We have previously translated Asapon’s blog post about Anime North. She has since published three other posts about her time in Canada on her blog and we thought it would be of interest to those who went to AN this year (or even just those simply interested by what she has to say but to do read Japanese) to post these up here as well. Please visit the blog for the photos accompanying each post.
Tag Archives: anime north
Anime North 2015 Retrospectives
Howdy, everyone. We’ve been pretty quiet of late and that is primarily because a huge chunk of HPT was up in Toronto this weekend for Anime North to see Shimoda Asami (Asapon).
While you’ll probably start seeing event reports popping up on peoples’ blogs over the next few weeks, I wanted to capture the day-after feelings of some of the attendees.
EiffelP
This year was my first full weekend at Anime North, and my time with other Ps. It was amazing to meet other Ps from places as close as Montreal to as far as Germany. For countless reasons, I can honestly say that AN 2015 was some of the best few days of my life. To everyone there, thank you for making it happen. iM@S saikou!
NitsuanoP
Anime North 2015 was the first AN I went to for iM@S stuff due to conflicting events the past 2 years. I wasn’t able to talk to everyone this year, and didn’t know about any special events (Offkai) until the night before, but I hope that can change for next year because this has shown me how great the iM@S community is and they made AN one of the most fun experiences ever for me. It was definitely worth it.
MatchaP
This was my first AN and marks my first anniversary with HPT. It was really quite wonderful to get together with everyone and celebrate. The amount of support and friendship that we have for each other is incredible and really demonstrates that ideas like danketsu (unity) aren’t just silly things appropriated from games but a core component of everyone’s personality.
VaeP
I loved the P gathering, and Pon stole the show with her personality, and YKSK rain.
SkyP
I really enjoyed !!
皆、本当にありがとう!
MushroomP
I feel so happy to befriend a bunch of great people around the world and it is my siawase to share this time with you guys. It has been so good that I even enjoyed the PCDs.
GarbejP
Despite some hardships and mishaps, Anime North 2015 was a fun and memorable experience. Asapon’s interactions with us fans were amazing. You could really feel that the appreciation between Asapon and the fans was mutual. Also, it was great to meet all the Producers, new and old, JP and kaigai. With hard work and some luck, next year could be even better. 皆、お疲れさまでした。 ありがとうございました。
BobbieP
Having attended AN since 2008, “Afapon” North really put new spice into a con I already began to grow tired of. Shimoda-san’s attendance led to one of the greatest con experiences I’ve ever had. Here’s to future years of 団結!
LandroP
Kami-event. No matter how far I had to travel or how tired I was, everything was worth it. Producers are awesome and Asapon is an angel.
KarageaP
AN2015 has been the most fun AN so far, not only because of the increase in the P count and the scale of the offkai but that Asapon was a really fun guest to interact with. Thank you for coming to Toronto, Afapon!
TWE-P
AN2015 was a blast. Moreso since I was able to enjoy it with the other Ps.
VotaP
あさぽんNorth’15.
Once a year, Producers around the world get together at the TCC to celebrate whatever guest Anime North decides to bring. In 2013 they brought Eririn, in 2014 with Harami and this year with Asapon. Joining us this year was the usual suspects of HPT, Ninbin’s family and other Japanese producers. Asapon had 3 signings and panels at this con. The first signing went kinda iffy, since Asapon would take the time to talk to you. She couldn’t get to everyone in line on day 1 and was sincerely sorry. To make up for this, she came early to the signing the following day and gave everyone in line a high five. The signings after day 1 went very by smoothly and majority of the people who camped 5+ hrs were able to get something signed. As for her panels, Berry and Pon’s personality played a huge role to making these every entertaining. Pon and Berry play off each other very well, and the environment inside the room was very cheerful. As for the times in-between the signings and panels, kaigai producers and Japanese producers were able to socialize and mingle with each other regardless of the language. Being able to overcome the language barrier to express how much you love im@s makes this fandom worth staying. Hmm…even though I didn’t get to talk to everyone, this year’s Anime North was very fun! Thank you all for making Asapon North a joyest occasion, and I would love to do it again next year!!p.s. the offkai was p awesome
KurotsukiP
3 years in a row, anime north delivered again.
