While it's technically not news about anime cons, Dramacon volume 2, the manga by Svetlana Chmakova which takes place at an anime convention, is available in stores today.
Otakon has announced their paid attendance for this year's convention was 22,302, just 302 people more than last year and 2,698 shy of their attendance cap.
AnimeCons.com is proud to announce the opening of the AnimeCons.com Store. The online store currently features a special AnimeCons.com T-shirt, but will soon be expanded to offer other products as well.
Due to problems with their mail server, Otakon is extending pre-registration through Monday, July 24th. Until problems with their ISP are resolved, pre-registration receipts and any correspondence may be delayed.
An "anime convention tour group" is attempting to organize bus rides, hotel rooms, and convention passes for New Jersey area anime fans. Unfortunately, it seems they have not actually arranged any passes at the two conventions to which they are offering services.
Funimation has announced that the well known manga artists known as CLAMP will be guests of honor at Anime Expo 2006. The visit is being co-sponsored by Anime Expo, Del Rey Manga, FUNimation Entertainment and TOKYOPOP.
Anime Evolution has shifted from a Friday-Sunday convention to a Saturday-Monday convention this year due to a scheduling conflict with their venue. The convention will now be held from Saturday, August 19th through Monday, August 21st at Simon Fraser University's Burnaby Campus in Burnaby, British Columbia.
Otakon has posted its rules for the artists' alley. While they are not banning fan art, the rules are a bit tighter than they have been in years past. It is recommended that anyone interested in being in artists' alley review the new rules to determine exactly what kind of art is and is not allowed.
Otakon's chairman has posted a notice on the Otakon web site to clear up rumors about their artists' alley. "Otakon is NOT implementing, nor has it ever seriously considered, a total ban on fan art."
In an unprecidented move, Otakon will be revising and enforcing their artists' alley policy to ban the sale of all unlicensed copyrighted material. This change will likely prevent the sale of most fan art and doujinshi. Artist reaction to this announcement has been mixed.
Jeff Thompson, a producer and director for TRSI, unexpectedly passed away last night while visiting a friend in Ohio after his visit to last weekend's Ohayocon. Everyone at Anime-Cons.com sends their condolences to his family on this tragic loss of a wonderful and talented individual.
Anime-Cons.com has received multiple reports that Kevin Lillard, the photographer behind A Fan's View, has suffered a heart attack on Saturday at Ohayocon. He has been hospitalized but is reported to be in good condition.
AnimeCons.com has assembled a list of the ten largest anime conventions in North America in 2005. The article features a look back on 2005 as well as a look ahead to 2006.