Spiraken Review Podcast
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Friday May 30, 2025
Friday May 30, 2025
Animazement returned to the Raleigh Convention Center from May 23rd–25th, now in its 28th year as a convention that started as a college film festival and grew into something genuinely special. My first visit was 2023—a smaller, cozy affair. This year? I went all in. Three panels, a mountain of hot takes, and zero regrets. Here's the breakdown.
The Guest List: Legends and Surprises
This year's roster was a beautiful mix of old-school heavyweights and modern talent:
Voice Actors: Ryuusei Nakao (Frieza himself!), Hiroaki Hirata (Sanji in One Piece), Chie Koujiro (Gintama's Space Okan), and Chika Sakamoto (Cat's Eye, Sailor Moon Stars) alongside newer stars like Laura Stahl (Promised Neverland) and Sarah Anne Williams (Kill la Kill, Madoka Magica).
Industry Titan: Masao Maruyama—co-founder of MAPPA, producer of Death Note, Hunter x Hunter, Card Captor Sakura, and Yawara! This man is a walking history lesson.
Performers: Aimi (musical contributions to Bleach, Gundam 00, Darker than Black) and The Jacabal's stage combat group brought energy to the main stage.
Returning Favorites: Trish Ledoux and Toshifumi Yoshida (Animerica royalty) plus Hiroshi Nagahama (the Uzumaki artist himself).
Cancellation Note: Taishi Yamabe (taiko drummer) had to bow out—hopefully next year.
My Panels: Three for Three
Friday – "I'm Still Not Old! More Protagonists Over 30" (4:00-5:30pm, Room 306A)The third iteration of this crowd-favorite drew another packed room of adults hungry for representation. The shift toward more female leads over 30 was hugely appreciated by the audience. Bonus highlight: someone shouted out a certain mad scientist who fights a platypus (Doofenschmertz for the next version? Noted.). Excellent reactions all around. This panel isn't going anywhere.
Saturday – "Horror in Anime & Manga" (10:00-12:00pm, Room 302Ab)Still a sellout. Still a blast. This year's revelation: Bondrewd (Made in Abyss) has officially surpassed Shou Tucker (Full Metal Alchemist) as fandom's most hated anime parent. That takes effort. Also, how have so many people never seen Wicked City? I love introducing fresh nightmares to fresh victims. Will absolutely present again.
Sunday – "Happily Ever After?! Wedded Bliss in Manga & Anime" (12:30-1:30pm, Room 306A)A brand new panel exploring marriage from newlyweds to old couples (and even a few divorcees). Decent turnout, solid engagement, but the pacing needs tweaking. Next iteration: more prizes, maybe a "best dressed couple" contest. Consider this a beta test—final version coming soon.
Panels I Attended: Hits, Misses, and Jealousy
Friday
"Original to Adaptation" – A fascinating study of how source material gets stretched, trimmed, or mangled in translation. Hosts had some visible tension, which honestly made it more entertaining.
"10 Anime Movies You May Have Missed" – Third Impact Anime knows their showmanship. Solid niche picks.
"The Rotund Mecha Gentleman" – Someone had the same brilliant idea as me but executed it better. Instead of the Gai Daigoji type, they focused on the Musashis of giant robot anime. I'm jealous. No notes. Just respect.
"Intro to Japanese Bookbinding" – Sounded fascinating. Room was packed. Couldn't get a spot. Maybe next year.
"Traveling Japan Your Way" – Solid advice for neophytes. Common sense for frequent travelers, but a few restaurant recommendations caught my interest.
Saturday
"Aged to Perfection" – A cosplay-centric discussion about aging in fandom. I was the only guy in the room. Surprisingly good to hear fellow "oldtaku" (still hate that term) share experiences.
"Let's Watch Crazy Japanese Commercials" – Exactly what it sounds like. Long Long Man still holds up. Packed room, no notes, pure comfort panel.
"Shojo Manga's Lost Generation" – Great premise about the Year 24 Group and shojo history. Poor execution. Under-researched and overly focused on a few creators. Strange coming from a panelist who's usually top-notch—maybe an off day.
"Showa: The Golden Era of Kaijus" – The Godzilla guys are back. Lots of kaiju, sentai, and unrefined chaos. Sometimes you want a cheap hamburger, and this hit the spot.
Sunday
"The Shockingly True History of Tokyopop" – I love a good Stu Levy/DJ Milky hate session. Covered the good, the bad, and the what were they thinking. Tokyopop is somehow still alive. This panel was well-researched and entertaining—which makes the shojo panel's quality drop even more confusing.
