Winter. [36] |
June 12–14, 2015 | Garden State Exhibit Center Somerset, New Jersey | 14,500 | Kira Buckland, C.R.A.Z.Y.O.T.A.K.U., Chipocrite, Elisa, Flow, Todd Haberkorn, Naoto Hirooka, Takafumi Hori, Greg Houser, Michele Knotz, Shigeto Koyama, Matthew Lassiter, Brittany Lauda, Neil Nadelman, Tyson Rinehart, Jason Robinson, Bill Rogers, Sushio, Aya Suzuki, Marc Swint, Mike Toole, Uncle Yo, Vedetta Marie, Hiromi Wakabayashi, and Lex Winter. [37] |
June 10–12, 2016 | Atlantic City Convention Center Atlantic City, New Jersey | 12,374 | Akira Amemiya, C.R.A.Z.Y.O.T.A.K.U., Akitaroh Daichi, Richard Epcar, Clarissa Graffeo, Todd Haberkorn, Rei Hiroe, Jonathan Klein, Megumi Kouno, Shigeto Koyama, Matthew Lassiter, Naoko Matsui, Helen McCarthy, Erica Mendez, Mint, Gerald Rathkolb, Bill Rogers, ROOKiEZ is PUNK'D, Ellyn Stern, Daryl Surat, Marc Swint, Mike Toole, Uncle Yo, Vedetta Marie, Hiromi Wakabayashi, Lex Winter, and Zaq. [38] |
June 9–11, 2017 | Atlantic City Convention Center Atlantic City, New Jersey | 12,733 | Capcom Live!, Cosplay Pro-Wrestling, Zack Davisson, Richard Epcar, Sandy Fox, Toshihiro Fukuoka, Shuhei Handa, Noriko Hidaka, Izumi Hirose, Noriko Ito, Itto-Maru, Tomochi Kosaka, Shigeto Koyama, Lex Lang, Erica Lindbeck, Nao, Oblivion Dust, Takahiro Ogawa, Katriel Paige, Ellyn Stern, John Swasey, Junpei Tatenaka, Mike Toole, Reina Ueda, Uncle Yo, Viga, Hiromi Wakabayashi, Lex Winter, Junko Yamanaka, and Yoh Yoshinari. [39] |
June 8–10, 2018 | Atlantic City Convention Center Atlantic City, New Jersey | 11,026 | All Off, Shinji Aramaki, Katelyn Barr, Johnny Yong Bosch, Caitlynn French, Kenji Kamiyama, Marina Kawano, Kyle McCarley, Mint, Bryce Papenbrook, Juliet Simmons, Bill Timoney, and U. [4] |
June 7–9, 2019 | Atlantic City Convention Center Atlantic City, New Jersey | Zach Aguilar, Aimi, Erika Ando, Cellchrome, Richard Epcar, Sandy Fox, Toshihiro Fukuoka, Jessie James Grelle, Kohei Hattori, Akemi Hayashi, Itto-Maru, Hirokatsu Kihara, Lex Lang, LeChat, Max Mittelman, Shihori Nakane, Ellyn Stern, Andrew Upton, Hiroko Utsumi, and Ayumi Yamada. [40] | |
June 11–13, 2021 [19] | Online convention | ||
June 16–18, 2023 | New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center Edison, New Jersey | Jon Allen, Morgan Berry, Beau Billingslea, Blue Encount, Charles Campbell, Bob Carter, Paul Castro Jr., Sandy Fox, Ray Hurd, Jeremy Inman, Lex Lang, Kristen McGuire, Amanda C. Miller, Phil Parsons, and Tara Sands. [41] |
AnimeNEXT has taken their Manga library to other conventions, including Otakon and New York Comic Con. [42] [43]
Otakon is an annual three-day anime convention held during July/August. From 1999 to 2016, it took place at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Maryland's Inner Harbor district; in 2017, it moved to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. The convention focuses on East Asian popular culture and its fandom. The name is a portmanteau derived from convention and the Japanese word otaku.
Anime Central (ACen) is an annual three-day anime convention held during May at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare & Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. The convention is organized by the Midwest Animation Promotion Society (MAPS).
