For the third time in a row, I attended Animé Los Angeles, and it was a blast! This year, they were celebrating their twentieth anniversary, and I could not be more excited to attend and explore what they had to offer! Read along to learn how I spent my time attending ALA 20, and see if it’s up YOUR alley!
In the past two years, I have made the habit of attending Animé Los Angeles during the weekend, from Saturday to Sunday. But this year, I wanted to make a better effort of attending the first few opening days. This year, I attended three out of the four days of Animé Los Angeles, and here is what happened in three days.
On Thursday, I attended with my friend and TGON fellow writer, Kat. Kat cosplayed as The Lamb from the increasingly popular roguelike indie game, Cult of the Lamb. Meanwhile, I dressed up as my favorite Ghost Pokémon, Mimikyu. In terms of popularity, Kat’s homemade cosplay won by a landslide. People flocked to her to take pictures and pass along Cult of the Lamb-themed ribbons, and in exchange, Kat provided Cult of the Lamb stickers she bought off Amazon.
If you recall from my previous reviews of Animé Los Angeles, many attendees and vendors create unique (and sometimes silly) ribbons to trade, exchange, and give away. As a collector, I find the ribbons to be one of my favorite aspects of Animé Los Angeles. ALA 20 staff, for example, encouraged Ribbon Wonder Trades with the intent of attendees anonymously exchanging customized and randomized ribbons. I exchanged three ribbons on Thursday. Hours later, I returned to the Wonder Trade booth to find three new ribbons waiting for me.
We entered the Exhibition Hall and explored, traveling from one row to the next. As usual, I loved the variety displayed in the Artist Alley. Artists and original creators were selling all sorts of things, from pins, keychains, hair clips, to anime-inspired apparel. I recognized the artists Maintaining Mediocrity and chunky tomato from previous conventions and bought hair clips from Goobers Only. While exploring more of the Exhibit Hall, another attendee approached me, said, “I looked comfy in my (Mimikyu) cloak,” and gave me a ribbon that said, “You choose comfy.” I felt blessed.
Then, I played a thirty-minute demo of Starbright Agency, an American Otome game that was being developed by indie studio Thoughtful Bread. I love Otome games and dating simulators, so one of their staff asked me to play their demo I said YES. I won’t spoil the demo, but I LOVED IT! I loved the writing and character designs, and Kat was happy to watch me play. Kat was a fan of the Stormlight love interest, and I was fond of the Prince of Petals. Click here to add Starbright Agency to your Steam Wishlist! I certainly plan to play once it officially releases!
Kat and I found the food trunks, but per usual, the prices were a bit outrageous and the options were too limited (in my opinion) so we sat down and shared snacks from my purse. I highly recommend bringing water and snacks from home. Save your cash for the stuff in Artist Alley. We then returned to our car, which was parked less than twenty minutes away from the convention center.
On Friday, I attended alone and dressed casually in Disney-inspired attire. I explored Artist Alley at a slower pace, spoke with the Psychology for Geeks staff about ways to relieve stress, and when I needed a quiet moment, I spent thirty minutes in the Manga Lounge and read the first volume of the manga Pet Shop of Horrors. As an introvert, I loved that ALA 20 creates quiet, safe spaces for people like me to recharge our social batteries. Conventions are fun, but they can also be overwhelming, so it is wonderful to have these moments to breathe and feel at ease.
After my time in the Manga Lounge, I returned to Artist Alley and bought a print from Runee, who designed the ALA 20 badge artwork. I was thrilled to recognize her art style when I received my ALA 20 press badge, so when I found her booth, I asked if she would sign my badge. She said YES, and it made my day. Next, I bought Pokémon-themed pins, stickers, and a reusable tote from Heyyo Jojo, who came to California specifically for this convention. Again, I was psyched. Meeting artists in person is always going to be one of the best highlights of conventions.
On Saturday, I was especially psyched to attend ALA 20 because it was the set date for the Pokémon-themed ribbon rally. The rules were simple. Track down and challenge the Kanto Gym Leaders, Elite Four, and Region Champion. After defeating them, they will present you with a ribbon and a hint to find the next challenger. Like collecting badges in the Kanto region, the goal was to collect ribbons, and the first few “trainers” to collect all the ribbons would be awarded a special prize (and bragging rights).
Dressed this time as a Team Rocket grunt, I was ready to take over Kanto. I approached Professor Oak for my starting ribbon and was instructed to first find Brock. I found Brock in the Exhibit Hall. To defeat Brock in battle, I had to sing the original Pokémon theme song from memory. I found Misty next and had to beat her in another game of Rock-Paper Scissors (after three failed attempts).
I then found Surge and Erika, beat them in their respective games, and rushed to defeat Koga, Sabrina, and Blaine. To defeat Koga, I had to strike my best “anime” pose, and to defeat Sabrina, I had to test my “psychic abilities” and guess the correct card hidden in her hand. To defeat Blaine, I had to solve a riddle. If I failed their respective games, I was always allowed to try again by tracking down and challenging other ribbon rally participants, such as The Bug Catcher and Team Rocket. Thankful to be wearing comfortable shoes, I ran from one end of the Exhibit Hall to the other, tracking down the Kanto league and practicing my Pokémon knowledge.
After a lot of back and forth, I beat Giovanni by memorizing Pokémon type advantages and faced off against the Kanto Elite Four. I answered Pokémon trivia and “battled” my way to Lance, Gary Oak, and Red. Exhausted, but still determined, I battled Gary Oak in a game of Pokémon Showdown and challenged Red to Pokémon Colleseum. Once I won, I was told to find Giovanni for my prize.
Turns out, I was the seventh person to complete the ribbon rally. As a result, I received a 3-D printed medallion. It was a bummer I wasn’t one of the first three to complete the rally and win one of the 3-D printed trophies, but I was happy with my medallion and ribbons and looked forward to trying again in 2026. To end the day, I bought a custom jacket inspired by the One Piece character Uta from The Kigu Stop. If you love custom, anime-inspired streetwear, I highly recommend their designs!
In three days, I explored Artist Alley, I chatted with vendors, and I participated in a ribbon rally. Overall, I loved my ALA 20 experience and hope to be invited back next year! Animé Los Angeles does not disappoint! There are always ways to have fun, so mark your calendars! Animé Los Angeles returns January 8-11, 2026!
Will you attend ALA 21 in 2026? Tell us in the comments!
