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| ©2002 Formerly BANDWIDTH: A Popular Culture E-Zine |
Anime Featured During at Festival |
| X |
| Ninja Scroll: The Series |
| Berserk |
| Initial D |
| Saint Tail |
| .hack//SIGN |
| Cowboy Bebop |
| Inu Yasha |
| Great Teacher Onizuka: GTO |
A couple months back, I attended the Big Apple Anime Festival (BAAF) convention in New York City, celebrating 
the accomplishments of anime and manga. It was there that I discovered that the recent boom in Japanese culture had spawned another convention, Anime Next, which promised to be the next evolution of anime conventions. My curiosity paid off and Anime Next seemed to be true to their word. While some work still needs to be done, Anime Next seems to have set up the building blocks of a very successful future.
Anime Next was created last year as a way to fill the convention void in Northern New Jersey area. After seeing genre-specific conventions like Shoujcon succeed in the state, Anime Next was created in hopes that a more general look at anime would attract more people. Held in New Jersey in 2002, the organization expanded and moved this year's convention spot to the Hilton Rye Town Hotel at 699 Westchester Avenue for 2003.
From Friday, October 3 to Sunday, October 5, fans flocked to the second annual event with aspirations that this year's extravaganza would deliver. Bringing fans more cool stuff than can be fully enjoyed in three days, fans were overloaded with chances to get autographs from artists and voice actors. There was even an Anime Next dance, showcasing the increasingly popular music from various anime soundtracks. There were prizes, music videos, a unique art show and auction, karaoke and even a manga library room, that allowed fans to enjoy new titles and old favorites.
Probably 
the biggest aspects of the convention were the video game room, dealer's room, cosplay showcase, panel discussions, screening rooms and the guests. The video game room was packed as everyone was playing great American and Japanese titles and preparing for various tournaments held throughout the day. It was funny watching people in costumes playing video games, but I was in the minority as cosplay was everywhere.
Most of the guests were dressed up as their favorite anime characters with plenty of Vash the Stampede's (Trigun), 100 (literally) Inu Yashas, .hack//SIGN and Lupin III all represented. The creativity and articulation in the designs were amazing, you can't help but admire the attention to detail displayed.
Of course, there is no better way to show your dedication than to go to the dealer room and by hundreds of dollars worth in anime, manga, toys, artifacts and other cool gadgets and gizmos. I picked up some great titles there, including the complete set of Cosmo Warrior Zero for only $30 from Media Blasters. What a steal? There were better deals here than at the BAAF and I didn't even have to wait in line to enjoy myself. I would loved to see more businesses represented in the future, but the size worked for me and there wasn't a lot of bumping around so I left a happy man.