Anime is a brilliantly shining star in a world where some people just need the escape. The great news is that there are events all around the world that people of like minds can gather, where some small gatherings are at local libraries, and some are extraordinary convention centers packed to the brim with crazy cosplays and just about a million mystery grab bags.
One could argue that other anime events include release events or in some cases, re-release events, and I agree wholeheartedly with whoever that ‘one’ is. In this article, I’ll go over the biggest anime events in the entire world, in order from smallest to biggest.
10. Ghibli Fest, USA
-Ghibli Fest 2022 Trailer
Ghibli Fest is a nationwide reshowing of Studio Ghibli films. The event lasts eight months and shows Studio Ghibli’s most loved movies. A reshowing of classic tales that gives fans who grew up on Ghibli local access through Fathom-supported theaters for a reasonable price.
Cost of admittance:
- $15.00 for adults
- $12.00 for kids’ tickets
In some locations, tickets cost $12.50
Ghibli fest is a great way to bring a geeky family together for an outing and introduce the next generation to the movies that raised us to be who we are unapologetically. Ghibli Fest 2022 is currently in full swing, and the next batch of showings is in August, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and Only Yesterday. Great for people on vacation in August and are looking for something to do.
If you want to go to the film that is most likely to blow your socks off, look no further than Ghibli fest 2022’s showing of Spirited Away. Having won so many awards, being the highest-grossing film in Japan and having the highest rating on IMDB it’s really no surprise. If you’ve been there, done that, go for Ponyo or Howl’s Moving Castle. It’s hard to go wrong with the entire lineup this year, honestly.
Studio Ghibli USA Twitter: https://twitter.com/GhibliUSA
9. AniManGaki, Malaysia
-AniManGaki Trailer
Looking for a fun time with Idol magic and awesome cosplay competitions? AniManGaki has you covered. The price of admission is absolutely worth it, as long as you live in Malaysia, otherwise, plane tickets might set you back. Looking at the different admissions we can see that spending the extra money on the Super Gaki Pack, which has so much awesomeness I just might need to fly down myself. Here's the tickets, prices and what they give you:
- One day pass-RM35 ($7.86)
You get access to this ticket at the center itself, 10,000 are available each day.
- Two day pass-RM69 ($15.49)
This includes entry for two days
A grand lucky draw ticket
A carnival game coupon
An AniManGaki Coaster
Early access, line-skipping privileges!
- Super Gaki Pack-RM180 ($40.41)
Two day pass access
A grand lucky draw ticket
A carnival game coupon
An AniManGaki Coaster
An AniManGaki lanyard
An AniManGaki T-shirt
One Super Gaki Pass*
An event Exclusive box
*The Super Gaki Pass Can be used up to three times for free access to special events like autograph signings
With all this stuff, I have to wonder how they can afford to practically give these tickets away. The event hit its highest mark last year at 20,000 attendees, which is probably the reason they can provide the tickets at the price they do. Your attendance should be determined by how good the accommodations nearby will be and the cost of the ticket. If you plan on doing some illegal stuff…. don’t. Whatever it is, it can wait till you're off foreign soil.
Lest we forget that the event this year is pirate themed, pack your One Piece cosplay, and be ready to see a couple of Luffys and cry over some Aces. Don’t forget your log pose.
8. Smash!, Australia
-Smash! Cosplay Trailer
Smash! is Australia’s largest anime convention, and 2022 was a big year. The celebrity lineup included a multitude of British and Australian Anime Youtubers, including The Anime Man, CDawgVA, Sydsnap, Gigguk, and many hololive Vtubers. The event lasted one weekend, and tickets are as follows:
One day passes-$40.00
Weekend pass-$55.00
-As of now there is no information on extra goodies with tickets.
-The event has passed, and ticket prices may increase or decrease next year
Events at the Event
The event has a delightful number of extra parts to it, and here are some of the best ones!
- Get creative and have fun with the arts and crafts area, set aside for Edward Elric size folks and Alphonse Elric Size people alike.
- The Catwalk is a place to show off all the hard work you put into your cosplay as well as get support from your fellow cosplay enthusiasts as you take to the stage with poise and prowess!
- Show off your hard work with an art competition that is sure to showcase many brilliant and chuckle-worthy pieces
- A gaming section is all the extroverted introvert needs to settle in and kick some butt. With top-of-the-line PCs and plenty of games to satisfy your need to dominate, go crazy. Just don’t break any keyboards, they might not like that.
- Karaoke is the stuff of dreams… or was it nightmares? That depends on your sense of humor. If you want to wail like a banshee to anime opening songs, go straight for it, and don’t hesitate to go banshee mode at the One Punch Man season one theme.
- I can't believe it took this long to tell you about the maid cafe! For a little bit of a price, cosplay maids will serve some tasty drinks and treats while you and your friends rest your feet. Have your fun, just remember not to have the bad kinda fun… they will get the spray bottle.
- YU-GI-OH, POKEMON, AND MAGICK OH MY! Trust me, this is gonna be cool. With trading card game free play, bring your best deck and wipe out the competition. If you’re feeling like you’ve got the skill, head into the tournament and sweep the floor with the competition. Don’t forget your Grand Abolisher.
