Anime NYC 2024 was a focus for a lot of areas of Japanese popular culture, however the one which caught my consideration essentially the most was the huge presence of hololive, the world’s greatest VTuber company. As a result of I wished to overlook out on as little of it as doable, I prioritized it above all else, and this con report displays that reality.
A New Date
2024 noticed the primary summer season Anime NYC, because it moved from the weekend earlier than Thanksgiving to the tail finish of August—a controversial transfer as a result of it introduced potential benefits and downsides. Being on the tail finish of the summer season con season might additionally carry a few of the momentum of different occasions, and in keeping with the showrunners, LeftField Media, was that they might now have the ability to make the most of extra of the Jacob Javits Middle. Nevertheless, this drastic change might disrupt individuals’s planning for cons. Additionally, summer season in New York Metropolis could be highly regarded and humid—even dangerously so if attendees have to attend exterior.
Fortunately for Anime NYC, climate was on their aspect. The weekend was most likely essentially the most nice the town had been all summer season. The great fortune didn’t cease there both: It additionally narrowly averted the curse of the lacking 7 practice.
Averting Prepare Bother
For a few years previous Anime NYC, the closest subway to the Javits nonetheless necessitated a 15–25 minute stroll (relying on how fast you have been). The thirty fourth St. Hudson Yards station on the 7 Line was particularly constructed to get individuals nearer to the Javits space, making it perfect for conventions. Nevertheless, each Anime NYC up by 2023 occurred on weekends the place the 7 was shut down for development, making the cease pointless. With the transfer to the summer season, it appeared as if Anime NYC was lastly going to keep away from this destiny—just for development on the 7 to be introduced.
Fortunately, the MTA in some unspecified time in the future modified it in order that the 7 Prepare would run as a shuttle from Time Sq. to Hudson Yards (a complete of two stops). Thus, whereas the lack of many of the 7 Line was an actual inconvenience for these coming from Queens, there as not less than this little bit of fine information.
This one small change mattered quite a bit for VTuber followers: That very same weekend, hololive’s second ever English live performance, Breaking Dimensions, was happening in Brooklyn. Whereas not terribly inconvenient as a result of presence of public transportation, touring between boroughs might nonetheless be a trouble that required a while administration and maybe sacrificing some occasions to get there on time. Had that shuttle practice not been there, it might have been an actual wrestle.
Section Join + Mint Fantome
Earlier than stepping into the hololive content material, I need to shine the highlight on one other VTuber company that had a presence at Anime NYC: Section Join.
A pair weeks earlier than the beginning of Anime NYC, the Canada-based group introduced that they might be holding their very own 3D live performance on Sunday, and that it might function abilities from their first era, Section Origins: Tenma Maemi, Pipkin Pippa, Fujikura Uruka, and Lia. Additionally they revealed as a particular visitor the indie darling Mint Fantome, including some vital star energy.
Other than Mint, I used to be solely passingly aware of a few them, however it was general sufficient to persuade me to plunk down some extra cash regardless of anticipating a busy weekend. Tickets got here in two worth tiers, however they didn’t have an effect on the standard of the seat. As an alternative, the marginally pricier possibility meant an attendee might get a particular reward, which turned out to be a random polaroid-style picture (of Uruka) and a random keychain (of Maemi).
(I additionally purchased a Dizzy Dokuro keychain on Saturday on the Section Join Sales space.)
Although not utterly bought out, there was nonetheless a large dwell viewers. All of the Section women had 3d fashions that matched their default appearances, whereas Mint (who I imagine doesn’t have an official normal 3D design) went with a chibi look. The acoustics weren’t nice (that’s the Javits for you), however between Uruka’s wealthy singing, Maemi’s versatility, Pippa’s vitality, Lia’s assured dancing, and Mint’s idol spirit, all of them introduced one thing memorable. I additionally bought an actual sense that Section Origins set the tone for the remainder of Section Join’s abilities and their typically unhinged presentation.
The occasion felt much less polished than hololive’s live shows, however I knew that might most likely be the case moving into. The moments that stood out to me essentially the most have been Uruka’s darkly comedic Self-Introduction music (about having to go towards her household to pursue music), and an enormous chunk of the dwell crowd getting up and forming a round dance line as Mint sang the Hamtaro opening. Apparently numerous the gang was aware of wotagei tradition. (Safety was additionally clearly visibly confused by what was occurring.)
There’s one last item I need to point out about Section Join. One distinctive facet of the corporate is that they promote VTuber-themed espresso beans. Although I didn’t plan on getting any, I used to be interested in it. After I requested, although, it turned out that they’d utterly bought out by Saturday.
The hololive Meet Sales space
Essentially the most seen hololive presence of the Exhibit Corridor sales space. Like final yr, it featured unique expertise streams for con attendees. Contributors included members of each department (together with Holostars JP and EN), and ran the gamut of matters. Kureiji Ollie taught the gang fan chants for common hololive songs, Haachama and Roboco tried to make edible insect gelatins from insect powder, and numerous karaoke classes had the gang singing alongside all through. The least common occasions have been throughout showcases of Holoearth—not stunning, given how these have been the least interactive, and that the sport nonetheless has no clear path.
One very conspicuous factor concerning the sales space was the big crowd that might type in entrance of it (which typically included myself). It was situated close to the entrance of the Exhibit Corridor, and it might really typically bleed out previous the doorway. This might trigger site visitors circulate points, and whereas I don’t blame the attendees for eager to see their favorites on this unorthodox surroundings, I do should marvel if there’s a greater possibility.
