This weekend AnimeCon UK will unite communities of artists, exhibitors, anime and manga fanatics and all things Asian pop culture under one enormous roof.
The two-day convention will feature appearances from Genshin Impact stars Alejandro Saab and Josey Montana McCoy and a huge feature from My Hero Academia with cast members Zeno Robinson, Megan Shipman, Jamie Marchi and Natalie Van Sistine all in attendance. After kicking off 2024 with a monumental debut show in London, the most exciting international celebration of Otaku culture makes its return to Birmingham, bigger and better than ever!
Alongside an exciting lineup of guest talent, the Artist Alley has exploded in size! Now including over 270 artists and exhibitors, making it the biggest anime themed market the UK has to offer. Voice actors already announced include fan-favourite Alejandro Saab, known for his role as Genshin Impact’s biggest joker Cyno and Gabimaru in Hell’s Paradise, as well as his anime Youtube channel Kaggyfilms.
Zeno Robinson will be touching down in Birmingham this weekend. Highly regarded for his versatile performances in anime like Pokémon and My Hero Academia, the LA based actor will appear alongside 3 other cast members from anime’s most prestigious hero school.
Fans will have the chance to meet the esteemed voice actress Jamie Marchi. Recognized for her iconic roles in beloved series like My Hero Academia and smash hit games like Borderlands, Marchi breathes life into characters with her unique voice and dynamic performances. The multi-talented Natalie Van Sistine is next on the lineup. Along with acting credits in titles like My Hero Academia and Spy X Family, she works as a post-production audio engineer and even dabbles in game design.
Fans can also expect to meet actress and ADR Director Megan Shipman who juggles playing roles like Anya Forger in My Hero Academia and Camie in One Piece with director roles for anime like Show by Rock: Mashumairesh. Con-goers will be delighted to see that Josey Montana McCoy will make an appearance at the NEC after having to reschedule from the London show earlier this year.
He is best known for voicing Kaeya in Genshin Impact and the inquisitive Batwheels bad-guy, Quizz. If that’s not enough for anime fans, the music lineup includes K-Pop idol LIYVZ, known for her energetic performances of original material and covers of the biggest K-Pop hits.
More guest appearances will be announced in the coming weeks, so fans should keep their eyes eagerly peeled for updates. With feature areas like the Silent Disco, Origami Craft Workshops, an anime themed Graffiti Wall and Maid Café attendees will be spoiled for entertainment choice.
Con-goers will have the chance to walk the Cosplay Catwalk, catch talks, panels and live podcasts, watch their favourite anime in the film festival area, attend cosplay meet-ups and get a ticket to the famous Anime Afterparty, where cosplay is actively encouraged!
