8Bit/Digi

Anime Expo is Back (Sort of)

The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation announced that Anime Expo 2020 will be a digital event, dubbed Anime Expo Lite.

Anime Expo Lite will be a two day event that will be live streamed. It is a free event that will go from July 3rd to July 4th. The event will feature panels and screenings from industry leaders such as Crunchyroll and VIZ Media. More information and announcements will be made in the coming weeks.

In a press release that was made available, CEO of The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation Ray Chiang has stated,

“We are excited to be able to parlay the traditional Anime Expo into a virtual experience. Since 2017, AX has been live-streaming select panels as well as from the convention floor, so it is a natural transition for us to produce a virtual event. As everything in 2020 is different, we see a unique opportunity to be able to share our passion for Japanese pop culture not only with those that would have attended AX but now with any anime fan no matter where they live,”

Ray Chiang
CEO of The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation

Anime Expo 2020 was set to take place during the Fourth of July weekend before it was cancelled. It is among the many events planned for the summer that had to be cancelled due to the pandemic. Most events that are still happening are scheduled for a late Summer date.

The convention is one of the largest in the world and it attract over 100,000 guests. To have an idea of what to expect, check out my coverage of Anime Expo 2019.

8Bit/Digi is an independent media outlet that provides an insight into the video game community and industry of the San Francisco Bay Area.