Going to Crunchyroll Expo this weekend? It’s happenin’ August 30 to September 1 at New Crunchy City a.k.a. San Jose Convention Center! and you can find us there at our “Kodansha Comics Got Weird Manga!” panel at 4:30 p.m. on August 30 (more deets, below)!
Plus there’s a whole plethora of Kodansha-related events! Junji Ito, of his own Junji Ito’s Cat Diary fame, will be there, in the flesh, so to speak, as the headliner of the show. But there’s also other related panels and screenings, including the world premiere of the new In/Spectre anime and Chihayafuru Season 3! Here’s a rundown of all things Kodansha Comics-related while you’re there!
PANELS!
Miho Okasaki: The Voice behind That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime‘s Rimuru Tempest
11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m., August 30 (Friday)
Grand Station (Upper Level), San Jose McEnery Convention Center
Meet the voice of Rimuru Tempest, Miho Okasaki, from That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime! Come learn about her work in the anime industry and behind the scenes of one of the most recent popular shows.
Junji Ito: The Man Behind the Horror
3:15 p.m.-4:15 p.m., August 30 (Friday)
Grand Station (Upper Level), San Jose McEnery Convention Center
Come join one of horror’s most celebrated manga creators, Junji Ito, as we take a look at some of the most memorable works throughout his career, from Uzumaki to Tomie, as well as a look ahead to what’s coming next!
Kodansha Comics Got Weird Manga!
4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m., August 30 (Friday)
Classroom 2 (Lower Level), San Jose McEnery Convention
Do you consider yourself a savvy manga fan who’s no longer satisfied by certain formulaic, neverending manga? We got you covered! Kodansha Comics has been launching dozens of new digital-first manga like Are You Lost?, Magical Sempai, and Domestic Girlfriend, offering an even more diverse and robust library of manga officially in English to blow your mind! This panel is the perfect chance to find out what’s up and also add your two cents to what goes into our digital-first lineup. Ready to talk far-fetched manga? Come to our panel and participate in the Q&A for a chance to win special prizes!
Anime’s Best Cats with Junji Itoh
1:45 p.m.- 2:45 p.m., August 31 (Saturday)
Cinema 2 (Upper Level), San Jose McEnery Convention Center
Proud cat dad and Master of Horror Junji Ito joins us to discuss the best cats featured anime and manga throughout history! We hear why Ito-sensei is so fond of felines, learn how his own pet inspired many of his chilling tales and share loads of cat memes!
WIT Studio Creative Perspective with President/CEO George Wada
3:30 p.m.- 4:30 p.m., August 31 (Saturday)
Classroom 1 (Lower Level), San Jose McEnery Convention Center
WIT Studio is behind many anime hits including Attack on Titan, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress, The Ancient Magus Bride and more. Come learn about the creative perspective behind an anime studio with president and CEO George Wada.
WIT Studio CEO, President George Wada Career Perspective
12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m., September 1 (Sunday)
Classroom 1 (Lower Level), San Jose McEnery Convention Center
Ever wondered what it’s like to work on popular series like Attack on Titan, The Ancient Magus Bride, Psycho Pass and more? Come join president and CEO George Wada as he shares his experience in the industry.
Find your Phobia with Junji Ito!
4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m., September 1 (Sunday)
Cinema 2 (Upper Level), San Jose McEnery Convention Center
Ichthyophobia, gyrephobia, somniphobia and much much more! We review Ito-sensei’s most phobia-inducing manga panels, review the history behind them and dig into how he’s creepiest creations came to his pen!
SCREENINGS!
Cells at Work! English Dub Screening
2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m., August 30 (Friday)
Episode Room (Upper Level), San Jose McEnery Convention Center
Enter the fascinating world inside your body with the brand new Cells at Work! English dub starring Cherami Leigh (Sword Art Online, Fairy Tail), Billy Kametz (Fate/EXTRA Last Encore, Katsugeki TOUKEN RANBU), Robbie Daymond (I want to eat your pancreas, Charlotte), and Laura Post (The Promised Neverland, March comes in like a lion) under the direction of English voice director Christian La Monte and adaptation by Blair Rowan of FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST: BROTHERHOOD.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Episodes 1-5
4:15 p.m.-5:15 p.m., August 30 (Friday)
Episode Room (Upper Level), San Jose McEnery Convention Center
Corporate worker Mikami Satoru is stabbed by a random killer, and is reborn to an alternate world. But he turns out to be reborn a slime! Thrown into this new world with the name Rimuru, he begins his quest to create a world that’s welcoming to all races.
Chihayafuru Season 3 Premiere
3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m., August 31 (Saturday)Cinema 1 (Upper Level), San Jose McEnery Convention Center
Join the producer of Chihayafuru Season 3, Toshio Nakatani, for an exclusive look at the upcoming new season. Be one of the first to watch the return of this series, coming to Crunchyroll this Fall!
In/Spectre: Episode 1-2 World Premiere & A Talk with Producer Tatsuya Ishiguro
5:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m., August 31 (Saturday)
Cinema 1 (Upper Level), San Jose McEnery Convention Center
What do you get when you cross romance and mystery with the supernatural? You get In/Spectre! Join special guest Tatsuya Ishiguro as he brings you the latest behind Crunchyroll’s upcoming anime co-production, In/Spectre! Be one of the first to get an exclusive screening of the anime and learn more about the series before it simulcasts in January 2020.
ALL WEEKEND!
Junji Ito Gallery
10:00-19:00, August 30-September 1
Junji Ito Gallery (Upper Level), San Jose McEnery Convention Center
We often learn more from fear, as it is one of the most compelling vehicles for storytelling. “Junji Ito: a master of horror,” will be gracing New Crunchy City with a gallery featuring an array of artwork—three of which are exclusive for Crunchyroll Expo 2019! Mr. Ito’s iconic stories like Uzumaki, Tomie, and Gyo have haunted generations through a concoction of thought-provoking themes and mesmerizing art. We hope this gallery will embed curiosity and awe in each and every one of you!
Manga Library
11:00 – 7:00 p.m., August 30-September 1
Manga Library (Upper Level), San Jose McEnery Convention Center
Check out your favorite manga from Kodansha Comics in the Manga Library, located upstairs!
