Anime NYC 2025, held from August 21 to 24, was the second time because the New York–based mostly conference moved its dates to happen in the summertime. The choice permits it to make use of extra of the Jacob Javits Heart, however comes at the price of being caught in a crowded con season, in addition to the danger of disagreeable warmth and humidity. Luck was in Anime NYC’s favor this 12 months, nonetheless, because the climate was just about excellent regardless of the weeks prior being fairly dire.
As all the time, the conference may be very targeting its Exhibit Corridor and its occasions. There are many panels that includes business insights and bulletins of upcoming plans, however they are typically geared extra in the direction of promotion, with a number of much less business-focused gems right here and there. For me, as a result of Anime NYC has change into an enormous occasion for VTubers, I’ve discovered myself dedicating extra consideration in that path.
The Takahashi Yoko Live performance
I don’t all the time attend the live shows at Anime NYC, which require an extra ticket buy. However there was nearly no value that will hold me from seeing Takahashi Yoko, the singer of the Neon Genesis Evangelion opening. The sequence has been such part of my life over the course of many years that I jumped on the probability to listen to her sing stay.
Curiously, her tickets didn’t promote out that shortly, and there have been lots nonetheless out there even after a small group buy. I might see folks not making the connection between Takahashi and the evergreen “Merciless Angel’s Thesis,” or that we’ve hit some extent the place Evangelion is taken into account extra historical past than anything amongst newer generations of anime followers. Extra for folks like me, I assume.
Takahashi carried out songs present in Eva similar to “Fly Me to the Moon” and “Soul Chorus,” however her set was not simply restricted to music from the franchise. She was additionally accompanied by two younger backup dancers, who have been fairly spectacular. Part of me hoped that Hakos Baelz, the hololive VTuber who focuses on dance and was in NYC at the moment, was within the viewers and will see them. Naturally, Takahashi capped off the live performance “Merciless Angel’s Thesis.”
There have been some points with the audio that took time to resolve. The acoustics of the primary occasion area aren’t excellent for live shows within the first place, and there was one thing in regards to the setup that drowned out her voice to a level. I introduced ear plugs, however needed to take them out at first as a result of I couldn’t hear her properly sufficient with them in. There was additionally a tech flub on one track that pressured them to restart it. Despite all that, Takahashi’s voice was merely chic; it sounded even higher in individual.
In the course of the live performance, Takahashi gave a speech in English, studying from some ready notes. She talked about how she principally grew up with music and was happening the trail of the classically skilled, however varied points stored her working as a session musician. She was initially employed to sing one of many variations of “Fly Me to the Moon” for Evangelion, figuring out nothing about it. At her first recording, she was accompanied by only one bespectacled man in a sweatshirt and sweatpants—Anno Hideaki. After this, she was requested to sing the opening as properly.
Takahashi described her relationship with Evangelion as an advanced one, but additionally one thing she’s total grateful for. It boxed her in, however with out it, she wouldn’t have been capable of obtain such success or have so many alternatives. She talked about how her favourite episode of Eva is definitely 26 due to one scene specifically: Within the “summary sketch” area seen within the finale, Shinji is proven floating by way of an empty void with whole freedom, however the lack of any boundaries makes it intimidating. He’s then drawn a floor, limiting his freedom in a method. Nevertheless, the boundary that exists now permits Shinji to do what he couldn’t earlier than, which is stroll and discover a method. Takahashi principally feels the identical method about Eva.
hololive
The VTubers of hololive have change into a staple of this occasion. Returning to the Exhibit Corridor was the big sales space that includes convention-exclusive panel streams, as was the hololive World Tour (extra on that later). Curiously, whereas previous Anime NYCs have additionally included an enormous hololive panel as properly, that wasn’t the case this time round.
The Sales space
One massive change from earlier years was that the panels have been spaced additional aside on the schedule, which I discovered very welcome. It gave me a possibility to take a look at different issues, and helped mitigate the potential hearth hazard that types with the enthusiastic crowds. I didn’t attend each panel, however each one I did see was enjoyable in its personal method.
