Hey there Cool Cats! Since the virus has been shutting down cons, it’s been difficult. Some cons have rolled over badges to next year, have pulled out in general, and some are still holding out and hoping (like the rest of us) that the convention will still happen! Anime Central (ACEN) took a different turn with the unforeseen cancelling of the convention
Anime Central is one of the biggest Anime Conventions in Illinois that has been running for over 20 years. With each year the Convention has been doubling in its attendees numbers.. It has risen from over 1,000 attendees in its first year to over 33,000 this most recent year! Amazing! Even so, those 33,000 had to be turned away due to the virus outbreak.
With ongoing cases of the virus with no end in sight, Anime Central did the correct thing in cancelling the convention for the year and rolling over prepaid bages to next year or a refund for those that are unsure if they will be able to attend. In spite of this unforeseen event, Anime Central decided to host its first Online Convention!
Normally Anime Central holds anime viewing rooms, artist alley, autograph sessions, concerts, dances/rave, dealer's room, gaming (arcade, role play, table top, trading card, video) formal ball, karaoke, masquerade, panels, and Q&As. They weren’t able to host all of the things that they usually do, but they did do the most and beyond!
For the Artists Anime Central posted different dealers and artist’s works with their social and business links on their main website, ACEN.org. They were also advertised on their Twitch and Youtube channel as people viewed and participated in the live streaming of the convention. Video game streamers also had their information put up to interact with viewers on video games such as Dragonball Z and Dead by Daylight! As for the annual Masquerade, it was also online held with winners announced to keep the tradition going! Panels that were supposed to be held at ACEN, decided to record their panels (such as How to Sew and the very popular and very funny Samurai Dan panels) that were then put into a video and live streamed on Twitch and Youtube. They also held a Rave with a DJ to play music on stream for attendees to dance and rave to from the safety of their home and accompanied by their fellow anime members. People from all over the U.S. took the time to dance, drink, and chat with another at the same time! We may not be together but our interests and joys of anime are still alive!
ACEN also held a Minecraft Server with a Virtual Hyatt and Rosemont Convention Center! For more information and a live viewing on that, check out my Youtube Review video here. The Minecraft Server was free to join for those that had an account before Minecraft was bought by Microsoft and charged a fee. For those that had it or paid the fee, it was well worth it!
Every bit that was in the Hotel and Convention center was placed in the Minecraft server! The Hyatt Statue, the ever busy elevators, lobby, panel rooms, the add on to the hotel, the rave, the very long skywalk, and much more was placed! It was almost like visiting in person! There were not as many people walking around but the scenery was overwhelming enough to see and interact with!
As there are many ups, there were some downs. Some attendee concerns were that the panels could have been more interactive, to take note of what other Online Conventions have done before, lack of any way to include cosplays and cosplayers, and some missed the convention entirely due to lack of knowledge of an online ACEN.
Overall Anime Central did a fantastic job in placing one of the biggest and greatest conventions online! This ACEN was not the same and was not for everyone, but for it to be set up in less than 2 months with such detail and effort, with better than expected results! Attendees could view panels and rave on line. Artists and Dealers were not left out with their information held on ACEN’S personal website and live on their streams! The videos of the panels were put together nicely and seemingly! No Anime Fan was left behind! For those that enjoy buying merch or simply wanting to add to their annual badge collection, that was also offered as well! Thank you Anime Central for a great Online Con! This kitty was left purring!
