Animazement returned to downtown Raleigh to celebrate its 13th birthday by the newly completed City Plaza. Despite growing pains as they settle into their second year downtown, they’ve managed to grow and keep things running smoothly. This year they put their hard efforts on display with more to offer than ever.

Last year con goers got their first look at the newly completed Raleigh Convention Center. A beautiful new building with more than double the space of the old building. Not including potential space from the connected Marriott City Center and the newly built Raleigh Amphitheatre next door.
By this year, the City Plaza was opened with plenty of photogenic scenery and many new eateries, including the affordable Krispy Kreme, Jimmy Johns, and Shish Kabob. Easily missed too, was an interactive colorful fountain by Jimmy Johns, which lights up at night when anyone strolls by.

Since last year, rumors circulated concerning AZ staff leaving and the financial footing of the convention. And it doesn’t help when staff make poorly thought out posts on their web forums. Once the ball started rolling Thursday, glitches were mostly absent. However, the Friday night dance was interrupted when the convention center was evacuated at 1:02am. The fire marshall permitted the Ballroom fire detectors to be turned off for the fog machines, but they still triggered nearby detectors outside. That and the cosplay line, what happened to that nice numbering system.
Otherwise, they continued trying to improve. Last year the biggest complaint was lack of escalator service, and this year they were switched on. Attendance jumped from 2009s record breaking 5,964 to 7,070. Events started and ended on time. More dealers than last year, more cosplayers, better DJs (Saturday’s DJ Speedycake and DJ Amaya), and great Japanese guests (too many to mention, always a good thing).

A lot of what people go to cons for, things like panels and cosplay, are volunteer efforts. Like most of the fan run east coast conventions. As such, I’m glad to see a growing number of cutting edge and niche Otaku at Animazement. A personal shout out for the Angel Beats TK cosplayer (pictured) and the Kanon, AIR, Vocaloid, and Hetalia cosplayers. And, not that it’s as unknown anymore, but I was also amused by how many Higurashi cosplayers I saw. This year a nearly full Vocaloid and Hetalia panel stood out among more normal, but usually still awesome, events such as Anime Hell. Noiz also returned for two concerts at AZ this year.

Animazement proved this year that they’re a fit convention. Despite possible internal difficulties, you wouldn’t of guessed if you hadn’t heard about it. A smooth weekend with Raleigh’s newest offerings shining and keeping congoers fed. Over 20 Vocaloid cosplayers and sub shop across the street with filling meals for less than $5 – hell yeah.

Thanks to DJ Speedycake and a Poland cosplayer for doing some photography for me during Vocaloid and Hetalia photoshoots.

My gallery is online. I also took a short video of a Miku cosplayer dancing at the Vocaloid panel. I might also be able to upload a few video clips from the dance Saturday, stay tuned..

If you have media to share or shout-outs to make, feel free to drop a comment.

Update post.