# AnimeNEXT

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

| Dates | Location | Attendance | Guests |
| October 11–13, 2002 | Crowne Plaza Meadowlands Secaucus, New Jersey | 1,071 | Kia Asamiya, Robert Bricken, C.B. Cebulski, Richard Ian Cox, Robert DeJesus, Mike Hayes, Jamie McGonnigal, Kristen Nelson, Frank Pannone, Steve Pearl, Bill Rogers, Michael Sinterniklaas, Myriam Sirois, and Toshifumi Yoshida. |
| October 3–5, 2003 | Rye Town Hilton Rye Brook, New York | 1,571 | B! Machine, Steve Bennett, Chris Beveridge, Robert Bricken, C.B. Cebulski, Clark Cheng, Tiffany Grant, Wayne Grayson, Jon Guttierez, Daniel Kevin Harrison, Himawari, Takehiko Ito, Trish Ledoux, Rob Malda, Jamie McGonnigal, MegaZone, Kristen Nelson, Frank Pannone, Peelander-Z, Mike Pollock, Georgette Reilly, Bill Rogers, Jan Scott-Frazier, Trisha Lynn Sebastian, Michael Sinterniklaas, John Sirabella, Moneca Stori, James Arnold Taylor, Marc Thompson, Bill Timoney, Tom Wayland, David L. Williams, Barry Winston, and Toshifumi Yoshida. |
| June 18–20, 2004 | Crowne Plaza Meadowlands Secaucus, New Jersey | 3,400 | Alissyn Brock, Kelli Shayne Butler, C.B. Cebulski, Cosmicity, Richard Ian Cox, Edwin De La Cruz, Lauren Goodnight, Trish Ledoux, Rob Malda, Kenneth Robert Marlo, Matt K. Miller, Mari Morimoto, Merideth Mulroney, Lisa Ortiz, Stephen Pakula, Peelander-Z, Mike Pollock, Bill Rogers, Michael Sinterniklaas, The Spunks, Moneca Stori, Veronica Taylor, Marc Thompson, Matt Thorn, Tom Wayland, David L. Williams, Barry Winston, and Toshifumi Yoshida. |
| June 17–19, 2005 | Meadowlands Exposition Center Holiday Inn Meadowlands Secaucus, New Jersey | 4,200 | Alissyn Brock, Akitaroh Daichi, Mark Diraison, Caitlin Glass, Lauren Goodnight, Wayne Grayson, Lance Heiskell, Mayumi Kobayashi, Trish Ledoux, Vic Mignogna, Sean Molyneaux, Merideth Mulroney, Ed Paul, Peelander-Z, Mike Pollock, Justin Sevakis, Uzuhi, Tom Wayland, David L. Williams, Kerry Williams, Travis Willingham, Reiko Yasuhara, and Toshifumi Yoshida. |
| June 16–18, 2006 | Meadowlands Exposition Center Holiday Inn Meadowlands Secaucus, New Jersey | 6,000 | Laura Bailey, Colleen Clinkenbeard, D'espairsRay, Caitlin Glass, Lauren Goodnight, Wayne Grayson, Trish Ledoux, Masao Maruyama, Vic Mignogna, Mari Morimoto, Mike Pollock, Rintaro, Bill Rogers, Harold Sakuishi, Michael Sinterniklaas, Marc Thompson, Kari Wahlgren, David L. Williams, and Toshifumi Yoshida. |
| July 6–8, 2007 | Meadowlands Exposition Center Holiday Inn Meadowlands Secaucus, New Jersey | 7,100 | 12012, Eric Calderon, Daisuke Gomi, Wayne Grayson, Toyo Ikeda, Jonathan Klein, Michele Knotz, Mari Morimoto, Kensuke Okabayashi, Frank Pannone, Chris Patton, Ed Paul, Mike Pollock, Monica Rial, Bill Rogers, Michael Sinterniklaas, Gustavo Sorola, Tom Wayland, and Kathleen Zuelch. |
| June 20–22, 2008 | Meadowlands Exposition Center Holiday Inn Meadowlands Secaucus, New Jersey | 7,900 | Greg Ayres, Steve Bennett, Leah Clark, Joe Digiorgi, Aidan Drummond, Brian Drummond, James Harknell, Michele Knotz, Chris "Kilika" Malone, Rich McNanna, Dallas Middaugh, Mari Morimoto, Kensuke Okabayashi, Rentrer en Soi, Bill Rogers, Brad Swaile, Michael "Mookie" Terracciano, Alison Viktorin, and Tom Wayland. |
| June 12–14, 2009 | Garden State Exhibit Center Somerset DoubleTree Hotel Somerset, New Jersey | | Shihan Carbonaro, Fake?, Wayne Grayson, Kyle Hebert, Michele Knotz, Dave Lister, Chris "Kilika" Malone, Misako Rocks!, Mike Pollock, Stacie Renna, Bill Rogers, Michael "Mookie" Terracciano, Bill Timoney, Tom Wayland, and Toshifumi Yoshida. |
| June 18–20, 2010 | Garden State Exhibit Center Somerset, New Jersey | | Greg Ayres, Martin Billany, Eirik Blackwolf, Gashicon, Kyle Hebert, Kenji Kamiyama, Anthony Kresky, Dave Lister, Chris "Kilika" Malone, Kevin McKeever, Tony Oliver, Stacie Renna, Sleeping Samurai, Stereopony, and Uncle Yo |
