Anime NYC: New York City’s Anime Convention
If you’re a fan of anime, then we have some exciting news for you. New York City’s annual anime convention, Anime NYC, is coming to town once again.
LeftField Media puts together this convention every year so that anime lovers can come together, make unforgettable memories, and enjoy exclusive opportunities they’d never get otherwise.
Badge holders will have the chance to experience exhibits, panels made up of professionals in this line of work, as well as screenings and appearances from Japanese creators.
There’s so much Anime NYC has planned to create an unparalleled experience for every person who attends this amazing event in the heart of Manhattan. Keep reading to get more of the inside scoop on what’s in store.
Anime NYC: How Is It Unique?
Anime is more popular than ever, and there are plenty of conventions that celebrate anime (and manga, too). So, what makes Anime NYC different from any of those conventions? Well, for starters, it’s not just a corporation looking to profit off of people with a passion for entertainment.
LeftField Media, the boutique event company that runs the convention, is made up of people just like you. What we mean is that they’re people who love what you love. They purchase their manga from the same shops around New York City that you do, they’re fans of the same idols, and they attend premieres at Japanese film festivals.
Because this event is planned and coordinated by people that have a genuine love for anime, manga, and cosplay, they know what you want in a convention. Anime NYC is also reputable enough to host guests from Japan and around the world that we would normally only dream of meeting.
All that to say, this convention is in the best hands. All you’ll need to do is come and see for yourself why attendees are not going to leave disappointed.
A New World: Intimate Music From Final Fantasy
Perhaps one of the event's attendees will look forward to most is the special performance from AWR Music. This music production company specializes in arranging and orchestration, audio production, live performances, content creation, and more.
Though you may not recognize who this group is from their name alone, you’re sure to be familiar with some of their work — specifically, Final Fantasy.
Distant Worlds: Music From Final Fantasy will take you back to childhood memories of spending time after school playing Final Fantasy. It may even have you pulling out your old gaming console when you get home to really embrace those memories!
One of the pieces that we know will give you goosebumps is probably the video game’s most recognizable: “One-Winged Angel.” Of course, we also could never forget pieces like “Opening~Bombing Mission,” “Aerith’s Theme,” and “Liberi Fatali.”
These are just a few pieces that you may hear, and trust us when we say that there’s nothing like hearing a live orchestra perform your favorite musical pieces.
AWR Music has performed this production hundreds of times across four continents since its initial premiere 8 years ago. Anime NYC’s show will be a unique arrangement under the musical direction of conductor, composer, orchestrator, and arranger Eric Roth. He promises to deliver diverse, musical moods and textures that will leave the audience mesmerized.
If you want to attend this special concert, you’ll have to make sure you purchase a concert ticket along with your Friday Badge or 3-Day Badge.
Other Activities
Throughout this three-day convention, you won’t have to worry about running out of things to do. Every day is going to be full of fun activities for you to enjoy.
Though it’s several months out from the event, and they’re working on nailing down some of those details, we can give you an idea of what else you can expect.
Panels
At Anime NYC, you don’t have to be a professional producer, animator, or voice actor to have something significant to share with attendees. There are fans of anime, manga, and all things Japanese culture that are well-versed enough in it all to put together interesting presentations.
Any attendee can sign up to present, and Anime NYC will pick a variety of talks that they’re sure will provide a memorable experience.
Panels can include anything from analyses of different anime or manga to games or competitions. For example, one panel can come up with a tournament that tests attendees’ general knowledge of anime or expert knowledge of specific series. Sometimes, there are even prizes for winners of these tournaments.
Another example would be an analysis of anime through the years. A presenter could discuss the evolution of themes in anime from its beginnings till now, the variety in terms of animation style, and so on. How early anime affected the path anime took to become what it is now would be an interesting idea, too.
That said, there are so many routes attendees can take to be a part of Anime NYC. If you have your own idea for a panel, you can click here to sign up and see if the convention chooses you to be a part of their programming.
Artist Alley
It wouldn’t be an anime convention without the opportunity to see some art created by artists from all around the world. Located in Hall 3A of the Javits Center, Artist Alley is going to be full of high-quality art that attendees will not want to miss.
There are some changes to Artist Alley this year that will ultimately lead to a better experience. For example, Anime NYC is providing each of the chosen artists more space so that they can show attendees more of their work.
There are implications to this adjustment. To make up for the amount of space each artist will have, Anime NYC is decreasing the number of artists it will have present. In 2021, the convention featured over 400 artists but will now be featuring just over 300.
Although this may sound like bad news, it’s actually good — and we’ll tell you why. With fewer artists, the review process is only going to be more competitive. That means that attendees will see only the best of the best art.
More
As the dates for Anime NYC get closer, there are sure to be more announcements on all the other activities that will be available for attendees. You can get all of your Anime NYC updates here.
Guests
Anime NYC has guests coming from all over to make appearances at this year’s convention. They’ll have people from all areas of the industry like anime creators, voice actors, writers, and more. Let’s take a look at who the guest of honor will be.
Shuko Murase
Animation director, animator, and designer Shuko Murase is going to be this year’s guest of honor. As a member of a noteworthy Japanese animation studio, Murase has previously worked on character designs and animations for the Japanese mecha anime series New Mobile Report Gundam Wing and the anime series Argento Soma.
However, his contributions to recognizable works don’t stop there. He also contributed to the designs of the main characters in Final Fantasy IX. Just two years later, he made his debut as a director in Witch Hunter Robin.
Of course, we can’t forget to mention his role in character design for the CG movie Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. If you’re interested in learning more about his work, check out this complete list of productions he’s worked on.
Shuko Murase will be making appearances both on Friday and Saturday. On those days, he’ll be a part of panels and will even attend autograph sessions. His appearance will give attendees a behind-the-scenes look on what goes into the creation of anime series, video games, and other animation.
Details to Keep in Mind
If you’re thinking about attending Anime NYC 2022, there are just a few details to keep in mind. The first is that you shouldn’t buy your badge on any auction sites or on social media. There has been a history of scams in the past, and Anime NYC won’t have the power to return your money to you or offer replacement badges.
Another detail is the issue of health safety. Anime NYC will be following all guidelines that the building, city, state, and CDC issue. With this in mind, make sure you understand what those guidelines are and abide by them so that attendees can experience a safe environment.
All that said, Anime NYC 2022 is just around the corner and there’s so much to look forward to. Make sure you grab your badge — and some adorable cosplay pieces from MoeFlavor to wear at the convention — if you haven’t already!
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