So, Adam gives me this little World at theO. Of course, I forget my password and don't type for months and months. Then I run into Adam at the New York Comic Con just before he interviews T.M.Revolution and he's all "Dude, why don't you write on my site?" and I'm all "I would but I totally don't remember how!" We laugh. We cry. Adam resets my password. Now, I'm here to talk.

New York Comic Con 2008 just wrapped, and this means it's time to get back into the New York Anime Festival. First up? A new newyorkanimefestival.com! We've taken our favorite elements from last year's site, added what we learned from suggestions and research, and also thrown in a few things we wanted to do just because. We're taking a similar approach to this year's New York Anime Festival, too. We know what worked in '07 and what didn't. We're building off of the best aspects of last year's NYAF, including what's been recommended from both exhibitors and attendees, and also taking some risks that probably won't pay off but will be a lot of fun along the way.

The 2008 New York Anime Festival takes place September 26-28, dates that are right now pretty far away. As such, as you click through the site, you'll find a number of Coming Soon pages, but because "right now" will very quickly become yesterday, last week, and last month, you'll be seeing these Coming Soon pages replaced with information, announcements, and out-of-focus photos sooner than you think.

We're serious about the out-of-focus photo bit, too. One of the sections already online is NYAF's Downloads page. We've got the essentials -- banners, avatars, wallpapers, and logos -- online, but we're working on expanding the area to include some photo galleries, MP3s, and admittedly-ugly sketches. None of this stuff is critical to either an anime fan or an anime convention, but they're things that make us feel good making them and hopefully make you feel look taking a look.

You know you can't wait for the Random Photo of Office Furniture of the Week.

And, if you have anything you'd like to contribute, we're listening. The New York Anime Festival team is also the New York Comic Con team, meaning we had all been scrambling to make sure this year's Comic Con -- April 18-20 -- didn't explode, implode, catch on fire, or generally suck. Come April 21st, though, we entered into NYAF mode. No, wait, come April 21st, we were asleep. Come April 22nd, we hit NYAF mode.

So, throughout the lead up to New York Comic Con, we were listening, plotting, and planning, and now with NYCC over, like Vampire Hunter D springing upon a Noble, we're launching into action. Was the D reference kinda forced? Probably was. Why's it there? Don't know. Maybe it's a hint. Or maybe I just like Vampire Hunter D.

And with these words I encourage you to come, play, and explore at the new NewYorkAnimeFestival.com.