COVID-19: 2020 Editions of AnimeExpo and Comic-Con Cancelled…Does It Really Matter, Though?

Last week it was announced that the 2020 editions of AnimeExpo and San Diego Comic-Con were cancelled. This to go along with the likes of numerous other festivals and such that did the same including Tribeca, E3, GLAF, and more which begs the question, in 2020 as Hollywood is JUST now figuring out video conferencing (a 10+ year-old technology), does it really matter if these conventions get cancelled?

For the fans yes. It sucks that they don’t get to dress up, meet and greet their favorite entertainment personalities, check out screenings, and buy so much shit you end up having to make a decision as to what’s more important to pack on the flight home, that make-shift DBZ outfit you didn’t wear or your laminated poster signed by Jason David Frank. For independent producers and voice actors, they make a decent chunk of change in traveling the country and taking part in those autograph signings. Some of these professionals are trying some different ideas like “e-Cons” and heavily promoting signed merch on their websites (a lot of the times for charity).

For the TV networks and conglomerate media companies, probably not. With movies already being a wash for the 2020 year, and most of live-action television being delayed, all you would’ve had left to really panel is animation which, judging from the increasing number of live-casted table reads, is also becoming a thing of the past. For AnimeExpo, English-dubbed anime is by far the hardest-hit of all of the animation industries with even the Japanese production companies having to reduce their workloads as a result of lack of the technical infrastructure needed to really support the immense file-shares needed to finish the series properly. Black Clover’s production just went on hiatus, and a number of other series are looking at doing the same. In contrast, American-produced series show no signs of slowing down, and in fact, the WGA has started campaigning live-action writers to switch to writing for animation while we wait out the #stayhome initiatives both to meet the already burgeoning demand of the industry and to help people keep working so they can keep their benefits intact (a subject the WGA is constantly reminding animation producers to keep in mind as we move forward).

In terms of promoting any new content, networks range from lazy to near non-existent when promoting adult animation with the rare spending sprees afforded by FOX or Cartoon Network at conventions. The streaming services seldom even show up to Comic-Con anyway,(especially in promoting animation) and some like Rooster Teeth, Adult Swim, and Comedy Central have starting launching their own events (probably not this year). FOX has even teamed up for a lame Animation Domination after show with Caffeine, further emboldening it’s commitment to providing that at home panel experience.

What does the future hold for mass conventions? California Governor Gavin Newsom has said he doesn’t even want to see concerts in California until a vaccine for COVID-19 has been invented which could take about two-years, so it’s possible we may not see anything for quite a while for any sort of conventions, regardless of industry in the State of California. NYC Bill DiBlasio is echoing those same sentiments with Fall 2021 being the soonest concerts and conventions are going to be able to resume.