I will be at Anime Central from May 8-10 near Chicago, both as a staff member and as a panelist.
I’ve done panels before at conventions, notably at Otakon (in Baltimore), but it has admittedly been four years since my last panel work and I will also be out of my comfort zone – Otakon was my local animation convention and one of the biggest ones. I also usually go to conventions to see people, so this is a bit of a change from previous years.
As for what panels I’m presenting? I plan to present two – though one, the Japanese language learning panel, has some scheduling issues and so that is regrettably still up in the air.
I am definitely presenting a primer on Japanese philosophy and religion as seen in anime and manga, which is the sort of panel I have done before at Otakon.
I am also presenting a panel on ‘How Not To Talk Like a 13-Year-Old’, a Japanese language learning panel, schedule permitting.
Hopefully my computer and the convention scheduling will cooperate.
My questions to you: Have you gone to animation conventions before? What do you think about them, good or bad? Do you think presentations are a good idea?
The Jewel in the Clover 
Geoff said,
May 1, 2009 at 6:02 am
I’ve only been to one convention: Anime Boston 2008, and for only one day. Sadly, I didn’t really enjoy myself. I was with my wife, and we mostly just walked around. We attended two panels, but only one of them was any good.
I think panels are a good idea, as long as they’re done right much like anything else. I’d like to go to more conventions, but they are few and far between here in New England.
I wish you the best of luck at your convention, and hope you and your panel attendees have the best time.
cloverjewel said,
May 1, 2009 at 11:05 am
Yes; I think the closest ones apart from Anime Boston would have been in the New York area. Otakon is in Baltimore and even though I know people who go to it from New England, it can be a bit of a trek.
Thank you. Unfortunately, as I do a lot of question and answer sessions, the actual presentation part of the panel may seem quite abbreviated… so I’m hoping things go well.