By this point, anyone who frequents the anime convention circuit is aware of the great Anime Expo Versus AM2 Debate. Some refuse to frequent AX in light of staff, attendee, and logistics related issues, and some call AM2 a convention born to destroy Anime Expo. However, let's all be honest: with past guests like Miku Hinasaki and Gackt, it's hard to imagine Anime Expo ever dying a convention death. On the other hand though, it is accurate to state that the convention-goer experience at AX leaves some people longing for a friendlier, less-crowded, more personal environment. Did AM2 provide that this year?

I've been going to conventions since 2003. I've been to conventions in-state and out of state for nearly ten years now, so I like to believe I can give an informed opinion on what makes a great, well-run convention. By all accounts, AM2 was very well-run. The staff were friendly and helpful and Scarlet Rhapsody was never unnecessarily hassled by attendees, volunteers, or convention center staff. Events planning on Day 1 did leave something to be desired, however for a first year convention AM2 did have a wide variety of events to attend. The familiar Anaheim Convention Center had plenty of (and perhaps too much) space and affordable, close food and lodging. AM2 even provided passport holders with a booklet for stamps and signatures, much like a smaller fan-based convention.

And yet AM2 was missing what I believe to be one of the most important elements needed for a convention: a heart. Conventions are constructed where conversation and fandom-sharing is lacking--Anime Conji in San Diego began for this very reason. However while AM2 ran a good convention, I felt as though most attendees were not united under the desire to share: we were there because we didn't want to support Anime Expo. We were all there, on the same weekend as Anime Expo, for the purpose of not attending Anime Expo. I don't believe this is a reason to attend a convention.

Is there anything the staff and heads of AM2 can do to rectify this? The community knows AM2 was created in reaction to Anime Expo, however something more needs to be present in order to keep the spirit of the convention alive. Simply attending a convention to avoid another one is never a positive feeling. AM2 needs to find a better reason to be a convention, it needs to find its niche, its heart. Hoping that it will find its New-Convention-Legs and truly enter the convention scene as a place to share love of fandom, I'll certainly go back to AM2 to give it another try. Hopefully, by then, this rivalry will have left both Anime Expo and AM2.

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