INAUGURAL ANIME NYC PIN

Hi. My name is Peter Tatara. I’m the Show Director of Anime NYC. And I’m an anime fan and a New Yorker.

I got into anime as a kid through Ronin Warriors and Vampire Hunter D. I started an anime club in high school and ran the anime club at my college. I worked for Central Park Media and was part of the team behind the New York Anime Festival. I say all this as anime has been a part of me since I was little. And it’s still with me now.

It was over a year ago I and my team started planning Anime NYC, bringing together partners across the anime industry to create something special. To create something for New York. To create something for you.

I’ve been thrilled, honored, and humbled by the support Anime NYC’s received, from both our publisher friends as well as you, the fans of New York City. I’m amazed by all the guests who’ll join us and everything Crunchyroll, Aniplex, Bandai Namco, Bandai Visual, Bluefin, Funimation, Kinokuniya, Kodansha, Sentai Filmworks, Tokyo Otaku Mode, Vertical, VIZ, Yen Press, and more are doing as part of our first year, but more than anything, our goal – my goal – with Anime NYC is to create a community. To create a celebration. To create a space for you.

This is the start of something awesome. And something built with tremendous heart and soul. There’s a lot we want to do. And a lot we can create as we grow. We’re going to welcome over 15,000 fans our first year, and I know we’ll be a community for over 50,000 in the future. But let’s talk more about this year. About our start. And about your support. Thank you for believing in us. Thank you for being part of the very first Anime NYC. And when you arrive at the con, there’s something very important I want to give you.

This is a gold Anime NYC pin. We’ve made enough for all of this year’s attendees. And we’re never making them again. This is a badge of honor and something to wear with pride. It’s something to look back on and remember where we began.

We’ll have these pins at registration. Simply go to our reg desks any time over the weekend and ask for yours. They’re free. And they’re only for you. This is a promise that we’re your show. We’re New York City’s anime convention. And we wouldn’t be here without you.

Thank you for your support, and thank you for your belief. I’m an anime fan and a New Yorker, and I’m proud to wear this pin, too.

Peter Tatara
Anime NYC
Show Director