Summary
At the beginning of this month,Anime Los Angelesheld its 19th installment in Long Beach, California. Content creator, Kaho Shibuya returned as an Honored Guest for her fourth consecutive time atALA; Featured Guest, Zack Davisson, popular folklorist, as well as the translator forDevilman, held his own booth in the exhibit hall; and Hidetaka Tenjin, veteran illustrator and concept artist for model kits such as theGundamfranchises, made his appearance as a Guest of Honor.
In total, around 28 guests from the industry paid a visit to the convention this year, not including the famousCosplay Wrestling Federation, which once again brought audiences to tears (in a good way, of course!) But even for those who prefer exploring,Anime LAstill had plenty of options.
A Look Inside Anime Los Angeles 2024
This year was not lacking in terms of activities.Dreamland Maid Caféhad their own room on Friday of the convention, only through reservation. True to an authentic maid café, the table layouts of and composition of the room were similar to that of@home-cafe’s interrior. Every hour a live performance was put on by the maids reminiscent ofMaidreamin’s choreographed dances, including the latter’s theme song,Dreamin Passport.
LicensedDreamlandmerchandise was sold, such as glow sticks, 3D uniform keychains, cups, and more. For those who have never been to a maid café,Dreamlandprovided anaccurate experience, right down to the unique designs of the uniforms. As an extra touch, when it was time to be seated, at the ring of a bell, the staff collectively welcomed you in, making for a personable experience. Samples of their main menu were offered, such as a cute animal parfait with ice cream, custard, and a sweet mix of cereal flakes at the bottom. ThoughDreamlandis a traveling maid café with multiple partners throughout the country, a physical location is planned to open in Los Angeles, California.
Retail Therapy Made Worthwhile
Excessive shopping for those we don’t need to can add to a lot of issues, but luckily there were plenty of fundamentals sold for one’s everyday needs. A perfect way to put all your Christmas money to good (and guiltless) use.
Conventions are not conventions without cosplay - but even the best need a hand sometimes.First Stop Cosplayhad their own section to in the exhibit hall, including patterns (with a difficulty level), packs of sewing necessities, totes, and more. A small business that originated in Irvine, California during 2021,First Stop Cosplaybegan making their rounds in 2022.
Currently, there are about 15–20 employees, with a pattern maker in-house. Their primary goal is to make cosplay more accessible by sharing original designs and catering to a multitude of learners. As a result, the company now has licensedPersonacosplay designs.
Near the front of the exhibit hall wasTreefrog(also known asSmelly Panda). They believe in bringing cultures together and making connections with their audience.Family owned, with a category of almost everything:Treefrog’s concept was born in Santa Fe Springs, California.
Their primary goal is to bringJapanese convenienceto the masses; handmade products such as tsurikawa, stained-glass, and eco-friendly air fresheners included. They believe that smell alters experience, and aim to produce air fresheners that not only smell real, but evoke a sense of nostalgia. Most convention vendors don’t have a specific location preference, butTreefrogholds a special relationship withALA, starting from attendees, to volunteers, and finally exhibitors; they never forget their roots.
Having some comfortable shoes is a must, especially when walking around a lot at a convention.Anthony Wang Shoesis a designer, most known for his gundam-based sneakers. Inspired by anime, Wang wanted to make an Asian concept footwear brand that was directed towards atargeted audience. His philosophy? Sneakers + anime = unique. Cosplayers and even Kpop idols such as Black Pink and Lisa have worn his shoes.
Fashion is nothing without accessories, and evencosplayersstill want something accessible.Epic Cosplayhad their own booth with two officially licensed wigs, meaning they’re considered official merchandise for the franchise they’re being sold for. But the process is far from easy - the pitch is the first part. If the company accepts it, business begins. Over the course of weeks (or months), the company works with the inhouse stylist to get the perfect look and texture befitting of the franchise itself.
Anime Food is the Best Food
It’s not uncommon to see food trucks outside the convention center, but there’s one in particular that takes its brand to the next level.Okamoto Kitchenis an independent traveling food truck business, debuted in 2016 atAnime Expo. Two years prior, the idea blossomed as a project between a group of friends. Before launching their brand, the team invited influencers to demo their products, and provide feedback to ensure a successful launch. Soon after, the team networked with fellow industry professionals to produce an anime about the food truck industry in the United States. Like other anime based on real life professions, a lot goes on behind the scenes, including how competitive it can be.
Staying true to their roots, about 85% of the anime was worked on by themselves! The owner is a VFX artist who has experience in Hollywood films, so he was in charge of most of the digital aspects. For the production itself,Okamoto Kitchenpartnered withStudio Enji, underKadokawa,for their pilot episode, and then collaborated withStudio Nine Livesto make the OVA!
Forging Your Own Art
Gizmo Forge’s setup debuted their newest set of handmade products. 10 years ago, the owner worked in HR, but did 3D printing on the side. She decided to pursue the latter as a career. Her business model was to make things that she herself would want to buy. As of 2024, her works include jewelry (with adjustable sizes), plushes, real wood carvings, sculptures, and more. Though her business is avideo game focus,Gizmo Forge’s products still hold a variety of options and appeal to anime fans, makingAnime Los Angelesthe perfect venue.
Making Room for Improvement
While the staff was friendly and activities were mostly accessible, there was confusion about accessibility. For first time attendees, the lack of proper signage led to asking for directions. For example, the seaside rooms (a section of the convention center) were out of the way–which isn’t an issue by itself, but the signs posted werelacking clarity.
Marketing and visuals are everything, and if there isn’t enough care put into it, it won’t get the message across. For screenings, a list ofanime showingswas only displayed a couple of times. What also frustrated con-goers was a lack of after-dark (or 18+) events.
Cosplay Wrestling Federation,which incorporatesmature humoras part of its appeal, was toned down to a PG-13 level. And panel seating didn’t leave enough room for comfortable seating. Moreover, a lack of trashcans meant attendees had to hold onto their unfinished food or scraps. Additionally, many feel that programming times were scattered, and most panels weren’t scheduled until late at night. Finally, fans felt that staff were under-educated on ADA access and proper accommodations.
Anime Los Angelesis very receptive to feedback and, over the years, they have only improved. To another year andanother con, let’s look forward to being treated in 2025!
FollowAnime Los Angeles’s officialTwitterpage to keep up to date on registration and announcements.