FanimeCon is an annual four-day anime convention held during May at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, California, over Memorial Day weekend.
Anime Mid-Atlantic was an anime convention held in June at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott in Norfolk, Virginia. The convention was previously held in Richmond, Virginia and Chesapeake, Virginia for several years.
Sakura-Con is an annual three-day anime convention held during March or April at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle, Washington. The convention, which is traditionally held over Easter weekend, is the largest anime convention in the Northwest. It is organized by the volunteer Asia-Northwest Cultural Education Association (ANCEA).
Tekko is an annual four-day anime convention held during July at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The convention has been held in various locations around the Pittsburgh metropolitan area and is run by a non-profit organization, the Pittsburgh Japanese Culture Society (PJCS). Tekkoshocon's name was a blend of the Japanese word tekkosho, meaning steel mill, and adapting the suffix "-con", which is a common nomenclature archetype among such conventions.
The New York Comic Con is an annual New York City fan convention dedicated to Western comics, graphic novels, anime, manga, video games, cosplay, toys, movies, and television. It was first held in 2006. With an attendance of 200,000 in 2022, it is North America's most attended fan convention.
Katsucon is an annual three-day anime convention held during February at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. It is traditionally held in February over Presidents Day weekend and was previously held in various locations around Virginia and Washington, D.C. The basis of the convention's name is not clear, as "katsu" in the Japanese language has various meanings, including pork.
AnimeIowa is an annual three-day anime convention held during July at the Hyatt Regency Coralville Hotel & Conference Center in Coralville, Iowa. The staff are all volunteers and the convention is run by the non-profit Mindbridge Foundation.
The Middle Tennessee Anime Convention (MTAC) is an annual three day anime convention held during March/April at the Sheraton Music City Hotel and Embassy Suites Nashville Airport in Nashville, Tennessee.
MangaNEXT was a fan convention focused exclusively on Japanese manga that occurred every other year in New Jersey. It was the only manga convention in the United States. The event was discontinued in favor of AnimeNEXT, which is run by the same organization.
Ohayocon is a three-day anime convention typically held during January in Columbus, Ohio, at the Hyatt Regency Columbus and the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Ohayocon's name is derived from the similarity between "Ohio", the convention's location, and Ohayou (おはよう), which means "good morning" in Japanese.
Anime Festival Wichita is an annual three-day anime convention held in June or August at the Hyatt Regency Wichita in Wichita, Kansas.
Japan Expo is a convention on Japanese popular culture – the largest of its kind in the world – taking place in Paris, France, although it has branched out into a partnership festival – Kultima – and expanded to include some European and US pop culture as well. It is held yearly at the beginning of July for four days in the Paris-Nord Villepinte Exhibition Center. The attendance has increased steadily over the years, with 2,400 visitors welcomed in the first edition in 1999 and more than 252,510 for the 2019 edition.
SacAnime is a bi-annual three-day anime convention held at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in Sacramento, California. The convention's sister events include SacAnime Roseville, the Sacramento Comic, Toy and Anime Show (Sac-Con), and Bak-Anime.
Zenkaikon is a multi-genre convention held during March at the Lancaster County Convention Center and Holiday Inn Lancaster in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The convention was formerly based around King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Zenkaikon's name is a portmanteau of Zentrancon and Kosaikon, created when they merged in 2006. The convention has an all-volunteer staff.
Anime Milwaukee (AMKE) is an annual three-day anime convention held during February at the Baird Center and Hilton Milwaukee City Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is Wisconsin's largest anime convention.
Naka-Kon is an annual three-day anime convention held during May at the Overland Park Convention Center and Sheraton Overland Park Hotel at the Convention Center in Overland Park, Kansas. The name of the convention comes from the Japanese word for "center/middle".
Bak-Anime is an annual two-day anime convention held at the Kern County Fairgrounds in Bakersfield, California by the staff of SacAnime. The convention is the sister conventions to the Bakersfield Comic Con, Sacramento Comic, Toy and Anime Show (Sac-Con), and SacAnime.
Anime Midwest is an annual three-day anime convention held during July at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare and Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. The convention is held in the same location as Anime Central.