May 09 2008
Anime Blogger Panel at NYAF! Who’s with me?
So DS brought up this idea: Let’s run an anime blogger panel at new york anime festival! I thought “eh why, it would be all boring like that ANN panel last year” but then I thought from another point of view… It can be BETTER than the ANN panel cause we don’t need to talk about main stream licensed shit. We can talk about actual blogs that blog about anime, editorials, flames, imoutos, NicoNico memes and the whole thing about starting your shiny new anime blog.
The ANN panel seemed like a pen0r inrease panel for the panelists because they acted like they actually knew what they’re talking about…and made people like me in the audience wanna throw a tomato at their head. 
But if JP, DS and I got together we could actually do a REAL anime blogging panel and talk about the blogging community, anime blog awards, anime nano, anime blogger.net etc. It wouldn’t just be “the latest reviews of [insert licensed anime here]” or let’s talk about how awesome [insert anime title from 5 years ago] is.” When I really sat down and thought about it (while eating a peach danish from Cafe Zaiya) this could really be a pretty awesome thing.
However I do see some downsides. Most of NYAF is run by pro’s so imagine me sitting there babbling about how I blog anime that’s still airing in Japan because I watch it on Nico video which you need to have some handle of Japanese to be able to find the shows you want. Then there’s the downside of talking about blogs that post NSFW stuff. How do you explain that? “Oh yea there’s this blog that reviews eroge, and while his reviews are pretty good, there’s a picture of a girl getting screwed after each paragraph. ” I could see running into some difficulties about bloggers who post screenshots of loli characters and write captions that say “fapfapfap”. How do you explain those kinds of things? At a con like Otakon, nobody would care as its mostly fan run, but it would be awkward for an industry professional to walk in on me explaining what a “nice boat” is 
But the bad things aside, it could work right? I’m still thinking it over. I have actually somewhat spoken to the guy in charge of panels/events before. Also I’m guessing that if I did a panel I’d get some sort of an admission discount right? That would solve my other dilemma. And with my downhill con slope, perhaps this would be the thing to make my con going conclude with that “bang”. Hmm decisions decisions…
Tags: blog stuff, reader opinion
23 Responses to “Anime Blogger Panel at NYAF! Who’s with me?”
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marmot on 
L-chan on 
Kona on 
It sounds good; always worth a try. I couldn’t get any worse that some of your other experiences. And if it starts going down hill, politely state that you need to make a phone call, step out, and run like hell!
It can be like your old Podcasts! *Sings Memories*
Whatever you decide, think positively and have fun no matter what.
If you do it, can you record it? So those of us who cannot be there can get to watch?
What Kabitzin said. Sounds like a great idea, although you might have to streamline/pigeonhole anime blog categories carefully so as to not fall into the trap of inadvertently talking about stuff specific to those proficient in Japanese or the more NSFW side of things, like you’ve rightfully pointed out.
Although part of it really is my desire speaking, because seeing three animebloggers I know talk at length in real life about what they do online is fantastic.
PLEASE PLEASE DO.
You and JP were actually included in a list of recommended guests for a blogging panel I sent to NYAF lol. You shouldn’t worry about raising the eyebrows of “pros” and just say it like it is the way you always do. If someone from the industry comes by, they should sit down and pay attention. Reality is what it is- nice boats, lolitron and all- so members of the industry who choose to ignore it would only be shooting themselves in the foot. Plus, I have confidence in you guys being able to deal with the juicier content tastefully.
And if you do this, it’d be easier to convince the bf to do a Hatsune Miku workshop/panel XD
You guys should do it and record it.
Just do it!
The End.
Seriously–do it. If there was something like that coming for AX, I’d love to be part of it as well. Or even start it, if I had the time to coordinate and organize things (which I don’t). I’d love to hear your take on things and see what the audience thinks too. Maybe some of them will become bloggers themselves.
Hmm….then again, more rivals. Must actually think about that
That’s actually a very good idea. You should go for it. I am also sick and tired of these organizations that don’t talk about anything else other than mainstream licensed stuff like they’re the only way to go - but it can’t be helped since they’re probably sponsored. Independent bloggers who talk great non-mainstream stuff that will probably never be licensed (because of narrow minds) would be great. I would really love it if an industry person would actually walk in while you’re explaining what a nice boat is… That would be hilarious. But seriously, this is a good opportunity for fans and the industry people actually know what’s actually worth fans’ time.
