What’s Happening at AX? Special guests, con exclusives, panels, activities, & MORE!

    Heya! It’s me, Kacey the intern mascot at Kodansha Comics! Going to Anime Expo this year? Kodansha Comics and Vertical Comics will be, on July 4-7 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, for lots of fun activities, big announcements for the upcoming year, and exciting chances to meet the living legends behind your favorite manga and anime! Sounds awesome, huh? I’ve been running around and around working on this crazy rundown of all things Kodansha at the biggest anime convention of the year. So, here ya go!

     

Special Guests!

Special Guest #1: Atsushi Ohkubo Atsushi Ohkubo, creator of Fire Force and Soul Eater is the must-see guest at AX this year! He's coming to join the Fire Force Anime Panel & Premiere by Funimation and making appearances at the autograph sessions and manga drawing panel co-hosted by Kodansha Comics! 

Atsushi Ohkubo Live Drawing Panel When? Thursday, July 4, 4:30-5:30 pm Where? LP1 (Petree Hall) Come see the creator of Soul Eater and Fire Force draw original illustrations—live! This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see one of shonen manga's top talents work up close. You'll also have a chance to win prizes and ask your questions. ...More Details Fans who attend the panel will also receive a special paper Fire Force “helmet,” with a download code for a free digital Fire Force Volume 1 manga on the back!   Funimation Presents Fire Force Anime Panel & Premiere When? Friday, July 5, 1:00-2:30 pm  Where? LP3 (408AB)  Funimation is coming in hot to Anime Expo with a Fire Force Panel and SimulDub premiere! Meet the original creator of Soul Eater and Fire Force, Atsushi Ohkubo, and Fire Force manga editor Megumu Tsuchiya, while they discuss the new anime adaptation. Also, experience the SimulDub™ Premiere and receive an exclusive giveaway item! ...More Details Atsushi Ohkubo / Fire Force Autograph Session Come and get an autograph from Atsushi Ohkubo himself! It'll be a high profile autograph session for sure, but there will three chances. Be there or (com)bust! 

Autograph Session 1 When?  Thursday, July 4, 2:30-3:30 pm Where? AX Industry Autograph Table 1

Autograph Session 2 When? Friday, July 5, 3:10-4:10 pm Where? AX Industry Autograph Table 5

Autograph Session 3 When? Saturday, July 6, 10:30-11:30 am Where? AX Industry Autograph Table 4

Stay tuned for more information about ticketing for the autograph sessions! 

 

Special Guest 2: Kanae Yumemiya  Don’t miss your chance to be part of a group selfie—with Sailor Moon herself! Star of the Sailor Moon Super Live stage show, actress Kanae Yumemiya will attend our massive Sailor Moon panel on Saturday, July 6th, and we’re planning a BIG photo at the end that you won’t want to miss.  Official Sailor Moon Panel Presented by Kodansha Comics When? Saturday, July 6, 1:30-2:30 pm Where? LP2 (JW – Platinum Ballroom) Join the original Sailor Moon editor himself, Fumio Osano (affectionately known to creator Naoko Takeuchi and to fans as "Osabu"), and staff from Kodansha Comics as they discuss the new Eternal Edition of the manga, followed by a very special guest: one of the stars of the new Sailor Moon Super Live show, which had its U.S. debut in Washington, DC and New York City this March! Freebies and prizes, too! ...More Details

Special Guest 3: Katsuhiro Otomo Wait, what!? Yes, Katsuhiro Otomo—legendary creator of Steamboy, Roujin Z, and, of course, Akira—will have a panel on Thursday, July 4th at 5:00 pm to discuss his latest projects. Find more details about the panel here. We’re releasing a very limited quantity of our Akira 35th Anniversary Box Set, one last time, this summer. Be the first to order your set at Kodansha Comics booth #806 and get an exclusive pin button. And once these babies are gone, this two-time Eisner Award-winning collection is gone ... forever! 

More panels and booth activities!

Kodansha Comics & Vertical Comics Manga Panel When? Saturday, July 6, 3:00-4:00 pm Where? LP5 Come meet the folks behind the publishers of Sailor Moon, BAKEMONOGATARI, Attack on Titan, Chi's Sweet Home, and many more, as they unveil brand-new manga releases for hte coming year and pull back the curtain on Japanese comics in general. Ask all your questions, get free stuff, win prizes, and more!

Come, play, buy at Booth #806

Attack on Titan and Fire Force Manuscript Replica Gallery Big thanks to all who participated in our “You Decide AOT at AX” fan vote. Come see the manuscript replica you chose, hanging at our booth along with a variety of other bee-yoo-tiful selections from the Attack on Titan and Fire Force manga! Replicas of the posters on display will be available for purchase. Attack on Titan game Whoa! Come play the latest Attack on Titan videogame, set to launch July 5th from Koei Tecmo America! Fire Force shooting game Shoot the inferno and win a prize! That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime photo-op and stamp rally Take a photo with Rimuru at the Kodansha Comics booth, then collect stamps from the Bandai Namco, Crunchyroll, and Yen Press booths to receive a signed art card!

EXCLUSIVE MERCHANDISE!

Sailor Moon Official Store items Attack on Titan poster set Pop Team Epic items

BOOKS ON SALE! These books are on sale at our booth—don’t miss 'em!

After the Rain Akira 35th Anniversary Box Set — Reprint coming soon! Preorder at our booth! Attack on Titan Cardcaptor Sakura Collector's Edition — NEW! Cells at Work! Fire Force KOYOMIMONOGATARI, Part 1 O Maidens in Your Savage Season Pop Team Epic Sailor Moon Eternal Edition That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime To the Abandoned Sacred Beasts Vinland Saga Voices of a Distant Star: Words of Love/ Across the Stars — PRESTREET!

GIFT WITH PURCHASE! Get an exclusive item when you purchase a manga at our booth!

Fire Force Company 8 iron-on patch That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime hot/cold gel pack KATANAGATARI bookmark set #2 Pop Team Epic sticker sheet AKIRA pin button Sailor Moon pin button Attack on Titan pin button Kodansha Comics intern Kacey pin buttons

FREEBIES!

Come get a 200+ page Kodansha Comics manga sampler! Sign up for our newsletter and get an EDENS ZERO pin button!

And here are the announcements from Anime Expo 2019!