The biggest Anime event returns to Los Angeles, Anime Expo 2023.
Fans and industry members from around the world come together to participate in this four-day celebration of anime and Japanese pop culture, jam-packed with announcements, special guests, exclusive premieres, interactive events, and more. With 300,000+ sq. ft of Exhibit Hall and 1000+ hours of programming, Anime Expo has become a must-see destination for any avid anime fan.
We got early access to the convention center as AX staff members, exhibitors, and industry staff continued building booths and sets.
Although the convention center halls were empty, hard-working SPJA staff prepared the center for its anticipated 350,000+ attendees.
In the Exhibit Hall, industry members set up their booths and get their activities ready for tomorrow, Day 0.
Our final stop was the iconic, South Lobby, where promotional booths and events are being set up.
View our FULL Behind the Scenes of Anime Expo Day -1
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Archie’s Sonic comic series began publication in 1992 and was published by Archie Comic up until its cancellation in 2017, after a 25-year run. During its publication, many talented people worked on the Blue Blur’s comic adventure, including writer Ian Flynn.
Ian Flynn has been working in the comic industry for over 20 years, and he is the former chief writer for Sonic The Hedgehog comics since 2006. His work on Sonic The Hedeghog often collaborated with artist Tracy Yardley who began his career in Sonic comics in the same year. According to a 2006 interview, Ian Flynn was brought in by Archie Comics to serve as the Sonic comic series chief writer after the departure of the former series chief writer Ken Penders.
This is the first Sonic issue written by Ian Flynn, as well as the first one drawn by Tracy Yardley.IDW’s Sonic Comic Issue #1 Cover byTyson Hesse
Since 2006, Ian has put Sonic and the rest of the freedom fighters through wild arcs and adventures, from Mobius: 25 Years Later & Iron Dominion arcs to the Genesis Wave that saw the unexpected departure of many of the beloved Archie sonic characters. In 2018, IDW Publishing obtained licensing rights for the Sonic comic series and hired Ian as chief writer. The first IDW Sonic comic was published on April 4th, 2018, and became an instant hit among Sonic comic fans. The current sonic comic series has over 64 issues and counting.
The Original Freedom Fighters from Archie’s Sonic comics
….But wait, what happened in Archie’s Sonic comics? Where did all the characters go? Where can fans find out what happened to the Freedom Fighters? and more importantly, what happened that the Archie series had to be canceled? Find out all this and more in our interview with comic writer Ian Flynn. Join Ian and me as we speak about his time at Archie Comic, the Freedom Fighters, and his current work at IDW.
Unfortunately, SEGA did not allow us to speak about SONIC FRONTIERS.
There is a giveaway opportunity; if you’d like to participate, please visit our ‘ Giveaway section ‘ for more details on how to enter and our terms and conditions.
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Illumination and Nintendo released the final trailer of the highly anticipated Super Mario film.
There was little to no description on what the story was going to be centered on, back when we first shared the news of this upcoming film. Now we have a in-depth description.
According to the trailer’s description, while working underground to fix a water main, Brooklyn plumbers Mario (Chris Pratt) and brother Luigi (Charlie Day) are transported down a mysterious pipe and wander into a magical new world. But when the brothers are separated, Mario embarks on an epic quest to find Luigi.
With the assistance of a Mushroom Kingdom resident Toad (Keegan-Michael Key) and some training from the strong-willed ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom, Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy), Mario taps into his own power.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie features an extraordinary comedic cast, including Jack Black (Jumanji films) as Bowser, Seth Rogen (Neighbors franchise) as Donkey Kong, Fred Armisen (Portlandia, Saturday Night Live) as Cranky Kong, Kevin Michael Richardson (American Dad!, Family Guy) as Kamek and Sebastian Maniscalco (Green Book) as Spike, plus a special voice appearance by Charles Martinet, who has voiced the characters of Mario and Luigi in the Super Mario games for more than 30 years.
This is the third film adaptation of the game franchise following the 1986 Japanese animated adventure comedy film Super Mario Bros.: The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach! and the terrible but cult classic, 1993 live-action film Super Mario Bros.
The film was initially set to be released on April 7, 2023 but changed to April 5th with Japan opening on April 28th.
