4Kids: The Good, Bad, & Ugly

4Kids Entertainment. Merely mentioning the name is enough to send a shiver down localization purists' spines and drive One Piece fans into a fit of rage. But what did this infamous company do to receive such scorn? More importantly, do they even deserve it? In this panel, we'll examine 4Kids' history of dubbing and licensing, highlighting both their contributions to popularizing anime and their more "questionable" decisions. Audience members will also get to participate in the discussion!

A Guide Through Isekai Series

Isekai are quite the topic these days. Whether you consider it a genre or not, what is it about this style of story that has captivated the modern era of anime fans, manga writers, and animators? For those who want to go deeper, what are some series that you should look out for in the upcoming years and what isekai do you, the fans, want to come into existence?

A Hideo Kojima Panel

An Intro to Magical Girls

Are you a fan of Magical Girls? Then you're going to want to join A-to-J Connections as they dissect everything about this popular genre and discuss its history, core themes, and most popular titles. They'll be deep diving into everything, from Magical Princess Minky Momo and Cutie Honey to Sailor Moon and Cardcaptor Sakura with tons more in between, including what's made these shows so popular overseas! From the seasoned fan to the curious newcomer, this panel will have something for everyone!

Anime in the Era of VR

Anime and manga are great mediums of expression, and the stories told can be very hard to tell in any other medium. One genre that has been a part of anime and manga for a long time is Virtual Reality. Now that we have VR, how will this affect anime and manga about VR? How will those series affect the development of VR tech? And what new creations can come about when you bring anime and manga into VR?

Anime's Fiercest Females

Anime lacks strong female leads, you say? Not so! The women showcased in this panel are sword-swingers and gunslingers, leaders and passionate believers. There are many measures of strength, and in anime (as in real life) you'll see them all. Get acquainted with the passionate, tough, and daring ladies of anime in this panel. Sometimes, you find that the lady IS the tiger!

Art & Trauma

California Cosplay Gala

Come engage with the fascinating world of cosplay and dance and how they intermingle in a fun and unique way! We will be introducing the events hosted by California Cosplay Gala, the premiere cosplay dance organizer, and how we develop our music playlist and themes! We will also be discussing our experience with cosplay dances and how you can be a part of the excitement by learning how to dance yourself!

Convention Etiquette

Calling all new cosplayers! Want to make the most of your con experience? Join Dreidel Cosplay to learn how to survive the mighty anime convention! We'll discuss what to bring with you, how to schedule and budget, how to interact with others, handling yourself in costume, safety tips, and how to have a great time!

Convention Stories

This is an opportunity to hear some interesting stories from people who attend conventions professionally, be it for media, volunteering, working a booth, or hosting a panel. At the same time, you will get the chance to share your favorite moments at a convention.

D&D Dungeon Master 101

We will be going over some of the skills, common misconceptions, and traps for first time DMs, as well as building our first dungeon! Geared towards 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons, but useful to many tabletop RPGs.

D&D Player 101

We will be going over the basics of Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, learning the different options, and showing you why starting out is easier than you thought! We will also build a character together in this Player-focused panel! Fresh faces, seasoned critters, and everything in between are welcome!

Diving Into Idol Anime

Are you a fan of shows like Love Live!, The iDOLM@STER, PriPara, or Aikatsu!? Then we have the panel for you! A-to-J Connections has spent hundreds of hours watching nearly every idol anime out there to bring you this panel that features only the best of 2D idols! We will deep dive into several key shows from the '80s to the present and tell you why you should check them out! With some added nonsense for good measure! Fan and curious newcomer alike, this panel will have something for everyone!

Fan Fiction and Literature

Fanáticos del Anime

A SPANGLISH panel for Latinos by Latinos that love ANIME! Join us as we dive into the cultural impact anime has within the Latin culture and community. We'll cover every aspect of the phenomenon and influence from Spanish dubs to Bad Bunny; Taptio ramen to Latin TikTok. Anime fanatics seeking a Latino forum: don't be shy and join us by "crying in Spanish!"""

Forced Romance in Anime

Anime is known for its many tropes, but none so popular and controversial as Forced Romance. From Rent-a-Girlfriend to Don't Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro, the romance genre is filled with coercion and one-sided relationships, and the hosts of The Nakama Podcast are here to discuss why they're so popular, and whether it's a truly problematic trope to promote.

