Forum - View topicNEWS: Anime Expo Hosts P.A. Works' CEO Kenji Horikawa, FLCL 2 Guests Kazuya Tsurumaki & Mayumi
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crosswithyou
 Posts: 2900 Location: California |
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You know, it's cool that AX is having all these awesome guests and concerts, etc, but am I the only one who thinks that it's a little too much now? Let's be real... Will it be physically (or even financially considering some events cost a lot extra) possible for all interested attendees to do and see all the things they want? Some of the events are bound to overlap and even if they don't, people will likely have to forego some so that they can line up for others.
At this point it's more like AX showing off their financial prowess to prove that they're still "the best" than actually thinking of the fans. I think they're setting themselves up for some major backlash from disappointed attendees who are left with tough choices. Perhaps it would've been better for them to save like half the guest list for next year. |
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Kougeru
 Posts: 5600 |
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^ I was gonna comment pretty much the same thing. I'm starting to be happy that I can't afford to go because I'd be upset that I was sooo close but wasn't able to shadow clone myself to every event because there's sooo much good stuff. It's not nice to the fans. That said, P.A. Works don't really have another chance since it's their 15th
I remember seeing them mention Anime Expo a few days ago on their JP twitter...not sure why it didn't occur to me that it was "news" lol. I guess I figured AX already announced it |
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Cutiebunny
 Posts: 1770 |
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With AX likely to cross the 100K attendee threshold this year, while the price of additional events may be out of the price range for many younger attendees, keep in mind that there will always be someone that will pay. Years ago, when the Premier Badge was $125, I thought that no one would pay...and yet, now at $350 and with less benefits than those original Premier Badges, they still sell out. Also, most of the guests that are being brought in are corporately sponsored. What that means is that, in lieu of charging for booth space, AX gives this corporate sponsors the location they desire and the booth space they want for free in return for the guest. Many conventions have this arrangement with their industry partners.
TBH, I don't think AX is the best convention. Not even close. It's expensive. It's crowded. And if you want an autograph from any of the guests, you're going to have to stand in the autograph ticket line at 4 am to wait to collect your one autograph ticket when ticketing opens up at 8. Considering all the hoops you have to jump through, if I had a choice, AX would be the last place I would want announcing as a guest someone I'd like to meet. I would much rather a smaller convention get them. At least then you would have some possibility of getting a chance to interact more with that guest. |
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Dfens
Posts: 462 |
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Like others have posted I was reading about how many great events and cool guests were showing up and thinking to myself how in the hell with the number of people attending could 1 person see everyone and do it all? And the answer is it's impossible.
I haven't been to Anime Expo in many years and with how big and crowed it is and how they charge for every little thing and with no real guarantee you'll have the experience you came for it's all just a recipe for disappointment. One year at a Con I was in the front of the line for over 3 and 1/2 hours, woke up at 4 am to line up at 4:30 for a autograph and still didn't get one. It completely ruined what was left of the con. I'm still young but old enough that going to hang out or party is not my thing at a convention. I go for a concert or guest/event that's once in a lifetime to meet and get a drawing or autograph etc. Everything else is just a side adventure. If anybody was to tackle this years madness I would recommend finding someone or something you can't miss and dedicate all your effort into that and worry about everything else afterwards. |
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grooven
Posts: 1429 Location: Canada |
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Yeah its pretty much impossible to see a multitude of people you have to plan out the few you want and work with that. The line waiting eats up so much time.
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Takkun4343
 Posts: 1586 Location: Englewood, Ohio |
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Welp, guess that means it's confirmed that Mayumi Shintani's coming back for FLCL 2.
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enurtsol
 Posts: 14893 |
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She hasn't really done much so she's available |
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johnnysasaki
Posts: 948 |
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she's mostly a stage actress,that's why she doesn't do much voice-work (I wonder if she will reprise Angel in the upcoming KOF game). And I'm envying every bastard that gets to meet her because,man,I love this woman's voice. |
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enurtsol
Posts: 14893 |
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Eh, stage actresses don't get much props in the seiyuu fandom |
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crosswithyou
Posts: 2900 Location: California |
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Aaaaaaaand seiyuu Kakihara Tetsuya was just announced. Thank goodness I already have his autograph. He's only doing one panel and one autographs, it seems, and of course you have to buy something in order to get a ticket to his autographs.