I’m a fan of all of the holoX women, so I actually needed to see Takane Lui. She didn’t disappoint, particularly when it got here to karaoke, however the antics of her panel associate, Shirakami Fubuki, made it even higher. The fox would bust out a 2D Yagoo masks and a pair of muscular arms every so often, which culminated of their becoming presence through the track “Onegai Muscle” from the anime How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Carry?
The Tombstone panel, so named as a result of Calliope Mori is a grim reaper and Koseki Bijou is a dwelling gemstone, had them answering “Would you reasonably” questions associated to New York Metropolis. The NYer heavy crowd naturally had loads of opinions, and it was entertaining to listen to the VTubers attempt to twist logic to swimsuit their decisions.
I additionally went out of my strategy to see the hololive Indonesia karaoke relay, which had Kobo Kanaeru, Airani Iofifteen, after which Pavolia Reine. You may inform that folks actually love Kobo’s singing as a result of the usually boisterous crowd was nearly pin-drop silent as she lined “Mayonaka no Door,” “Merciless Angel’s Thesis,” and different tunes. Kobo was going to sing “Dragostea Din Tei” too, however a technical mishap prevented her from ending it. Iofi amazed me by singing “Do You Bear in mind Love?” and I even obtained seen by the digital camera when she was wanting round for holo merch.
If I had any massive complaints, it will be that standing on concrete for prolonged intervals is de facto robust on my toes, though I’ve good sneakers. It’s attainable to have higher flooring for a sales space, and I believe Cowl Corp can afford it.
The World Tour
Anime NYC was chosen as one of many stops on the world tour, which is formally titled ‘hololive STAGE ‘25 World Tour -Synchronize.” This isn’t to be confused with the hololive EN third Live performance, All for One, which passed off the identical weekend. You’ll be able to learn my evaluate of that right here.
The completely different lineup from final 12 months introduced a special vitality that was much less “pop diva.” With Calliope Mori, IRyS, Nerissa Ravencroft, Momosuzu Nene, and Kureiji Ollie on stage, you had a mix of devoted singers and all-out entertainers. Private highlights included the covers of “Shijoshugi Adtruck” and “Don’t Say Lazy,” in addition to the world tour official track, “Reside It Loud!” which I believe does job highlighting the strengths of every performer.
I do have a number of complaints. The primary two are ones I’ve already talked about, particularly the entire “standing on concrete for hours” factor like on the sales space, and the iffy acoustics of the Fundamental Occasions corridor. The third is what I’d think about a really gentle gripe: quantity of the songs carried out have been additionally at Breaking Dimensions final 12 months. Nevertheless, I do know I pay quite a lot of consideration to the musical efficiency aspect of hololive, and that is much less of a problem for individuals who watch occasions much less usually.
Every cease contains two further company, and New York Metropolis’s have been Natsuiro Matsuri and Haachama, aka Akai Haato. Matsuri is a pleasant center level between singer and entertainer, and I’m an enormous, massive fan of Haachama basically. I used to be a little bit unhappy that I couldn’t see everything of Haachama’s panel final 12 months at Anime NYC, and I think about myself very lucky that I managed to buy a ticket to Synchronize. I even introduced my Haaton wearable head towel so I might signify, and noticed different Haatons (i.e. Haachama followers) whereas ready in line. For the live performance, she carried out her first unique, “RED HEART,” and its simplicity is one thing that goes again to the very core of VTubing in a method I get pleasure from immensely.
The Stamp Rally and Different Merch
There was quite a lot of hololive-related items out there on the con. They’d very seen illustration within the Artist Alley, and the official sales space gave away a con-exclusive buying and selling card that includes the contributors of the world tour, in addition to a card for a stamp rally. The prize for finishing the rally was a sticker set with all of the ambassadors from hololive MEET ‘25, the final umbrella for conventions and different occasions world wide. Nevertheless, it required contributors to make purchases at particular cubicles, and for those who obtained there on later days like I did, it meant making costlier purchases. That is precisely why I ended up caving and getting the Hakos Baelz hoodie from Ohmonah. I had been eyeing it since July, and the standard and luxury (on prime of the stamp for the rally) was an excessive amount of for me. It’s so good, man.
