There has been a lot of uncertainty around the world these past few weeks caused by COVID-19 (novel coronavirus), and we hope you and your families are staying safe and healthy during these unprecedented times. It is at these very times when we recognize more than ever that for many, Anime Expo is more than just an event—it's a community, an annual reunion, a home. Since July 2019, our team has been working hard to make AX 2020 the best experience possible. That being said, we recognize the concerns from our attendees and are continuously and thoroughly reviewing all aspects involved in planning an event as large as ours.
Examining all Aspects
As many of you know, planning for Anime Expo begins months and even years in advance. Event planning consists of many moving parts and every change can potentially have a broad effect, especially when dealing with a large-scale event. As circumstances change every day, it's important to take time to review all the available information, assess the various aspects of our events, and consider all the different factors, such as logistics, system capabilities, production timelines, various obligations, or other resources.
We're in this Together
Our hearts go out to the numerous events that have postponed and canceled in the past few weeks. We know that many members of our community have already been impacted by those changes. As fellow fans, as well as former attendees and volunteers, we are deeply aware of what events like Anime Expo mean to people. For attendees, it is a place to connect with friends and much more. For exhibitors, artists, contractors, performers and more, conventions are an important source of income. For our staff, planning events is a labor of love and a livelihood. We have no doubt that the closures and cancellations are an important sacrifice to help flatten the curve, but we also empathize with the countless individuals who have been adversely affected in the process.
Doing our Due Diligence
We hear and understand your concerns, and we continue to work hard to make Anime Expo 2020 a fun, safe, and memorable experience for our attendees. The situation changes with every day, and as it does, we continue to reevaluate each and every factor as it ultimately contributes to the safety and health of our community, as well as to the future of AX.
While we are unable to provide you with all the answers you want right now, we want to assure you that we are doing all that we possibly can to address your questions, be as transparent as possible, and ensure that we are able to get through this difficult time together. Our goal is to be able to continue supporting the industry and bringing joy to our community through our events. Event updates for Anime Expo 2020 and Project Anime Los Angeles will be posted on their respective websites and social media channels.
Thank you for your patience and understanding and thank you for being part of our community.
Sincerely,
Ray Chiang
CEO
The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation
www.anime-expo.org
