Anime Expo is Launching a Smaller Spin-Off Called anime expo

Anime Expo (AX) recently concluded it’s 31st annual convention. The latest event returned to being in-person and brought fans and industry professionals together to celebrate Japanese pop culture in North America. At the end of the four-day convention, The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA) who hosts AX made the announcement that they are launching anime expo (ax) this November. This will be a smaller-scale spin-off convention that offers another opportunity for fans to celebrate Japanese pop culture, it’ll just be in November in Ontario, California. The idea is that ax will be more about exhibit halls and artist alley instead of the giant panels. I can appreciate this a little bit. Ray Chiang, CEO of SPJA said:

Seeing our Anime Expo family once per year simply isn’t enough, which is why we’re incredibly excited to bring the brand-new ‘anime expo’ event to Ontario, California. Anime Expo 2022 was a success, and we look forward to carrying that positive momentum into this smaller-scale show that provides a unique, more intimate opportunity for fans of Japanese pop culture to come together a second time this year.

Fans interested will be able to attend ax from November 12-13 at the Ontario Convention Center. Tickets will be available in the coming months, so keep an eye out. What do you think of this smaller convention approach? I think they missed out on calling it Anime Expo Chibi, Chibi AX, or something similar.