BTW, please record for us non-American fans who will not be there
It sounds like a great idea though I don’t know what happens during a panel exactly. If it’s quite a ‘professional’ event then im not sure how well the people who hand out panels will take it because you may just look like 3 friends who want talk about anime (ok thats true but I know what I mean). I really don’t know anything about the applying system so I’ll shut up.
It sounds like a fun idea and I also agree that if it does happen, it should be recorded. Sad that I don’t live in the NY area to help. But maybe if such a thing occurs in the DC metropolitan area, I’d want to participate.
Hi agian…but your idea about the panel sounds really cool.
I say go for it! ^-^ And don’t worry about those “pros” at NYAF. Their not that “pro” XD I was there last year, their seriously not that pro..-.-
Thanks for all the positive feedback guys. It’s still in egg stage at this point but if we get solid approval from the NYAF staff then we’ll really get cranking on the content. As far as recording it - well the dumb question is how would we go about doing that? I mean am I the only one who no longer has one of those pocket casette recorders? Or do the youngins these days use something different? XD Maybe I can download a program for S60 that records audio only….?
You should definitely do it. Anime blogging is something that isn’t discussed very often at cons, well as far as I know, so it’ll be something different. Also when did you care about what the pros think?
No one uses pocket casettes anymore. It’s all about digital now! Just make a video and upload it imo… easiest way to do it. I’m sure SOMEONE has a digital video camera, even if you don’t. If you don’t want to be on camera, just have the camera face the audience, or don’t stand/sit near the slides.
Anyways if you keep the x-rated slides out of it then it should be okay. The worst thing that happens is they don’t let you do a panel next year. On the other hand I don’t have an anime blog and I live in CA so it’s easy for me to say things, huh.
Adun> I don’t, I just don’t want them coming after me for not supporting the industry or for “illegally downloading” anime (even though its unsubbed XD)
John> I don’t think I’d have any x-rated slides in the first place
I’m all for that. If you need any extra panelists, I’ll volunteer.
I’ll try emailing NYAF about it. But wouldn’t Anime Next be an easier possibility, as it’s not as “professional” but then there wouldn’t be as much time to prepare. Or perhaps both cons, with Anime Next as a trial run?
The only thing you would need technically would be a big screen to show what’s on your laptop.
If you just did an audio recording, I wouldn’t have to worry about trying to look good.
And if you got an account on Talkshoe or something, you could even do a LIVE podcast of it!
DS> Anime Next is out of the question.
Yes bring it on! Doesn’t ANN feature new unlicensed anime too? They even have blogs in there as some people say. I don’t think your audience is would be lost or not in on the jokes, they may know their animu more than what you expect them to know.
You might start your panel with an introduction to ‘blogging’ as a whole, in which anything goes, it’s unfiltered, raw, and reflects views of real people. I think with that intro you’ll convince people that some of our views may not reflect those of the pros, because like a good meme, it’s the people who give the definitions. That fixes a lot of explaining about NSFW and stuff going on throughout some blogs as well.
I’m not sure what exactly goes on in a panel, but I think what you’re doing will be worth it.
Oh yeah don’t forgot to bring some muscle cause you know those Narutards are going to hunt you down and paddle you.
“Anime Next is out of the question”
What, because the deadline’s passed? OK
But Hinano is so sharp with me
Definitely go for it. The panel I hosted at last year’s Fanime with Lolikit and Spiritsnare led off with some brief history of anime blogging and how to set up your own blog, then turned into a conversation that just happened to occur on a stage before we realized there were five minutes left and took a few questions. There seems to be more community stuff to talk about now like the ABAs and flaming/memes. I doubt that NYAF staff would be overly strict about what happens during panels but it doesn’t hurt to be careful.
As far as recording it, I suppose you could use a panelist’s built-in notebook mic (if available) for audio or put a cameraperson in the front row for video. I would like to see and hear how this turns out in September.
If the NYAF turns it down, it will just be too sad. They are nothing more than panderers of licensed stuff. I mean, they should actually encourage it because it gives them a better and wider view of what stuff are actually worth licensing. I mean, bloggers are not blogging it for the heck of it. They’re blogging it because they’re fans first and foremost right?
- ok, I’m not a big fan of licensed stuff but business wise, they’d be stupid not to agree to it. It would simply mean that they’re out of touch with the fans and with reality when it comes to the choices that they make.
As to your divide time on the various genres, you can take bloggers who specialize in shoujo/mecha/shonen/etc and take them in time increments and fans join in the times where their genres of choice come in. At least, no genre or blogger would be left out.