Anime Expo 2025 is finally here! July 3 is the official opening day at the Los Angeles Convention Center, marking the largest Anime Expo to-date as over 100,000 fans and industry attendees come to Los Angeles for four days of celebrating anime, manga, cosplay, gaming, J-Pop music, and epic panels for a combined 1,000+ hours of programming.
This year’s Expo contains world premier shows like May I Ask for One Final Thing?, Season 4 of The Rising of the Shield Hero, brand new shows for Ghost in the Shell and Frieren, as well as exclusive panels featuring One-Punch Man, My Hero Academia, Chainsaw Man, and a ton more.
On the merch front, Crunchyroll dropped a premium leather version of Misato Katsuragi’s (with her iconic cross necklace) jacket starting on July 3, and limited stock exclusive items like glow in the dark Youtooz, alongside Jujutsu Kaisen varsity jackets are already getting attention.
Also, don't ignore ticketed events like the first-ever Sukeban World Championship Fight, and the return of the Maid Café and Masquerade, plus many performances from leading J-Pop groups—making AX 2025 feel like a whole pop culture extravaganza.
FanCam That Broke the Internet at AX2025
Anime Expo 2025 is buzzing because a FanCam video is going viral. It shows @AlphaBettaVT performing the popular “Kumikyoku Nico Nico Douga” medley at MosoMatsuri. The clip is already trending on X, and fans can’t stop talking about it.
“if ANY αlphamily or V‑Dere fans r going to AX , it'd mean so much if u could get footage of the crowd/my performance! #AnimeExpo2025” — from @AlphaBettaVT on X
[Fairy’s FanCam]
— CloudFairy ☁️🧚☁️ ⏩️ AX2025 ✨ (@FairysCloud) July 4, 2025
⚠️ **FULL vid (8m 29s!!)**
Presenting:@AlphaBettaVT performing (the) Kumikyoku Nico Nico Douga Medley~!! 💙
At MosoMatsuri • Anime Expo 2025 🎏🎶🎊
OTSUALPHA 🐟#AX2025 #alphabettavt #alphasings https://t.co/dEN9NY72sH pic.twitter.com/8TMHQGFHKr
The energy in that clip is just electric. Everyone looks so into it, moving, cheering, and even crying. It’s not just a performance—it’s a feeling. You can hear laughter, shouts, and real emotion. That one video captures more than a show—it captures why people love Anime Expo so much.
This moment reminds us that Expo isn’t just big names or fancy panels—it’s community magic. It’s the small stages and real reactions that also light up the event.
Intense Silent Hill F Panel Draws Crowds
Anime Expo did an exclusive panel for Silent Hill f on July 4 at 3:15 PM PDT, in the JW Marriott Platinum Ballroom. With key creators—Motoi Okamoto (producer), Ryukishi07 (scriptwriter), and Akira Yamaoka (composer)—it provided interesting insights about the world of Silent Hill f.
They went into detail about the Japanese-style horror vibe, the fog-drenched town of Ebisugaoka, and more about the who, what, and why of the creative process. While rumors of gameplay trailers dropped, attendees did get a sense of the emotional weight of the storyline.
In a post-panel chat, Gameranx referenced the ambience in the room as "intense and moody," pointing out that it was not your typical upbeat anime talk, but something more chilling and real.
In r/silenthill, one Reddit user shared:
"It was so bizarre… felt like an episode of Impractical Jokers."
That should tell you something—this was not a polished panel. It was raw, and unpredictable. Which is exactly what makes it so interesting!
Merch Mania & Surprise Booth Moments
Outside of the large events, Expo had a few more surprises:
- By way of an exclusive drop, the crunchy roll Misato jacket sold out in an instant in-store. Fans lined up on the day, and some would leave empty-handed. The take-away? Physical merch is always a necessity.
- The Silent Hill f booth (E-15) provided themed photo-op scenes, fully represented with exclusive giveaways for the lucky ones. Fans enter the fog for photos and leave with nostalgia-filled feelings.
There's also been chat around indie booths in Artist Alley taking notice, that featured custom art and passionate fare. Expo continues to pair blockbuster representation with homegrown passion.
Fans Feel Every Emotional Beat and Sigh
As we walk through AX, you'll constantly see the emotional aspects, whether it be:
- Fans crying from cosplay meet-ups or fan panels.
- Fans complaining about the long cues, tents and sold-out merch.
- Then suddenly someone gets the one thing they wanted that they have waited for and the joy floods back.
These little moments add up—they make people feel seen. They make a quick post with clips, tag their friends, and just share all the clips and moments. At that point, Expo becomes more than a checklist, it's a memory.
Despite all the chaos of Expo itself, the community shines through the support of one another.
What Still Matters at AX2025
- Keep an eye on the Silent Hill f booth — its get-you-in-a-fog mystery vibes and photo opportunities are still going until July 6.
- Fans suggest getting to MosoMatsuri early if you want a good view of fan performances like AlphaBettaVT.
- Merch restocks are rare, but could be worth checking the Crunchyroll booth at mid-day. They might surprise you.
- The indie art corners in Artist Alley are treasures. Explore them. Go slow.
It's a mash-up of the big and the little, the planned and the serendipitous. That's what Expo is all about.
Summary Table
- FanCam of AlphaBettaVT hits trending on X
- Silent Hill f panel wows with raw discussion with the creators
- Merch rush for Misato jacket and Silent Hill booth
- Indie art expression warming/stealing hearts at quieter corners
- Raw community emotion - crying, cheering, queuing.
