AniManga (Not to be confused with AniManga held in Melbourne, Australia) is a summer oriented, 3 day anime convention held at Fairplex in Pomona, California. AniManga, Founded in 2017, is combines Anime & Manga AND gaming into a fun weekend and was first held on August 3rd – 5th 2018.
AniManga’s Entrance
A relatively low-key convention, AniManga began with a slow start however it rapidly picked up on Saturday with many cosplayers and guests joining the fun.
AniManga’s interactive Inflatable Wrecking Ball & Maze Game
For those whom never been to Fairplex, Fairplex is compose of different ‘halls’ and sections. AniManga was held in Hall 4 which is a fairly big hall:
AniManga’s voice actor Guests included: Max Mittelman, Kyle McCarley, Zach Aguilar & Josh Grelle.
Me, Zach Aguilar & Cosplayer: Mystic Taku
While at there, we had the honor of interviewing voice actor Josh Grelle:
Josh Grelle and I
Overall, our experience at AniManga was good. It began slow and picked up Saturday. Only time will tell if they’ll become bigger and better. We will most definitely return next year. Take a look at their website for upcoming detail for AniManga 2019.
Gudetama’s origins begin with a character design contest held by Sanrio back in 2013, coming in 2nd to Kirimi-chan.
Fastword to 2018, Gudetama’s creator/designer, AMY (Emi Nagashima) visits the Sanrio store in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, making this her first visit ever.
Gudetama fans stood in line to receive a signed drawing of Gudetama from AMY.
As AMY made a special appearance in Los Angeles, Aggretsuko creator/designer visited the Sanrio store in San Francisco for the continuation of Aggretsuko’s Den Of Rage event.
With Gudetama & Aggretsuko becoming instant stars & both characters getting their own TV series (Gudetama: TBS & Aggretsuko: Netflix), it’s only a matter of time before Sanrio develops yet another super cute and adorable character we can all be be obsessed with.
Here’s our photoset from AMY’s visit:
AMY at work
AMY signs a Gudetama book for a fan
AMY and I
Gudetama and I
Gudetama & my assistant, Vincent
Take a look at out video as well:
Who’s your favorite SANRIO character? Comment below!
For the 27th time, Anime Expo came back with full force from July 4th – July 8th drawing fans from 70 different countries. This year over 110,000 people attended Anime Expo, thats 2,342 more attendees than in Anime Expo 2017, making a local economic impact of $100 million to the city of Los Angeles.
Day -1 of Anime Expo 2018
Day -1 of Anime Expo 2018
Day -1 of Anime Expo 2018
Day -1 of Anime Expo 2018
Although Anime Expo went off without a hitch, there were a few slight inconveniences.
Before Anime Expo even began, they were altered to a possible threat made against AX and its attendees. According to Anime New Network, the threat was made by a man who allegedly stated via text, “These cons are due for a high school shooting, by a high school kidd [sic]. I’m working on a case at the moment. Shit u [sic] not.” although he did not specifically stated Anime Expo as a target, Anime Expo responded by promptly by ‘alerting local law enforcement to take appropriate actions in accordance with their procedures.‘ in a statement the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA) said:
“Just as in 2017, we are working with security teams and local law enforcement, including K9 teams and traffic control officers, to maintain the safety of our event. Additionally, as previously announced, we are utilizing RFID badges for AX this year and will have security checks at each entrance. We encourage attendees to check our mobile app and maps to get familiarized with the various designated entrances.”
Thankfully, AX came and went without incident. Although the seriousness of this threat wasn’t felt among con goers; With public shootings happening all over the country on a daily basis, ‘indirect’ threats such as these, should NOT be taken with grain of salt. Though it may be a slight inconvenience, security checks at AX do their job by preventing such incidents to ever happen. If you would like to read more details on this situation please read Anime News Network’s article here.
Moving on to more lighter but heated topics:
Los Angeles suffered a huge heat wave during day 2 & day 3 of Anime Expo with temperatures reaching up to 108°. Although the convention center had functioning air conditioning, outside the heat was unbearable. Mailing AX badges eliminated “LineCon” or the long tedious, on-site registration line. Attendees were still not happy about waiting in line to get inside the convention center due to bag checks. Attendees also took to social to suggest that Anime Expo should cap their tickets due to overcrowding.
Do agree that Anime Expo should cap their badges? leave a comment below, we’d love to hear your opinions.
Be as it may, the heatwave was no match for hard working, determined cosplayers, whom in the middle of the scorching sun, went all out in their cosplays. Check these awesome cosplays:
Photo credit: Mystic Taku
Photo credit: Mystic Taku
Best cosplay of AX 2018?