The Dealer's Room & Artist Alley
The dealer's room was organized but quiet for my wallet. Still feeling the absence of CheapManga.com and Sci-Fi Continuum. Discotek was there—I didn't buy anything this year. Instead, I grabbed custom dice for Gretta and one art piece. The shamisen sellers returned, and so did the guy selling $4 dorayaki. Priorities.
Artist Alley was separated from the dealer's room this year—a refreshing change. Lots of talented artists. Also a lot more AI art, which is now officially concerning. Standout: Goblin Growlers (pricey but looked fun).
Video Game Room & Music Stage
Video Game Room – Same setup as last year. Not a huge library, but people were playing. I crushed a rhythm game, got obliterated in the Gundam battle game, and somehow won a top-down space shooter (first time ever—only died about a thousand times).
Music/Concert Stage – Barely populated. Maybe 12 people for one concert. The rave at night was similarly sparse—apparently an offsite meetup pulled the crowd. Lots of drunk weirdos, which is fine. Fun fact: the convention center serves alcohol at night. That's dangerous.
Masquerade & Cosplay
The masquerade was packed with contenders—no overarching theme, just creativity. Cosplay highlights this year included:
Oscar from Rose of Versailles (classy)
A red-jacket Lupin III with a torn top hat (Lupin the First movie version)
Lina Inverse (always a win)
Multiple Maomaos (Apothecary Diaries)
A Ranma-kun and Ranma-chan rocking the new character design hair
Nothing overwhelmingly elaborate at the masquerade—lots of quick, clever designs. More contained than previous years, but still plenty of heart.
Manga Library, Board Games, and Vibes
Manga Library – The local library collaboration continues to impress, with an excellent catalog and the staff running it were lovely.
Board Game Library – Same as last year: great games, no one to play with. I didn't arrange a game again. Maybe next year I'll actually follow through.
Overall Vibe – Homey, accepting, low-stress. The weirdos come out at night, but that's part of the charm. The layout is now second nature, and the crowd felt engaged without being overwhelming. This is officially my favorite convention of the year (admittedly I've only been to one so far, but it wins by default).
Final Thoughts
Animazement 2025 delivered exactly what I wanted: solid panels, legendary guests, and a fan community that actually feels like a community. No corporate bloat. No chaos. Just anime fans being anime fans.
See you next year, AZ.
—Xan (@Spiraken)
Tuesday May 28, 2024
Tuesday May 28, 2024
by Xan Villanueva.
Animazement 2024 returned to the Raleigh Convention Center from May 23rd to 26th, marking another year of growth for this fan-driven event. What began in 1997 as a college film festival has evolved into a vibrant convention, and after my first positive experience in 2023, I dove in fully this year—panels, guests, and all. The result? A weekend that solidified Animazement as one of my favorite conventions on the circuit.
Guests & Highlights
This year’s lineup boasted an impressive mix of veteran voice actors and industry talent. Legendary seiyuu Toshio Furukawa (Kai Shiden in Gundam, Ataru in Urusei Yatsura) and Kikuko Inoue (Belldandy in Ah! My Goddess) drew crowds, while Noriko Hidaka (Akane in Ranma ½) and Shino Kakinuma (Naru in Sailor Moon) brought nostalgia to the forefront. On the English dub side, Erica Mendez (Ryuko in Kill la Kill, Gon in Hunter x Hunter) kept panels lively with her infectious energy.
Musical guests Angel-Taka, Kaizan Nitta, and Hakusui Ogiyama added a dynamic layer to the weekend, while industry veterans like Trish Ledoux (co-founder of Animerica), Hiroshi Nagahama (Uzumaki, Revolutionary Girl Utena), and Kohi Nagai (producer of My Hero Academia) offered deep dives into anime production.
Panels: Successes & Surprises
This year, I ran four panels—all well-received, but two stood out as highlights.
"The Live Action Equation: Anime in The Flesh" (Friday) sparked heated debates, especially over Netflix adaptations, while surprising attendees with the first live-action anime adaptation (hint: it wasn’t Death Note).
"I’m Not Old! Main Characters Over 30" (Saturday) packed the room, with fans passionately defending (or protesting) picks like Alucard (Hellsing) and Mr. Fujisawa (GTO).
"Horror in Anime & Manga" (Saturday night) remained a cult favorite, though I was shocked how few had seen Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust.
