ANIME LOS ANGELES 2024 | Coverage & Interviews

A new year, a brand new Anime Los Angeles! Held for the third time at the Long Beach Convention Center, Anime Los Angeles made a triumphant return, featuring special guests Mark Allen, Jr., Edward Bosco, Lizzie Freeman, and Caitlin Glass to name a few. The event also showcased Japan based illustrator and designer, Hidetaka Tenjin and Japanese musical talent, Broken by the Scream and Sana Takizawa.

Friday’s concert featured Sana Takizawa as the opening act in his 7th American performance!

Japan-based musician SANA gained international recognition with his solo guitar performances accompanied by backing tracks, creating an unforgettable atmosphere at his shows around Europe. Formerly a member of the Japanese rock band MASK, SANA embarked on a solo career after leaving the band in 2006. He has successfully reached a global audience, including in Ukraine. During his solo European tour “SUNESTETHIA EU TOUR” in 2014, SANA visited several Ukrainian cities such as Donetsk, Odesa, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Dnipro, and Kyiv. More recently, SANA returned to Ukraine with his new tour, “Wish upon a Star hope future tour,” as part of a summer festival, where a portion of the proceeds were donated to charity.

The concert night ended with girl a powered performance by, BROKEN BY THE SCREAM!

BROKEN BY THE SCREAM is a metal idol group hailing from Japan. The band was established in October 2016 and made their debut in January 2017. They are known for their unique blend of low growls, high screams, and clean vocals, which are combined with cute idol elements. This distinctive fusion sets them apart in both the idol and metal scenes. Drawing inspiration from Metalcore and Djent, the group’s sound has continuously evolved, carving out a distinctive musical niche in the realm of Kawaii Metal.

Recently, the band released their newest mini album, Whitewater Park and are getting ready for their upcoming American tour in April 2024.

INTERVIEWS

Revisiting The Hazbin Hotel – Edward Bosco

Five years have passed since the original release of The Hazbin Hotel pilot episode. The highly anticipated series will debut on Prime Video on January 19th with an entirely different cast. Vivienne Medrano, also known as vivziepop, has built a dedicated following over the past five years due to her captivating character designs on each project. One of the most beloved characters is The Radio Demon, Alastor, voiced by Edward Bosco. Join us as we catch up with Edward Bosco and revisit his time voicing Alastor in The Hazbin Hotel pilot episode. Discover what has happened since then, why he is not returning, and more in our exclusive audio interview below!

Watch the audio visual version here & JOIN the giveaway!

KAHO SHIBUYA Talks “The Japanese P*rn Industry Unmasked: An Insider’s Guide”

Born on June 25, 1991, in Tokyo, Japan, Kaho Shibuya is a Japanese actress, cosplayer, and former adult film star. Since 2021, she has transitioned into mainstream media, appearing in television programs, magazines, and events. Shibuya is known for her unique appearance, cosplays, and large fan base. She collaborates with companies like Gamer Supps and Twitch, and often participates as a special guest in community productions. She has been open about her experiences in the adult industry and addresses topics related to sexuality and adult entertainment. In 2020, she published “Everything girls need to know about AV” in Japan, and its English version, “The Japanese Porn Industry Unmasked: An Insider’s Guide,” in March 2023.

Listen to our exclusive interview as we catch up with Kaho Shibuya at Anime Los Angeles 2024. What challenges did Kaho encounter when releasing her book? How do the Japanese and English versions differ? What’s next for her? Find out below!

Watch the audio visual version here & JOIN the giveaway!

COSPLAYS

Although it was challenging to cover the convention alone, I was determined to highlight the following cosplays I encountered during my experience at this year’s Anime Los Angeles!