This “world’s largest dinner party” made its grand return after 7 years. Since its first event was held in 2013 on Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, it made sense that in 2026 they chose the iconic city hall building to mark the lively occasion.

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What is Diner en Blanc?

Originally created by François Pasquier in 1988 in Paris, Diner en Blanc started as a series of gatherings with his loved ones. Since his home was too small to host everyone, Pasquier moved the picnic party to local parks. To make it easier for guests to find one another in the busy crowds, they agreed to dress in white, creating the elegant and striking tradition the event is still known for today.

Today, Dîner en Blanc has evolved from a Parisian tradition into a global cultural movement. In 2012, Dîner en Blanc International was established in Montréal, Canada, to lead the global development, management and protection of the brand. Under the leadership of owner and President Sandy Safi and her team, Dîner en Blanc has expanded its international presence and, in 2026, is active in more than 60 cities around the world.

Whichever city you’re attending, expect to dress in all white and bring your own food, decor, white tablecloths, dishware, and utensils, along with a folding table and chairs. You can also rent or order items ahead of time if you don’t want to bring everything.

The location is also secret until the very last minute, as guests are notified where to meet at assigned departure points, along with the event’s table leader. Meet-ups happen all around the city, and guests converge at the secret location to set up their tables for the night.

Keeping Los Angeles Mysterious

We spoke with Monica Castaneda, event host, and she said the masquerade theme will stay with Los Angeles because of its Hollywood roots. It’s sexy, it’s mysterious, it’s very LA.

It also took a year of working together with the city to find the right location and gather permits. On the day itself, they put in a lot of effort, with preparations starting at 6 AM for the 7 PM event.

A sea of white took shape as around 1,500 guests gathered to set up their tables and elaborate decor. We saw many creative tables, with quite a few Eiffel Towers, plus added height from arches and garlands. They held contests for Best Tablescape and Best Costumes, with recognition given before dancing and sparklers commenced.

Overall, an extremely fun night, and the hosts are looking to come back to Los Angeles in March 2027!

The post A Magical Night in White: Diner en Blanc Los Angeles appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

Moderated by Lisle Wilkerson, best known for voicing Nina Williams and Christie Monteiro in the Tekken series, the panel was lively, entertaining, and engaging. The first half of the panel focused on the popular WEBTOON manhwa ELECEED, which is being adapted into a TV anime series by DandeLion Animation Studio and will premiere worldwide in April 2027. The shonen web series, translated into 10 languages and still ongoing, is currently at chapter 393, with new updates weekly. For fans of the manhwa, Penguin Random House will also be releasing the print editions in North America next year.

ELECEED

At the panel, special ELECEED guests included the illustrator ZHENA and the author Jeho Son, who shared behind-the-scenes stories with the audience. When asked what anime had first inspired their craft, Jeho Son said it was Laputa: Castle in the Sky, one of Studio Ghibli’s most influential films, that he kept watching over and over. For ZHENA, it was the Rose of Versailles that made her heart beat so hard that she hopes her work might do the same for others one day.

Fans of the manhwa also learned that the cat version of the character Kayden, was originally supposed to be a dog. Jeho Son said that while preparing to pitch ELECEED to ZHENA, he changed his approach at the last minute and presented it as a “fat cat on the streets” story rather than a heavily action-oriented one, believing the latter would’ve made her less likely to join the project. In response to this remark, ZHENA emphatically nodded. And since ZHENA’s own cat is orange, it eventually became the final look of the important character. 

ZHENA also kept expressing that she was nervous working on the project, and Jeho Son explained that it was because he kept on emphasizing to her that the human version of Kayden had to be the “best-looking and coolest character ever,” while the cat version had to be the “laziest and most pitiful-looking.” It all worked out since the manhwa is almost 8 years old now and still going strong.

When an audience member asked how much input the author gives the artist beyond the Kayden character, it was revealed that although Jeho Son spearheaded the story, ZHENA provided feedback on certain characters, especially the ones she had worked hardest to draw. He couldn’t bring himself to kill off characters she felt particularly attached to!