"24 Manga Recommendations for Grown-Ups" (Sunday) was my personal triumph—engaging discussions, new readers hooked, and requests for sequels.
As an attendee, I caught Third Impact Anime’s "10 Years Later: Anime in 2014" (a brutal reminder of my age) and Fatal Fanatix’s "Cool Manga No Anime," which unearthed hidden gems I’ll definitely cover in future Wheel of Manga episodes. The "2025 Anime Music Challenge" game show had a clever gimmick (though I still think my Anime Tune Showdown format reigns supreme).
Dealer’s Room, Artist Alley & More
The Dealer’s Room was well-organized but lacked the rare manga finds of years past—CheapManga.com and Sci-Fi Continuum were sorely missed. Still, Discotek’s booth delivered, and I walked away with some stellar Blu-rays.
Artist Alley showcased incredible talent, though the creeping presence of AI art raised eyebrows. Meanwhile, the new Video Game Room—with arcade cabinets, consoles, and PCs—was a welcome addition, if not yet on par with Otakon’s legendary setup. The Manga Library, while smaller than Anime Next’s, impressed with its local-library collaboration system.
Cosplay & Vibe: Comfortably Crowded
Cosplay at Animazement is always a highlight, and this year’s eclectic mix included Maomao (Apothecary Diaries), Fallout wastelanders, Sakamoto (Sakamoto Days), and even Conker (Bad Fur Day). The atmosphere was relaxed yet energetic—crowded enough to feel lively, never suffocating. Attendees played board games, debated anime, and lingered in halls without the usual con stress.
Final Thoughts: A Keeper
Animazement retains the charm of a "homey" fan convention while expanding thoughtfully. The layout was intuitive, the panels diverse, and the attendees genuinely happy to be there. After two years, I’m convinced: this is a convention worth returning to. See you in 2025, AZ!
Overall Rating
Drop Everything & Go – This Is Worth It!" (Highest – Must-attend, flawless execution)
#Animazement2024 #SpirakenConReport #AnimeConventions #spiraken
Wednesday Aug 02, 2023
Wednesday Aug 02, 2023
In this episode of the Spiraken Con Review, Xan talks about his experience and adventures at Otakon 2023
Otakon took place July 28th-30th 2023 at the Walter E Washington Convention Center in Washington D.C.
So besides discussing how the convention went, he discusses the improvements made since last year, the many great cosplays that he saw, and his feelings about the panels that happened.
Remember to Like, Share and Subscribe. Follow us @spiraken on Twitter and @spiraken on Instagram, subscribe to this podcast and our YouTube channel, Support our Patreon and if you would kindly, please go to www.tinyurl.com/helpxan and give us a great rating on Apple Podcasts. Also join our discord and Thank you and hope you enjoy this episode.
#spiraken #mangareview #otakon2023 #inpersonconvention #podcasthq #convention #manga #spirakenreviewpodcast
Music Used in This Episode: Closing Theme- Tropicana by Soundroll (Uppbeat)
Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/tropicanaLicense code: RGSOALNIIEQQO8TX
WHERE TO FIND US
Our Instagram https://www.instagram.com/spiraken/
Our Email Spiraken@gmail.com
Xan's Email xan@spiraken.com
Our Patron https://www.patreon.podbean.com/spiraken or https://www.patreon.com/spiraken
Our Discord https://tinyurl.com/spiradiscord
Our Twitter https://twitter.com/spiraken
Our Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/spiraken
Our Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/spiraken
Our Amazon Store http://www.amazon.com/shops/spiraken
Random Question of the Day: Did you go to Otakon 2023?
Sunday May 28, 2023
Sunday May 28, 2023
In this episode of the Spiraken Con Review, Xan talks about his experience and adventures attending Otakon 2022
Animazement took place May 25th-28st 2022 at the Raleigh Convention Center in Raleigh, North Carolina
As he goes over his first experience at Animazement, he also discusses the different activities that occurred at the con and goes over what else happened.
best cosplays at Animazement 2023
Thank you to Cosplayers Kay, Sam, Amanda, S1esroh.co, Starbeats, Blue Fey, B, Delta and Tabby
Best Panel at Animazement
Trish Ledoux and Toshifumi Yoshida
Remember to Like, Share and Subscribe. Follow us @spiraken on Twitter and @spiraken on Instagram, subscribe to this podcast and our YouTube channel, Support our Patreon and if you would kindly, please go to www.tinyurl.com/helpxan and give us a great rating on Apple Podcasts. Also join our discord and Thank you and hope you enjoy this episode.
