First off – Anime Festival Orlando X was a blast, and congrats to the convention organizers for another successful year! (Check WasabiAnime.com later this morning for some video of our events there.)

It seems that while we were out and about for the weekend, the folks at Anime Sushi wrote a counter point to my statements from two of my previous blog posts…

* MegaCon + Anime Sushi = EPIC FAIL
* MegaCon + Anime Sushi = FOLLOW UP!

I found it by way of this article, but you can also find it posted on the Anime Sushi forums.

It is worded well and written very clearly (which lets me know who DIDN’T write it on their staff) – but it still misses the mark.

You see: Anime Sushi DID begin promoting their event five days before Anime Festival Orlando. Their event lineup DID list a guest already appearing at Anime Festival Orlando. Therefore their emails/postings WERE counter-advertising that were poorly timed.

So while they can cleverly pen a rebuttal statement, they still can’t get the gumption to say two simple words… “We’re sorry.” While they can try to defend their intent, it still doesn’t justify their actions.

As an added bonus, let’s take a look at the snarky paragraph they put in for good measure…

“Anime Sushi is disappointed, on the other hand, at the assumption of hostility on the part of a select few (and we do mean few) bloggers and “pundits” (a term used loosely and implying no actual expertise) who have spent significant time publicly deriding and decrying the events Anime Sushi has endeavored to bring to the public, and the methods by which we have organized said events. Anime Sushi is a volunteer organization, and invests significant time and money into bringing events to Anime Fans.”

* There is no assumption – just actions that were called out as poor form. “Facta non verba.”

* Bloggers and “pundits” are fans just like anyone else. I have personally (on numerous occasions) promoted Anime Sushi’s events through Wasabi Anime’s advertising channels (our forums, newsletters, etc.) and even give accolades when they are due. It should be noted that Anime Sushi does NOT extend the same courtesy… but myself and the fine folks on the Wasabi Anime have continued to due so in lieu of the personal politics of some of the Anime Sushi staff.

* “Anime Sushi… invests time and money into bringing events to Anime Fans.” – That’s funny, I thought they were paid for their work running and promoting events at MegaCon.

‘Nuff said.