The Differences Between Fans . . .

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I've said over and over since I got back from Amecon, how cool it was to see the difference between anime fans here and there, and everyone has wanted to know more about it. While it may sound like I'm saying that UK fans are much better...I'm really not. I'm just saying they are very different. It's such a hard thing to explain without being there and seeing it for yourself...but since so many people have asked me about it, I'm going to try to explain it here over a few points.

SO here goes...

• Just happy to be there - I know that I can't speak for all cons, but this year I have seen SO MUCH DRAMA at American conventions, that it totally takes away from the experience of just being there. Whether it's cosplayers fighting, AMV contestants bitching about categories, or the staff just pulling each other apart...it's totally been a drag. It was nice to be at an event that seemed to be totally centered around EVERYONE having a good time.
  
  I know that not all people who attend conventions here in the states are "drama queens", but the numbers have been getting greater and greater over the last few years. It seems that so many people now, want the con to be about what THEY want...and not something that can be fun for everyone.
  
  I'm sure it wasn't all "Rainbows and Unicorns" all weekend in the UK either, but for the most part it reminded me of what I really love about anime conventions. People just being happy to have a place to be excited about something they love, hang out, make some new friends, and have a lot of fun along the way. If there is anything I already miss about the convention it's all of the new friends that I made that weekend. Even people who didn't like watching anime in english, were totally excited to meet OTHER anime fans...and thanked us for coming such a long way just to hang out with them.
  
  
• Happy to have ANY new anime titles - It funny how much we take for granted as anime fans. Here in the states he have ADV, FUNImation, Bandai, Right Stuff, Geneon, Manga, and a bunch of other smaller companies that do nothing but release as much anime as they can. In the UK because the industry is just now starting to boom...there are far fewer companies...and even fewer titles.
  
  It never fails to irritate me to hear a group of Fansubbers, downloaders, and general anime free-loaders complain, anytime a new show is announced for release. I know the age old argument...that "X company" is going to ruin their favorite show. Whereas anytime a new title was even hinted at over the weekend of Amecon, everyone was just thrilled to think there was another title that would finally be available.
  
  It was so crazy to be in Virgin and HMV (two of the largest video retailers) and to only have two small rows of anime to choose from. Titles like Steel Angel Kurumi, Spiral, Saiyuki, Mythical Detective Loki....just aren't available. In most cases the fans of those shows have to buy the imported version of them because there is no telling when or "if" those titles will ever be released.
  
  
• Respectful of "personal space" and "time" - Not once over the weekend did anyone jump on me for a "glomp" or "kiss" without asking very politely. "Could I possibly have a hug?", "I hate to bother you but could I please have an autograph?", "Do you mind if I get a picture with you?"....it just made it so much easier to hang out in big crowds of people. I never felt the need for a "handler" or "security" because if something wasn't do-able or convenient people were very understanding.
  
  It's so hard to explain this without making someone else feel weird, but the fact is that fans at American anime conventions really do go overboard on a pretty regular basis. From trying to stop you on the way into the bathroom, to being handcuffed to a random fangirl (without your permission) as you're trying to get to a panel...It really is crazy. It doesn't really freak me out the way it does other people, because I'm kinda used to it. Even though there were lot's of people at the convention...that one difference made it feel like I was never crowded, or cramped all weekend.
  
  
• Did I mention the Pub ??? - I know I make lots of jokes about how much time I spent at the pub, but I really had some of my favorite moments there. It seemed like after around 7:00 - 8:00PM everything shifted over towards the pub area. not just because there was a lot of GREAT beer there, but it was also more of a social time for everyone to hang out, show of new swag, and talk about what they had been doing that day. It was nice because people who I hadn't really gotten to hang out with during the day....I ended up having drink with that night.
  

Like I said earlier...If it sounds like I'm saying that one group of fans was better than another.....I'm totally not. It was just very cool to witness what a difference there is between the two. Another thing to factor in, is that the Industry is just in it's beginning stages over there too. I'm sure that in a few years....there will be more similarities than differences. I'm just really stoked that I was able to go over and see it all for myself.

Ok....I think that's enough for now....this entry has taken me FOREVER to write....and I still have to write about the con itself. I also have lots of other cool stuff to report on as well...(recording, romance, and rest)...but I guess I'll save something for another later.

^_^

Hope everyone have been doing awesome...and I'm totally looking forward to seeing everyone at AnimeFest this weekend....It's gonna Kick Ass !!!