If you thought Anime NYC was your only chance to meet some of Japan’s biggest manga artists, Kodansha USA has a big surprise in store for you this October: the company has announced that it will open a month-long pop-up event in New York City called Kodansha House, where fans can interact with some of Kodansha’s most popular manga artists outside the confines of a typical anime convention.
Fans will be greeted by a giant manga shelf entrance, which leads to a gallery, cafe, lounge and extensive manga library. Kodansha House will also provide space for fans to interact, create and celebrate the stories they love. From interactive exhibits and workshops to date nights and film screenings, this pop-up is the perfect spot for manga lovers.
The month-long program will be packed with a variety of activities, including a “late challenge,” live discussions, quiz nights, screenings of fan-favorite films like AKIRA, Blue Lock, Ghost in the Shell, and BLAME!, as well as a fun “speed friend” event for fans to find their perfect manga-loving match. Four big-name manga artists will also be making rare appearances in the U.S. for Q&A sessions and autograph signings: Oshimi Shuzo (The Flowers of Evil), Yamaguchi Tsubasa (Blue Period), Yukimura Makoto (Vinland Saga), and Shirahama Kamome (The Atelier of Witch’s Hat).
The pop-up store will be rounded out with two photo booths dedicated to fan favourites AKIRA and Attack on Titan. Fans can don Kaneda’s iconic jacket and goggles, hop on a stationary AKIRA bike and pose in a four-shot sequence against a projected anime backdrop. Meanwhile, Attack on Titan fans can step inside a life-size mock-up of the walled village from Attack on Titan, where fans can act out a scene as a Titan, climbing over the walls to grab tiny figurines made of candy or chocolate, and capture the moment on video.
Details regarding admission fees and program schedule will be announced on October 4th, closer to the event’s opening. Kodansha House is located at 45 Grand Street in New York City’s SoHo district and is open Wednesday through Sunday from 12pm to 9pm.
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