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Exciting news, anime fans: AniTOMO Convention, a free and all-day celebration of Japanese pop culture, is back in Brooklyn tomorrow. This is the third edition of the festival, which is organized by AniTOMO, a New York-based nonprofit honoring the cross-cultural exchange between Brooklyn and Japan. The free, one-day-only event will take place at Japan Village in Sunset Park on Saturday, July 19, from 11am to 10 pm.
The convention will feature over 100 artists and anime screenings, cosplay fashion shows, game panels, workshops, prizes and other celebrations of Japanese culture. Previous editions have brought in over 7,000 enthusiasts. There will also be free giveaways on the hour, every hour.
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Think you’re the sagest fan? AniTOMO and the American Debate League are once again presenting their renowned Great Anime Debate to engage the highest-level attendees in trivia and debate.
Japan Village is offering attendees a five-percent discount across its delectable food stalls. As a year-round “Japanese vacation without leaving Brooklyn,” the Industry City space is the perfect venue for AniTOMO, with dozens of vendors offering authentic and modern takes on beloved food, beverages, books, fashions and more.
This year’s partners, responsible for keeping the festival absolutely free, include the Museum of Moving Image, GKids, Sephora, Anime NYC and the Brooklyn Public Library.
AniTOMO was founded in 2022 by Eileen Level, a film professional and educator who wanted to showcase the ideas of BIPOC trailblazers through creative and fun programming. The convention launched in 2023 as a way to make a love of Japanese art accessible to those who might not be able to afford traditional conventions.
Given Level’s background in cinema, a key tenet of AniTOMO is its dedication to screening at least one film or episode, to ensure audiences can collectively experience the magic of the Japanese moving image without any barriers.
Other AniTOMO events include the AniTOMO Plus Ultra Tour, an invitational program for BIPOC Brooklyn high schoolers voices to co-design the annual convention; and AniTOMO Pop Ups, a series of holiday-themed events in partnership with cultural institutions.
You can find more information and a free registration link on Eventbrite.