The event that celebrates all things anime, Anime Expo, takes place over the July 4th weekend, Thursday, July 4 – Sunday, July 7 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Anime Expo has had issues with the growth in attendance and floor space as the event sees over 100,000+ attendees every year. But it looks like they have made some much needed changes to fix some issues. Some of these changes include:
– Earlier entry
They have changed to opening hours from 10 AM to 9 AM. A one-hour earlier start time.
– Increased the number of entrances to the convention
This has always been an issue as the lines to get into the con winds all around the outside of the convention center. Hopefully it alleviates the line from going underneath the freeway overpass. Last year it took one of my fiends over an hour to get into the con
– Increased booth space
The 18+ Area has been moved to Kentia Hall which makes more space in the Exhibit Hall for more vendors and larger booths. They also moved the autographs area from Kentia Hall to the JW Marriott hotel.
– AX Crossing
Pico Blvd. is closed off to traffic between L.A. Live Way and Figueroa Street. Making this area an area for food vendors, performances, a place to rest, and a safe street crossing area.
– Badge Pick-Up and Event Ticketing
The badge pick-up and event ticketing area has moved to Chick Hearn Court.
Since AX is the largest anime expo, it’s a good thing it spans over 4 days. Check out all the booths in the Exhibit Hall or Artist Alley to buy goods and merchandise. The many panels will have sneak peeks of your favorite anime with guests or topics to discuss. Maid and Butler Cafes to get a snack and entertainment. There is no way you can avoid running into cosplayers, they are all over the Convention Center, inside and outside. There are even activities into the late evening hours to check out, like the masquerade, arcade, concerts, or dance club.
The Exhibit Hall is on the main level of the South Hall where you will find booths from all your favorite anime producers and publishers, manga, retailers, toys, games, plush, cosplay accessories and so much more.
The Artist Alley is located in Kentia Hall, downstairs of the South Hall, which includes the 18+ Area. This area has always been one of the busiest and most crowded areas and will have over 500+ artists. Here you will find a lot of fanart of your favorite anime, pins, keychains, and handmade crafts. This area should get even busier now that the 18+ Area is located here.
The Entertainment Hall is located in the West Hall. This area was previously focused more on cosplay and the arcade, but has changed over the years to include more booth space. You can hang out with the Cosplay community as there are a large number of photo set backdrops for photos, a repair station, and the Community Stage. Tabletop and Egaming can also be played here.
Cosplayers will not only be around the Entertainment Hall, they will be everywhere, inside and outside of AX. There will be all types of cosplayers, professional and amateur. One of the best events to see some great cosplay is at the AX Masquerade and World Cosplay Summit USA Finals. This event is a cosplay and performance competition with cash prizes and competitors go all out.
The concerts and music entertainment are located in and around the Convention Center. Some of these events require a separate ticket to attend.
– AX Masquerade and World Cosplay Summit USA Finals
– TUBEOUT! In Los Angeles 2024 ~Virtual Live Concert~
– Utano☆Princesama ALL STAR STAGE -MUSIC UNIVERSE-
– Obey Me! 1st Virtual Concert ~OVERTURE~
– Maid/Butler Cafes (All Ages and After Dark: 18+)
– AX Dance, Auction, Beer Garden, Game Shows, Comedy Club, Lounge 21 (21+ lounge area)
Here are a few of the panels and programming announced this year:
– The World of Masami Kurumada
– Blue Miburo World Premiere presented by ytv animation
– GUILTY GEAR STRIVE: DUAL RULERS – Special Event
– Exclusive premieres with HIDIVE
– HATSUNE MIKU: COLORFUL STAGE! with Ai Furihata and Mayu Yoshioka
– Warner Bros. Japan presents Suicide Squad ISEKAI and Batman Ninja vs. Yakuza League
– SPY×FAMILY / Kaiju No. 8 SPECIAL EVENT Hosted by TOHO animation
– Exclusive Premieres with Crunchyroll
– The Seven Deadly Sins: Four Knights of the Apocalypse Official Panel
– Welcome to Blue Archive!
