Top 10 Things To Do At Anime Expo 2024

And it’s here… Anime Expo 2024! Day Zero for anime fanatics starts tomorrow. On Day Zero, you can collect your badges and other official materials. We’ve compiled a list of essential items to bring, along with Anime Expo’s recommendations. In this blog, we will guide you through the must-see events at Anime Expo!

Grand Opening and Curtain Call: From Hype to Hugs

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Day 1: The Otaku Olympics Kick-Off

• It’s like New Year’s Eve, but with more cosplay and less regrettable decisions
• Our hosts return, armed with dad jokes and exclusive sneak peeks
• VIP performances that’ll make you forget about your aching feet (temporarily)
• Behind-the-scenes gossip juicier than your favorite anime plot twists

Past headliners? Oh, just little-known acts like Lia and Maidreamin’. No big deal.

Day 4: The Last Hurrah (a.k.a. The Great Weeb Weep-fest)

• The con equivalent of that bittersweet anime finale
• Where we collectively realize our wallets are empty but our hearts are full
• A time to bid farewell to new friends and promise to definitely keep in touch (maybe)
• The starting gun for the 365-day countdown to next year’s Anime Expo.

AMV Competition

It’s time for Anime Expo’s AMV Competition, the event where fans turn their favorite anime into music videos faster than you can say “Naruto run.”

• Features fan-made Anime Music Videos (AMVs) in Drama, Action, Sentimental, Fun, Rhythm, and Comedy categories.
• Audience votes for the winner.
• Free tickets are available at the ticketing booth in Gilbert Lindsey Plaza and at the show door at 6 PM.

Schedule & Location

• AMV Competition Finals: Main Events – Hall B
  • July 4, 2024 – Show starts at 6:00 PM, seating begins at 5:45 PM
• AMV Awards: 403AB
  • July 7, 2024 – 1:45 PM to 3:35 PM

Community Stage

Alright, otaku overachievers! Put down those pocky sticks and listen up. Anime Expo’s Community Stage is about to turn into the weebiest version of “America’s Got Talent” you’ve ever seen.

You can check the full schedule of the official website.

Concerts

Listen up, music maniacs and J-pop junkies! Anime Expo is about to turn Los Angeles into Tokyo’s coolest karaoke bar, minus the tiny rooms and questionable song selections.

• Concerts require a ticket and a badge; check the Ticketing FAQ.
• Lounge21 (21+): intimate setting with local band performances.
• Community Stage in Entertainment Hall: free performances by local bands.
• No additional costs for Lounge21 or Community Stage performances.

Gaming

Attention, button-mashers, and joystick jockeys! Anime Expo’s gaming area is about to turn your thumbs into the stuff of legend.

What’s brewing:

• 60+ free-to-play gaming stations that are easier to access than your Netflix account (and way more fun)
• A smorgasbord of titles ranging from “Oh, I love this game!” to “What in the anime world is this?”
• Single-player for the lone wolves, multi-player for those who play well with others (or at least pretend to)

It’s your chance to make new friends without the awkward small talk. Nothing bonds people faster than a shared victory (or hilarious defeat) in virtual combat.

AX’s Beer Garden: Where Sake Meets Sakura

Heads up, thirsty weebs and melody mavens! Anime Expo’s Beer Garden is about to become your new favorite isekai.

• A slice of Japan, minus the 14-hour flight and jet lag
• Drinks that’ll make you say “Kanpai!” faster than you can botch a Naruto hand sign
• Live tunes that’ll have you swaying like a drunk sailor… or Sailor Moon

It’s your chance to live out that anime beach episode fantasy, minus the beach and the filler plot. Plus, where else can you sip sake under paper lanterns while a J-pop cover band serenades you?

The fine print:

• All ages are welcome until 10 PM. After that, it’s strictly 21+ territory.
• A valid ID is required for booze. Your Pokédex won’t cut it here, folks.
• Aspiring performers, check the Get Involved page. This could be your big break!

So grab a drink, find a spot under the lanterns, and get ready to toast to the good life, otaku style!

Late Comedy Showdown

Ever imagined a stand-up bit about Uchiha vs. Senju? Imagine no more! Find that and more here, including Goku (cosplay, of course) doing stand-up… Maybe?

The battle plan:

• Splitting into two squads. Think Naruto vs. Sasuke, but with fewer jutsu and more dad jokes.
• Each group sends their champion to the finals. Your weapon? The audience’s laughter. Better hope they’re not all tsunderes.
• Finalists get a surprise topic and limited prep time. It’s like improv Russian roulette, but the only thing dying is your dignity.
• The crowd picks the winner.

Plus, it’s way more fun than explaining the plot of Neon Genesis Evangelion to your grandma.

AX Masquerade & World Cosplay Summit USA Finals

The AX Masquerade is about to turn Main Events into the Met Gala of the anime world.

• A 25-year tradition that’s older than some of your favorite isekai protagonists
• Cosplayers flexing harder than All Might in a bodybuilding competition
• Cash prizes that’ll make your wallet do a happy dance

But wait, there’s more:

• Since 2017, we’ve been hosting the World Cosplay Summit USA Finals
• Think of it as American Idol but with more wigs and less Simon Cowell
• Winners get to strut their stuff in Nagoya, Japan (eat your heart out, Tokyo Fashion Week)

Whether you’re competing or spectating, prepare for a night of jaw-dropping craftsmanship and performances that’ll put Broadway to shame. Don’t forget to pick your jaw up off the floor when you leave!

Maid Café at Anime Expo

Ready to trade your cosplay for some TLC? The AX Maid Café is here to serve up a hefty dose of moe with a side of escapism.

On the menu:

• Maids cuter than your favorite anime protagonist
• Entertainment ranging from impromptu karaoke to tabletop gaming shenanigans
• A vibe so authentic, you’ll swear you took a wrong turn and ended up in Akihabara

For the late-night crowd:

• Maid Cafe: After Dark – where things get as spicy as your favorite ramen
• Bunny Girls who can dance better than your anime Figura collection
• An 18+ experience that’ll make you blush harder than a tsundere confessing their feelings

Pricing breakdown:

• Daytime shows: $23-$28 (cheaper than a round-trip ticket to Japan, we checked)
• After Dark: $33 (still cheaper than your last anime figure impulse buy)

The fine print:

• Don’t forget to snag a Photo Op voucher. It’s like catching a shiny Pokémon, but cuter.
• 18+ wristbands are required for After Dark. No exceptions, not even if you’re actually a 1000-year-old dragon.

Note: Read the important info on the official website.

Manga Lounge presented by VIZ Media

Looking for a spot away, from the hustle and bustle. Just looking to kick back and give your feet a break after Maid Cafe? The Manga Lounge offers a retreat where you can unwind and enjoy some downtime.

• Over 6000 volumes of manga are available.
• Expansive collection includes manga and art books.
• Something for everyone, regardless of age or genre preference.

That was our list of top ten things to do at the Anime Expo!

Source: Anime Expo
Image copyright – Anime Expo/ Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA)