The end has come for Anime Expo® 2024, closing out a weekend full of excitement and crowds that remained full all the way up to the closing ceremony. Now that I have had time to decompress– and finally woken up from the deepest nap ever– let’s dig into the final days of AX24, the epic highs and lows of anime cons!

Anime Expo Day 3

 While the first half of Anime Expo boasted large crowds and a swath of exclusive gaming and anime reveals, there were even more of each to be found on day three. Big titles like MY HERO ACADEMIA, Bleach, and OSHI NO KO held mega popular panels that teased upcoming arcs and behind the scenes information with some of the titles’ most important guests, from voice actors and producers. Due to the popularity of these shows and guests, most of these Main Event panels were capped with attendees before they even started; with congoers lining up hours ahead in anticipation for sneak peaks of their favorite shows.

©Yudetamago/Shueisha, Kinnikuman Production Committee

Most of the panels I attended for the day were for works I was at least passingly aware of, yet for me the most exciting show premiere was for a show I had never even heard of! KINNIKUMAN is a relatively unknown title outside of Japan; though if the reaction from the audience during the first look screening was any indication, that likely will soon change. Back for the first time in thirty years, popular voice actor Mamoru Miyano takes on the titular role in an anime that truly was better experienced blind.

Now I’m not ashamed to say that VA casting is a huge influence on my willingness or desire to watch a show, and this time was no different. Between the personal press offer from the panel’s PR time and the inclusion of one of my favorite seiyuu ever, I was already planning to attend regardless of my interest in the show itself. Considering the side of the room I was on, I was not the only one blatantly showing up to swoon over Mamo-chan– who appeared just as idol-like as expected, down to the fanservice. Outside of my life’s achievement now currently being “receiving a smile from Mamoru Miyano,” the show managed to snatch my interest as well; and, based on the reactions of those around me, it did the same for the rest of the audience.

Episode 0 and 1 recapped the story for the new fans, quickly bringing everyone up to speed with amusingly heavy-handed exposition that would feel like information overload if it wasn’t interesting to watch. This was actually one of the more fun premieres to sit in for, simply because of the audience’s shared live reactions. Raucous cheers, laughter, and gasps threatened to drown out the show’s audio at some points; something noted by the director and producer in a heartwarming confession that the crowd’s reactions actually brought them to tears backstage. There were even moments of audience participation with the crew, bringing the excitement up further.

Speaking of excitement filled panels, my second favorite panel experience was Anime and Black Culture held on day 3 of Anime Expo. Equal parts entertaining and informational, this panel is something that I would’ve loved to experience as I was growing up (and at my current age!). Through lighthearted roasts and presidential nominee debates, topics such as buying power and cultural legacy were bridged through the lens of blerd fandom. This was also one of the most “personal” feeling panels, with audience members taking turns giving their “why anime changed my life” testimonies; interestingly, most mentioning some variation of how anime, or nerd fandom, helped them to either find community or their own talents. This room is what Anime Expo felt like to me, and the hour flew by entirely too fast.

Anime Expo Day 4

 With the majority of the reveals and big-name panels being held earlier in the weekend, you might think the final day of Anime Expo would be quiet and sparsely populated. In comparison to the thick crowds of Saturday, day 4 may have been smaller; however, each hallway leading to Exhibition Hall still felt as packed as ever. Last day sales ensured that any merch booth within the crowded room would stay populated, and the array of deals tempted me into opening the coin purse once more. Purchasing Cinnamoroll merch is an investment in my mental health maintenance, so we should consider this a tax write-off or something! It’s clear many felt the same way because the patrons never flagged throughout all four days, apparel and figurines making a nice addition to the variety of cosplay-esque fashion throughout the con halls.

 Now as we all know, Anime Expo isn’t just about the panels; the con offers a swath of ticketed and exclusive events, dance events, and experiences for all to get lost in. As a first-time con goer, these events were welcome reprieves from the sensory overload of Artist Alley or racing across buildings for narrowly scheduled panels. They were highly enjoyable elements of the con on their own. Karaoke is one of those things that's fun because it's a judgement free community-based activity. That was on full display during AX2024, with crowds both pumping up or taking part in the performances like a giant school festival. A big downside was the lines to perform were insanely long– seriously, my cousin stood in line for 3 hours and still was unable to perform. While fun, it seemed like the event could have been better organized; for example, a virtual queuing system– like signing up on a waiting list via phone number– could massively cut down on the excessive line waiting and ensure a smoother experience.

 Other performing events included both K-pop and J-pop dance events, such as dance workshops or Random Play Dance challenges. I’m a big K-pop fan, so of course I had to make my way to some of these. Random Play Dance in particular was something I had wanted to do in a group setting for a long time, outside of playing K-pop charades with my family. Much like the outdoor karaoke over the weekend, the Random Play Dance event felt similarly non-judgmental and chill. No matter your dance ability, everyone seemed to have fun hyping up their fellow K-pop fans and enjoying a large scale gathering of people who might not feel as comfortable or celebrated outside of this community.

 Anime Expo 2024 was an experience I will not soon forget. While I was expecting the overwhelming amount of people and cute merch, I wasn’t expecting to fall in love with anime or fandom again. The community aspect of fandom is something irreplaceable and what truly makes these things feel so special. I am so grateful to have been given a chance to experience this thing for myself; and honestly, I’ve already started making plans for the next one!