Fans can look forward to the anime premiering in April 2027, but in the meantime, here’s the newest trailer:

RE:BEL ROBOTICA

The second half of the panel brought in a new guest, illustrator Mika Pikazo, known for her vivid, colorful style and most recognized for her character design work on the video game Fire Emblem Engage. Mika’s work was also featured prominently at this Anime Expo, as she designed the newest promotional art for the official magazines, banners, flyers, and more. You can’t mistake her style, which focuses on expressive eyes, hyper-saturated neon color palettes, chaotic composition, and sharp line work, which was heavily influenced by her 2.5 years living in Brazil after graduating from high school. 

Now, she’s working on an anime that was originally a self-published manga from Comiket called RE:BEL ROBOTICA with animation studio SILVER LINK. When the producer first saw her doujinshi, he was drawn to her beautiful use of color and wanted to bring that unique visual style to life through animation. The work also asks what the world will be like in 2050. Will advanced technology really make people happy?

There’s an incredible team surrounding the anime, including:

• Director Shin-Onuma, known for the Fate Prisma Illya series 
• Screenplay by Ryo Yoshigami, known for Psycho-Pass
• Composer Yuki Kajiura, known for Demon Slayer, Sword Art Online, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, and more

All we know is that the anime will officially premiere sometime in 2027. In the meantime, here’s the newest trailer, until we get more updates:

Anime Expo, the largest celebration of Japanese pop culture in North America, will return next year to the Los Angeles Convention Center from July 2 to July 5, 2027.

The post ELECEED Anime and Mika Pikazo’s RE:BEL ROBOTICA Revealed at Anime Expo 2026 appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

When asked what they were most excited about for Season 3, both spoke about the wider world compared to Season 1, seeing more of Maomao’s different facial expressions, more mystery solving, and having a lot of fun interacting with many new and current characters. 

“The Apothecary Diaries has constantly grown in scale, in the story, and in the world. Because of that, there are more things to distract or for Maomao to be curious about,” Yuki Aoi said, “but personally, I’m really looking forward to interacting with Lahan.” 

Takeo Otsuka said, “Of course, I love her relationship with Jinshi, but I’m particularly excited for Season 3, a character called Lahan.” We’ll definitely pay attention to Lahan since both VAs mentioned his name. Since he’s Maomao’s biological cousin and adopted older brother, their scenes together often have an entertaining “older brother and younger sister” dynamic. Lahan is also a genius with numbers and investigates financial and political matters alongside Lakan.

The Voice Recording Process

When asked whether the VAs had any warm-up rituals before delivering lines or embodying the character, both said they don’t have routines and that, when they’re acting across from each other, the exchange naturally brings the character to life. 

This information surprised me, since I wasn’t aware that Japanese voice actors work in a group setting, since I’ve seen so many American VAs working solo in a booth! This makes so much more sense, though, as the dialogue feels more conversational. “Many, many people! We have a whole cast. Like 20 people and 4 microphones, so we all kind of have to dodge each other as we go to the mic and record,” Yuki Aoi said, laughing. 

Later on in the panel, Yuki Aoi mentioned that the group recording process feels like elementary school in the best way, since the vibes are so much fun.

Takeo Otsuka praised her by saying, “She makes it look so easy, and she kind of leads the way with her voice when she steps up to the mic. The entire studio just goes into Apothecary mode, like we’re all in her world, in her universe.”

Can You Guess Their Favorite Lines?

Of course, I had to ask what their favorite lines were, and for Yuki Aoi, she reminisced about two lines. 

“This is poison. I’ve been made to say it so many times, even though it only appeared in the anime once, but I remember adjusting the tone a lot with that line. There aren’t that many lines when, after you eat, you say it’s poison, so I thought it was really impressive and unique.”

And then when Jinshi gets a scar on his face.

“You’ve become more manly than before. Maomao wasn’t looking at a physically manly Jin-Shi due to the scar. I think she was looking at the soul of a manly Jin-Shi. So it really shows where Maomao is focused on in terms of her definition of manly, and it’s like an almost spiritual growth.”

For Takeo Otsuka, his favorite line, “Is my pretty face the only value I hold? Because it’s really interesting to see how their relationship progresses and when Maomao’s definition of manliness changes. For Jinshi, there aren’t that many people he can say that to, so I think there’s a lot of meaning in saying that to Maomao.”

Special Stage at Peacock Theater

The official evening panel was packed with excited fans, and they warmed up the audience pre-show by inviting Maomao cosplayers to the front to perform a “Maomao catwalk” to compete for Crunchyroll pins and signed copies of The Apothecary Diaries manga. 

