How Anime Expo and Comic-Con International Differ
How Comic-Con and Anime Expo differ –
1. The Cosplay
Yes, there are plenty of people who wear a costume while they wander around the San Diego Convention Center. But the sheer variety and creativity of the Anime Expo cosplayers is just staggering. The materials, the attention to detail, the group Anime cosplayers; it’s all done with a spirit and verve that I honestly haven’t found anywhere else. In this, and so far only this, convention, it is perfectly acceptable and even encouraged to stab a finger in a person’s direction and squee, “Omg – lookit that!” Everyone is incredibly polite to eachother, and I didn’t witness a single bout of one-up-manship between cosplayers of the same character. Which, given that it is Los Angeles, struck me as surprising. It happens in San Diego.
2. The Free Stuff
Anyone who’s ever been to Comic-Con before knows, the ton of free stuff you can get by hunting in the main Hall is awesome. Sadly, the same cannot be said of Anime Expo, at least the one I attended this year. I know, a Con isn’t for the free stuff, but face it – a Con is the best place to advertise your video game, book, comic book, movie, etc etc, and have friendly competitions with other vendors to attract the most attention, and the best way to do that, is with free stuff first.
On a side note, I overheard from a good deal of the vendors in the main Hall that somehow Anime Expo had acquired a new management this year, that had somehow made things remarkably more complicated for the vendors. Perhaps that is what led to a lack of free shwag.
3. The ‘Tude
I’m a veteran of Comic-Con, this was my first Anime Expo in L.A., but immediately upon entering the L.A. convention center, I noticed a remarkable difference. Everyone is very polite to eachother in L.A., apparently. I saw so many stepped-on skirts with bended-knee apologies, heard “onegai shemas” and “arigato!” everywhere, and saw a great many smiles. Sure it’s warm, there’s a lot of people about some in cumbersome costumes, paparazzi are all straining to get shots of better cosplay, and I still have stuff to carry, but a polite attitude and a hearty dose of courtesy go a long way to making the Con easier to bear for everyone.
4. The Children
Or, rather, lack of them. I know most people think bringing their younglings, some 5 or younger and even some daringly bring infants, to a Con is perfectly fine. I don’t agree. Until a child is old enough to see over the counter, we’ll say at least 12 or so, there is a very real possibility of them getting lost or crushed in the crowds. Seriously. I saw very few small children at Anime Expo, those I did see were firmly kept on leashes (sometimes literally, it’s a cosplay thing), and didn’t hear a single child crying the entire time.
5. The Convention Center
I’m used to the San Diego Convention Center, having been there for years and years for various events. The L.A. convention center on the other hand, has a very different layout, the maps don’t help worth a damn and are often more confusing than I was, and most of the Con Staff didn’t seem to know where a single Panel was. Hence I was unable to catch a good deal of the Panels I wanted to see, and that is unhappy.
6. The Press Pass
I know, I get to include the Press Pass rant because hey, I’m the one writing the article. At Comic-Con in San Diego, the Press Pass seems to have taken a serious downturn as far as importance goes. Maybe it’s the tons of people at CCI, I don’t know. The point being, a Press Pass at Anime Expo in Los Angeles means people run, they don’t walk, to accommodate you; all your questions are answered promptly, even if it’s with, “I don’t know”; and if the answer you get is, “I don’t know” it’s almost always followed with, “Let me find someone who does!”. I don’t need to be fawned over, but if my badge says PRESS, I like to be treated even vaguely deferentially.
Ranted by Alicia Glass
Tags: ANIME EXPO 2010, attitude, CCI, children, Comi-con international, convention center, cosplay, free stuff, Press, press pass, rant, shwag
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