Different hololive occasions, just like the panels and the in-person live shows, have IRL audiences, however these Meet sales space showcases are like an fascinating midway level between these and the usual on-line streams. The bodily presence of the gang mixed with the much less structured and extra casual setup of the broadcasts themselves made for an entertaining and cozy interactivity that each the VTuber and the individuals watching might feed off of.
I discover that there are particular abilities who thrive on this surroundings. Ollie’s unmistakable enthusiasm for all issues hololive was infectious. Momosuzu Nene needed to overcome the language barrier, however she additionally confirmed her greatest aspect by her karaoke.
As huge a fan of Haachama as I’m, I ended up leaving hers early with a view to catch the practice to the Breaking Dimensions live performance. On condition that the latter began an hour late, I might have made it in hindsight, however I didn’t need to threat the likelihood, the NYC subway being infamously inconsistent.
hololive STAGE World Tour ’24 Soar
Images was not allowed on the live performance, so take a look at these standees as a substitute.
Ever since hololive introduced that their 2024 world tour can be kicking off at Anime NYC, I’d been anticipating it. Not solely was it a uncommon alternative to see one thing that wouldn’t be streamed, however the lineup was stacked: Baelz Hakos, Moona Hoshinova, Takanashi Kiara, AZKi, Nimomae Ina’nis, Kobo Kanaeru, and Tsunomaki Watame.
Every quantity bought the viewers pumped and looking forward to extra, and there have been loads of private highlights. I used to be happy to see Bae convey out an thrilling new choreography for her music “RxRxR”; when she debuted the music for her birthday live performance earlier this yr, Bae merely freestyled it. Getting to listen to AZKi’s singing was an actual deal with—she by no means sounds something lower than wonderful. I cheered when Kobo got here out for her unique music (and certainly one of my favorites in hololive) “HELP!!” And when Bae, Kiara, Moona, and Kobo carried out Kiara’s “DO U” collectively, it made me want that everybody else might sometime, one way or the other get the prospect to see it and be amazed.
The official call-and-response chant was: “The world is the stage!” “Soar, soar, soar!”
My solely grievance concerning the live performance was the area itself: As with the Section Join occasion, the Primary Occasions Corridor for Anime NYC is solely not nice for seeing music acts. Not solely are the acoustics missing, however the seating isn’t elevated, so if the individuals in entrance stand, it forces everybody else to take action as nicely if they really need to see what’s occurring. Mix that with the cruel concrete ground of the Javits, and your toes might not forgive you. I really bought a brand new pair of sneakers this yr to assist cope with conditions like this (the New Stability Recent Foam Extra, when you’re curious), however I nonetheless suppose that’s quite a bit to ask of individuals.
holoEN Justice
It’s change into custom for the most recent era of hololive EN to make their US conference debuts at Anime NYC. Elizabeth Rose Bloodflame, Cecilia Immergreen, Gigi Murin, and Raora Panthera—collectively generally known as Justice—joined the occasion remotely, speaking to the MC and answering trivia questions on New York Metropolis. It was in some ways just like Introduction’s panel from final yr, besides fairly than doing viewers polling, they might ask a couple of attendees up. Later, it grew to become questions on themselves that the viewers needed to reply, the place an accurate reply would make one of many abilities do a random embarrassing voice line, and a flawed one would imply the viewers needed to do one as a substitute.
A pair moments that actually stood out to me each concerned Gigi, the self-proclaimed “Fister” of Justice. First, when within the second half with attendees answering, Gigi shortly recommended a rule modification to keep away from dishonest. I feel it gave an fascinating glimpse into her thought course of. Second, at one level Gigi needed to do a tsundere roleplay, and it become an improv skit the place she tried to move off a cake she baked for Ceci as one she picked up off the ground after a rat had already been on it. Ceci then hit a reversal by saying she’d solely eat a nibble if Gigi ate the remainder of it.
I feel it ran a bit extra easily in comparison with 2023, and I ponder what may occur if there isn’t a brand new era to showcase subsequent yr.
Shirakami Fubuki and Ookami Mio
The pair from hololive Avid gamers additionally had a Primary Occasions panel, and it adopted an identical format to Justice’s, with the added ingredient of an interpreter for these Japanese VTubers. Fubuki and Mio requested members of the viewers trivia about hololive Avid gamers, together with the order of all 4 members’ birthdays. Additionally they invited individuals for an English language problem that they themselves needed to reply. Every now and then, Fubuki would convey out a masks of Yagoo (the hololive CEO) to get fun out of the viewers.
The 2 additionally had a pleasant deal with for the viewers on the finish, with a mini karaoke session that includes their signature songs. It made the hour really feel extra particular.
Ultimate Ideas
It’s fascinating to see hololive steadily flip into an even bigger a part of Anime NYC, and to deal with it as a significant occasion. To have each a live performance on the con and a separate one in the identical metropolis on the identical weekend made it really feel like issues are solely getting extra intense. The draw back I see is that I really did need to try different features of the con (like the looks of three members of the group Liella! from Love Stay! Celebrity!! and manga scholar Frederick Schodt), however I needed to decide and select. I don’t remorse my determination, however I do want there was a couple of of me typically. I’m additionally form of giving up on the concept of Anime NYC ever having common hololive meet ’n’ greets.
One essential takeaway I had from Anime NYC (and Breaking Dimensions) was that it’s lovely to see individuals gathered who need to take pleasure in what they take pleasure in. It’d sound a bit generic, however while you take a look at on-line areas and social media, there can typically be an environment of negativity surrounding each the VTubers and their followers. However being there dwell and seeing individuals simply having good occasions—it appears like that’s the precise core of the fandom. That doesn’t imply you’re solely a real fan when you attend in individual, however that this loving vitality and constructive enthusiasm ought to ideally be the driving drive of VTubing.
