Warner Bros. Japan announced for Anime Expo Lite 2020

Warner Bros. Japan will make their way to Anime Expo Lite 2020.

Announced yesterday, the company will be on hand with special guests from their most popular programs. Voice actors from JOJO’s Bizarre Adventure Golden Wind, Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon III, and Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma the Fifth Plate will appear. More information about the panel will be released in the near future. The panel will take place on Friday, July 3 and 7 p.m. PST.

Anime Expo Lite, which was announced last month, will arrive on July 3 and July 4, and fans will be able to watch the event for free online. More panels and guests will be announced leading up to the event.

Anime Expo Lite 2020 announced for July 3 & July 4

Over a month after being cancelled due to the coronavirus epidemic, Anime Expo will head to a PC or phone near you with Anime Expo Lite.

Announced today, Anime Expo Lite will be a two-day livestreamed event taking place on July 3 and July 4. “We are excited to be able to parlay the traditional Anime Expo into a virtual experience. Since 2017, AX has been live-streaming select panels as well as from the convention floor, so it is a natural transition for us to produce a virtual event,” Ray Chiang, CEO of The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation said in a statement. “As everything in 2020 is different, we see a unique opportunity to be able to share our passion for Japanese pop culture not only with those that would have attended AX but now with any anime fan no matter where they live.”

Fans can experience panels, Q&As, announcements, giveaways, and much more during this event. Artist Yoshitaka Amano, who is best known for their work in Final Fantasy, is the first announced guest for this livestream. The key art for the event, which was originally the program guide art for Anime Expo 2020, can be seen below. More information about Anime Expo Lite 2020 will be released in the following weeks.

Anime Expo 2020 has been cancelled

Hours after the cancellation of San Diego Comic-Con, Anime Expo announced their decision to cancel this year’s convention.

On their website, CEO Ray Chiang states:

This is a day my team and I hoped wouldn’t come, but it is with a heavy heart that I am announcing the cancellation of Anime Expo 2020. Our utmost concern is for the health and safety of our amazing Anime Expo community. We understand your disappointment as we are anime fans first and foremost too. As you can imagine, this was one of the most difficult decisions we have had to make in the 29 years of Anime Expo.

With the COVID-19 situation continually changing, as well as more restrictions in place worldwide and in our host city Los Angeles, we can’t in good faith move forward with this year’s event. We know it will affect all of you differently and we did not come to this decision lightly.

For exhibitors, artists, contractors, performers, and more, this impacts you on many levels. Anime Expo is an important source of income as well as inspiration for all of you. We know you have been working tirelessly in preparation for July and we appreciate your dedication to your craft.

For our staff and volunteers, who have been working hard, planning every detail of this year’s event since before AX 2019 ended, we share your sadness – please know we support you every step of the way as we turn our attention to next year, Anime Expo’s 30th anniversary!

Folks who purchased a ticket for this year’s Anime Expo can either get a refund or have their tickets rolled over to next year’s convention, which will take place from July 2 to July 5, 2021.

Anime Expo 2020 Masquerade applications are live

One of the biggest events at Anime Expo is the Masquerade. People from all over showcase their creativity in front of a packed crowd. If you’re looking to join the fun at this year’s convention, you only have a short time to enter.

Today, applications for the Masquerade went live over on Anime Expo’s website. The deadline to enter the competition is February 17. The Masquerade will take place on July 4. To attend, you’ll need both an Anime Expo badge and a ticket to the event. You can check out clips from last year’s Masquerade below.

Anime Expo will arrive at the Los Angeles Convention Center from July 2 through July 5. Four-day and single day badges are on sale here.

Anime Expo announce the return of EDM concert event Neon District

On yesterday’s Anime Expo livestream, they announced the return of EDM concert Neon District.

The event debuted at Anime Expo 2017, and it featured performances from Taku Takahashi, R3LL, banvox, Ram Rider, TeddyLoid, Pa’s Lam System, Massive New Krew, and YUCe. The 2020 edition of Neon District will take place on Wednesday, July 1 at Main Events (Hall B). This year’s performers will be revealed soon. Neon District is an 18+ event.

If you missed the livestream, you can check it out below. The next livestream will take place on March 25.

Anime Expo will take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center from July 2 through July 5. You can purchase four-day badges here. Single day badges will arrive soon.

Anime Expo begin pre-con livestreams today

While Anime Expo is over five months away, the folks behind the convention want to get fans excited for it early. Starting today (January 29), Anime Expo will hold pre-con livestreams leading up to the convention. During these livestreams, some major announcements will happen, and they’ll also be joined by one of this year’s Cosplay Senpai.

The livestreams will take place over on Anime Expo’s YouTube channel at 6 p.m. PST. Anime Expo will also hold livestreams on March 25, May 20, and June 10.

Four-day badges for Anime Expo 2020 are on sale right now. Single day badges will be released closer to the event. The convention will take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center from July 2 through July 5. If you’re looking to host a panel, applications are live here. The deadline for panel applications is April 27. More information about Anime Expo can be found on their website.