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Over the weekend, Bandai Namco held a free event for all Digimon fans at the convention center in Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles Convention Center is the site of Anime Expo, but for Digimon fans, that experience came a bit early as fans gathered to celebrate Digimon’s 25th anniversary! The event featured a DigiMuseum, which consisted of original artwork from the Digimon card game and included the artwork winners of the illustration competition. In addition, the museum also featured an all-new illustration by Digimon designer Kenji Watanabe. The artwork represents the past, present, and future of Digimon.
Illustration by Kenji Watanabe
DigiMuseum showcasing various artwork from the Digmon TCG
Attendees could also purchase Digimon Merchandise directly from the Bandai merch booth. Merchandise included Anime Heroes Digimon figures, Vital Hero Digimon bracelets, and Digimon V-pet devices designed by Kenji Watanabe. Not surprisingly, the merch booth sold out by noon on the first day. Luckily for fans, Bandai restocked by the following and sold merchandise throughout the event.
DigiMuseum also had a small area dedicated to Bandai’s upcoming Digimon Project, Digimon Seekers. Fans could get a preview of the new Digivices and lead character costumes, as shown below.
Digimon Seekers is a project comprising a novel, A live-action short, and brand-new Digimon products. The novel will start serialization on April 3, 2023, at Digimon Web, with chapters being updated every week. A live-action short will be used to promote the novel. Japanese actor and YouTuber Syota Hatani will portray Nagasumi Eiji, the lead protagonist of Digimon Seekers. In addition to the novel and trailers, new merchandise based on Digimon Seekers is set to be released. Watch the Digimon Seekers Live-Action Teaser Trailer!
Digimon’s newest video game, Digimon World: Next Order, was available for the fans to enjoy, and those who participated received a special Digimon promo card. Every fan who attended the event received a card pack, Digimon sticker and exclusive event guidebook, and a limited edition Digimon postcard celebrating Digimon Frontiers’ 25th anniversary and the one-year anniversary of Digimon Partners.
Other activities included a card trading station, card purchasing tables, and participation in the 2022 Digimon Card Game Championship Finals. However, the highlight of the event was the special meet and greet with Digimon designer Kenji Watanabe and Digimon Seekers’ Art Director Fumiya Kobayashi.
Attendees wait in line for Kenji Watanabe
Digimon fans had the opportunity to have their Digimon memorabilia signed and take photos with the guests. Kenji Watanabe is known for designing various Digimon known today and the mind behind the Tamagotchi virtual pets series. Fumiya Kobayashi is the art director for the upcoming Digimon Seekers and various other Digimon projects such as Universe App Monsters, Pendulum Z and the Vital Bracelets.
Kenji Watanabe and I
The event could be a gateway to gaining knowledge on Digimon, its card game, new products, and making new friendships.
Special thanks to Vincent Reyes for providing various photos for this coverage article.
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2023 kicked off for Californian Otakus with Anime Los Angeles 18 held from January 4th through 8th, at the Long Beach Convention Center. The LBCC has been ALA’s home for the past 3 years, since 2018. Anime Los Angeles had over 12K+ attendees and over 20 guests who included voice actress Kayleigh McKee, anime influencer Kaho Shibuya And japanese animators Mamoru Yokota & Kenji Yokoyama, among others.
INTERVIEWS
During the convention we sat down to speak with guest of honor, Kayleigh McKee. Kayleigh is best known for playing the fan favorite character Yuta Okkotsu in the hit anime movie Jujutsu Kaisen 0, as Pina in Netflix’s highly successful BEASTARS, and as Testament in the classic fighting game Guilty Gear Strive. She is one of few Transgender women in professional voice over blazing a new path in the realm of acting for anime, cartoons, and games. Watch our exclusive interview with Kayleigh, as we discuss about her role in Guilty Gear Strive as Testament!
This interview has an on-going giveaway opportunity, visit our giveaway page for more details.
Anime Legends – Mamoru Yokota & Kenji Yokoyama
Where would anime be without its legendary animators; during ALA 2023, we had the opportunity to speak with Japanese animators Mamoru Yokota & Kenji Yokoyama about their working in the anime industry for over 25 years. Mamoru Yokota has been involved in a great number of shows mainly as animator, but also as producer, character designer, illustrator and game director. As animation director, he’s best known for multiple episodes of Death Note, NARUTO Shippuden, and 2020’s Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai. He was also one of the animation directors for ONE PIECE STAMPEDE and most recently, ONE PIECE FILM: RED.
