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Where were all the 21+ at Anime Expo or any other AnimeCons?




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Naitron



Joined: 25 Jul 2006
Posts: 27
PostPosted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 2:01 am Reply with quote
I went to Anime Expo this year and I noticed that most the people there were teenagers. I'm 22 myself (21 during AX) and I kinda felt out of place as if I was too old to be going to conventions. I'm sure there were plenty of 21+ people but it really seemed to me like the convention was dominated by teenagers. I was only there for the first day with my girlfriend.

I have nothing against teenagers and I got into Anime when I was a teen myself. Personally I felt a little saddened Sad seeing all the teens in their groups having fun. I have been planning on going to Anime Expo for over 8 years and I kid you not. Not until now did I finally go. Wish I had the experience of going to an Anime Con with my friends ;(

Anyways I know 21 isn't that old but it just seemed like the con was dominated by people around 16 years old. Just wondering what any of you veteran Anime Convention goers thought.
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GATSU



Joined: 03 Jan 2002
Posts: 15585
PostPosted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 2:19 am Reply with quote
I'm 28, and some of the middle-aged GOHs looked younger than me, so, don't feel too bad.
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fighterholic



Joined: 28 Sep 2005
Posts: 9193
PostPosted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 12:36 pm Reply with quote
21 here. I actually went with a friend of mine for the last three days and I did notice that everybody seemed to look younger. I wouldn't let it bother you though. I'd say that if you were really looking to hang out with people your age then you might have wanted to check out some of the 18+ panels that they had. But, I look at it as a good thing that more and more people are checking out the con, because that means we have more means to make anime bigger here in North America.
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lostinagoodbook



Joined: 31 Jul 2006
Posts: 114
PostPosted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 4:42 pm Reply with quote
I turned 36 the day I went to AX and it didn't particularly bother me that a lot of the people around me were much younger. I noticed a lot of people behind the counters, and staff were around my age, so I guess it didn't really strike me that I was outnumbered. Very Happy
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Craeyst Raygal



Joined: 30 Apr 2002
Posts: 1383
Location: In the garage, beneath a 1970 MGB GT.
PostPosted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 5:18 pm Reply with quote
Felt pretty similar at ColossalCon this year. At 23 (and my compatriot G-man at 24) we felt like we'd just wandered off the reservation once inside the convention.

I joked to G-man recently "Why is it that the longer I'm in this thing (fandom) the LESS I understand it, not more?"

His response. "Senility."

On the plus side, after 8 convention trips in 6 years of con-going (2 Ohayocons, 4 Anime Norths, and 2 ColossalCons) it's starting to get pretty easy and trouble free. We see all the youngsters rushing around late at night "How do we get everyone in the room?" "Think the hotel will let me sleep in my car?" and so on, and smile because we have a nice comfortable uncrowded room that was booked months in advance under the convention rate.
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Zalis116
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Joined: 31 Mar 2005
Posts: 6902
Location: Kazune City
PostPosted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 5:40 am Reply with quote
As a soon-to-be-27 veteran of 15 anime cons (4 x Anime Nebraskon, 2 x Otaku Omaha, 3 x Naka-Kon, 2 x Anime Iowa, 2 x Anime Central, 1 x A-Kon, 1 x Sogencon), I can say that I spend most of my time in: 1) hotel bars (2) room parties (3) my room, mixing up drinks...you get the picture. But aside from "anywhere with alcohol," I spend time in viewing rooms and low-key events like industry panels, serious-themed or show-specific discussion panels, guest panels/autograph sessions (especially lesser-known guests) and knowledge-based contests (trivia, Name that Tune, Guess the Anime, etc.). I steer far clear of any "teen hotspot" events like anything relating to cosplay or dances.

But yeah, I have noticed the domination by teenagers at every con I've been at. Probably because they're the ones blocking hallways to take cosplay photos, and thus standing out more in my memory.
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jsieczka



Joined: 19 Jul 2008
Posts: 150
Location: Rochester, NY
PostPosted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 9:59 am Reply with quote
Zalis116 wrote:
As a soon-to-be-27 veteran of 15 anime cons (4 x Anime Nebraskon, 2 x Otaku Omaha, 3 x Naka-Kon, 2 x Anime Iowa, 2 x Anime Central, 1 x A-Kon, 1 x Sogencon), I can say that I spend most of my time in: 1) hotel bars (2) room parties (3) my room, mixing up drinks...you get the picture. But aside from "anywhere with alcohol," I spend time in viewing rooms and low-key events like industry panels, serious-themed or show-specific discussion panels, guest panels/autograph sessions (especially lesser-known guests) and knowledge-based contests (trivia, Name that Tune, Guess the Anime, etc.). I steer far clear of any "teen hotspot" events like anything relating to cosplay or dances.

But yeah, I have noticed the domination by teenagers at every con I've been at. Probably because they're the ones blocking hallways to take cosplay photos, and thus standing out more in my memory.

I'm 26 and I take the same approach, I stay clear of the major events like the raves and such I have been to enough of them in my life. My last con was Acen and you found the older crowd/art students in all of the Cultural or "egg-head" panels. I went alone and met up with several over 21 people so they are around. Comic-Con I'm going to take the same approach and hide from the teaming masses of fan-boys and girls.
For all of us easterners the Providence Anime Conference should be interesting, it will be very unique or very empty.
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AnimeCon



Joined: 18 Jul 2008
Posts: 52
Location: USA
PostPosted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 11:45 pm Reply with quote
I went to my first con, yip yip. It was fine I suppose. I felt out of place a bit, for being younger.
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jhuhn



Joined: 25 Jun 2005
Posts: 147
PostPosted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 4:31 pm Reply with quote
There will be a 21+ anime con located in Providence, Rhode Island this October. I hope this info can be helpful if you live around that area.
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