– ROBOTECH: Past Prologue
– One Piece – Egghead Arc English Dub Premiere
– HIDIVE and AX Cinema Nights Present Ninja Scroll 30th Anniversary Screening
– VIZ Industry Panel
– 2024 Gundam News: Silver Phantom & Requiem for Vengeance
– Blue Exorcist Special Event
– Solo Leveling Panel
– “Kinnikuman Perfect Origin Arc” Autograph and Talk Panel
– Netflix presents TERMINATOR ZERO
– Exclusive World Premiere of ReZERO Season 3 ft. Yusuke Kobayashi
– Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online II at Anime Expo
– BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Conflict Panel – Presented by VIZ Media
– BEYBLADE X
– VShojo: VTuber Behind the Scenes
– MY HERO ACADEMIA SPECIAL EVENT Hosted by TOHO animation
– Genshin Impact Account Reviews & Roasts
– Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Fifth Anniversary Special Event
– JUJUTSU KAISEN panel, powered by Crunchyroll
– TOKYOPOP: Manga for Everyone
Special Guests and Talent appearing at AX 2024 include:
Acky Bright, After-school Bay Time, Ai Furihata, Aimai Mirai, AISHA, AKARI ISHIKARI, Akari Kito, AKIBA SONIC, Akira Shimizu, Akume Nihmune, Albert Kao, Alejandro Saab, Allie Cat Cosplay, AmaLee, Aqu♡rius Encore Project, AriNico Cosplay, Arryn Zech, Asami Seto, asid, Astellium, ASTERISM, AVARIX, Ayako Kawasumi, Billy Tringali, Black Ros3, BLOW Brass, BORO BORO, Boy Hero, Brandon McInnis, Brian Donovan, Briana White, Brianna Knickerbocker, Britt Baron, Brittany Lauda, Bumvox, Caitlin Glass, Caleb Yen, Cam Steady, Cat Protano, CelloKat, Chris Tergliafera, ChromeSyndicate, Colin and Steve, Cory Yee, Cowbutt Crunchies, Cristina Vee, D.C. Douglas, Daiki Harashina, Daiki Yamashita, Daman Mills, Dangle, David Erick Ramos, David Vincent, DEAR VANILLA, Derek Stephen Prince, DJ Carisma, dj-Jo & vally.exe, Doug Erholtz, Doujin Ronin, Elira Pendora, Erica Lindbeck, Eririn, Evan Minto, Faye Mata, Finana Ryugu, Flipboitamidles, Fuga Yamashiro, Fukuro, Gavin Hignight, Gearous, GEEGA, George Wada, Gigguk, Griffin Burns, H.Naoto, Ham Sandwich, Hamu Cotton, Haruka Karibu, HASU NO SORA JOGAKUIN SCHOOL IDOL CLUB, HDC, Henya the Genius, Hime Hajime, HIMEHINA, Hiroki Nanami, Hiroko Tokumine, Hiroshi Kamei, Howard Wang, Indu Vasudev, Ironmouse, Isekai Stage, j-Bit, Jackie Lastra, Jase Cloud, Jay Andrade Quartet, John Aoshima, Juliana Chahayed, Juliet Simmons, Jun, Junya Enoki, Just Cosplay Sings, Justin Leach, Kaho Shibuya, Kanae, KANOU YOSHIKI, Kat Padlan, Katsuhiro Takei, Katsura Hashino, Kayli Mills, Kazuki Ura, Keiichiro Saito, Keisuke Seshimo, Keith Silverstein, Kellen Goff, Ken Ayugai, Ken Harada, Kenta Miyake, KiAme & Friends, Kiera Please, Kinuko, Kirk Thornton, Kiyotaka Oshiyama, Kohei Sakita, Kson, Kuro Kurenai, Kuzuha, Kyle Hebert, Lauren Landa, Lizzie Freeman, Luca Kaneshiro, Lucrecia, Luna Lady of Light, Mamoru Miyano, Mara Junot, Masaya Fukunishi, Matara Kan, Matt Shipman, Matthew David Rudd, Mattson Tomlin, Max Mittelman, Mayu Yoshioka, Megumu Tsuchiya, MEIRLIN, Meru Nukumi, Michael Lee, Michael McNamara, Michael Schneider, Michael Yurchak, Michelle K. Sugihara, Michi Mochievee, Mii, Mikio Toki, Millie Parfait, MinoMiyabi, Miotchi, Mori Calliope, Nakaba Suzuki, Natsuki Hanae, Neon Nash, Nevos Tyler, Nobuhiko Okamoto, Nobuhiro Osawa, Nobunaga Shimazaki, NTXC, ɳεµʝα૮ҡ, Ohara Sayaka, OR3O, Panterona, Patrick Seitz, Petra Gurin, Pingi Moli, PiNKII, Prathi Srinivasan, Projekt Melody, Rachael Marino, Rachel Slotky, Ray Chase, REDEADICA, RinRin Doll, Robbie Daymond, rocco808, Rosemi Lovelock, Rumi Okubo, Ryo Shirakome, Ryōko Kui, Ryoya Arisawa, Ryukishi 07, Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko Los Angeles, S4X, Saki Rose, Sasara Sekine, Sebastian Masuda, Shigenori Soejima, Shimpei Yamashita, Shinn Uchida, Shion Wakayama, Shirahama Kamome, Shōji Kawamori, Shoko Nakagawa, Shota Goshozono, Shoya Chiba, Shu Yamino, SKY・CITIZEN ft. Kid Yuki, JunbugP, Riffs, Softest Hard, Sonny Brisko, Star Butler, Stephanie Yanez, Stray Violet, Sumire Uesaka, Super MadNES, Suzie Yeung, Tacitly, Taishi Kawakami, Takahiro Sakurai, Takatoshi Chino, The Anime Man, Tiffany Gordon Cosplay, Tom Gibis, Tomori Kusunoki, Tonario, Toshi Toda, Toshihiro Kondo, Toshikazu Tsuji, Urara Reimi, URUKA FUJIKURA, V!CE, Vanille A, Viorhythm, Wa-Miyabi, Waki Kiyotaka, Welksie, Xander Mobus, Xeroh, Yamagata Maiko, Yoichi Nishikawa, Yoshihiro Watanabe, Yosuke Kabashima, Yuichi Fukushima, Yuichiro Fukushi, Yurie Igoma, Yuujou Daiko, Zavage Cosplay, Zeno Robinson, Zentreya, ZERO-UCHI Restart.
Some of the fun workshops include:
– Stoneware design
– Kite making + flying
– Gundam kit building
– Origami
– Maiko workshop
– Voice acting
– Furoshiki – Japanese cloth wrapping
– Ikebana – Japanese floral art
– Folding fan making
– Omamori amulet making
– Kpop dance
Other events you can find at AX are the Maid/Butler Cafes (tickets normally sell out quickly), Fashion Show, AMV Competition, fan panels, charity auction, academic programming, and workshops.
If you are into anime and manga, then you can check out the Manga Lounge or one of the many rooms playing some of the hottest anime.
One-day badges are sold out for the event. However, four-day badges are still available for now as the event typically sells out. There are normally no onsite badge sales so you will need to make your purchase online. Events such as the concerts, Masquerade, Maid and Butler Cafe have separate ticketing and must be purchased separately.
For more information on the Anime Expo, schedule of events and more, visit www.anime-expo.org.
