Anime Expo, the biggest anime convention in the United States, is all about bringing fans together. That’s exactly what MangaPlaza, the online manga website, did this year.
MangaPlaza is a digital manga platform offering a curated catalog of BL, GL, and Romance titles. The platform allows readers to experience original and hard-to-find series in an accessible reading experience. MangaPlaza celebrated its fourth anniversary in March 2026. From their “Explore Your Passions” panel, held on July 3rd, to the booth itself, MangaPlaza was all about encouraging fans of BL (Boy’s Love) and GL (Girl’s Love) to be outspoken about what they love!
Explore Your Passions
Daniel Dueñas and Laura Neuzeth, experts on both BL and GL, hosted the “Explore Your Passions” panel at Anime Expo. They were adamant about connecting to their audience, even encouraging members to shout their most-loved tropes and themes in their favorite manga titles. As expected, the favorites were one bed, office romance, friends to lovers, and enemies to lovers. The last one won best trope after audience participation. This led into a discussion about the hot mangas available on MangaPlaza.
Daniel and Laura talked about several of the beloved titles, which each featured a specific trope. These included:
- Keeping You in Sight, Plus-Sized Misadventures in Love
- I Don’t Need This Ring Anymore
- Satan on Parental Leave and His Fake Hero
- Ayaka is in Love with Hiroko
- The Consultant Amalthea and Her Marriage
- After Giving Up on Our Relationship and Distancing Myself, My Salty Fiancé Began to Pester Me
- The Wicked Woman of High Society: The Charming Marquis’s Son Broke My Arm, So I’m Making Him Take Responsibility
Afterward, Daniel and Lauras hosted a quiz, which they were most excited about. Attendees were asked to guess the line that came next from a manga on the screen. Attendees were impressive during this portion, answering questions with ease and speed, showing off their knowledge of BL and GL series.
The panel ended with a giveaway with two lucky attendees taking home an original illustration from the creator of The Ogre’s Bride. “If you need to feel again, you need to read The Ogre’s Bride,” Daniel told everyone, emphasizing the beautiful story.
For those not so lucky to win an illustration, everyone was given a 100-point coupon to use on MangaPlaza. Talk about a great gift!
The MangaPlaza Booth
In addition to the panel, the MangaPlaza booth saw tons of visitors during the Anime Expo weekend. Attendees were able to take part in The Ogre’s Bride photo spot, celebrating the anime’s release later this month. There was also a reading corner, so fans could explore the wide variety of manga.
MangaPlaza first sold out of the three-volume set set of the BL, The Seduction of the Deep Sleeper. The romance manga, Kurosaki Wants Me All to Himself ~The Intense Sweetness of First Love~ was also sold out by the end of the weekend. Dinners with My Darling: How the Former Monster King Ate Her Way to Happiness proved to be popular as well, with only a single copy remaining by the time Anime Expo was over.
MangaPlaza also encouraged encouraged its original title, Pardon the Intrusion, I’m Home (Full Color), which now has been adapted into an anime. It received positive from guests, thanks to both the panel and the teaser video shown at the booth.
