
Anime Overtakes Long Beach Despite Southern California Fires
The Anime convention at the Long Beach Convention Center was an exciting and vibrant event, bringing people from around the world despite the wildfires raging throughout Southern California. For those unfamiliar, anime is a distinct style of Japanese animation and art, and the convention celebrated it with contests, cosplay, seminars, vendor exhibitions, and judging panels.
One of the most fun aspects of the convention was the ribbon exchange, which was similar to the tradition of trading pins at the Olympic Village. Ribbons were handed out for attending sessions or for complimenting someone’s costume. There were even vendors who created and sold special ribbons commemorating the event. According to etiquette, attendees weren’t supposed to sell their ribbons, but one lady I saw had a collection that stretched from her head down to her knees! I was told that exchanging ribbons was a sign of friendliness, but she declined my request for a photo.
Ribbon trading has grown into its own phenomenon, with one participant bringing the idea from another event to the anime world. There’s even a special place where damaged ribbons can be repaired, much like the charging stations often found at concert venues.
The etiquette at the event was clear: only vendors and artists could sell their ribbons, while everyone else could only trade them. Many locals created their own ribbon designs to commemorate the event. Ribbon trading started back in 2001 at a different event and grew in popularity, with people making their own ribbons to personalize the exchange.
The Convention Center also hosted a marketplace for vendors and attendees to buy merchandise. One special area, Artist Alley, featured local artists showcasing their work and hoping to gain new followers. Celebrities in attendance included Shinichirō Watanabe, who is best known for creating Cowboy Bebop, a beloved anime series.
A major highlight was the cosplay, where people dressed up as their favorite characters. There was even a large-scale game where humans themselves became like the pawns on a giant chessboard, playing out a live action game. Other games featured in the cosplay included Attack on Titan, Pokémon, and many others.
The costume contest was also a major attraction, reminiscent of a beauty pageant runway. The costumes were incredibly elaborate, with some being nearly identical to what you would find online. This was a highlight for many attendees.
These 3 ladies travelled 7 hours from Tracey, CA and had attended Anime for 13 years. It was by far one of the best they had seen.

Rumor has is the event included Shinichiro Watanabe. A renowned Anime director, famous for his work on Cowboy behop which is a belov3ed anime show that helped shape the global appeal of the genre .
The Anime convention at the Long Beach Convention Center was an exciting and vibrant event, bringing people from around the world despite the wildfires raging throughout Southern California. For those unfamiliar, anime is a distinct style of Japanese animation and art, and the convention celebrated it with contests, cosplay, seminars, vendor exhibitions, and judging panels.
One of the most fun aspects of the convention was the ribbon exchange, which was similar to the tradition of trading pins at the Olympic Village. Ribbons were handed out for attending sessions or for complimenting someone’s costume. There were even vendors who created and sold special ribbons commemorating the event. According to etiquette, attendees weren’t supposed to sell their ribbons, but one lady I saw had a collection that stretched from her head down to her knees! I was told that exchanging ribbons was a sign of friendliness, but she declined my request for a photo.
Ribbon trading has grown into its own phenomenon, with one participant bringing the idea from another event to the anime world. There’s even a special place where damaged ribbons can be repaired, much like the charging stations often found at concert venues.
The etiquette at the event was clear: only vendors and artists could sell their ribbons, while everyone else could only trade them. Many locals created their own ribbon designs to commemorate the event. Ribbon trading started back in 2001 at a different event and grew in popularity, with people making their own ribbons to personalize the exchange.
The Convention Center also hosted a marketplace for vendors and attendees to buy merchandise. One special area, Artist Alley, featured local artists showcasing their work and hoping to gain new followers. Celebrities in attendance included Shinichirō Watanabe, who is best known for creating Cowboy Bebop, a beloved anime series.
A major highlight was the cosplay, where people dressed up as their favorite characters. There was even a large-scale game where humans themselves became like the pawns on a giant chessboard, playing out a live action game. Other games featured in the cosplay included Attack on Titan, Pokémon, and many others.
The costume contest was also a major attraction, reminiscent of a beauty pageant runway. The costumes were incredibly elaborate, with some being nearly identical to what you would find online. This was a highlight for many attendees.
Anime characters spilled over to the streets and hotels.
On a casual walk I met quite a few well-known Anime characters. You will find the character names along with their descriptions and photos below.
Characters
- Aloy Horizon 2 Down – A character from the Aloz Horizon anime series.
- Indion Demons (Later Fir) – Demon slayer – Pig in charge of raising the world . A character from the Indion Demons series.
- Jahair Baldura (Game 3) – A character from the Game 3 franchise.
- Weathering Way – Lion’s Head – A character from Weathering Way. Highest ranking game in Japan of all time written by Makoto Shingai about stopping the endless rain forest.
- Jon Yellow-White Stine – From Skate the Infinity.
- Golden Kemu– A character from the anime series Golden Kemu who tries to to make a fortune to keep a promise to a late friend who died in the Russian Japanese war. Premiered on Netflex in 2024 four months after it Japanese release
- Dadanet – 1st anime to be shown on Netflix series. Main character is grandmom Momo.
- Grundheim Tanka – From Dragon Ropao, a game-based anime where high school students participate in a killing game.
- Marisa Kirisame – From Touhou Project, a well-known human magician character with a distinctive hat.
- Super Bon
Character Explanations:
- Shinichirō Watanabe – A renowned anime director, famous for his work on Cowboy Bebop, which is a beloved anime that helped shape the global appeal of the genre.
- Aloz Horizon 2 Down – It is a video game with Aloz Horizon anime, referencing the anime Log Horizon, where characters get trapped in an MMORPG. Aloy is a queer charater
- Indion Demons (Later Fir) – Mostly like the character Beezlebub see above for explanation.
- Jahair Baldura – Cosplay recruitable companion, widow and mentor to rest of her team. ***best costume
- Weathering Way – Lion’s Head – Appears to be a character from Weathering With You or another anime series. Weathering With You is a popular film by Makoto Shinkai, known for its stunning visuals.
- Jon Yellow-White Stine – Likely referring to a character from Skate the Infinity, an anime about skateboarding with distinctive characters.
Golden Kemu– A character from the anime series Golden Kemu who tries to to make a fortune to keep a promise to a late friend who died in the Russian Japanese war. Premiered on Netflex in 2024 four months after it Japanese release
- – Dadanet – 1st anime to be shown on Netflix series. Main character is grandmom Momo.
- Shinichirō Watanabe – A renowned anime director, famous for his work on Cowboy Bebop, which is a beloved anime that helped shape the global appeal of the genre.
- Aloz Horizon 2 Down – It is a video game with Aloz Horizon anime, referencing the anime Log Horizon, where characters get trapped in an MMORPG. Aloy is a queer charater
- Indion Demons (Later Fir) – Mostly like the character Beezlebub see above for explanation.
- Jahair Baldura – Cosplay recruitable companion, widow and mentor to rest of her team. ***best costume
- Weathering Way – Lion’s Head – Appears to be a character from Weathering With You or another anime series. Weathering With You is a popular film by Makoto Shinkai, known for its stunning visuals.
- Jon Yellow-White Stine – Likely referring to a character from Skate the Infinity, an anime about skateboarding with distinctive characters.
- Golden Kemy – Possibly referring to a character from a popular anime or manga, but the name doesn’t appear widely recognized.