Seriously, AX. You can stop now. At this point you're doing a disservice to fans who want to see and do everything you're offering because it's just not possible to do it all. I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way. Between lining up and requiring tickets/purchases for events, people are realistically only likely able to attend one or two things they want to see out of the bazillion things they actually want to. @Kougeru Right? It hurts a lot more knowing whoever you want to meet is so close yet you're unable to do so due to scheduling, unable to get a ticket, etc. @Cutiebunny Yes, I'm aware that most of the guests are coming as part of industry, but being able to provide those sponsors with booth space, etc. still does cost a lot of money, considering that booth space could be sold to other retailers if it were not being used by a sponsor. I've only been to AX once back when Seki Toshihiko was guest. I think their meet the guests thing was like $5 or $15 at the time. I hear it's now $45ish??? Crazy~! While AX may have amazing guests, I definitely agree with you that they are not the best con. It's too industry-centric and everything costs extra. Paying for a membership badge to have a slim chance of meeting a guest doesn't seem worthwhile at all. @Dfens Wow, lining up at 4:30 and still not being able to get an autograph? That really sucks. I think a lot of people are going to be experiencing that kind of disappointment this year. |
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enurtsol
Posts: 14893 |
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They could try doing it like NY Comic Con on some autographs: pre-con raffles - ticketholder can enter as many raffles as he/she wants, but if chosen, can only accept no more than 2. |
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crosswithyou
Posts: 2900 Location: California |
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They could, but if they haven't started doing already that at this point, I doubt they ever will. Pretty sure they WANT people to line up so that more people will register for a badge, even if that badge will only give the person a slim chance of attending the events they want to attend. I tweeted that AX can stop it now with the announcements because they're doing a disservice to fans, and they replied back saying they can't stop and won't stop. Think it just goes to show once again that they care very little for their attendees. It would have been better for them to just not respond rather than reply in the manner they did. |
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kenshin77
Posts: 85 Location: The OC |
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I've been going to Anime Expo for 16 years. So I remember when the convention was still relatively small, and had all the events covered by just your badge alone. But, I think I like how Anime Expo is announcing so many events. It allows the Attendee to have Choices. Every Attendee can not see everything at Anime Expo. You have to make choices between seeing a panel or going to a concert, or hanging with your friends. I like going to the Concerts, Seiyuu panels and Visual Novel Panels, but I am not interested in attending the FLCL 2 Panel, the Masquerade or the One Punch Man Event . Many other conventions across the country don't have as many Japanese guests as AX, so I think it may be one of the reasons why so many people come to AX. Last years attendance was close to 100,000, so getting an Autograph is really difficult. I lined up to get an Autograph ticket at midnight just to get Ayako Kawasumi's (F/ SN's Saber) Autograph. I literally didn't get any sleep that day, but I was very happy. Bottom line, don't expect to see everything, but be happy if you got to see half of what you wanted to see. If you get an Autograph, consider yourself lucky.
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crosswithyou
Posts: 2900 Location: California |
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^ The way I see it is that AX is forcing people to put their eggs all in just one or two baskets, and if even those don't work out, there will be a lot of disappointment to go around. For many people, this could be the only chance they ever get to meet some of these guests so I find it pretty cruel of AX to force people into making choices which may or may not work out.
You say, "[D]on't expect to see everything, but be happy if you got to see half of what you wanted to see. If you get an Autograph, consider yourself lucky," but why shouldn't someone be able to see everything, or at least most of what they want? Why should someone need to be lucky to get an autograph? Also AX's response to me was very childish. |
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BlueBitterCoffee
 Posts: 50 |
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I agree with you all the way i have been attending this con since 2009 , this is way too much and i feel they are putting everything in one day . they are making all the biggest industry guests on saturday , when they totally can spread the events through out the con days. I feel due to this friday,sunday and monday are going to be extremely lackluster days. The once free events like the standup competition now cost money. This hurts my heart as an anime expo veteran. Maybe this is just a 25th anniversary thing and next year wont be as chaotic.
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