As the self-proclaimed largest anime convention in the world, Anime Expo 2023 has a bunch of world premieres and panels taking place across the four-day event at the Los Angeles Convention Center from July 1 to July 4. Sprinkled in between its big main stage events, featuring big-name anime studios like Mappa, Wit, and Trigger, are a cavalcade of fan-led panels (some of which take place after dark) that may be worth checking out.
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It should also be noted that, while last year’s expo ultimately did require proof of covid vaccination or a negative test result, this year those requirements have been dropped, according to the event’s health and safety guidelines. Anime Expo, however, has “strongly recommended” that attendees get vaccinations and/or booster shots before attending, and wear face masks while inside the Los Angeles Convention Center. Here is a guide to some interesting panels at Anime Expo, when they’re happening, and where they’re located.
Read More: What To Expect At Anime Expo 2023
July 1
Welcoming Ceremony
Where: Main Events
When: 10:30-11:20 a.m.
Creativity in Cosplay: A POC’s Guide
What’s Happening: A crew of professional cosplayers host a panel giving newbies a crash course in do’s and don’ts with cosplay.
Where: 402 AB
When: 10-10:50 a.m.
How to Draw Attractive Characters
What’s Happening: Gorillaz artist MinoMiyabi provides essential tips for drawing anime characters while showcasing his new comic, Jehanne.
Where: 403 AB
When: 10-10:50 a.m.
Who’s That Pokémon!
What’s Happening: Attendees compete against each other by guessing the names of randomly selected Pokémon for the chance to win gym badges and candy.
Where: 408 AB
When: 11-11:50 a.m.
Videogame Localization with Rocket Panda Games
What’s Happening: The localization team at Rocket Panda Games (the folks behind the Phantom Breaker: Omnia fighting game) dish on their experiences translating anime and video games into English.
Where: 511
When: 11-11:50 a.m.
Maid Cafe
What’s Happening: Anime Expo’s “moe” serve attendees coffee and (maybe) sing a little song or two while you take a break from walking the convention floor.
Where: 515B
When: 11 a.m.-12 p.m.; 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Madoka Magica – More than you think! Spinoffs and more!
What’s Happening: The folks behind the magical girl anime, Madoka Magica, host a panel revealing a bunch of spinoff games and manga for fans to enjoy.
Where: 402B
When: 11:30 a.m.-12:20 p.m.
Let’s GUNPLA!!
What’s Happening: An informative panel on how to get started assembling your own gunpla model.
Where: 404 AB
When: 11:30 a.m.-12:20 p.m.
Cosplay Senpai Round Table
What’s Happening: A seminar on how to build your presence in the cosplay community on social media.
Where: 409 AB
When: 11:30 a.m.-12:20 p.m.
Butler Café
What’s Happening: Anime Expo’s Butler Café hosts live music while serving attendees coffee.
Where: 515 A
When: 11:45 .m.-12:45 p.m.; 2:15-3:15 p.m.
Live Drawing performance by Japanese Calligrapher
What’s Happening: A professional calligrapher hosts a workshop about how to draw calligraphy.
Where: 406 AB
When: 12 p.m.-1:20 p.m.
Theories on Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World
What’s Happening: Panelists discuss themes of masculinity and world-building in the popular isekai anime, Re:Zero.
Where: 411
When: 12:30-1:20 p.m.
Manga Planet Industry Panel
What’s Happening: Manga Planet, a subscription-based manga-reading website, reveals new and upcoming titles.
Where: 511
When: 12:30-1:20 p.m.
Pompo the Cinephile Screening with Takayuki Hirao
What’s Happening: GKids hosts a screening and Q&A panel with director Takayuki Hirao about his upcoming anime film, Poompo the Cinephile.
Where: 403 AB
When: 1-2:50 p.m.
Second Impact: The Music of Evangelion II
What’s Happening: Music professors host a panel exploring the impact of Neon Genesis Evangelion’s soundtrack.
Where: 411
When: 2-2:50 p.m.
Furoshiki – The Art of Package Wrapping
What’s Happening: A workshop teaching attendees how to pack their own fancy bento box lunch.
Where: 402 AB
When: 2:30-3:20 p.m.
WayForward Anime Game Developer Panel
What’s Happening: Directors from developer WayForward’s Shantae, River City Girls, and RWBY games host a Q&A panel with new reveals and behind-the-scenes info on their latest games.
Where: 403 AB
When: 3:30-4:20 p.m.
Samurai Warrior Training: The Art and Spirit of the Samurai
What’s Happening: A seminar teaching attendees the way of the blade.
Where: 406 AB
When: 4-4:50 p.m.
Dragon Ball Z Official Concerts
What’s Happening: A panel revealing where and when Dragon Ball’s North American concert tour will take place.
Where: 404 AB
When: 5-5:50 p.m.