In case you missed my title , I am from Aloy from Horizon 2 Down
It is a video game Log Horizon where characters get trapped in a MMORG. Aloy is queer character.
How do you like our hair style?

Surprised you didn’t hear we are from Netflix.
These characters far from Dandadan the first show played on Netflicks back in 2024. Mosho is the beloved grandmother taken in Long Beach at the Anime 2025.

I am part of the Indion Demons Show, and I play the role of the pig. Please and proud to show my marking and muscle which took hours to develop.
The all-time longest running show which began in 2014 from anime still playing today….

On the left is from Golden Kemu which also began a show on Netflix in 2024. Created by Shukan Young Jump and and was created into a widely popular manga video game. It was created back in 2014 sold over 14 million copies and appeared in 31 series. Most positive phenomenon to combat the stigma against the Ainu people and make them cool to the younger generation. Kudos
Meet Grundheim Tanka Coplay Danganropa Game Series

Her role was to a game where high school students were on a killing range. This was from the most highly rated game series. In an interview, she told me she was “born in Brazil lived in Mexico and now lives in LA. Loves fashion and decided to recreate a costume with her own clothes.” Describe the event as really incentivize people to reach out and connect to people. Told about the ribbon exchange gained from attending a specific panel. People go around and collect them and they are a conversation starter.
Introducing Jaira from Baludura Game III Cosplay Series

Her costume was one of my favorites as most representative of the real character she represented and was also recognized as one of the best costumes. She also awarded one of her ribbons that was kelly green color. Her role in the game was a recruitable companion, widow and mentor to the rest of the clan
Introducing Marissa Kirasama from the Touha Project displaying the Human Magician Hat
What wish may I grant you?
Marissa was my 1st interview; I found on Ocean Avenue streets.
She described the event as an escape away from the fires. She was evacuated and decide to attend. 1st time. Described as small, big anime event. She likes vendors and cosplay, very safe lots of security. Lot people come from rival Anime expo, not as big, but a lot of people who attend at other events she has seen and great way to connect and meet up with people.
Ps this game is one of the oldest shows that is still in existence today. It has LARGEST INPUT OF FAN GENERATED CONTENT. Designed and created by Team Shanghai and Japanese doujin soft developer.


Can you imagine a video game becomes a movie?
Meet the character from Weathering with You an anime series turned into a film and best known for some of the finest stunning visuals. How many hours do you think it took to make this lions head?
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