Overdue Correction to AnimeNation News

On Friday, February 8th the AnimeNation news reported an article under the headline “Anime Expo NY Merges With Big Apple Anime Fest.” This article reported that Big Apple Anime Fest, scheduled for August 3oth through September 2nd, would “essentially absorb the East Coast Anime Expo scheduled for August 31st through September 2nd.” This article has apparently caused confusion and no small amount of controversy for the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation and their hosting of Anime Expo New York.

Anime Expo New York will be held this year at the same location as Big Apple Anime Fest. According to the Big Apple Anime Fest official site, “BAAF and AXNY will both take place over Labor Day Weekend in Times Square, New York City.” Anime Expo New York will also occur within the time period of the longer Big Apple Anime Fest, which begins the day before AXNY. Both conventions conclude at the same time. Furthermore, the Big Apple Anime Fest website reveals that BAAF is the official “Red & Black Sponsor” of Anime Expo New York, which Anime Expo defines as a sponsor that has donated $25,000 to the support of Anime Expo. However, Anime Expo founder Mike Tatsugawa has certified to us that Big Apple Anime Fest and Anime Expo, despite their indisputable commonalties, are entirely separate conventions and Anime Expo New York has not, in Tatsugawa’s words, “given up its neutrality… to be run by Big Apple Anime Fest.” As the original Big Apple Anime Fest press release explains, “The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA) has been running the Anime Expo events on the West Coast for over a decade, and they always put on a tremendous event. BAAF is proud to be a major sponsor of AXNY as they bring their enthusiasm and talents to the East Coast for the first time.” The press release also confirms that Anime Expo will be “collaborating with BAAF” but will not be turning over organization nor management to BAAF.

Apparently the implication that Big Apple Anime Fest would assume responsibility for Anime Expo New York made by the original AnimeNation News statement, “The Big Apple Anime Fest has issued a press release announcing that this year’s convention to be held on August 30 through September 2nd will join with and essentially absorb the East Coast Anime Expo scheduled for August 31st through September 2nd,” has caused a great deal of confusion in the international anime community and no small amount of controversy for the members of SPJA and the management of Anime Expo. AnimeNation would like to sincerely apologize to all parties involved for the confusion and inconvenience caused by the original AnimeNation news article. The original article has been amended to clarify that Anime Expo will be organized, managed and staffed entirely by independent members of SPJA.