Anime Expo 2025 is shaping up to be an unforgettable event for anime and manga fans! Taking place from July 3rd to July 6th at the Los Angeles Convention Center, the expo has announced an exciting lineup of guests and world premieres that attendees won’t want to miss.
A Stellar Guest List
Anime Expo has revealed a fantastic array of guests, including voice actors, musicians, and creators from Japan and the US. Here are some of the notable names attending:
- Mokumokuren: The creator of the Eisner Award-nominated manga series, The Summer Hikaru Died, will be making their first-ever North American convention appearance. Fans will have the opportunity to attend a panel hosted by Yen Press, meet Mokumokuren during autograph sessions, and witness the North American premiere of the anime adaptation’s first episode.
- Shinobu Seguchi: The creator of the Prisoner Riku manga will be attending Anime Expo 2025. Seguchi will also be part of the “Amuse Creative Studio Presents: How the Pros Make Anime & Manga” panel.
- Chiaki Kobayashi: The voice actor for Yoshiki Tsujinaka in The Summer Hikaru Died anime adaptation will appear at the North American premiere of Episode 1.
- Naoki Yoshida: The Producer & Director of Final Fantasy XIV, will be attending as a Guest of Honor and will be featured on a panel discussing his career, inspirations, and Japanese pop culture.
- Asanagi: The legendary hentai manga and doujin artist will be making their first-ever public appearance outside of Japan.
- Kazuhiro Nishikawa: The founder and CEO of Dandelion Animation Studio.
- Additional Voice Actors: The guest list includes a plethora of talented voice actors such as Ben Balmaceda, Britt Baron, Ryan Bartley, Bryson Baugus, A.J. Beckles, Dawn M. Bennett, John Bentley, Griffin Burns, Allegra Clark, Amber Lee Connors, Brittany Cox, Brianna Knickerbocker, Tomoyo Kurosawa, Amanda “AmaLee” Lee, Wendee Lee, Emi Lo, Faye Mata, Adam McArthur, Landon McDonald, Erica Mendez, Yuki Nakashima, Sarah Natochenny.
- Musical Guests: The event will feature musical performances by artists such as Berry, Flow, Hiroshi Kitadani, Yuki Nakashima, Fumiya Imai, and Kent Itō.
- Industry Professionals: Attendees can also look forward to meeting industry professionals like Naohiro Ogata (Producer), Rei Hebiguchi (Manga Editor), Hiroaki Akagi (Director), Go Inagaki (Producer), Masaki Watanabe (Director), Genki Ito (Producer), George Wada (Producer), Manabu Ohtsuka and Hiroya Hasegawa (MAPPA), Baku Kinoshita (ODDTAXI director), Ryukishi07 (Higurashi and Umineko creator).
World Premieres
Anime Expo 2025 will host world premieres of highly anticipated anime, giving fans a sneak peek at what’s to come:
- The Summer Hikaru Died Anime: The North American premiere of the first episode will occur on Friday, July 4th, in the JW Marriott Platinum Ballroom. Creator Mokumokuren and voice actor Chiaki Kobayashi will be in attendance.
- GINTAMA – Mr. Ginpachi’s Zany Class (3-Nen Z-Gumi Ginpachi-Sensei) Spinoff Anime: This world premiere will take place on July 5th.
- Scene from the KILLTUBE Anime: Featuring guest director Kazuki Kuribayashi.
Events and Activities
Anime Expo 2025 promises a wide range of events and activities for attendees to enjoy:
- Guest Panels and Autograph Sessions: Get up close and personal with your favorite creators, voice actors, and industry professionals.
- Cosplay Competition: Showcase your creativity and craftsmanship in the dazzling cosplay competition.
- Exhibits: Explore a vast array of merchandise, collectibles, artwork, and rare finds.
- Workshops: Attend workshops by renowned voice actors, directors, and artists to learn new skills and gain insights into the industry.
- Concerts: Enjoy live performances by popular Japanese musicians and bands at the “J-POP SOUND CAPSULE @AX2025 Anisong World Matsuri Returns” concert.
“The Summer Hikaru Died” Spotlight
The Summer Hikaru Died is generating significant buzz, with a special booth at Anime Expo 2025 introducing fans to the television anime adaptation. The booth will feature a talk panel with Mokumokuren, Chiaki Kobayashi, and producers Chiaki Krakane and Manami Kabashima.
The series centers on Yoshiki, a high school boy, and his strange experiences with Hikaru, who imitates his best friend after his disappearance. The anime adaptation, produced by CygamesPictures and set to stream on Netflix outside of Japan, is one of the most anticipated releases of the summer anime season.
Other Highlights
- Tougen Anki: The US premiere of Tougen Anki will also take place at Anime Expo 2025, with lead voice actor Urawa Kazuki attending.
- Main Events Moving to Peacock Theater: Main Events will be moving to the Peacock Theater for AX 2025.
- Dandelion Animation Studio: Shinobu Seguchi will join Dandelion Animation Studio president and Kazuhiro Nishikawa at the “Amuse Creative Studio Presents: How the Pros Make Anime & Manga” panel
Anime Expo 2025 is set to be a celebration of Japanese pop culture, uniting fans, creators, and industry insiders.
