AnimeNEXT

Quality 0.50 · 2 views · Updated 2 months ago

Anime convention in Edison, New Jersey

title: "AnimeNEXT" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["anime-conventions-in-the-united-states", "recurring-events-established-in-2002", "2002-establishments-in-new-jersey", "annual-events-in-new-jersey", "culture-of-new-jersey", "festivals-in-new-jersey", "conventions-in-new-jersey"] description: "Anime convention in Edison, New Jersey" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AnimeNEXT" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Anime convention in Edison, New Jersey ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox Convention"]

FieldValue
nameAnimeNEXT
logo[[Image:Animenextlogo2013a-1-.png
imageBerryz Kobo at AnimeNEXT 20120608 16.13.44.jpg
captionBerryz Kobo at AnimeNEXT 2012
statusIndefinite hiatus
genreAnime, Manga, Japanese culture
venueNew Jersey Convention and Exposition Center
locationEdison, New Jersey
countryUnited States
first2002
organizerUniversal Animation, Inc.
attendance11,026 in 2018
websitehttp://www.animenext.org/
::

| name = AnimeNEXT | logo = [[Image:Animenextlogo2013a-1-.png|250px|Animenext logo]] | image = Berryz Kobo at AnimeNEXT 20120608 16.13.44.jpg | caption = Berryz Kobo at AnimeNEXT 2012 | status = Indefinite hiatus | genre = Anime, Manga, Japanese culture | venue = New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center | location = Edison, New Jersey | country = United States | first = 2002 | organizer = Universal Animation, Inc. | attendance = 11,026 in 2018 | website = http://www.animenext.org/

AnimeNEXT (AN) is an annual three-day anime convention held at the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center in Edison, New Jersey. The convention was previously held at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, New Jersey, the Garden State Exhibit Center in Somerset, New Jersey, and the Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Programming

The convention typically offers anime music video (AMV) screenings, cosplay chess, a dance, dealer's room, karaoke, panels, masquerade, video gaming, and video rooms.

History

The first convention in 2002 was put on with limited staffing and was planned in eight months. In 2008 parts of the convention were held in the parking garage below the Meadowlands Exposition Center. The convention then moved to the Garden State Exhibit Center, although it experienced crowding issues in 2012 with outdoor space used for lines. AnimeNEXT moved to the Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey for 2016, with the deal lasting until 2020. The convention moved due to outgrowing the Garden State Exhibit Center. In 2016, the United States finals of the World Cosplay Summit were held at AnimeNEXT. Major communication and scheduling issues with panels occurred before and during the 2017 convention. Accusations of past staff member harassment were published in 2019, with former con chair Eric Torgersen being suspended in April.

AnimeNEXT 2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The convention was changed to an online only event for 2021, due to the Atlantic City Convention Center being used as a large scale COVID-19 vaccination center. AnimeNEXT 2022 was cancelled due to problems with the Atlantic City Convention Center. Issues included significant price increases for the venue, lack of COVID-19 policies, and no communication about another event in the area during the same weekend, the Orange Loop Rock Festival.

AnimeNEXT would move to the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center in Edison, NJ in 2023. The organizers would shift the COVID-19 policy from "masks required" to "masks encouraged" just two weeks prior to the 2023 event. In February 2024, AnimeNEXT management made a post across their social media accounts stating that "Universal Animation, Inc., the parent company of AnimeNEXT, recently faced circumstances that brought planning for our 2024 convention to a screeching halt." The post went on to confirm that the convention would not be held that year, stating that "As a result, we will not be holding AnimeNEXT 2024." In January 2025, AnimeNEXT management announced that the convention was on "indefinite hiatus", stating that "Universal Animation, Inc., the parent company of AnimeNEXT, is going through organizational restructuring and addressing many legacy issues."

Event history

::data[format=table]

DatesLocationAttendanceGuests
date = October 11–13, 2002venue = Crowne Plaza Meadowlandslocation = Secaucus, New Jerseyattendance = 1,071
::

Manga library

AnimeNEXT has taken their Manga library to other conventions, including Otakon and New York Comic Con.

