Kodansha @ Anime Expo 2025! Panels, Anime Premieres, Creator Appearances, & MORE!
Kodansha at Anime Expo Booth #1225
This year at #AnimeExpo (July 3–6, 2025 at the Los Angeles Convention Center), Kodansha is inviting fans, both old-school and new, to our BIGGEST BOOTH EVER, featuring The Ghost in the Shell and Gachiakuta! With TWO highly anticipated new anime premiering at AX25, we’ll be offering exclusive sneak previews and giveaways to get you hyped! Get your first look at the Kodansha Booth at Anime Expo 2025 here.
And don’t miss the one-of-a-kind opportunity to meet the incredible talents behind your favorite Kodansha manga—only at AX25!
We’re honored to host the Kodansha Presents Gachiakuta panel, featuring Kei Urana and Hideyoshi Andou—the visionary team behind the gritty, graffiti-bombed dystopian fantasy manga, Gachiakuta. Join us for a live drawing from the innovative talents behind the manga as they answer your questions about the work that inspired the new anime!
Plus, the legendary creator duo of the beloved millennial magical girl series Shugo Chara!, PEACH-PIT, will appear as Guests of Honor at AX25. Be sure to check out the PEACH-PIT Gallery at AX (Room 501AB) and the special panel celebrating 25 years of their iconic work.
Panels, Anime Premieres, & MORE!
Plan your schedule wisely, because you won’t want to miss out on any of the special events related to Kodansha at AX25. Here’s the full rundown of the schedule:
Thursday, July 3, 2025
Breaking into Manga Publishing
When: Thursday, July 3 at 10:00–10:50am PDT
Where: Room 408AB
What: Passionate about manga? Does a job in the manga industry sound like your dream gig? From marketing and publishing to translation, editing, and more—there are many ways to have a career in manga, and you don’t even have to be an artist for most of them! Ivan Salazar (Sr. Marketing Director, Kodansha) hosts a panel of amazing manga professionals, including Ben Applegate (Director, Publishing Services, Penguin Random House), Morgan Perry (Marketing Manager, Square Enix Manga & Books), and Maggie Le (Editor, Penguin Random House) to chat about how they got their start, and how you can also get involved in manga publishing.
Kodansha Presents: Gachiakuta Creators Kei Urana & Hideyoshi Andou
When: Thursday, July 3 at 4:15–5:05pm PDT
Where: Rm 403AB
What: Kodansha is proud to present a special panel with the kinetic and stylish creator Kei Urana and Hideyoshi Andou, the graffiti designer behind the fan-favorite battle manga, Gachiakuta. Join us for what promises to be an exciting experience featuring a live drawing, a Q&A session, and a showcase of the inspiration behind the upcoming Gachiakuta animated series. Seats will also be limited, so be sure to show up early for this must-see creator spotlight event!
THE GHOST IN THE SHELL × Science SARU: New Animation Project Panel
When: Thursday, July 3 at 5:15–6:05pm PDT
Where: Room 408AB
What: The return to a legendary cyberpunk sci-fi anime by Shirow Masamune will be launched in 2026. The leading animation studio Science SARU will be presenting a new project, “THE GHOST IN THE SHELL”. Producers and other members of the production team will discuss the content of the anime and production status of the project along with other updates.
Friday, July 4, 2025
Gachiakuta US Premiere and Special Guest Q&A
When: Friday, July 4 at 10:00–11:20am
Where: Platinum Ballroom
What: Dive into the action-packed, trashpunk battlefield of upcoming anime “Gachiakuta” in an exciting Q&A with special guests: Kei Urana (manga story & illustration), Hideyoshi Andou (graffiti design), and Naoki Amano (Bones Film producer). Then, join us for the exclusive US PREMIERE of the first TWO episodes!
The Future of Kodansha Manga Revealed
When: Friday, July 4 at 10:00–10:50am
Where: Room 408AB
What: Kodansha—purveyors of some of the most exciting & heartfelt manga published today, like Gachiakuta, Attack on Titan, and A Sign of Affection—invites both manga and anime fans to get a sneak peek at the future of Kodansha Manga releases! Join Ivan Salazar (Sr. Marketing Director, Kodansha), Ben Applegate (Director, Publishing Services, Penguin Random House), and Maggie Le (Editor, Penguin Random House) to get the inside scoop on what's ahead for Kodansha print manga, participate in our Q&A, and maybe even come away with some surprise giveaways.
Manga, Memories & Magic: PEACH-PIT's 25th Anniversary Panel
When: Friday, July 4, at 3:45–4:35pm
Where: Room 408AB
What: Celebrate 25 years of PEACH-PIT, the creators of Rozen Maiden, Shugo Chara!, and more! Join this special panel for a look back at their iconic works, creative journey, and the magic that made their stories unforgettable.
PEACH-PIT Gallery @ AX
When: Thursday, July 3–Sunday, July 6
Where: Room 501AB
What: From Rozen Maiden to Shugo Chara! and beyond, revisit their worlds and characters that have captured hearts for decades. Exclusive merch and exhibition on all 4-Days at Anime Expo in Room 501AB. Additional commemorative exhibition to be held in Tokyo.
More Info: https://peachpit2525.jp/en/
Saturday, July 5, 2025
Manga and Anime Clubs: Best Practices, Challenges, Successes!
When: Saturday, July 5⋅4:45–5:35pm
Where: Room 411
What: Are you a fan of manga and anime and want to gather with like-minded folks and friends to share the love? Join Ivan Salazar (Sr. Marketing Director, Kodansha), Morgan Perry (Marketing Manager, Square Enix Manga & Books), and Jillian Rudes (Librarian, Author of Manga in Libraries) for a panel discussion exploring the value of community in manga and anime clubs, their challenges, and successes! This session is perfect for educators, library workers, retailers, as well as readers and fans who are looking to start an anime or manga club in their community.
Keep your eyes open for #AX25_Kodansha announcements on kodansha.us and updates across our social media channels on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky and TikTok! (And yes, you can lurk around from the comfort of your home, too!)