We interviewed some of these wonderful cosplayers and this is what they had to say, about why they attended Anime Expo 2018 and how we dealt with the heat weave:
Before I jump on to a different topic, a HUGE shoutout to these guys at Alove yogurt, who, in the middle of the scorching sun, passed out these delicious yogurts to con goers
Thanks guys! (Peach Flavor was the best!)
In addition to the 110K attendees, over 150 guests and industry made appearances including, Go Nagai, Hiromi Wakabayashi, Mari Okada, Sean Danconia, Santa Inoue, and SUSHIO. Booths also held guest appearances as with, Project Sekai who had Nekopara’s creator, Sayori in attendance for fan autographs.
Since taking photos of Sayori was prohibited, here’s her signature dedicated to me, Krystal.
The Exhibit & Entertainment Halls also featured more than 524 Exhibitors (74 Exhibitors more than AX 2017) Among them was AnimePls, a new Anime brand that is dedicated to bringing you exclusive merchandise from various anime series including: Hatsune Miku, Attack On Titan, Yugioh, My Hero Academia & Aggretsuko! Check their booth from AX 2018.
Check them out at: Animepls.com
AnimePls has licensed all these series, so far!
Near the end of Anime Expo; Funimation and LootCrate collaborated on an AX Afterparty held at the Globe Theater in Downtown Los Angeles during the night of Day 3.
FunimationXSonicBoomBoxXLootCrate AX After Party!
Attendees able to receive a free goodie bag which contained Loot Crate exclusives
There were so many things that went down at this year’s anime. From newly produced anime series to exclusive Anime Expo events and merchandise. If you missed out this year, don’t worry, Anime Expo will be back in 2019! Tickets are now on sale! For now enjoy our entire Anime Expo 2018 photoset:
Day -1 of Anime Expo 2018
Day -1 of Anime Expo 2018
Day -1 of Anime Expo 2018
Day -1 of Anime Expo 2018
Day -1 of Anime Expo 2018
Day -1 of Anime Expo 2018
Day -1 of Anime Expo 2018
Day -1 of Anime Expo 2018
Day -1 of Anime Expo 2018
Day 1 of Anime BrExpo 2018
The Entertainment Hall
The Entertainment Hall – OVERWATCH booth
FATE: Grand Order VR booth
FATE: Grand Order VR booth
Feel like playing Kingdom Hearts III?
Feel like playing Kingdom Hearts III?
Brought to you by, Arby’s
Brought to you by, Arby’s
Brought to you by, Arby’s
Filming for our AX video
Brought to you by, Arby’s
My assistant, Vincent
My assistant, Vincent
Back to you, buddy.
BTS – Deku Inter.
Mystic Taku as Casual Deku
BTS – Deku Inter.
Interviewing Aggretsuko
Why would you toss fapping paper away?
Not really that packed…
…or maybe…
………
……..
FunimationXSonicBoomBoxXLootCrate AX After Party!
SWAG BAGS!
Me in my Astolfo Cosplay. Check out my cosplay page here: Facebook.com/ThaTrapArtist
Me in my Astolfo Cosplay. Check out my cosplay page here: Facebook.com/ThaTrapArtist
Me in my Astolfo Cosplay. Check out my cosplay page here: Facebook.com/ThaTrapArtist
Me in my Astolfo Cosplay. Check out my cosplay page here: Facebook.com/ThaTrapArtist
This year’s Anime Expo was special mainly because we, My assistant & I, attended AX as Press, which was such an honor! We hope to attend next year as Press as well. Unfortunately, I got very ill between Day 0 – Day 2 and although we were able to take photos and film, I wasn’t able to fully capture everything I wanted at AX nor accomplish. During Day 3, I was feeling much better, we ended up filming the last day of AX, alongside, interviewing awesome cosplayers! I hope you enjoyed our mini AX video (found above) and I’ll personally bring you much more Anime Con coverage beginning with ANIMANGA 2018 coming this August!
Following the release of these shoes, Nice Kicks, a popular shoe store in Downtown Los Angeles, held a HUGE SEGA party with VERY special guests.
an authentic Archie Sonic the Hedgehog comic #24
Sonic Mania Sega Gen. s Cartridge w/ metal gold ring
Inside NICK KICKS during the event
Inside NICK KICKS during the event
Inside NICK KICKS during the event (Eggman section)
SONIC RS-0 by digital artist, Jeff Cole
Inside NICEKICKS (before event began)
Promo Hatsune Miku banner
Store’s game station
Sega Genesis Flashback HD 2017 Console
Sega Genesis original poster
My assistant, Vincent Reyes
Myself
Fans waiting to see CRUSH 40
SEGA staff setting up event/stage
Sonic the Hedgehog board game from Brazil
Fan hold Jeff Cole’s artwork that he won
The stage
Sonic The Hedgehog backdrop
Myself & the fastest thing alive, Sonic!