Kenji Yokoyama made his very first appearance at anime convention, after more than 40 years of dedication in the industry as a noted animator. Mr.Yokoyama. has worked on Gatchaman II and F, Dragon Ball Z, Dr. Slump, Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai, Jigoku Sensei Nūbē and SLAM DUNK, Toriko throughout 1970s and 1990s additionally, he has worked on One Piece in the last 25 years and most recently, in Yashahime.
We apologize for potato audio quality.
Anime Los Angeles 2023 Cosplay, Ani-Ambiance & More
Our coverage of Anime Los Angeles 2023, would not be complete without cosplay photos! During our Journey at this year’s ALA, we collaborated with cosplay photographer Jonathcon Photography. Check out his work at this year’s ALA 2023 with these amazing con photos!
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Jonathcon Photography has been taking on any & every cosplay photo gig during Anime Conventions for the last two years. He’s often known for being a fan’s photographer, not only scouting the perfect locations for shoots but also researching the subject and material source of each cosplay. If you’re interested in hiring him as your personal cosplay photographer in or outside of convention, visit his official Instagram at, https://www.instagram.com/jonatcon_photos/ and sent him a direct message to schedule your next, spectacular cosplay photoshoot!
Thank you for reading our article, for more interviews visit our interview page
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Anime Pasadena 2022 was held in mid-November 2022 at the Pasadena convention center. The event had over 40 guests, panels and various activities, including autographs sessions and an after party.
One of many highlights from Anime Pasadena 2022 was the reunion of the Death Note cast. Although Shannon Chan Kent who voiced Misa Amane was unable to attend as previously announced, the show continued with voice actors Brad Swaile (Light Yagami), Brian Drummond (Ryku) and Alessandro Juliani (L Lawliet). Despite having huge lines, all three voice actors stayed late into the night to signing fan items.
According to an interview granted to us by Alessandro Juliani, this is the first time they’ve all gathered together for anime convention. Juliani stated, This was the first time he had attended an all anime themed convention. Adding, he mostly attending conventions or events that deal with his on camera work.
Watch our interviews with Death Note cast members, Alessandro Juliani and Brian Drummond as they speak about their work in the anime series as L and shinigami, Ryku!
Interview with Alessandro Juliani (L)
Interview with Brian Drummond (Ryku)
Anime Pasadena 2023 has been announced, you find more information on this event here.
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One Piece Film Red served as the centerpiece film at this year’s Animation is Film Festival and for the first time fans had the opportunity to experience film in English dubbed, two weeks ahead of its official U.S. theater release.
The film is directed by Goro Taniguchi, who previously directed the 1998 OVA, One Piece: Defeat The Pirate Ganzak! OVA and was the very first time the One Piece manga had been animated, making Taniguchi the first person to animate Luffy. According to the Japanese website, Mantan-Web, Taniguchi stated that he wanted to express a One Piece that has never been seen before and that he will show it in One Piece Film: Red. According to Shinji Shimizu, a staff of Toei Animation and producer of One Piece anime, One Piece Film: Red is the only One Piece film that Eiichiro Oda has actively participated in the most.
Now for the first time ever, fans got to experience the film in English dubbed during this year’s Animation is Film Festival 2022, and we had the opportunity to catch with some of the cast and speak on this new anime film phenomenon:
As of 23 October 2022, the film has grossed ¥17.36 billion in Japan making it the highest-grossing film of the franchise and the highest-grossing film of 2022 in Japan. Worldwide the film has earned over US$144.7 million in eight countries making it the 13th highest-grossing Japanese film of all-time.
The film’s theme song “New Genesis” by Ado is currently number 48 in the Top 100 Global charts on Apple Music. The film is set to be released on the 4th of November 2022, if you haven’t purchased your tickets, now’s the time, you can purchase here.
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Popular illustrator, Loundraw had his debut film premiere during this year’s Anime Expo 2022, & recently during this year’s Animation Is Film festival, we had the opportunity to interview Loundrawabout his debut film, Summer Ghost
The film is produced by Loundraw’s company Flat Studio, with scripts written by Hirotaka Adachi, and music composed by Akira Kosemura, Itoko Toma, Guiano, and Hideya Kojima.