#spiraken #mangareview #animzaement2023 #inpersonconvention #podcasthq #convention #manga #spirakenreviewpodcast
Music Used in This Episode: Closing Theme- Tropicana by Soundroll (Uppbeat)
Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/tropicanaLicense code: RGSOALNIIEQQO8TX
WHERE TO FIND US
Our Instagram https://www.instagram.com/spiraken/
Our Email Spiraken@gmail.com
Xan's Email xan@spiraken.com
Our Patron https://www.patreon.podbean.com/spiraken or https://www.patreon.com/spiraken
Our Discord https://tinyurl.com/spiradiscord
Our Twitter https://twitter.com/spiraken
Our Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/spiraken
Our Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/spiraken
Our Amazon Store http://www.amazon.com/shops/spiraken
Random Question of the Day: Did you go to Animazement 2023?
Sunday Apr 23, 2023
Sunday Apr 23, 2023
In this episode of the Spiraken Con Review, Xan talks about his experience and adventures attending Anime Boston 2023
Anime Boston took place April 7th - 9th 2023 at the Prudential Convention Center in Boston Ma.
As he goes over the unique programming that occurred this year, he also talks about some of the crazy panels he attended, the unique cosplays he saw and some of his concerns on where the con can go
Remember to Like, Share and Subscribe. Follow us @spiraken on Twitter and @spiraken on Instagram, subscribe to this podcast and our YouTube channel, Support our Patreon and if you would kindly, please go to www.tinyurl.com/helpxan and give us a great rating on Apple Podcasts. Also join our discord and Thank you and hope you enjoy this episode.
#spiraken #mangareview #animeboston2023 #inpersonconvention #podcasthq #convention #manga #spirakenreviewpodcast
Music Used in This Episode: Closing Theme- Tropicana by Soundroll (Uppbeat)
Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/tropicanaLicense code: RGSOALNIIEQQO8TX
WHERE TO FIND US
Our Instagram https://www.instagram.com/spiraken/
Our Email Spiraken@gmail.com
Xan's Email xan@spiraken.com
Our Patron https://www.patreon.podbean.com/spiraken or https://www.patreon.com/spiraken
Our Discord https://tinyurl.com/spiradiscord
Our Twitter https://twitter.com/spiraken
Our Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/spiraken
Our Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/spiraken
Our Amazon Store http://www.amazon.com/shops/spiraken
Random Question of the Day: Did you go to AB 2023?
Sunday Apr 09, 2023
Sunday Apr 09, 2023
Here is a list of the manga series that we discussed in this panel
After Hours
Beck
Blue Giant
Carole & Tuesday
Days on Fes
Detroit Metal City
Given
Gravitation
Kids on the Slope
Let's Go Karaoke
Ludwig B
Mashikaku Rock
Me & The Devil Blues
Nana
Nodame Cantabile
Sensual Phrase
The Shiori Experience Jimi na watashi to hen na ojisan
Solanin
Those Snow White Notes
Tonkatsu D.J, Agetaru
Violinist of Hameln
Ya Boy Kongming
If you have any questions or comments about the panel please email me at xan@spiraken.com
Sunday Apr 09, 2023
Sunday Apr 09, 2023
Here is a list of the characters that we discussed in this panel
Yuuko ichihara - xxxHolic - age 1000
Worick Arcangelo - Gangstas - age 35
Vlad Draculea III aka Alucard - Hellsing - Age 592
Tetsuo Toso - My Home Hero - age 47
Ryo Saeba - City Hunter - age 30
Romper (moyoco anno) - Insufficient Direction - Age 30
Mariko Morioka - Recovery of an MMO Addict - 30
Arsene Lupin III- Lupin the III - age 31
Marco Pagot- Porco Rosso - age 37
Liliko - Helter Sketler age 29-30
Daikichi Kawachi - Bunny Drop - age 30
Kuro Hazama - Blackjack- age 32
Kotetsu Kaburagi - Tiger & Bunny - age 36
Dr Kenzo Tenma - Monster - age 37
John " Sleepy" Estes - Madbull 34 - age 34
Ichiro Inuyashiki- Inuyashiki -age 58
Ginko- Mushishi - age 33
Duke Togo - Golgo 13
Chuyoko Fujiwara - Millennium Actress‐ age 95
If you have any questions or comments about the panel please email me at xan@spiraken.com
Sunday Aug 14, 2022
Sunday Aug 14, 2022
In this episode of the Spiraken Con Review, Xan talks about his experience and adventures attending Otakon 2022
Otakon took place July 29th-31st 2022 at the Walter E Washington Convention Center in Washington D.C.