Special guests included, game designer/game director, S & Japanese-American rock band, Crush 40 (Jun Senoue & Johnny Gioeli)! For the first time, in a long time, Crush 40 performed LIVE in Los Angeles. Performing Sonic classics such as, Open your Heart, Live and Learn, I am…All of Me, and their new song, Green Light Ride for the new sonic game, Sonic Racing! Watch the entire concert provided by yours truly, The Kitsune Network:
check out our photos from the concert:
Johnny Gioeli (Crush 40 Vocals)
Jun Senoue (Crush 40 guitarist)
Crush 40 performing “Sonic Boom” cover
Jun Senoue (Crush 40 guitarist) with SONIC guitar
Crush 40 performing “Live & Learn”
Me filming the entire concert for you guys.
GOOD NIGHT, LOS ANGELES!
Personal Afterthoughts
Watching Crush 40 and meeting band members, Johnny and Jun was surreal. As a child I remember playing Sonic Adventure XD and Sonic Adventure 2: Battle, I remember not skipping title screen just to hear Crush 40’s theme. I would like to Thank you Crush 40, for making my childhood great with their catchy rockin songs and Thank you Mr.Iizuka, for making the greatest Sonic game ever; the Adventure series.
(Left to Right) Mr.Iizuka Takashi; Johnny Gioeli; Krystal & Jun Senoue
You may not recognize his face but you’ll definitely recognize his voice! Join us in our quick interview with Pokemon Theme song singer, JASON PAIGE:
We interviewed Jason Paige at AniFest 2018 in Torrance, California. Although we were there primarily for Jason, here are some photos from Anifest & a quick video.
Interviewing Jason
Interviewing Jason
Interviewing Jason
Weeb Car 1
Weeb Car 2
This guy! VOOM! VOOM!
This guy! VOOM! VOOM!
Me & Tony Taku
Me & Tony Taku
Me & Beari King (Event Organizer)
Ash’s League Expo hat autographed by JASON PAIGE
Ash’s League Expo hat autographed by JASON PAIGE
Check this short video of some of the booth at AniFest:
Our most anticipated interview is finally here! Back in 2016, we had the honor of interviewing the wonderfully talented, Wendee Lee:
I would to personally thank, Wendee Lee; for accepting our interview request, Kassandra; for being an awesome assistant, Gregorio Escalante Gallery; for letting us film on location!
Check these awesome photo taken by our lovely photographer, Kassandra!
Wendee Lee Autograph Giveaway!
Share, comment, & subscribe to our channel and you may have a chance to in THIS autographed print from Wendee Lee!
Join us at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center this May 5th 2018 for the first ever Anifest!
AniFest is a brand new one-day Anime Festival where you can find all the great things of a convention but with a matsuri twist, right in Torrance California! Take a look around to see all the great things you can do, and for only $15! Get your ticket here: AniFest.org/tickets. See you there!
From the mind behind “Spirits & Cat Ears”, Miyuki Nakayama, comes:
BLEND-S
Blend-S is combination of Starbucks & a Japanese Maid Cafe. It tells the story of high school student, Maika Sakuranomiya who is having trouble finding a part time job due to her scary and creepy smile, which often leads people to believe she’s a sadist.
Maika later finds herself hired as waitress by a scout/manager of an Italian owned coffee shop, Cafe Stile. However, Cafe Stile isn’t your average coffee shop. Each waitress (or barista) is given a different ‘fetish’ to serve their costumers with, such as: Tsundere, Imouto, Oneesan & Idol. Since Maika has a unquie ‘sadist‘ smile she was assigned as a sadist barista.
Although she develops an aggressive and dominate persona, she actually pretty clumsy and shy at times. The series debuted as a manga in Houbunsha’sManga Time Kirara Carat magazine in 2013, and Nakayama launched it as a regular series in 2014. The anime is just premiered this October and you stream it on CrunchyRoll.
Maika Sakuranomiya
Maika is a 16-year-old girl who, because of how scary she looks when smiling, often causes misunderstandings, leading other people to think that she is a sadist, even though she is actually just clumsy. Her looks catch the attention of Dino who scouts her to be the ‘sadistic girl’ waitress at cafe Stile. She comes from a very traditional family and works part time so she could study abroad using her own money.
Kaho Hinata
Kaho is a 17-year-old waitress who fulfills the tsundere trait. She loves playing video games and often goes to an arcade, but often runs out of money because of it. Although she plays a tsunderegirl, Kaho’s real personality is not tsundere and like Maika, has to learn to becomes one. She is currently the most popular waitress at Stile.