Inside the Anime Dubbing/Subtitling studio
What’s Happening: Bang Zoom! Studios give attendees the opportunity to learn about the recording and audition process of making anime.
Where: 511
When: 5:30-6:50 p.m.
Fate/strange Fake -Whispers of Dawn- World Premiere
What’s Happening: Aniplex hosts the world premiere for the latest entry in the Fate anime series in English with directors Shun Enokido and Takahito Sakazume.
Where: Main Events
When: 7-8:20 p.m.
Waifu Wars: Devastation
What’s Happening: Attendees compete to defend their favorite waifus’ (and husbandos’) honor for the chance to win prizes and diss other attendees’ beloved characters into oblivion.
Where: JW-Platinum
When: 8-8:50 p.m.
Otaku Debate Signups
What’s Happening: Otaku attendees compete against each other in teams of two to throw down in the free marketplace of weeb ideas.
Where: 404 AB
When: 8-8:50 p.m.
FAKKU Industry Panel and Q&A
What’s Happening: Fakku, that nsfw manga-reading site you totally never heard about until now, is hosting an 18+ panel going over the company’s history and upcoming projects.
Where: 408 AB
When: 9-10:20 p.m.
AMV Competition Finals
What’s Happening: Attendees get the chance to watch the finalists in Anime Expo’s anime music video competition.
Where: Main Events
When: 9:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m.
July 2
VShojo Japan VTuber Talent Q&A
What’s Happening: VTubers Kson, Amemiya Nazuna, and Henya host a Q&A session with attendees about what it’s like being a part of the VShojo Japan VTuber company.
Where: JW-Diamond (Vapollo Virtual Stage)
When: 11 a.m.-12:20 p.m.
The Art and Mediums of Storytelling
What’s Happening: Yoko Taro (NieR: Automata), Atsushi Ohkubo (Fire Force), Hiroyuki Seshita (Knights of Sidonia), and Jin (Kagerou Project) host a panel where they talk about storytelling in their experiences working on anime and video games and reveal information about their upcoming anime, KamiErabi GOD.app.
Where: JW-Platinum
When: 1-2 p.m.
The Ultimate Legend of Zelda Trivia Experience
What’s Happening:
The Legend of Zelda fans compete against each other in Anime Expo’s trivia game while listening to live music from the popular Nintendo video game series.
Where: 402 AB
When: 1:30-2:20 p.m.
CDawgVA & Ironmouse – Monke vs. Gremolin
What’s Happening: Anime YouTuber CDawgVA and popular VTuber Ironmouse host a panel where the two chat about gaming and anime.
Where: JW-Diamond (Vapollo Virtual Stage)
When: 3-4:20 p.m.
Conversation with YOSHIKI
What’s Happening: Musician Yoshiki reveals how he came up with the theme songs for popular anime like Attack on Titan and Saint Seiya.
Where: Petree Hall
When: 3:45-4:30 p.m.
Understanding The Animation Pipeline
What’s Happening: Industry professionals dish on the production process of making an anime.
Where: 402 AB
When: 5-5:50 p.m.
KADOKAWA Animation PV Watch Party ft. Gigguk and CDawgVA
What’s Happening: Anime YouTubers Gigguk and CDawgVA host a panel where they reveal upcoming anime from Kadokawa Animation as well as the premiere episode of My Happy Marriage.
Where: JW-Diamond (Vapollo Virtual Stage)
When: 6:30-7:50 p.m.
Studio TRIGGER Live Drawing and Q&A
What’s Happening: Studio Trigger artists host a live drawing and Q&A session.
Where: 403 AB
When: 6:30-8:20 p.m.
Anime Journalism: How Do Be an Otaku Gumshoe
What’s Happening: Anime News Network publisher Christopher Macdonald hosts a panel teaching aspiring anime journalists how to cover the industry.
Where: 404 AB
When: 7-7:50 p.m.
Controversial Anime Opinions
What’s Happening: Rappers Shao Dow, Cam Seady, Breton Boi, Ham Sandwich, and V!ce host a debate panel where they discuss hot takes in the anime community.
Where: 404 AB
When: 8:30-9:20 p.m.
Classic Black Anime Characters 102
What’s Happening: A panel celebrating known and unknown melanated characters in anime.
Where: 411
When: 8:30-9:20 p.m.
2023 Masquerade & World Cosplay Summit USA Finals
What’s Happening: Anime Expo’s longest-running cosplay event where cosplayers compete to win prizes and t be declared the “best in show.”
Where: Main Events
When: 9 p.m.-12 a.m.
Cosplay Wrestling Federation
What’s Happening: A cosplay wrestling show hosted by an improv comedy team.
Where: 403 AB
When: 9-10:50 p.m.
July 3
Mega64 20th Anniversary Panel
What’s Happening: Popular video game YouTube channel Mega64 host a Q&A panel where they’ll reveal footage of unseen videos and future projects.
