My First AX Experience!

I’ll admit, I was anxious as I approached the Los Angeles Convention Center. It was my first time attending Anime Expo, and I wasn’t entirely certain what to expect. After all, it was Day One and bound to be busy. 

To meet expectations, there looked to be hundreds of people lined up. Frankly, it was hard to tell what line went where, and initially, I couldn’t recognize any AX staff among the crowd to direct me to the correct line. After being directed to the wrong line twice, it happens, I finally got my badge and maneuvered my way inside. Once inside, I was handed the AX guidebook and directed to go up the stairs to the Entertainment Hall, which was the nearest to me, so it was my first section to explore.

I beelined for the WEBTOON booth, where attendees were lined up to play a game of Plinko to earn WEBTOON-affiliated merchandise and take commemorative photos. I got in line and, once it was my turn, I earned a mystery item that turned out to be a Tower of God coloring book. After chatting with the staff and exploring everything the WEBTOON booth had to offer, I checked out the rest of the Entertainment Hall. 

In the gaming section, I saw attendees playing retro versions of Super Mario, Metroid, and more. It might sound strange, but I enjoy watching gameplay, especially games I have never played before. I honestly think it has alot ot do with the fact that I love people watching, and seeing these people thoroughly enjoy what they were doing was entertaining.

Next up was the Exhibit Hall, where I admired the figurines sold and displayed by the Good Smile Company. I love the detail reflected in each piece. I feel like it speaks volumes to their quality. I checked out the Crunchyroll booth and store, and spied very tempting mystery bags on the shelves and walked away for the sake of my wallet! I also recognized the OMOCAT booth, which was selling OMORI-related merchandise. 

To end Day One, I explored Artist Alley, often my favorite section of any convention. However, with so many other attendees crowding the aisles, it was admittedly hard to navigate properly and admire the artwork and other merchandise for sale. But somehow, I managed to shuffle my way up and down every aisle of the AX Artist Alley. I recognized the artists, chunky tomato, selling her Pokémon pride pins, and petalparade, selling Super Mario-inspired keychains and whatnot. To my surprise, I also noted that the creator, MAMOBOT, was selling some of their highly sought-after designs. I love the detail put into their larger-scale pins and highly recommend them. 

Day One was admittedly chaotic and crowded, but it gave me the chance to explore everything in-depth, and I found myself looking forward to my visit on Saturday. On Saturday, Day Three, badge in hand, I was ready! I started my day by attending a panel that went into detail about navigating Pokémon Nuzlockes, a self-imposed challenge for gamers. The panelist was streaming Pokémon Emerald via a projector, and attendees had the opportunity to explore the strategies behind Nuzlockes. As a long-time Pokémon fan,  it was fun to watch the crowd get excited, and it made me want to learn more about Nuzlockes so I could attempt one myself someday.

After the panel, I reexplored the main halls and Artist Alley. Similar to Day One, it was crowded and hard to maneuver, but it was oddly exciting to mix in with the crowd, bump into other attendees, and make small talk with cosplayers. Even as an introvert, I loved the energy that attendees bring to these conventions. I flip a switch and could talk about my favorite fandoms, characters, and ships for hours. 

To conclude my first AX experience, I lined up for the AX-exclusive censored screening of New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt. For those unfamiliar with this action comedy anime series, the original Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt ran from October to December 2010. As the title suggests, the series revolved around the Anarchy sisters, Panty and Stocking, angels who were kicked out of Heaven due to bad behavior. Housed by Reverend Garterbelt and stationed in Daten City, a place bordering between Heaven and Hell, Panty and Stocking were tasked with destroying the “Ghosts” that haunt the city. With each exorcism, the sisters earn “Heaven Coins” to buy their way back into Heaven. Unfortunately, throughout the series, Panty and Stocking are continuously sidetracked by their respective interests in sex and sweets. Please note that Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt is an anime series best suited for viewers eighteen and older, due to its use of foul language and fanservice. 

Despite being a limited series with thirteen episodes, the PSG series has gained a serious cult following over the past fifteen years. With its unique array of hilariously deviant characters and animation style, it makes sense that the series is receiving so much renewed attention, and I’m here for it. It’s vulgar, messy, and good for a laugh. 

While exploring AX, I saw plenty of girls cosplaying as the Anarchy sisters, and there were plenty of said cosplayers in line to watch the screening. While waiting in line for the screening to start, I struck conversation with the attendees behind me. Turns out, one of them had only been recently introduced to PSG by his friends. We talked about how funny and absurd the original series was, they let me check out their limited edition Panty & Stocking figurines from the Good Smile Company, and we laughed about how it originally ended. No, I will not tell you. If you wanna know, you’ve gotta watch the series. You’ll likely see why the PSG series has fans wanting more.

With a front row seat to the screening, I was HYPED to see how the new series was going to pick up where the original left off. The lights dimmed, and the episode started. Of course, video and photography were strictly prohibited during the screening since the New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt wasn’t scheduled to air until July 9, 2025. But, as of now, the New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt is available to watch via Prime Video. You can also watch the original Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt via Crunchyroll. Personally, I loved the first episode, and watching it with fellow fans was an awesome way to end my first AX adventure. PSG is not an anime for everyone, but not every anime is gonna be well-suited for every viewer, and that’s okay. 

Once the screening was over, it was time to go home. Within two days, I explored the halls, sat down for a panel, and watched an exclusive screening. Overall, I enjoyed Anime Expo and hope to attend next year, so stay tuned! Anime Expo returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center on July 2-5, 2026!