Based on focus groups and surveys, The second New York Anime Festival will be held this year September 12-14th, significantly earlier than last year’s Dec. 7-9 time frame. According to the calendar at Comic Book Conventions.com there are no real scheduling conflicts with other shows, although it is coming pretty soon after Otakon which is being held August 8-10 in Baltimore. According to the PR, below, NYAF is now the fourth biggest anime show. Anime Expo and Otakon would be bigger, but what’s #3?


The New York Anime Festival (NYAF) today announced its 2008 show will be held from September 12th to the 14th at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City. The New York Anime Festival, a Japanese pop culture convention from the creators of the New York Comic Con, held its first event on December 7-9, 2007. The 2007 New York Anime Festival featured guests including Kobun Shizuno (Co-Director of Evangelion 1.0: You Are (Not) Alone), Peter Fernandez (The Voice of Speed Racer), and J-Pop band UNICORN TABLE as well as over 100 exhibitors including ADV Films, Bandai Entertainment, Del Rey Manga, FUNimation, Media Blasters, and TOKYOPOP. The 2007 New York Anime Festival drew a total of 14,335 attendees.

Following the close of the New York Anime Festival’s 2007 show, the convention conducted surveys, interviews, and focus groups with exhibitors, professionals, and attendees to determine the dates of its next event. The New York Anime Festival’s new September setting is the result of this research.

“The first New York Anime Festival exceeded all our expectations,” Show Manager Lance Fensterman said. “After our first year out, we’re already the fourth largest anime convention in America! Of course, we’re not stopping here. This year’s NYAF will be larger in size and scale, and work has already begun on an astonishing roster of guests.”

The New York Anime Festival’s parent show, the New York Comic Con, will take place April 18-20 at the Jacob Javits Center. NYCC recently announced it will play host to Japanese pop star T.M.Revolution. T.M.Revolution is known around the world for “INVOKE,” the theme song to the anime series Gundam SEED and “Ignited,” the theme to its sequel, Gundam SEED Destiny. He will soon also be known for the theme song to Soul Eater, an anime series premiering this April in Japan. T.M.Revolution’s NYCC performance is his first concert in the US since 2004 — and first ever in New York City. Tickets are available now at www.newyorkcomiccon.com.

1 COMMENT

  1. >Is that during Rosh Hashonah?

    Nah, Rosh Hashanah begins later in September in 2008–sundown on the 29th, IIRC. The show isn’t stepping on another Jewish holiday, never fear…

  2. This will undoubtedly cause problems for travelers as it is so close to 9/11. A special day in New York. Bad choice, anime organizers, bad choice…

  3. Most of the New Yorkers I know don’t give a rolling donut about “observing” 9/11. I’ve been in Baltimore for their comic-con for it the past few years.

  4. It is a better time of year for people who are from places like Maryland. It is a month from Anime USA (the DC area convention I help run), but I am thinking about going Saturday and maybe Sunday. For those who think that an anime convention right after 9/11 is a bad day, Anime can open the doors to different cultures. We need culturally savvy people in these times.

  5. Ms. Beat, I don’t think it’s about the public observing 9/11,

    I’m just concerned about the uber-security that goes into place around the city at that time, as it could prove a hassel to some travelers.