I went to Day 2 of Anime Expo 2025 with zero expectations and absolutely no prep—and I mean none. No map, no schedule, no game plan. Just vibes. As someone who’s always loved anime but never attended a major con before, I figured it’d be chill to just wing it. Spoiler alert: I was wrong—but in the best way.
Doors opened at 8:00 AM. I rolled up around 8:30, only to be greeted by a full-on car apocalypse. The traffic coming off the freeway exit was already backed up, which should’ve been my first clue that this was about to be a monster event. Parking in downtown LA is always a mess, but Anime Expo takes it to another level. Still, I eventually found a spot and made my way toward the convention center. Just follow the crowd of Straw Hats, Gojo cosplayers, and a sea of Momo jackets from Dan Da Dan.
Security was surprisingly smooth. I had expected to wait in line forever, but I walked right in. No major delays. No intense bag checks. Just a quick pass through and boom—I was inside the madness.
The Entertainment Hall: Anime Disneyland for Nerds Like Me
The first place I landed was the Entertainment Hall, and it honestly felt like walking into an anime theme park. Huge booths from Netflix, Funko, Hoyoverse, Bandai Namco, and even Konami and Beyblade X were on full display. Netflix had a pop-up featuring new trailers and some sneak peeks, while Funko had exclusive AX merch that sold out fast.
There was also a tabletop gaming area where people were trading and battling with fresh cards. Definitely a cool vibe for anyone into TCGs. Next to that was the PC gaming zone, which had demo stations set up for new and upcoming titles. I even got to test out a couple of games I’d only seen teased online.
My personal favorite? The retro gaming zone—a perfect blast of nostalgia. We’re talking classic Street Fighter, Smash Bros. Melee, old school arcade games, and even a few obscure titles I hadn’t seen in decades.
Also shoutout to the cosplay repair station and the full-blown photo sets designed for cosplayers. They had actual sets for shooting photos in themed environments, which is genius.
The Exhibit Hall: Big Studios, Big Hype
After soaking up the Entertainment Hall, I made my way into the Exhibit Hall, which was just as packed and probably twice as overwhelming. This is where the big anime companies showed up with serious muscle. Crunchyroll, Hulu, Atlus/Sega, Bandai Namco, Square Enix, Aniplex, and Viz all had huge displays.
Some booths had exclusive merch, and others had mini-events or showcases running every hour. Crunchyroll, for example, had a wall of upcoming shows with huge teaser screens and massive lines for their merch. I could easily see why people spend an entire day just here. Between limited drops, demos, and giveaways, there’s a lot to take in—and even more to buy.
Artist Alley: The Hidden Gem (That Everyone Knows About)
Next stop: Artist Alley. This was honestly one of the highlights for me. It’s tucked into a different hall and is filled with smaller, independent artists and vendors selling custom items, original art, stickers, pins, and apparel. You won’t find this stuff anywhere else, and that’s the charm. Everything here felt personal and creative.
That said, it was insanely packed. The walkways were super narrow, and the crowd density made it tough to browse comfortably. If I could do it again, I’d hit Artist Alley first thing in the morning. It’s totally worth it, but easier to navigate when it’s less crowded.
First-Timer Mistakes (So You Don’t Make Them)
I’ll be real—I regret only going for one day. I thought one day would be enough to get the full experience, but I barely scratched the surface. I missed out on panels, screenings, and performances I didn’t even know were happening until it was too late.
Also, there’s no clear signage or guide once you’re inside. You’re kind of just left to wander and figure things out. Next time, I’m definitely checking the Anime Expo website ahead of time for maps, the full event schedule, and panel times. Planning is key if you want to make the most of it.
Final Thoughts
Even with the chaos, the crowds, and the lack of planning on my part—Anime Expo 2025 was a blast. The energy was unreal. The people were friendly. The content was endless. There’s truly something for everyone, whether you’re into mainstream anime, retro games, collectibles, or just cosplay culture.
I left feeling hyped, inspired, and already planning my return next year. If you’re a fan of anime and pop culture in general, AX is 100% worth the trip. Just don’t make the same rookie mistakes I did—show up early, plan your day, and give yourself at least two days to experience the full thing.