Photos: Crunchyroll Expo 2022 makes its in-person return
Following two years of virtual conventions, Crunchyroll Expo made its grand return to the San Jose Convention Center this past weekend.
The sold-out event brought anime fans from all over to share their love for the medium. A handful of voice talent, including Anne Yatco (Jujutsu Kaisen), Zeno Robinson (Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero), and Ricco Fajardo (Dr. Stone) met a plethora of fans at meet and greet sessions while a slew of screenings was on hand for those looking to check out episodes of Kaina of the Great Snow Sea, Do It Yourself!, and TONIKAWA: Over The Moon For You before they hit Crunchyroll later this year.
For music fans, the Crunchy City Music Fest delivered with hours of live music and DJ sets. Friday night found J-pop quartet ATARASHII GAKKO! dazzling the crowd with bewitching choreography heightened by their effervescent personalities through songs such as "Pineapple Kryptonite" and "NAINAINAI." The act, who made their live North American debut last year, will have two headlining performances in San Francisco and Los Angeles followed by a festival appearance at Head In The Clouds Festival. Tickets for both shows are on sale to the general public right now.
Saturday night belonged to J-rock band SiM (Silence iz Mine), who made their return to the United States for the first time in six years. The band wasted little time kicking off their set with "The Rumbling," which is the band's first number one single on the Billboard Hot Hard Rock Songs chart. Despite beginning with their biggest single to date, SiM kept the momentum going throughout their set with fan favorites such as "Devil In Your Heart" (which vocalist MAH called “the unofficial theme song for Chainsaw Man”) and "Captain Hook." The band will perform in front of a sold-out crowd at The Echoplex in Los Angeles this tomorrow (August 9).
Our photos from Crunchyroll Expo 2022 can be found below. VOD of select panels from the convention can be streamed here until tomorrow (August 9) at 10 p.m. PST.