Introduction

Usually, most conventions that run on a yearly basis do just that, come out on a yearly basis. New York Comic Con for example comes out usually in October or November each year and thus an entire year passes. The same can be said of Anime NYC, which since its release, has come out every 12 months…until now. Back in 2023, Anime NYC was met with some praise but equal amounts of complaints. People felt it wasn’t up to par compared to say Comic Con and they wanted it to be bigger, well, Anime NYC teams heard and they wanted to prove something. Only 8 months later, Anime NYC 2024 has come—and sadly gone—but wow was I surprised how this convention evolved! In short, Anime NYC 2024 is bigger, better, and definitely near perfection but it is just a tad shy from perfection! First, let’s talk about what Anime NYC 2024 did right, and let’s then discuss what it did…not so right. Before all of that though, look below for some quick information you might need to know for future convention enjoyment!

If you stepped into the halls of the Jacob Javits Center back in 2017’s version of Anime NYC, you’d probably immediately go…this is it? While conventions like NY Comic Con used nearly every space of this massive complex, Anime NYC was in one corner that only spanned two sections versus the several floors this place has to offer. It was a bit disappointing if I’m being honest but I equally understood this was the first major anime convention in Manhattan so I didn’t complain. Plus, it was Anime NYC! That alone was so amazing that we finally got what felt like an honest sponsored convention. Well, folks, Anime NYC has come quite a way in the last seven years and Anime NYC 2024 was a showing of that. This time, there were only two small sections and an almost claustrophobic-sized Artist Alley. Anime NYC 2024 was bigger and better than ever before!

First, let’s talk about again Artist Alley, where talented souls gather to share their visions of popular anime, manga, video games, and various mediums for the convention dwellers to see. In the past, Artist Alley for Anime NYC was…pretty questionable. It almost felt like it was an afterthought as the entire section was either put into a small area or left to almost be unseen by most. Anime NYC 2024 fixed Artist Alley in a rather large way by giving the section more room to breathe. Rather than not being able to really stand around and look at the art or even buy it without being slammed into by a cosplayer wearing full regalia, Artist Alley felt expanded and breathable. This showed us that finally, Anime NYC listened and knew convention goers wanted their alley to not feel like a literal alleyway…which I see enough of in NYC.

Returning back to the sheer size of the convention center, Anime NYC 2024 tried hard to use more available space this outing and you can tell. While it still was easy to bump into a Hatsune Miku cosplayer or a Ninja from the Hidden Leaf—Naruto in case you forgot—I didn’t feel as congested and enclosed as in the past. I could walk around easier and only occasionally get caught in bumper-to-bumper traffic that is a Cloud cosplayer trying to turn a corner with his massive Buster Sword safety on their back. Anime NYC 2024 was a lot bigger and that was noticeable from entering the building. While it still didn’t use nearly 50% of the center—as it was still mostly all on a few floors—I did love exploring around and getting lost which hadn’t happened to me before. This is a convention you want to get lost in folks, it shows the grandeur versus being able to know where a single booth is every single day. You can always rely on maps—they save the day—but getting lost is half the fun of a convention like Anime NYC!

What Needs to be Fixed Going Forward

Anime NYC 2024 learned a lot from previous cons and fans who no doubt voiced their criticisms each year. However, Anime NYC 2025—which probably will be released a year from now versus the 8 months like last time—still needs to change things to avoid some of the headaches many of us faced this time. Are they deal breakers in enjoying the convention? No, but I have no doubt people will begin to grow tired of these issues that still pop up.

The first issue that absolutely needs to be fixed is the food stalls/vendors. Anime NYC 2024 had everything from dumplings to Okonomiyaki—Japanese pancakes—and tons more choices for delicious foods to try out…if you didn’t mind waiting nearly an hour in lines that were disjointed and mangled. While it was easy enough to find the various food locations—all were near walls and outer areas away from vendors/sellers—the lines for which food choice you were looking for weren’t as easy to find. I overheard many people complaining they were in the wrong line waiting because there wasn’t clear control over which line led to where. Anime NYC needs to maybe rope these areas or create some form of barriers to show which line goes where and this would in turn remove confusion and chaos.

Another gripe is with…Artist Alley. Yes, I said it was way better this year and it was. Still, though, it needs a separate area entirely. Comic Con NYC shows that this works by having Artist Alley on the lower floor and it still is filled to the brim with artists. I think it almost feels insulting that an artist needs to be situated next to another shop selling reprints or copied works. Just like how an artist is free to envision a various character in their own way, they need freedom of an open area at the center and I pray Anime NYC 2025 does just that.

Conclusion

Anime NYC 2024 was so much more than I expected. Part of me thought that it couldn’t ever get any bigger than the previous years but I was corrected the minute I stepped through those 4 doors of the Jacob Javits Center. Was it a perfect experience? No, but Anime NYC 2024 is reaching a point where I think just a few more tweaks here and there can create an ultimate NYC Anime convention that will rival even Anime Expo. Regardless though, I had a blast this year and from what I’m reading online via X—Twitter—and other social media outlets, I wasn’t alone. Anime NYC 2025 is most likely already being cooked up as I write this report and I have no doubt I’ll be there to cover it as well!

—Aaron