AnimeNEXT

AnimeNEXT (AN) is an annual three-day anime convention held at the Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The convention was previously held at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, New Jersey, and the Garden State Exhibit Center in Somerset, New Jersey.
Programming.
The convention typically offers anime music video (AMV) screenings, cosplay chess, a dance, dealer's room, karaoke, panels, masquerade, video gaming, and video rooms.
History.
The first convention in 2002 was put on with limited staffing and was planned in eight months. In 2008 parts of the convention were held in the parking garage below the Meadowlands Exposition Center. The convention then moved to the Garden State Exhibit Center, although it experienced crowding issues in 2012 with outdoor space used for lines. AnimeNEXT moved to the Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey for 2016, with the deal lasting until 2020. The convention moved due to outgrowing the Garden State Exhibit Center. In 2016, the United States finals of the World Cosplay Summit were held at AnimeNEXT. Major communication and scheduling issues with panels occurred before and during the 2017 convention. Accusations of past staff member harassment were published in 2019, with former con chair Eric Torgersen being suspended in April.
AnimeNEXT 2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the Atlantic City Convention Center would be used as one of six COVID-19 vaccination "mega sites" in the state of New Jersey. Due to this, AnimeNEXT 2021 would be transitioned into an online-only event, with plans to resume holding their physical event the following year.
Manga library.
AnimeNEXT has taken their Manga library to other conventions, including Otakon and New York Comic Con.