References

Other Related News Articles

References

  1. "AnimeNEXT 2011 welcomes Japanese fashion designers Sixh". AnimeCons.com.
  2. (June 7, 2016). "A.C. Convention Center to welcome debut of AnimeNext". Atlantic City Weekly.
  3. "Universal Animation, Inc. Information". AnimeCons.com.
  4. Sears, Stefanie. (2010-11-24). "MSU's Japan Club wins at AnimeNext and Celebrates Japanese Culture". The Montclarion.
  5. Gottlieb, Christopher. (2006-06-23). "Cosplayers portray their favorite characters from anime". Herald News.
  6. Font, Dillon. (November 2002). "AnimeNEXT: First Year Con-A-Go-Go". Animefringe.
  7. (2008-07-13). "Who's NEXT? An Awesome Anime Convention". Toon Zone.
  8. (2012-07-01). "AnimeCons TV: July 2012: AnimeNEXT, PortConMaine, and Con Plague". AnimeCons TV.
  9. (July 30, 2015). "A.C. nabs major Japanese convention in 5-year deal". Philadelphia Business Journal.
  10. (June 10, 2016). "Atlantic City's AnimeNEXT con explores art, appeal of Japanese animation". Press of Atlantic City.
  11. (19 June 2017). "AnimeCons TV: AnimeNEXT 2017 Report". AnimeCons TV.
  12. (May 22, 2019). "AnimeNEXT Staff Launch Investigation Into Sexual Misconduct Allegations Against Former Con Chair". Anime News Network.
  13. (May 28, 2019). "AnimeNEXT: Former Con Chair Suspended From Staff Pending Investigation". Anime News Network.
  14. "AnimeNEXT Cancellation Announcement & Next Steps". AnimeNEXT.
  15. "AnimeNEXT 2020 Information". AnimeCons.com.
  16. "AnimeNEXT 2021 Online-Only Announcement".
  17. (March 29, 2021). "Vaccine Mega-Site Coming To Atlantic City Convention Center". Galloway, NJ Patch.
  18. (March 30, 2022). "New Jersey's AnimeNEXT Cancels 2022 Event Due to Issues with Convention Center". Anime News Network.
  19. "AnimeNEXT 2022 Information". AnimeCons.com.
  20. "AN 2023: Convention COVID Policy".
  21. (2024-02-09). "New Jersey's AnimeNEXT 2024 Event Canceled".
  22. https://x.com/AnimeNEXT/status/1878639796001853891
  23. "AnimeNEXT 2002 Information". AnimeCons.com.
  24. "AnimeNEXT 2003 Information". AnimeCons.com.
  25. "AnimeNEXT 2004 Information". AnimeCons.com.
  26. "AnimeNEXT 2005 Information". AnimeCons.com.
  27. "AnimeNEXT 2006 Information". AnimeCons.com.
  28. "AnimeNEXT 2007 Information". AnimeCons.com.
  29. "AnimeNEXT 2008 Information". AnimeCons.com.
  30. "AnimeNEXT 2009 Information". AnimeCons.com.
  31. "AnimeNEXT 2010 Information". AnimeCons.com.
  32. "AnimeNEXT 2011 Information". AnimeCons.com.
  33. "AnimeNEXT 2012 Information". AnimeCons.com.
  34. "AnimeNEXT 2013 Information". AnimeCons.com.
  35. "AnimeNEXT 2014 Information". AnimeCons.com.
  36. "AnimeNEXT 2015 Information". AnimeCons.com.
  37. "AnimeNEXT 2016 Information". AnimeCons.com.
  38. "AnimeNEXT 2017 Information". AnimeCons.com.
  39. "AnimeNEXT 2018 Information". AnimeCons.com.
  40. "AnimeNEXT 2019 Information". AnimeCons.com.
  41. "AnimeNEXT 2021 Information". AnimeCons.com.
  42. "AnimeNEXT 2023 Information". AnimeCons.com.
  43. (2004-05-21). "Otakon / AnimeNext Manga Library". Anime News Network.
  44. (2007-01-18). "AnimeNext Manga Library US Tour Stops at NY Comic Con". Anime News Network.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

anime-conventions-in-the-united-statesrecurring-events-established-in-20022002-establishments-in-new-jerseyannual-events-in-new-jerseyculture-of-new-jerseyfestivals-in-new-jerseyconventions-in-new-jersey