Future Of Extreme Sports Anime

Sports anime are really cool, but as of right now there are a large number of sports that have not had any anime series about them. What are some of these sports, are there any that would be easy to adapt to manga, and is there a reason why some of these haven't been adapted? Which sports would lend themselves well to anime as a medium, and which ones wouldn't? Which sports would you like to see in anime?

Getting Anime In Theaters

Anime is amazing, and many people around the world watch it every day, but a majority of those people probably watch it at home on a TV, computer, or phone, and rarely get to experience the joy of watching it with others. How do we change this? One cool option is getting anime shown in theaters. This is often a very rare occurrence, though has become more common. Will there be a point where we could even have weekly anime clubs happen in theaters?

Goku and Gettysburg

Exploring the concept of crossovers, from basic interactions of characters to assimilation into completely unrelated settings.

Immersive VR Anime Games?

A lot of people enjoy visual novels and anime games quite a bit, but as game technology advances, how might we see these forms of media utilize those new technologies? How can technologies such as Reactive AI, VR, motion capture, biosensing, haptics, and BCI fundamentally change what it means to play a visual novel or anime game?

Japan & the Arabian Nights

Did you know that the tales of the One Thousand and One Nights have had a massive effect on Japanese pop culture, from anime to games to literature? Join indie author Ahmed Al-Sheikh as he breaks down the history of the book's publication in Japan, and its long effects on some of your favorite shows, manga and games.

Japan's Media Culture Of Food

Food is a big part of Japanese culture, especially in modern times. How is food portrayed in modern Japanese media such as manga, anime, games, etc? Why are there so many fictional cooking series in Japan? How and where can you experience the same food that you see in Japanese media without having to travel to Japan? What tactics are there for you to gain the skills or knowledge you see chefs using in that media? Let's answer these questions, and get you hungry for some good food!

Kimoi & Kowai: The Un-kawaii

Magic in Anime

Join the Horn and Cauldron Podcast duo as we rant, review, and analyze the magical systems in five different, awesome anime series, from witchcraft to pyromancy, with some Magical Girls and gods thrown in for good measure. For this panel, we will be looking into Witchcraft Works, Trese, Fire Force, Record of Ragnarok, and Magical Girl Ore. There will also be two companion podcast episodes focusing on magic in some classic anime movies.

Mogra & More: Anime Clubbing

Can't get anime songs or that new Vocaloid number out of your head? Can't stop grooving to video game music, doujin tunes, remixes, and mashups?
Learn about how Japanese otaku party all night long at anikura events held in DJ bars and clubs; this thriving underground scene comes complete with calls, glow sticks and house tigers!
After attending and performing at anikura events in Japan, as well as hosting local event AniCLover, we're now here to share our passion with you.

Osaka: Comedy & Horror of Japan

Psychology in Danganronpa

From the series formerly known as "Trauma in…" and hosted by the experts of the Cosplayer Survivor Support Network, this panel delves into the psychology and trauma theories behind everyone's favorite classmate murder game! Spoilers for Danganronpa, Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair, Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony, and Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls. (This panel does not provide medical advice intended to diagnose or treat individuals, and is for entertainment and educational purposes only.)

Self-Publishing Returns!

FanimeCon's Annual Self-Publishing panel is here! Covering the latest in why to self-publish, what tools to use, and how to get your book out!

The Realities of Game Testing

The Way We Used to Watch

Anime on PBS? Translated script readings? Come join Nick Redman for a history lesson in how anime was distributed and broadcast around the Bay Area. We'll talk about the tech, the people, and the organizations that shared Japanese cartoons with locals — before it was cool!

The World of Cyberpunk Anime

Go beyond human to transhuman. Cybernetic enhancements and technological advancements have blurred the lines between humans and artificial life forms. Mega corporations control every geopolitical movement. Pollution and crumbling societies accompany humanity's march toward progress (or is it oblivion?). AI. Mech suits. Ultra violence. Subversion. Experience the ethos of Cyberpunk as only anime can present it.

VTuber Tech

Ever wondered how VTubers control their avatars? Interested in starting VTubing yourself? Come find out the programs and hardware involved in VTubing! From independent to Hololive, we'll introduce how VTubers do what they do and show you how you can start VTubing TODAY!