Different VTubers
Possible due to hololive’s presence yearly now, Anime NYC has additionally change into a focus for VTubing on the east coast. Merch-wise, massive names like Sameko Saba, Nimi Nightmare, Dooby3D, Mint Fantôme, Dokibird, and Shylily have been everywhere in the Artist Alley. Ironmouse and CDawgVA additionally had a panel selling a brand new recreation.
Moreover, the Exhibit Corridor had a pair cubicles that includes Meet & Greets with smaller VTubers all weekend lengthy. I used this chance to speak to Pillowdear, and complimented her for doing enjoyable and inventive ASMRs like her Easter stream. This was my second ever Meet & Greet, and I discovered it fascinating that you simply actually get the gamut of contributors. I noticed somebody who was clearly a devoted fan of Pillow, but additionally individuals who actually had no concept about and even VTubing basically. I assume I fall someplace within the center.
There was additionally a Part Join karaoke occasion that I ended up not attending, however I did lastly purchase espresso from their sales space. I obtained the Ember Amane beans, and whereas I additionally needed Dizzy Dokuro’s, I foolishly forgot to keep in mind that her blatantly shilling-oriented unique track made it a sizzling commodity. (Count on an Ember espresso evaluate at a later time.)
A Story from the One-Punch Man Panel
I couldn’t attend your entire panel as a result of having to depart for All for One, however I do wish to ensure that story specifically is instructed for posterity. The company for the panel have been the members of JAM PROJECT, who do the One-Punch Man openings. In recounting the creation of the primary opening (“THE HERO!!”), chief Kageyama Hironobu recollects going to his bandmates and vaguely buzzing the strains of the primary verse with none lyrics, together with the half that will ultimately go Nandatten da? Frustration!/Ore wa tomaranai!—which Kageyama recreated as a sequence of ambiguous squeals and yells. Apparently, the opposite members checked out him humorous and principally replied, “Are you severe?”
I later came upon that they performed “SKILL” from Tremendous Robotic Wars along with One-Punch Man music. I want I might have been there, however alas.
The Meals Is Too Costly
Like so many different conference facilities, the Jacob Javits has by no means been value pleasant in relation to meals choices. For anybody wanting to save cash, I by no means advocate anybody eat the con itself, and I do it as a result of I see attempting out completely different overpriced meals to be a part of the expertise—form of like playing in Las Vegas or Atlantic Metropolis. Nevertheless, even I felt that the costs have been getting past ridiculous this 12 months. Issues have been near if not exceeding $20 after they weren’t that method final 12 months, and I’ll positively carry meals with me subsequent 12 months. Furthermore, there have been sure choices out there final 12 months that weren’t current for 2025: Korilla and its Korean dishes have been sorely missed, as was the Indian part within the meals courtroom space.
If I needed to advocate one place, it will have been the BentOn stall within the Exhibit Corridor. Whereas the costs are nonetheless not nice, the bento choices (fish or fried rooster) are one of the best wager for getting a well-balanced meal at Anime NYC.
Cosplay
Closing Ideas
Anime NYC has lengthy been attempting to be the Anime Expo of the east coast, and it has succeeded in essence. It will get massive company from Japan and world wide, has a significant business presence, and it seems and feels massive. If you wish to attend occasions and see stuff you wouldn’t be capable to in any other case, this con is usually place to be. Nevertheless, that comes at a value, in that it may typically really feel overwhelming the identical method one may get bombarded by neon signage. The distinction is that Anime NYC is sort of a much less excessive AX, the place there are fewer good issues (AX being on the west coast will get it much more alternatives for fascinating company) but additionally fewer dangerous issues (Anime NYC nearly by no means has the actually dangerous crowding problems with AX).
I believe because of this I’ve come to benefit from the VTuber aspect of Anime NYC a lot. Whereas it’s positively a part of the “company” presence as a result of hololive (and different VTuber firms to a lesser extent), that aspect nonetheless feels very fan pushed. I want to see a few of that spirit and vitality on the anime and manga aspect as properly.