| June 10–12, 2011 | Garden State Exhibit Center Somerset, New Jersey | | Robert Axelrod, Greg Ayres, Chipocrite, Leah Clark, Joe Foering, Onezumi Hartstein, Kanon, Yu Kimura, Michele Knotz, Dave Lister, Scott A. Melzer, Vic Mignogna, Mix Speaker's,Inc., Satoru Nakamura, Trina Nishimura, Promise Sisters, Matt Pyson, Bill Rogers, Takamasa Sakurai, Sixh, Uzuhi, Mike Wall, Tom Wayland, Steve Yun, and Tommy Yune. |
| June 8–10, 2012 | Garden State Exhibit Center Somerset, New Jersey | 9,850 | Berryz Kobo, Kevin Bolk, C.R.A.Z.Y.O.T.A.K.U., Chipocrite, Leah Clark, Kara Edwards, Bill Ellis, Toshihiro Fukuoka, Kyle Hebert, Michele Knotz, Dave Lister, Kevin McKeever, Dani O'Brien, Satsuki, and Z8 (Z-Ann). |
| June 7–9, 2013 | Garden State Exhibit Center Somerset, New Jersey | 10,283 | The Asterplace, Greg Ayres, C.R.A.Z.Y.O.T.A.K.U., Chris Cason, Chipocrite, Greg Houser, Akinori Isobe, Masumi Kano, Michele Knotz, Kevin McKeever, Mint, Moon Stream, Mike Pollock, Bill Rogers, Hiroshi Shimizu, Saki Tachibana, Mike Toole, Uncle Yo, Hiro Usuda, Sayo Yamamoto, Steve Yun, and Tommy Yune. |
| June 6–8, 2014 | Garden State Exhibit Center Somerset, New Jersey | 11,940 | C.R.A.Z.Y.O.T.A.K.U., Chipocrite, Richard Epcar, Jessie James Grelle, Luna Haruna, Greg Houser, Kimura U, Jonathan Klein, Michele Knotz, Shigeto Koyama, Matthew Mercer, Gerald Rathkolb, Bill Rogers, ROOKiEZ is PUNK'D, Ellyn Stern, Daryl Surat, Alexis Tipton, Hiromi Wakabayashi, and Lex Winter. |
| June 12–14, 2015 | Garden State Exhibit Center Somerset, New Jersey | 14,500 | Kira Buckland, C.R.A.Z.Y.O.T.A.K.U., Chipocrite, Elisa, Flow, Todd Haberkorn, Naoto Hirooka, Takafumi Hori, Greg Houser, Michele Knotz, Shigeto Koyama, Matthew Lassiter, Brittany Lauda, Neil Nadelman, Tyson Rinehart, Jason Robinson, Bill Rogers, Sushio, Aya Suzuki, Marc Swint, Mike Toole, Uncle Yo, Vedetta Marie, Hiromi Wakabayashi, and Lex Winter. |
| June 10–12, 2016 | Atlantic City Convention Center Atlantic City, New Jersey | 12,374 | Akira Amemiya, C.R.A.Z.Y.O.T.A.K.U., Akitaroh Daichi, Richard Epcar, Clarissa Graffeo, Todd Haberkorn, Rei Hiroe, Jonathan Klein, Megumi Kouno, Shigeto Koyama, Matthew Lassiter, Naoko Matsui, Helen McCarthy, Erica Mendez, Mint, Gerald Rathkolb, Bill Rogers, ROOKiEZ is PUNK'D, Ellyn Stern, Daryl Surat, Marc Swint, Mike Toole, Uncle Yo, Vedetta Marie, Hiromi Wakabayashi, Lex Winter, and Zaq. |
| June 9–11, 2017 | Atlantic City Convention Center Atlantic City, New Jersey | 12,733 | Capcom Live!, Cosplay Pro-Wrestling, Zack Davisson, Richard Epcar, Sandy Fox, Toshihiro Fukuoka, Shuhei Handa, Noriko Hidaka, Izumi Hirose, Noriko Ito, Itto-Maru, Tomochi Kosaka, Shigeto Koyama, Lex Lang, Erica Lindbeck, Nao, Oblivion Dust, Takahiro Ogawa, Katriel Paige, Ellyn Stern, John Swasey, Junpei Tatenaka, Mike Toole, Reina Ueda, Uncle Yo, Viga, Hiromi Wakabayashi, Lex Winter, Junko Yamanaka, and Yoh Yoshinari. |
| June 8–10, 2018 | Atlantic City Convention Center Atlantic City, New Jersey | 11,026 | All Off, Shinji Aramaki, Katelyn Barr, Johnny Yong Bosch, Caitlynn French, Kenji Kamiyama, Marina Kawano, Kyle McCarley, Mint, Bryce Papenbrook, Juliet Simmons, Bill Timoney, and U. |
| June 7–9, 2019 | Atlantic City Convention Center Atlantic City, New Jersey | | Zach Aguilar, Aimi, Erika Ando, Cellchrome, Richard Epcar, Sandy Fox, Toshihiro Fukuoka, Jessie James Grelle, Kohei Hattori, Akemi Hayashi, Itto-Maru, Hirokatsu Kihara, Lex Lang, LeChat, Max Mittelman, Shihori Nakane, Ellyn Stern, Andrew Upton, Hiroko Utsumi, and Ayumi Yamada. |
| June 11–13, 2021 | Online convention | | |
| June 16–18, 2023 | New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center Edison, New Jersey | | Jon Allen, Morgan Berry, Beau Billingslea, Blue Encount, Charles Campbell, Bob Carter, Paul Castro Jr., Sandy Fox, Ray Hurd, Jeremy Inman, Lex Lang, Kristen McGuire, Amanda C. Miller, Phil Parsons, and Tara Sands. |

## Manga library

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