What Anime Expo does

Anime Expo is the largest anime convention in North America, organized by the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA), a 501c3 non-profit organization headquartered in Los Angeles. Founded in 1991 as "Anime Con" by members of UC Berkeley's anime club, the event has grown over 35 years to attract over 100,000 attendees annually, held during the July 4th weekend at the Los Angeles Convention Center with additional programming across Crypto.com Arena, Peacock Theater, and The Novo. The convention offers 1,000+ hours of programming including panels, world premiere anime screenings, concerts, cosplay competitions, autograph sessions, a 340,000+ square foot Exhibit Hall, an Artist Alley for independent creators, and a Gaming Lounge.

The core product is the annual Anime Expo convention, supplemented by sub-brands Anime Expo Chibi (AXC), a more intimate companion event, and AX Lite. The business model operates through multiple revenue streams: tiered attendee badge sales (ranging from $40 child badges to $195 four-day adult badges, with military discounts at $130), exhibitor booth rentals in the Exhibit Hall, Artist Alley booth fees, separately ticketed events (Maid Cafe, Masquerade, Idol Summer Escape, J-POP Sound Capsule, Sukeban wrestling), corporate sponsorship, and autograph session fees. Ticketing is handled through third-party platform ShowClix, and identity verification for military discounts is managed through SheerID.

Anime Expo serves two primary customer segments: individual anime fans seeking premieres, merchandise, cosplay, and community connection, and industry professionals from Japanese anime studios, manga publishers, gaming companies, and streaming platforms who use the event as their primary North American fan engagement and content launch platform. Major industry partners include VIZ Media, Crunchyroll, Kodansha, Aniplex of America, TOHO animation, and HIDIVE. The organization has no proprietary technology, no app, no disclosed revenue (consistent with its non-profit status), and relies on community-driven marketing through social media, email newsletters, and earned media from high-profile guest appearances and industry co-marketing.

Name

Anime Expo

Legal name

Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation

Website

https://anime-expo.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Anime Expo is the largest anime convention in North America, organized by the 501c3 non-profit Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA). Founded in 1991 and held annually in Los Angeles, it draws 100,000+ fans and serves as a premier platform connecting Japanese anime, manga, and gaming industry partners with North American audiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Anime Convention / Fan Event

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (711320), Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries (713)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Beauty, Fashion & Pop-Culture Conventions (MPAGAFAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

General Consumer Expos & Trade Shows (MPAGAFAA)

Keywords

• Anime convention events
• Fan convention ticketing
• Exhibitor booth rentals
• Cosplay competition events
• Japanese pop culture festivals

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Attendee Badge Sales: Revenue from selling multi-day and single-day attendee credentials to general public, with tiered pricing based on day of attendance and age categories. Badges range from $40 (child) to $195 (4-day adult), with military discounts at $130.
2. Exhibitor Booth Rentals: Companies rent booth space in the Exhibit Hall (over 340,000 square feet) to showcase and sell anime merchandise, collectibles, electronics, and related products.
3. Artist Alley Space: Small booth fees from amateur and semi-professional artists selling handmade items, prints, crafts, custom clothing, and original comics.
4. Ticketed Events: Additional revenue from separately ticketed events including concerts (J-POP Sound Capsule, Idol Summer Escape), Maid Cafe, Masquerade, and Sukeban wrestling events.
5. Sponsorship: Corporate sponsors pay for brand presence at the event, including industry badge programs, branded programming, and promotional placements throughout the convention.
6. Autograph Sessions: Fees associated with meeting voice actors, directors, and industry professionals through scheduled autograph sessions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Anime Expo is an annual four-day anime convention held at the Los Angeles Convention Center and partner venues, drawing over 100,000 attendees. It sells tiered attendee badges ($40-$195), rents booth space in a 340,000+ square foot Exhibit Hall to merchandise exhibitors and artists, operates separately ticketed premium experiences (Maid Cafe, Masquerade, Idol Summer Escape, J-POP Sound Capsule concerts, Sukeban wrestling), and secures corporate sponsorships from anime studios, publishers, and streaming platforms.

Product overview

Anime Expo operates as a major convention event platform with its core product being the annual Anime Expo convention in Los Angeles, the largest anime convention in North America with over 100,000 attendees. The event is organized by SPJA (Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation), a 501c3 non-profit, and features multiple ticketed sub-events including Maid Cafe, Masquerade, Idol Summer Escape, J-POP Sound Capsule concerts, and Sukeban wrestling. The convention offers diverse programming including Exhibit Hall (340,000+ sq ft), Artist Alley, Gaming Lounge, panels, premieres, and autograph sessions. A companion product, Anime Expo Chibi (AXC), serves as a smaller event for new and seasoned fans seeking a more intimate experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• anime expo chibi (axc): A companion event for first-time con attendees to seasoned fans—a welcoming space to discover anime fandom and take oshikatsu to the next level. An intimate, engaging, and community-driven experience.