Mafuyu Hoshikawa
Mafuyu is one of the waitresses that, despite of her petite figure, is actually a 20-year-old college student and fulfills the younger sister trait because of that. Her real personality is mature and she rarely shows emotion. She has a younger brother who is taller than her and has always wanted a younger sister, although she will not include Kaho because of Kaho’s body figure.*
To honor the series, Aniplex USA & Los Angeles cafe shop, Cafe Dulce collaborated on a two day event.
This collaboration took place in the Little Tokyo district in Los Angeles.
Cafe Dulce celebrated the series by giving out FREE Maika decorated donuts with every purchase.
Along side this cute donuts, they also gave out Blend-S Coasters and mini poster.
Check these photos from the event
Thanks for checking out our Blend-S post, if want to find out Which BLEND-S Character Will Be Your Waitress, take this awesome test, and in the words of Maika:
On January 2017 SANRIO announced their newest character, Aggretsuko (アグレッシブ烈子)!
Although the character debuted in 2015, Aggretsuko began appearing on social media in early 2017 & it seems she quickly found fame among Hello kitty fans.
Aggretsuko, according SANRIO’s official site, is a 25 year old, red panda who works as a office worker with anger issues. Her YouTube shorts tell her daily life, working in an office dealing with the daily annoyances that happen. When her patience is up, she goes on full blown HEAVY METAL RAGE! Check her out here:
Sword Art Online final had its first ever, feature film!
Sword Art Online the Movie: Ordinal Scale.
Aniplex & Eleven Arts held a red carpet premiere in Hollywood, California at the famous Egyptian Theater!
Fans waiting outside theater. Some are holding freshly bought SAO merch
The exclusive event SOLD OUT within 48 hours after tickets were on sell. With anime’s popularity, its no wonder it sold out quickly! Hundreds of fans gathered for this exclusive one-day event, some came in cosplay.
(Left) Andrew Black Swordsman; (Left Middle) Stella Chuu; (Middle Right) Celty Farron; (Left) Atashi as Silica w/ Pina
Celty Farron as Yuki Asun
Atashi as Silica w/ Pina
Fans were also able to buy new SAO merch at the ‘SAO store’ Aniplex staff set up
The SAO ‘Store’
Fan looking through items
Boxes of SAO merch
Asuna SAO OS Figure B
Asuna SAO OS Figure A
Items I purchased (Money well spent)
The event was filled with special guests, such as:
Yui’s special appearance at the eventMe (Krystal Kitsune) at Red carpet premiere with Kirito & Asuna
For those who missed this fantastic event, you can still catch the movie in theaters THISThursday; March 9th 2017. Tickets on sale here. Catch some of the highlights of this event down below.
We’ll be posting an event video soon, so stay tuned!
For the 27th time, Anime Expo came back with full force from July 4th – July 8th drawing fans from 70 different countries. This year over 110,000 people attended Anime Expo, thats 2,342 
Maika Sakuranomiya who is having trouble finding a part time job due to her scary and creepy smile, which often leads people to believe she’s a sadist.
![abec [Character design concept]](https://thekitsunetwork.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/dsc_0405.jpg?w=399&h=266 "dsc_0405")
![TOMOHIKO ITO [Film Director]](https://thekitsunetwork.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/dsc_0391.jpg?w=197&h=131 "dsc_0391")
![REKI KAWAHARA [SAO Author/Original Story]](https://thekitsunetwork.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/dsc_0383.jpg?w=197&h=131 "dsc_0383")
![(Left) KAZUMA MIKI [Editor/Producer]; (Right) SHINGO ADACHI [Character Design/Chief Animation Director]](https://thekitsunetwork.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/dsc_0321.jpg?w=320&h=214 "dsc_0321")
![SHINICHIRO KASHIWADA [Producer of Aniplex]](https://thekitsunetwork.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/dsc_0332.jpg?w=276&h=214 "dsc_0332")
![Bryce Papenbrook [Kirito / Kazuto Kirigaya]](https://thekitsunetwork.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/dsc_0453.jpg?w=399&h=266 "dsc_0453")
![Cherami Leigh [Asuna Yuuki]](https://thekitsunetwork.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/dsc_0461.jpg?w=197&h=131 "dsc_0461")
![(Left) Cassandra Lee Morris [Leafa / Suguha Kirigaya]; (Middle) Cherami Leigh [Asuna Yuuki]; (Right) Christine M. Cabanos [Silica / Keiko Ayano]](https://thekitsunetwork.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/dsc_0422.jpg?w=197&h=131 "dsc_0422")
![(Left) Bryce Papenbrook [Kirito / Kazuto Kirigaya]; (Middle) Sarah Williams [Lisbeth / Rika Shinozaki]; (Right) Cassandra Lee Morris [Leafa / Suguha Kirigaya]](https://thekitsunetwork.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/dsc_0449.jpg?w=600&h=400 "dsc_0449")
