IRVINE, Calif. – March 15, 2023 – Today, ATLUS, in collaboration with the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA), the non-profit organization behind Anime Expo, announced the Shin Megami Tensei 30th LIVE: Band of Shadows Concert will be taking place at Anime Expo at THE NOVO (LA LIVE) on July 1, 2023. The concert is the first ever live, anniversary concert for ATLUS in the West and will feature musical performances from the Shin Megami Tensei video game series. Tickets will go on sale at a future date – fans can receive ticket information and concert details by subscribing to t ..read more

The Maid Café is a show and interactive experience featuring a lovely array of entertainment, including dances, musical performances, photo ops, and more! Inspired by the maid cafes of Akihabara, Anime Expo’s Maid Café has been one of our most popular events. Our cute and courteous maids are ready to entertain you, whether they break out in song and dance or settle in with your table to play a game. Enjoy a drink and an interactive show, and don’t forget to thank the maids on your way out! *Please note that the Maid Cafe is not an actual cafe. While food/drink is ..read more

Photo Credit Belongs to: Artisticaise Photography Meet the WCS USA 2023 Team- Luna Lady of Light and Karmada Cosplay of Karmaluna Cosplay. Karmaluna was chosen at the WCS USA 2022 Finals for their portrayal of Katsu Eiraku and Tei-Kuu from the series Thunderbolt Fantasy. Karmaluna consists of Emily (Luna Lady of Light) and Conner (Karmada). Emily has been cosplaying since 2007 and Conner has been cosplaying since 2001. After meeting in 2012, these two became best friends. After winning their first World Cosplay Summit USA preliminary in 2013 the pair has been inseparable. They have now been ..read more

We are incredibly excited to announce that renowned Japanese Visual Artist, Illustrator and Character Designer Yoshitaka Amano will appear as a Guest of Honor at Anime Expo 2023! Yoshitaka Amano joined anime production company Tatsunoko Productions in 1967, providing character designs for Casshern, Time Bokan, and many other series. He became an independent artist and illustrator in 1982, going on to win a Nebula Award four years in a row (1983-86). From there, he served as character and visual concept designer for the Final Fantasy series, as well as working on Vampire Hunter D, N.Y. Salad, C ..read more

With Anime Expo 2023 returning to LACC this summer, we are bringing back our beloved Butler Café! The Butler Café is a show and interactive experience, featuring a group of talented performers ready to make your hearts go doki-doki. Adorned with a wide array of entertainment — including dances, musical performances, and photo ops — the Butler Café is the perfect place to grab a snack and a drink with some friends and make some new ones! *Please note that the Butler Cafe is not an actual cafe. While food/drink is available for separate purchase, the ..read more

Cosplayers near and far are invited to come take part in one of our most beloved traditions– the Anime Expo Masquerade! All entrants will be reviewed prior to acceptance, and entrants may be reclassified at the discretion of AX staff. Please see the Masquerade rules for full guidelines on division qualification. Submission Timeline 1/31/23: Submission Form Opens Submissions will remain open until all slots are filled Progress photos (2) and background picture and audio due May 30, 2023 Use the buttons below to access the submission form, opening on 1/31/23: Submit Masquerade A ..read more

Calling all anime fans! JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization) is collaborating with Kickstarter to support 5 Japanese independent anime studios with their crowdfunding campaigns. JETRO is a governmental organization that works to promote trade and investment between Japan and the rest of the world, and we have been supporting Japanese animation companies to enter the overseas market by hosting business matching events to connect Japanese anime rights holders with foreign distributors. However, since smaller studios had difficulties to access these opportunities, we decided to launch this p ..read more

Cosplayers near and far are invited to come take part in one of our most beloved traditions– the Anime Expo Masquerade! All entrants will be reviewed prior to acceptance, and entrants may be reclassified at the discretion of AX staff. Please see the Masquerade rules for full guidelines on division qualification. Submission Timeline 1/31/23: Submission Form Opens Submissions will remain open until all slots are filled Progress photos (2) and background picture and audio due May 30, 2023 Use the buttons below to access the submission form, opening on 1/31/23: Submission Form Opens Ja ..read more

The wait is almost over! On January 24th, General Attendee badge registration launches to the public. We’re so happy to start this new adventure with you this summer. We can’t wait to bring back the energy and fun to the Los Angeles Convention Center on July 1-4, 2023. We know that you’ve been eagerly awaiting information about how to secure your badge(s) for Anime Expo 2023, so here’s what you need to know! Register Here Registration Updates: Badge Assignment: If you purchase a General Attendee badge on behalf of another person, you will need to “transfer” the badge to them. By completing th ..read more

Get Ready for the Next Adventure! Here is the information you need for the AX 2023 Official Hotel Block~! Please note that ConferenceDirect is the official housing provider for Anime Expo and the only place to book rooms at the AX 2023 Hotel Block rates. If you choose to use another hotel booking site or book directly with the hotel, any customer service inquiries must be handled by the respective booking service that you used. Hotel Block Dates The AX Official Hotel Block is separated into the following groups: Exhibitor, Artist Alley, and General Attendee. Rates and cancellation policies var ..read more