- Test your knowledge in trivia, battle it out for the top spot in the anime world, and destroy the competition!
All in all, this is a giant convention with a ton to do, and only three days to do it. Pack your wallet tight and journey into the valley of the beast to wade through a sea of like-minded anime fans.
Smash! Con Twitter: https://twitter.com/smashcon/
7. Hatsune Miku Expo, Worldwide
-Hatsune Miku Expo in London
This worldwide concert tour is amazingly well made, with the hologram Hatsune Miku taking on the stage in a way that only a hologram could, with blinding lights emanating from the crowd’s souvenir glow sticks and people from all over the world gathering for these events that occur… all over the world.
The lights that project across the stage and through the fog are brilliant and awe-inspiring, as they travel across the stage in sweeping motions that are only overshadowed by Hatsune Miku’s movements, as Idolish as she can get.
If you love anime, there's a big chance you used to or still do love Hatsune Miku and the Vocaloid crew. If so, this could be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, depending on your budget, as tickets range from $80 to $300 depending on the experience you want from the show.
Going worldwide, from Indonesia to Los Angeles it’ll be hard to miss a show with the excuse of ‘she didn’t get to my country’.
Hatsune Miku Expo Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikuexpo
6. Hyper Japan Festival, U.K.
-Itasha Tengoku Event Showing
This one might seem weird to include towards the top, but anyone who knows the anime scene in and out knows the anime-based obsession with Itasha (Painful Car). Literally decorating your beautiful sports car with an anime and game character wrap, basically making it a walking advertisement in the otaku’s language. Itasha is growing in Japan and making its way towards America surprisingly quickly, with itasha showing up at conventions around the USA pretty consistently.
This event is the epicenter, a car show to cringe at, or maybe to stand in awe of. General entry tends to sit at 1,500 yen or about $15 and has a massive lot of cars, events, and special guests to keep a person occupied. It tends to also be a congregation spot for rockabilly types, something awesome to see!
Itasha Tengoku Event Twitter: https://twitter.com/itasha_tengoku
2. Anime Japan, Japan
-Anime Japan Tour Video
Anime Japan just needed to be on this list, and it took a lot of digging to not put it on top. It is oftentimes considered the heaven otakus go to after saving enough of their meager income. Hard work and dedication come in all forms, but in this expo, it is shown through the staff's dedication to keeping the event in line.
Rowdy crowds offset by the awe of being at the greatest event of the year, and cosplays so complex that flash photography could be dangerous. This is it, you've gotten to Japan and made it to the top. Let's check out what you paid to get in the door.
You got the premium ticket. Ultimate access and super cool lottery prizes. You paid about $370, and you don’t regret a penny of it. Your cousin paid 5,000 yen, about $45, and got a lottery and some goods without unlimited access.
The cheapest ticket costs your dad 1,900 yen, about $14 and your brother forgot to buy his ticket ahead of time and paid the onsite price of 2,300 yen, or about $17. They all severely underpaid compared to you, but you’ve been saving all year for this, and you aren’t about to spare any expense or luggage space.
The events you have access to are as follows:
- The exhibition of new video games
- Tons of photo booths to take awesome pictures at with cool props
- A giant exhibition hall to buy from online stores and exclusive retailers opening shop for the time of the expo only
- Private showings of new anime releases and movies galore
- Tourist packages ready to be snapped up
- Booths from all the big name studios, with merch to boot
- Cosplay in every inch of the Tokyo Big Sight center
You can’t beat this, it's a dream come true, and you can die happy now… or can you?
Anime Japan Twitter: https://twitter.com/animejapan_aj
1. Comiket, Japan
-Comiket Cosplay Tour Video
With 750,000 attendees in 2019, can AnimeJapan even compare to Comiket, the anime and manga lover’s paradise? It's about time I show you the wondrous world of anime and manga and its true heaven, a place where otaku and weeaboo converge, where cultures across the world join hands and worship the art that brings us all joy. In all seriousness, I can't express how amazing this event is.
After gaining recognition early on as an event by the fans for the fans, it has grown into what some might call the king of anime conventions. The level of skill and effort put into the sheer brilliance displayed in each cosplay, the booths of artists sharing their dreams, and the comradery a person feels with all the people around them, no matter their cultural background is astounding.
Try if you might, to picture this, a sea of cosplays floods the streets, vendors line the walls and food is prominent. Even across town, you see people in cosplay heading towards the epicenter, Tokyo Big Sight.
If you are going to admire everything, and not in cosplay, a meager 700 yen, about $5
And if you plan to cosplay, you pay about 3,500 yen, or about $32. This is all in light of the pandemic, in a large effort to keep numbers down.
The hopes for the future are that at the end of the pandemic, the event will go back to being completely free. Comiket has always been a place for independent mangaka to spread their art and stories, and gain exposure in the big world of manga. At its peak, it was the brilliant, shining star of the anime and manga world.
Comiket Twitter: https://twitter.com/comiketofficial
