During Anime Expo 2025, I had the opportunity to speak with a wide range of artists from both nearby and far away about the newly introduced lottery system. With over 900 artists in attendance, it wasn’t possible to speak to everyone, but I was able to gather feedback from around 150 artists. This wasn’t something I’d originally planned to cover, but as the topic kept coming up, I felt it was important to look into it further. What follows is a summary of the perspectives and experiences shared by those artists, aiming to give a general sense of how the community feels about the new system.
For a bit of exposition for those unfamiliar with the lottery system, it’s the method used to determine which artists get a spot at the convention. This year was notable because it marked the first time the system was used at Anime Expo. Previously, artist selection was done through a juried system. The key difference between the two is that the juried system relies on a panel of selected judges who evaluate applicants based on certain standards, while the new lottery system is more of a luck-based draw. This change potentially opens the door for more new or lesser-known artists to participate, largely thanks to, well… luck.
For starters, if you’re wondering how I even decided to dive into this topic, it all began with a few random conversations I had with artists while standing in line on the first day of the convention. As I listened, I could feel how strongly they felt about the subject, and that made me want to understand why this change mattered so much. I wanted to get a sense of how the broader artist community at Anime Expo was feeling about the new system.
From that moment on, I was a man on a mission. Between panels and interviews, I made it a point to visit Artist Alley whenever I could, doing my best to gather thoughts and opinions from as many artists as possible. It wasn’t easy, but like I mentioned earlier, I’ve done my best to present a wide range of viewpoints, along with some particularly interesting insights that artists shared with me. I’d also like to note that all responses were gathered anonymously, so while no names will be attached to any of the quotes, I’ll include them when they help illustrate a point or add depth to the discussion.
Numbers Breakdown
So first, let’s talk numbers! From the pool of about 150 artists I spoke with, 72 (48%) said they were satisfied with the new lottery system, 43 (28.67%) were unsatisfied, and 35 (23.33%) felt mixed or neutral on the subject. Now, let me be clear, I’m not qualified to say which side is right or wrong. My goal is to be a voice for the artists and share their reasoning and meaningful thoughts on the matter. With that in mind, I’ll be going through the pros and cons brought up by each side, and why they feel the way they do. Or at least, I’ll do my best to!
The 3 Overall Sides
Let’s first start with the artists who are currently satisfied with the lottery system. As mentioned earlier, close to half of the artists surveyed, 48% to be exact, expressed satisfaction with the new approach. So why is that? Let’s take a look at what many of them had to say.
Several artists shared sentiments like, “I just feel grateful to finally get in after applying for years!” Others spoke positively about the fairness of the system, saying things like, “It provides equal opportunity,” “It gives a fair chance to all artists,” and “Random chance works.”
A number of responses focused on the increased variety of artists this year, with comments such as, “It gives a breath of fresh air to the convention,” and “It diversifies the crowd.” Many also highlighted how the system gives newer artists a foot in the door, saying, “With the lottery system, we have a chance for new artists to come in.”
That said, not all satisfied responses were without reservations. Some described themselves as “hesitantly optimistic,” while others noted that, “The lottery system is good as long as a second round based on merit is considered in terms of art proficiency.”
From this, it seems that many of the satisfied voices are from newer artists who finally got the chance to attend, but there were also returning artists who appreciated the fresh energy and diversity brought in by the change. In any case, this gives us a better understanding of why some artists view the system in a positive light.
Now, onto the next side.
Now for those who felt unsatisfied with the new lottery system. Based on the responses, around 28.67% of the artists seemed to fall into this group. Let’s take a look at what some of them had to say when I brought up the question.
Quite a few expressed the belief that, “The lottery system invalidates the artists and their hard work.” Many voiced concerns about how the system adds pressure and unpredictability, saying things like, “It makes things stressful,” and, “It brings too much uncertainty.” Some disagreed with the randomness itself, with one artist saying, “I can accept a jury decision much better than a lottery decision.”
Others shared that, “The lottery system can be discouraging,” and some were more blunt, saying, “Lottery systems are generally terrible.” A few artists, while still critical, acknowledged the challenges the organizers face. One said, “We lean against it, but we understand. Due to the sheer amount of artists that apply every year, it’s a necessary evil.”
Some also raised concerns about potential oversight or misuse within the process. One artist asked, “How do we know if they are doing a proper lottery? And not accidentally letting A.I. scammers in?”
Overall, many of these artists raised valid points about the importance of recognizing hard work and skill rather than relying solely on luck. While most weren’t against new artists getting in, and even appreciated the added variety, they felt that a consistent standard should still be upheld.
And last but not least, we have the group of artists who felt mixed or neutral about the lottery system.
This group makes up about 23.33% of the consensus pool. Many of the artists in this category expressed ideas like, “We should have a half-and-half system that allows both random selection and returning veterans to attend the convention.” Others felt that, “It kind of feels like most cons are subjective anyways.”
A common point raised by this group was that, “A lot of people were added last minute, and that kind of invalidates the whole point of the lottery system.” Some artists acknowledged that, “Yes, it brings in new people, but it’s also hard on veterans.” Others described the system as, “Both exciting and anxiety-inducing at the same time.” A few added that, “The jury system is preferable, but a lottery system allows for more retention.”
From the conversations I had, it was clear that many artists in this group had friends on both sides of the debate and didn’t feel strongly pulled in either direction. Like with many things in life, there are always gray areas, and this group seemed to recognize the pros and cons on both ends.
I should also mention that a couple of artists brought up Dokomi, a convention in Europe that uses a 3/3/3 system, thus giving space to veterans, locals, and random applicants alike. Some felt this might serve as a possible alternative worth exploring.
Final Thoughts
Once again, I want to thank all of the artists who took time out of their busy schedules during Anime Expo to speak with me. You’re all fantastic, and I truly believe that artists are the backbone of conventions everywhere. Without you, many cons simply wouldn’t be the same. I hope I was able to represent your voices and opinions as accurately and respectfully as possible.
As for where I stand, I don’t lean fully in one direction. I’ve heard strong points from each group. What I do know is that I have immense respect for all artists: those who finally got in, those who keep trying, and those who feel unsure. The system may never be perfect, but I believe artists who work hard and stay committed should always have a shot to be seen. Maybe it’s not even about picking a side, but more about understanding the whole picture.
Now, I leave it to all of you to make your voices heard. After all, there are still over 750 artists I wasn’t able to speak with, and every opinion matters. Even if you aren’t an artist yourself, if you’ve made it this far, chances are you’ve formed your own take on the subject, and we’d love to hear it.
To all the hardworking artists out there: my respect and appreciation go out to you. May you continue to grow, create, and find success in everything you do.
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