Where: 408 AB
When: 11-11:50 a.m.
Underground Idols in Japan
What’s Happening: Idol expert Marbotaro shares his experience as both a fan and staff member in the Japanese idol industry.
Where: 403 AB
When: 12-12:50 p.m.
Sailor Moon IRL: Isekai and Real-World Connections
What’s Happening: Scholars discuss how the anime community exists alongside real-world issues like covid-19.
Where: 411
When: 1-1:50 p.m.
What does it take to be a Nintendo / Pokémon Designer?
What’s Happening: Yusuke Kozaki, an artist who’s worked on Pokémon Go, Tekken 7, and Xenoblade Chronicles 2, hosts a Q&A panel about working in the video game industry.
Where: JW-Platinum
When: 1:30-2:20 p.m.
Empowering Emerging & Seasoned Artists
What’s Happening: Online artist community Pixiv and art book publisher PIE International host. host a discussion panel over emerging trends in the online anime art community.
Where: 408 AB
When: 2-2:50 p.m.
Noir Caesar
What’s Happening: Noir Caesar, a black-owned manga company founded by NBA player Johnny O’Bryant, discusses the importance of diversity and authentic representation in manga and anime.
Where: 404 AB
When: 3-4:20 p.m.
Composing For Magical Realms
What’s Happening: Cris Velasco, a composer who has worked on the original God of War games, the Mass Effect series, and others, reveals his process for making music.
Where: 402 AB
When: 3:30-4:20 p.m.
Marx, Foucault, and Ouran High School Host Club
What’s Happening: A panel discussing how capitalism is portrayed in the popular reverse-harem shojo anime, Ouran High School Host Club.
Where: 411
When: 4-4:50 p.m.
An evening with TheAnimeMen and King Christian
What’s Happening: TheAnimeMen, a group of popular TikTok users, host a panel where they talk about their partnership with SMEJ to help promote anime music “more easily in North America.”
Where: Petree Hall
When: 5:30-6:20 p.m.
AX Cinema Nights Presents
What’s Happening: Anime Expo hosts a panel where Japan Society director of film Peter Tatara, GKIDS director of marketing Erica Chon, and Sony Pictures Entertainment executive Tony Ishizuka discuss upcoming anime films. There’ll also be a Satoshi Kon film festival celebrating the life of the acclaimed anime director behind influential films like Paprika and Perfect Blue.
Where: 411
When: 5:30-6:20 p.m.
MyAnimeList Community Panel
What’s Happening: Staff at MyAnimeList, a popular anime database/social media site that allows fans to track their progress in seasonal shows, reveal tips and tricks for navigating the database, trivia games, and answer attendees’ “burning questions.”
Where: 511
When: 6-6:50 p.m.
AMV Awards
What’s Happening: Anime Expo reveals who won the 2023 Anime Music Awards competition.
Where: 408 AB
When: 7-8:50 p.m.
July 4
A Hideo Kojima Fan Panel
What’s Happening: A fan-led panel looking back on the Death Stranding and Metal Gear Solid series creator’s career in the video game industry.
Where: 404 AB
When: 10-10:50 AM
Giant Robot Costumes with Uberscosplay
What’s Happening: Mech cosplayer Uberscosplay breaks down how attendees can construct their own elaborate robot cosplay. A Gundam cosplay helmet will also be raffled off at the end of the panel.
Where: 409 AB
When: 10-10:50 a.m.
The Fighting Games Trivia Showdown
What’s Happening: Attendees test their fighting game knowledge in a Jeopardy-esque game show.
Where: 409 AB
When: 11:30 a.m.-12:20 p.m.
LGBTQ+ Themes in Sailor Moon
What’s Happening: A discussion about how the popular magical girl anime became a cultural touchstone in the gay community.
Where: 402 AB
When: 1-1:50 p.m.
The Entire Lore of Kingdom Hearts
What’s Happening: Kingdom Hearts experts break down 20 hours’ worth of the games’ convoluted lore into an hour-and-20-minute discussion panel.
Where: 409 AB
When: 1-2:20 p.m.
Records of Anime: Collecting Anime Vinyl
What’s Happening: A panel about how to get into collecting anime vinyl LPs and where to find new releases. Attendees will also have the chance to win a “vinyl prize.”
Where: 511
When: 2-3:20 p.m.
Anime in Latin America 101
What’s Happening: A panel discussing how anime like Dragon Ball Z became a tour de force in Latin America.
Where: 404 AB
When: 3-3:50 p.m.
Closing Ceremony
Where: Main Events
When: 4-5 p.m.
Kotaku is covering everything at Anime Expo 2023, including big announcements at panels and exclusive one-on-one interviews with the industry’s biggest creators. Whether you’re a seasoned anime fan or a newbie, you can keep up with all things Anime Expo 2023 here.