Metrocon 2011 Wrap-Up

Metrocon held it’s successful year nine this past weekend from June 17th-18th 2011.  The largest con in Florida (fluttering around 7,000 attendees, official numbers have yet to be released but if past trends hold true it should be in that ballpark) Metrocon certainly does not disappoint.

While it admittedly lacks some of the charm which smaller cons possess such as the luxury of time with guests, the ability to walk the narrow corridors without bumping into props, and not having to walk into the dealer’s room with earplugs Metrocon is the pinnacle of the biggest and the best in Florida.

Metrocon is unafraid of throwing it’s weight around when it comes to getting guests.  This year there were a gauntlet of top-bill names such as voice actor Crispin Freeman and the author of Zombie survival series Max Brooks.  Where some large cons rest on their laurels Metrocon keeps raising the bar for who they can get and delivers year to year.

Another area which Metrocon has put a lot of hard work and time into is their events.  From contests such as the AMV Contest, the Picture This photo contest (which Kimiko won an Honorable Mention in), the singing competition known as Anime Idol (Kimiko and Chiaki won Best Technical), and of course cosplay competitions this con has no shortage of passing out prizes.  The Addicts ran our own contest in which the winner will be announced on episode 89 to be aired on Sunday the 26th. But the contests are not their only events.  Those things many conventions posses some variety of.  Metrocon has a yearly fire show, yes we said fire, where people put on a show involving all kind of combustion and flames.  The Chess Match is also a big hit, with human chess “pieces” battling it out for some kind of overall story domination.

The one event which was, in our opinions, a bit of  a letdown was the Masquerade.  We were sold on the promise of ballroom dancing as it was said in the program, thinking this was supported by the program we paid the $10.00 fee to get into the event.  When we got there it was, unfortunately, a paid rave.  There was no ballroom, or even ballroom-esque music.  Other conventions which have a paid masquerade justify the cost by supplying food to guests, or offering something exclusive.  Oddly, not the case here.  We were told there was eventually a pretty good show,  but we didn’t stick it out to see it.  We wondered how Metrocon justifies charging money to see a show when they offer all other shows and their rave for free.

But, many people like the masquerade, and if that was the only point at which we were disappointed with the events it should really go to show you how high-quality the programming is at this convention.

Speaking of programming we held four panels which all went awesome.  The Metrocon staff was amazing.  Checking in before and after every panel making sure we had everything we needed.  Though we were still surprised to find that they still had only one panel room with technology for projecting a laptop and it was a relatively small flat-panel TV, rather than upgrading to projectors on at least two rooms like most larger cons have.  It was still nice to have and to have it working right.  Better some technology that you’re sure works than technology which fails.

Overall, we can’t stress enough how much fun we had.  This convention is really at the top of as good as conventions get.  Every year we go we severely enjoy ourselves and we can’t wait to see it grow in the future.

If you can only make it to one convention in Florida I would put Metrocon right at the top of the list.  Ample hotels in the surrounding area within walking distance makes it a great location.  Plus the convention center can handle the size of the con with room to grow.  There are TONS of stuff to do which will please everyone, a huge dealers room, massive artists alley (by comparison to most cons), and great guests.  Just remember to eat, sleep, and drink lots of water (it’s free at the water fountains) to avoid collapsing from exhaustion due to the massive amounts of fun you will have.

Check out our Episode with convention coverage as well: Episode 88 (Right Click and “Save Target As” to Download)

Also don’t forget to enter our competition if you were in attendance at Metrocon.

Information on Panels we Held:

Link to the “Traveling to Japan Panel” Information here, feel free to e-mail with further questions via our contact form!

Anime which was shown at “The Best Anime You’ve Never Seen, Or Heard Of!” panel: My Neighbors the Yamadas, Comedy, Magnetic Rose, On Your Mark, and Denpa Teki Na Kanjojou

Some photos from the convention: