For Immediate Release
Tattoo & Anime Show, Los Angeles’ Ultimate Weekend of Colorful Ink, Comes to the Los Angeles Convention Center April 19-21
An Insane Weekend of Anime and Tattoo Art, Cosplay, Rock ‘n’ Roll, and Xtreme Entertainment for the Entire Family!!
(Los Angeles, CA…April 4, 2024) For the first time on the West Coast, an event that fuses anime and tattoo art, The Tattoo & Anime Show, premieres Friday through Sunday, April 19 - 21, 2024 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, South Hall G. Plenty of parking is available.
The anime industry is ever-growing, with innovative products and exciting new designs constantly emerging.“This three-day event provides a venue for emerging individuals to showcase their creativity and Japanese pop art which has become ever present in the tattoo industry,” said Edwin Kwan, Producer of Mega Productions. “We work hard to bring a safe and fun weekend, and are confident that this event will become a part of the Los Angeles community.”
This three-day event offers a mega playground filled with anime, cosplay, tattooing, body piercing, live music, outrageous contests, beer, food, and much more.
The Anime Nation Stage will feature non-stop entertainment all weekend.
Voiceover actors live and in-person will include Darius Marquis Johnson (Barkimedes in Nickelodeon’s Monster High and comedian), Chris Cason (known for voicing Gluttony, Haruki Hanal and Siegfried), Derek Stephen Prince (from Bleach, Thousand Year Blood War, Demon Slayer and Undead Unlock), Peter Kelamis (known for voicing Rolf, Son Goku/Kakarot and Whiplash), and the dynamic husband/wife duo Grant and Jessica Gee-George (He is best known for Izuru Kira in Internationally acclaimed Bleach series and both are known for Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc). Plus, famed anime artist Kianna Krauss, freelance illustrator will be on stage for a special Q & A session.
TOYZILLA Pavillion will present special panels with Chris Niosi (creator of TOME), James Sie (actor from Netflix Series Avatar, The Last Airbender) and Kyle Hebert (known for Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods) along with games and prizes each day These special guests will also be available at their tables for autographs and selfies.
On Saturday at 3:00 pm, TOYZILLA will pay special tribute to Bird Studio’s founder and legendary manga artist Akira Toriyama, who was best known for creating “Dragon Ball”. TOYZILLA is also releasing ninety-nine Funko Art Pops as a Show exclusive. Each window is hand-painted with a unique design and autographed by one of the beloved voice actors on the 2024 series. The first in the series is “Goku with Wings”, featuring an angelic portrait of Goku, and signed by Peter Kelamis. He was one of the famous Super Saiyan’s fan-fave English-language voice actors. This is 2024 show exclusive that you can pre-ordered now from TOYZILLA(.com) or purchase at the show when you meet Peter Kelamis in person at the TOYZILLA booth.
Not to be missed will be several dynamic performances by high-energy groups including K-Pop’s Allure Crew Dancers and a J-Pop style Kaigai Idol Dancers. Plus a burlesque performance by Risque Rebels showcasing a unique anime style new to the art. Attendees can get into the action with singing/dancing contests winning trophies and bragging rights.
Cosplayers unite and bring your A-game look to the Event. Outrageous contests will feature individuals dressed in incredible handmade costumes that span the worlds of anime -- comic,TV/film, web series, books, and video games. Saturday will be a Novice division day and on Sunday, the veterans and pros will compete in the Masters Division. Categories both days include: the cutest, funniest, scariest, most action, realistic, and most creative. All winners will receive prizes.
The action continues into the evening on Friday and Saturday nights from 8:00-10:00 pm with a Costume Ball and Contests. A large dance floor will be featured with a K-Pop DJ playing infectious melodies and eclectic mix styles.
Where are the coolest cars in LA? Attendees will want to check out the special display of Itasha cars throughout the weekend. These autos are decorated, wrapped in the hottest Japanese car culture with images or characters from anime, manga, or video games. It makes a perfect spot to snap a selfie for your Instagram.
For the gamer in all of us, come check out your skills for free at our Video Gaming Lounge by World8.
The Artist’s Alley will feature many artists offering an assortment of handmade items for sale including art and prints, crafts, clothing, and small items like keychains, stickers, and more. Anime vendors will be on hand with costumes and clothing lines, along with funko pops, and specialty items you can not find anywhere but at the Event.
Over 250 tattoo artists will be on-site all weekend, displaying their work and creating tattoos. Special guest tattoo artists include Baba of Vintage Tattoo, Omar Jose Aguilar a.k.a “Mr. Rabbit” of Custom Culture Collective and anime tattoos; Jason Hartz of The Heart Tattoo, Damon Arts, a caricature artist and illustrator, and many more.
West Hollywood based tattoo artists that are quickly becoming TikTok sensations are the Petunia Twins, with over 400K followers. These vibrant identical twins create modern artistic tattoos, and specialize in watercolor and full color ink. Their staff of five professional women and studio supports women and veganism.
Do you have what it takes? Attendees can take part in a variety of tattoo contests held daily including Best Anime, Best Comic, Best Portrait, Best Black & Grey, Best Color, Best Sleeve, Best Religious, Best Cover Up, and many more. At the end of each day, the Best Tattoo will be selected.
On the Body Arts Stage on Saturday at 2 pm, talented tattoo artists will be trading their “flesh” canvas for a “linen” canvas in this ultimate battle of the tattoo artists, The Art Fusion Contest. Two teams of five will create a finished work of art on a canvas from a selected theme. The winning team will be determined by the audience and the finished artwork will be auctioned off following the contest.
Anime and Tattoo Show admission tickets start at $30 per day and in advance or at the door. Three-day weekend tickets are $100 and kids 12 years and under $15. Show hours are Friday, April 19, from 2:00. – 11:00 p.m., Saturday, April 20, from 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 21, 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Event is produced by Mega Productions and sponsored by Baba of Vintage Tattoos.
For more information on ticketing and exhibiting, call 626-961-6522 or visit www.animenationfest.com for Anime events and www.bodyartexpo.com for Tattoo events.
Become a part of the community, and follow the convention online –
Instagram: @animenationfest, @bodyartexpo