This year’s experience was the best over all, I can’t thank enough all the staff that made this possible
Asapon’s visit to Canada was undoubtedly one of the best thing that’ll ever happen this year.
Not only is she a breathe of fresh air that smooths the soul, but her visit also made the ever growing bonds between Japanese Producers and Kaigai Producers stronger.
The Danketsu is real and it’s beautiful.
Thank you Anime North, Thank you Asami Shimoda.
アイマス最高
ShinikenshiP
While my expectations were very different (not sure what they might’ve been at this point) and things did get off to a scary start with the autograph disaster on day1 and MatchaP hurting his ankle, I am willing to say that AN was a thrilling success.
Asapon was far more accommodating for a con guest than I could ever imagine and her friendliness did make for an enjoyable experience. That alongside the camaraderie between western and Japanese Ps made for an exciting weekend. Also, yksk during the offkai was just too much. One simply can’t contain all these feels. \アイマス最高/
ExcielP
Hi it’s Exile! Er… Exciel. I’m looking forward to seeing how everyone’s experiences were especially all the first timers to AN. By now I’ve gotten kind of used to AN so this year I felt I fought more on the back lines while watching over the new troops ahead of me, but that in itself was a great learning experience as well. I sincerely hope this isn’t the final time we get to do this and wish to thank everyone who came out to AN! All the old faces, new faces, our friends from Japan, and of course Afapon! See you next year! o/
NarumiP
Having been to “AimasuNorth” before I thought I had a good idea of what to expect going this year… I was sorely mistaken. Never in my P life could I’ve imagined such an experience of bonding with so many awesome people in one place, united by our love and passion for the most awesome IM@S seiyuu ever. A once-in-a-lifetime experience that none of us will soon forget.
ErwinP
Coming to AN was like a dream. I never thought that I would ever see fellow Ps much less Asapon. Throughout the weekend, it was a real treat, seeing Ps, meeting Asapon, being at the offkai….
Now that I’m home, paying bills, working, taking care of family matters; it feels like I’ve stepped back to the land of shadows, and anonymous avatars
I can’t help but feel a bit saddened by having to return to reality.
there are times I catch myself wishing I could go back to AN, even to the friday, if only to just reconnect with friends
However, if I did that, I would be obsessing over the past and not moving forward with the present nor planning for the future
At this stage of my life, I can’t afford to live in the past; I have to move forward, little by little…even millimetre by millimetre if I have to
Thus, I have to place AN 2015 into the memory bank of my mind; remember but not obsess
And finally to look forward to the future, with the possibility of future im@s seiyu visits, and future offkais which may be even funner than the one I had at AN 2015
OzakiP
Anime North 2015, wow, I could only describe that weekend as unreal. It felt like it was a whole new world meeting with Asapon and hanging out with all the producers. It was one of those life-changing experiences, and every producer I’ve met at AN2015 definitely helped that. I really want to thank everyone for an amazing weekend, it wouldn’t be the same without you guys – y’all are like family to me. I feel like we’ve made a difference, and I couldn’t be any happier to be a part of that, even if just a little. I wish I could have talked more with everyone from HPT, I hope we get to know more about each other next time!
Asami Shimoda, Anime North blog post
Below is a translation of Shimoda’s blog post from May 26th, the day after she returned from Canada’s Anime North 2015. You can see the original here, which includes a few pictures not included below.
A note on Anime North
Producers in North America may know about Anime North, which is one of the largest anime conventions in the US and Canada. Located in Toronto and held on US’s Memorial Day Weekend each year, the con hosted two 765PRO ALLSTAR character voice guests in the past two years. Nakamura Eriko (CV: Haruka) was a Guest of Honor in 2013, and Hara Yumi (CV: Takane) was a Guest of Honor in 2014.