Products and services

• Anime Expo (Annual Convention) The largest anime convention in North America, held annually at the Los Angeles Convention Center during the 4th of July weekend. Features over 100,000 fans, 340,000+ square feet of Exhibit Hall, panels, world premieres, concerts, cosplay competitions, autograph sessions, and gaming. Tickets sold via tiered badges from $40 (child) to $195 (4-day adult), with military discounts at $130.
• Anime Expo Chibi (AXC) A companion event designed for first-time con attendees to seasoned fans, offering an intimate and community-driven experience to discover anime fandom. Operates as a separate registered sub-brand (anime expo chibi®).
• Maid Cafe Interactive maid cafe experience inspired by Akihabara establishments, featuring themed entertainment, songs, dances, and activities. Sold as a separately ticketed event during Anime Expo.
• Masquerade Cosplay Competition Anime Expo's longest-running and most prestigious cosplay competition held at Crypto.com Arena, featuring costume craftsmanship and performance categories. Sold as a separately ticketed event.
• Idol Summer Escape Exclusive idol experience featuring live performances, merchandise, and meet-and-greets with global idols. Sold as a separately ticketed event during Anime Expo.
• J-POP Sound Capsule Concert event featuring artists such as ALI, Roselia, SPYAIR, Yoko Kanno, and Yoko Takahashi performing anime and J-pop music. Sold as a separately ticketed event.
• Sukeban Pro-Wrestling Event Japanese female pro-wrestling league event featuring world championship fights and special appearances, hosted at Anime Expo as a separately ticketed event.
• Exhibit Hall (Booth Rentals) Over 340,000 square feet of exhibition space for companies to rent booth space and sell anime merchandise, electronics, collectibles, fashion, toys, and original artwork to attendees.
• Artist Alley Dedicated space for amateur and semi-professional artists to rent booths and sell handmade items including prints, crafts, custom clothing, and original comics directly to attendees.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100,000 attendees annually, establishing Anime Expo as the premier North American anime convention
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and major.

• ShowClixcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShowClix is the exclusive official ticketing and registration platform for Anime Expo. All attendee badges, ticketed events, and credentials must be purchased through ShowClix. SPJA policy explicitly states that orders from unauthorized platforms will not be honored.
• SheerIDsupportingTechnology or IntegrationSheerID provides identity verification services for the military discount program, enabling verification of active-duty military, veterans, reservists, and National Guard status for discounted badge pricing.
• SPJA (Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation)coreOthersSPJA is the organizing non-profit entity (501c3) that operates Anime Expo. The organization has a mission to inspire the world through Japanese animation and culture. Anime Expo started in 1991 and has grown into the largest anime convention in North America under SPJA's operation.
• VIZ MediamajorGTM or Marketing PartnerVIZ Media is a major industry partner presenting programming including the Manga Lounge at Anime Expo. The partnership involves content curation, educational panels on manga creation, and fan engagement activities.
• CrunchyrollmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCrunchyroll serves as a major GTM partner for multiple anime screenings, premieres, and industry panels at Anime Expo. The partnership enables exclusive content reveals and cast appearances that benefit both brands through cross-promotion.
• KodanshamajorGTM or Marketing PartnerKodansha partners with Anime Expo for Kodansha House, an immersive pop-up experience in Little Tokyo running July 2-12, 2026. The partnership provides exclusive manga announcements, creator appearances, and brand activation.
• Aniplex of AmericamajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAniplex of America hosts industry panels and exclusive content presentations at Anime Expo, leveraging the event for anime title announcements and fan engagement.
• TOHO animationmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerTOHO animation partners for major panel programming including Demon Slayer celebrations, My Hero Academia anniversary panels, and Frieren special events.
• HIDIVEmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerHIDIVE partners with Anime Expo for simulcast premieres, dub announcements, and exclusive screening events for their anime streaming platform.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Comic-Con International (San Diego Comic-Con): The iconic US pop-culture convention that, while broader than anime, directly competes with Anime Expo for the same pool of Japanese entertainment exhibitors, voice actor bookings, and cosplay-driven attendees.
• New York Comic Con (NYCC): Run by ReedPop and the largest East Coast pop-culture con; competes head-to-head with Anime Expo for anime industry bookings, exhibitors, and high-spend fan attendees on the East Coast.
• Anime NYC: ReedPop-run anime-focused convention at the Javits Center. Directly comparable as an anime-only US convention with strong Crunchyroll/VIZ partnerships and aggressive premiere programming.
• Otakon: Long-running anime convention originally held in the DC/Mid-Atlantic region. Directly comparable as an anime-focused, community-driven convention serving North American fans.
• Crunchyroll Expo: Crunchyroll's owned convention brand; directly competes with Anime Expo for anime premieres, voice actor appearances, and platform-driven studio activations.
• WonderCon: A Comic-Con International sister event with overlapping anime, manga, and Japanese pop-culture programming, targeting similar fan and exhibitor segments on the West Coast.
• MomoCon: Major anime and gaming convention in Atlanta. Directly comparable as a multi-track anime convention with strong exhibitor hall, cosplay, and industry programming for a similar fan demographic.

Regional players

• AnimeJapan: The largest anime-only convention in Japan. Highly comparable in purpose and audience composition, but operates in the Japanese domestic market rather than competing in North America.

Broad incumbents

• Fan Expo: Portfolio of large pop-culture conventions across multiple cities (Toronto, Dallas, Chicago, etc.). Overlaps with Anime Expo in exhibitor and fan segments but operates multiple events and a broader pop-culture mandate.

Emerging players

• PAX (Penny Arcade Expo): Major gaming convention series with partial overlap on anime-style gaming content, cosplay, and J-pop/anime-licensed game exhibitors — relevant as an alternative draw for the same fan demographic.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/animeexpo
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCFRirWUEsCCwygnLCY-SJtA
• Facebookfacebook.com/animeexpo
• Instagraminstagram.com/animeexpo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/anime-expo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Anime Expo