Anime LA is entering its 15th year and is being held at the Ontario, CA Convention Center, Ontario Doubletree, and Ontario Gateway hotels on January 10th-13th, 2019. This convention signals the kick-off for the con season in Southern California and is a must-attend for fans of anime and manga! The action kicks off Thursday the 10th at noon and goes until Sunday the 13th at 6 PM. With tons of activities scheduled, Friday and Saturday hours are 9 AM to 2 AM, with scheduled events going late into the night. Badges are available for pre-registration for daily and full weekend rates with attendees ages 6 and over requiring a ticket. Badges are also available at the door the day of the event. There are also special door prices for “Parent in Tow” for the adults that are escorting their children to the convention. With multiple venues hosting different events, it is important to know what is going on where, so ALA has provided maps, an online interactive guidebook, as well as a downloadable app to keep up with all the fun, available at https://guidebook.com/g/ala2019/
EVENTS
Speaking of events, the schedule is packed with all different types of entertainment. The lineup includes events, interactive activities, featured guests, as well as the exhibit hall with artists and vendors from across the country.
From ALA’s Next Top Star TM, a talent show in which the winner opens for the Masquerade Contest, to live bands and an after-hours adults-only After Dark fashion show; there is something for everyone! There are also scheduled dance battles and a battle of the bands running over the weekend. There is also a cosplay chess competition in which cosplayers compete as the chess pieces in an epic match, a must-see event!
Interactive activities include tabletop gaming, karaoke rooms, and cosplay gatherings. For those that are attending in cosplay, there is also a cosplay repair station for those dreaded wardrobe malfunctions. Anime LA is also one of the few events to allow attendees to actively submit photos to the event and a photo studio with backdrops for professional style pictures. Live panels will be going on throughout the convention, covering a multitude of topics from cosplay to fan art, Q&A with industry leaders, and game design to audio recording.
The Exhibit Hall is the main floor of the event and holds the Artist’s Alley and Dealer booths. Vendors and artists from all around the country will be on site to show their art, creations, and collectibles from fandoms across the globe. There are also fan tables, as well as a swap meet for event goers to meet and trade anything from DVDs, manga, props, and collectibles. Speaking of trading, Anime LA is also one of the conventions that have a ribbon station for those at the event to trade ribbons for collecting. While not a requirement, collecting ribbons is a great way to interact with vendors, cosplayers, and other fans of anime.
Last but not least are the guests of honor at ALA. There are voice actors from television, movies, anime and video games that will be on hand to sign autographs and for photo ops. The list of cosplayer guests is ever expanding as well as the list of guest panelists and artists! The Master of Ceremonies is Todd Haberkorn, star of stage, screen, and voice acting as well as the Production Head of Unlocked app and director for projects for Marvel, Funimation, Netflix, and Saban Entertainment. The second Master of Ceremonies is Eric Weisz, a voice-over actor known for his work on Power Rangers and Vampire Knight as well as many others. Other voice actor guests include Clifford Chapin (My Hero Academia and Attack on Titan), Kristen McGuire (RWBY and Yuri!! On ICE!), Colleen Clinkenbeard (over 200 roles in anime and video games), and Christopher Wehkamp (Star Blazers: Space Battleship Yamato 2199 and My Hero Academia). Featured cosplayers include Elizabeth Rage (IG @elizabethrage), Alex Drastal (IG @alexdrastal), and Utahime Cosplay (IG @utahimecosplay). Other featured guests include podcasters, weapon designers, martial arts instructors/performers, comedians, and designers. There is something for everyone at Anime LA!
Anime Los Angeles is less than a week away and looks to be a phenomenal kick off to the SoCal convention season. There is something for everyone at the event and as a four-day event, there is plenty of time to take in all of the sights and entertainment. If you need a break from all the fun, there will be food trucks available outside the North Lobby in Parking Lot A for a quick bite and the Blue Rose Café for an exclusive themed cosplay dining experience. Make your way to the Ontario Convention Center on January 10-13 for a weekend of interacting with some of the greatest names in the industry!
Anime Los Angeles Website: https://animelosangeles.org
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Check out our 2018 Coverage of Anime:
2018 ALA Recap & Cosplay Gallery
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