Summer Ghost was released in Japanese theaters on November 12, 2021, by its distributor Avex Pictures. GKIDS and Shout! Factory is set to release the film in North America on November 1, 2022, on Blu-ray and digital platforms. The film is available to preorder via Prime Video.
Loundraw is an Illustrator who made his professional debut in his teens with a cover illustration for Gara Nagata’s Hoshi no Nemuru Mizuumi e -Ai wo Sagashi ni-. He also worked on the covers of various novels, such as Keigo Higashino’s Koi no Gondola and Yoru Sumino’s Kimi no Suizou wo Tabetai.
You can preorder Loundraw’s newest English-translated work Vivy Prototypea light novel by Tappei Nagatsuki & Eiji Umehara, HERE.
New York Comic Con has announced the premiere of the upcoming Super Marios Bros film produced by Illumination and Nintendo.
The film an ensemble voice cast including Chris Pratt (Mario), Anya Taylor-Joy (Peach), Charlie Day (Luigi), Jack Black (Bowser), Keegan-Michael Key (Toad), Seth Rogen (Donkey Kong), Fred Armisen (Cranky Kong), Kevin Michael Richardson (Kamek), Sebastian Maniscalco (Spike), and Charles Martinet(undisclosed role).
This is the third film adaptation of the game franchise following the 1986 Japanese animated adventure comedy film Super Mario Bros.: Peach-Hime Kyushutsu Dai Sakusen! and the terrible but cult classic film, 1993 live-action film Super Mario Bros. The new film began its concept development as early as 2015, after Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto met Illumination CEO, Chris Meledandri through Universal Japan’s venture in Super Mario Bro attractions.
By 2020, production was already underway with Chris Pratt as Mario and Directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, who both worked on Teen Titans Go! To the Movies as director and writer, respectively. As of September 22, 2022, not much is known about the film’s plot, however there is an IMDB description that describes the film as follows,
” A plumber named Mario travels through an underground labyrinth with his brother, Luigi, trying to save a captured princess. Feature film adaptation of the popular video game.”
GKIDS is collaborating with Fathom for Exclusive Event Showings of the Finale of the Historic “EVANGELION” Property. GKIDS will bring the highly anticipated fourth and final installment of the new theatrical “Rebuild” editions of the EVANGELION franchise to theaters nationwide. In partnership with Fathom Events, screenings will only be on December 6th, 8th, and 11th.
EVANGELION:3.0+1.01 THRICE UPON A TIME was released in Japanese theaters in 2021, where it was a critical and box office success becoming the highest-grossing film of the year with ¥10.28 billion (~$85 million) at the local box office. The release marks the first time the film will be available in theaters in North America since its domestic release in Japan. The film has won numerous awards, including, The 45th Japan Academy Film Prize, Tokyo Anime Awards, and Best Original Screenplay and Director (Hideaki Anno) categories at the Tokyo Anime Film Festival.
Created by Hideaki Anno,the NEON GENESIS EVANGELION franchise is considered one of the most influential animated sagas of all time. Since the 1995 premiere of the original television series, the story of teenager Shinji Ikari has remained one of the most iconic titles in animation history and a global pop culture phenomenon.
From legendary director Hideaki Anno, EVANGELION:3.0+1.01 THRICE UPON A TIME is the fourth and final installment of the REBUILD OF EVANGELION films, bringing an epic conclusion to the story of Shinji and his fellow Eva pilots, with the stunning visuals and thought-provoking storytelling that has made EVANGELION a global pop culture phenomenon.
Misato and her anti-NERV group Wille arrive at Paris, a city now red from core-ization. Crew from the flagship Wunder land on a containment tower. They only have 720 seconds to restore the city. When a horde of NERV Evas appear, Mari’s improved Eva Unit 8 must intercept. Meanwhile, Shinji, Asuka, and Rei (Provisional Name) wander about Japan.
“Not only Evangelion, but my work basically deal with themes unique to Japan, aimed at people who grew up in Japan. I am really grateful and honoured that such works are seen and loved by people all over the world. Thank you so much for supporting Evangelion, and I hope you enjoy the film”