As he goes over the unique programming that occurred this year, he also talks about this being the largest event in years and some of his concerns on where the con can go
best cosplays at Otakon
Remember to Like, Share and Subscribe. Follow us @spiraken on Twitter and @spiraken on Instagram, subscribe to this podcast and our YouTube channel, Support our Patreon and if you would kindly, please go to www.tinyurl.com/helpxan and give us a great rating on Apple Podcasts. Also join our discord and Thank you and hope you enjoy this episode.
#spiraken #mangareview #otakon2022 #inpersonconvention #podcasthq #convention #manga #spirakenreviewpodcast
Music Used in This Episode: Closing Theme- Tropicana by Soundroll (Uppbeat)
Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/tropicanaLicense code: RGSOALNIIEQQO8TX
WHERE TO FIND US
Our Instagram https://www.instagram.com/spiraken/
Our Email Spiraken@gmail.com
Xan's Email xan@spiraken.com
Our Patron https://www.patreon.podbean.com/spiraken or https://www.patreon.com/spiraken
Our Discord https://tinyurl.com/spiradiscord
Our Twitter https://twitter.com/spiraken
Our Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/spiraken
Our Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/spiraken
Our Amazon Store http://www.amazon.com/shops/spiraken
Random Question of the Day: Did you go to Otakon 2022?
Saturday Aug 14, 2021
Saturday Aug 14, 2021
In this episode of the Spiraken Con Review, Xan is joined by Doug Wilder of www.animecons.tv to talk about their experience and adventures attending their first in person convention in a year, Otakon 2021
Otakon took place August 6th-8th 2021 at the Walter E Washington Convention Center in Washington D.C.
So besides discussing how the convention went, they also discuss the precautions taken to combat Covid-19, their thoughts on the attendee reactions and what they hope will happen next year.
best cosplays at Otakon
Remember to Like, Share and Subscribe. Follow us @spiraken on Twitter and @spiraken on Instagram, subscribe to this podcast and our YouTube channel, Support our Patreon and if you would kindly, please go to www.tinyurl.com/helpxan and give us a great rating on Apple Podcasts. Also join our discord and Thank you and hope you enjoy this episode.
#spiraken #mangareview #otakon2021 #inpersonconvention #podcasthq #convention #manga #spirakenreviewpodcast
Music Used in This Episode: Closing Theme- Tropicana by Soundroll (Uppbeat)
Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/tropicanaLicense code: RGSOALNIIEQQO8TX
WHERE TO FIND US
Our Instagram https://www.instagram.com/spiraken/
Our Email Spiraken@gmail.com
Xan's Email xan@spiraken.com
Doug's Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/nigoki
Our Patron https://www.patreon.podbean.com/spiraken or https://www.patreon.com/spiraken
Our Discord https://tinyurl.com/spiradiscord
Our Twitter https://twitter.com/spiraken
Our Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/spiraken
Our Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/spiraken
Our Amazon Store http://www.amazon.com/shops/spiraken
Random Question of the Day: Did you go to Otakon 2021?
Saturday Jul 10, 2021
Saturday Jul 10, 2021
Thank you for checking out our panel at Anime Lockdown 2021.
here is a list of the anime and manga we discussed at the panel. We will be releasing the full panel on Twitch for our Patreon members. if you have any questions, email us at xan@spiraken.com or comment below
Horror anime and manga we discussed
Bio Booster Armor Guyver
Bio Mega
Castlevania
Demon Slayers: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Domu: A Child's Dream
Dororo
Doubt
Drifting Classroom
Gegege no Kitaro
Hellgirl/Jigoku Shoujo
High-Rise Invasion
The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service
Mermaid Saga/Ningyo Shirizu
Parasyte/Kiseiju
To The Abandoned Sacred Beasts
Uzumaki
3x3 Eyes
Horror Anime & Manga Cut for Time
Ashura
Blood on the Tracks
Goblin Slayer
Golosseum
Hellsing
Japan Sinks
Junji Ito's Cat Diaries
M.P.D. Psycho
Mail
Midori
The Promised Neverland
Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust
If you have any recommendations or comments let me know.
See you next Year