Anime NYC draws 100,000 for premier cosplay event in New York

Anime NYC 2025, the largest anime convention on the East Coast, showcased top Japanese culture figures and featured impressive cosplay celebrating anime and video games. Meanwhile, L.A. Comic Con 2025 in Los Angeles attracted a diverse crowd, including a vibrant community of cosplayers expressing creativity and identity, with events and meet-ups enhancing the experience. The convention highlighted queer-friendly cosplay, with participants embodying a wide range of geek culture characters, reflecting the inclusive nature of the event. Additionally, the de Young Museum in San Francisco hosted the 'Art of Manga' exhibition, presenting manga as a legitimate art form through original works and attracting cosplay fans of the genre. L.A. Comic Con also featured striking cosplay of popular characters from franchises like Disney, Universal Studios, and Five Nights at Freddy's, demonstrating the broad appeal and creativity within the cosplay community. Together, these events underscore the growing cultural significance of cosplay and manga in American pop culture in 2025.