We were then blessed by a new 52-second trailer for the movie, coming out in Japan on December 11, 2026, titled The Apothecary Diaries: The Deceased Consort’s Hidden Treasure.

After energetic introductions and the voice actors confirming that Season 3 dubbing had already begun, they moved to the standing microphones to treat the audience to not one but four live dubbing clips!

The scenes:

• Jinshi and Maomao’s first meeting, where he wrote a note to single her out
• ****THE FROG SCENE*****
• Jinshi asks Maomao if he was just a pretty face to her
• Jinshi gifts the ox bezoar, and Maomao loses all composure

Obviously, the crowd went wild for THE frog scene, but it was also interesting to see how the characters’ dynamic changed from their first meeting to near the end of Season 2 in just a few clips, performed so well by the voice actors.

Takeo Otsuka, after performing Jinshi live, said, “All of your reactions were just so perfect! I was like, man, should I overact a little bit, should I exaggerate a little bit more? I’m really getting into this. It’s my first time doing this in front of such a huge live audience, but I had so much fun; you guys made it a lot of fun for me.”

They further expanded on what it was like to see and perform these scenes back-to-back, from the first episode to the most current available. Yuki Aoi said, “Maomao’s perspective on Jinshi has definitely changed. She sees his straightforwardness, seriousness and sincerity that she wasn’t aware of before. Jinshi, in my opinion, is a person who has been desired by people since birth. So when he gave the ox parts, the fact that he’s doing something for someone else to the degree that he is, and adding more work to his plate as if he doesn’t already have enough, really shows how their relationship has changed.”

Takeo Otsuki remarked, “Maomao now really sees the more stoic and mature and composed version of Jinshi. But because they’ve spent so much time together, I don’t know if Maomao is aware of it yet, but I can certainly see her beginning to open her heart to Jinshi.”

And with this, we eagerly await The Apothecary Diaries Season 3 – Part 1, which will premiere on Crunchyroll in October, with Part 2 following in April 2027. A huge thank you to Mikey McNamara for helping to translate our interview and to studio OLM, TOHO animation STUDIO, Crunchyroll, Natsu Hyuuga, and Touko Shino for bringing this beloved world to life.

The post The Apothecary Diaries Japanese Voice Actors Tease Bigger, Exciting Season 3 for Maomao & Jinshi appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

The Event Experience

There were impressive displays of official merchandise from Bandai Namco and BoxLunch, featuring a giant Jiji cat alongside other Studio Ghibli properties, My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle, and more.

A postcard writing table invited us to write personal messages to a loved one. The cards featured original concept art by Yoshifumi Kondo (animation director and character designer of Kiki’s Delivery Service), printed for one of two IMAX posters created for the 4K release. Kondo also directed Whisper of the Heart, another Ghibli classic that will receive its own 4K IMAX remaster in theaters.

Before seating, we picked up our movie snacks from the complimentary concession stand, which included not only popcorn but also bread from one of my favorite bakeries, Okayama Kobo! Eating bread while watching a movie where a witch-in-training lives above a bakery? Perfect.

The Magic of 4K Remastering

I haven’t seen the film in over 5 years, so watching a remastered Kiki’s Delivery Service in 4K on the IMAX screen was pure joy. The hand-drawn details of this older film, now magnified and sharpened, truly showed the care for animation that Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli painstakingly put into their work. The bustling city crowds felt alive, like each background figure had a story of their own rather than just being “extras.” The architectural details and the lush greenery also added to the feeling like I was watching it for the first time all over again. 

My heart was smiling the entire time, and seeing the hand-drawn animation at this scale, every brushstroke and painted background, is a great reminder that real human hands created this film. The 4K remaster lets longtime fans rediscover details they may have missed and lets new viewers appreciate the beloved film that still resonates with audiences today.

Coming-of-Age, Loneliness, and Self-Care Themes

Even though Kiki’s Delivery Service was released in 1989, its themes still resonate with viewers, especially with adults. Kiki is a witch-in-training who has to live on her own for a year, all while dealing with the struggles of fitting in to a new town, managing the little money that she has, finding a way to support herself, and going through a form of depression due to burnout.

Doesn’t it sound familiar in today’s environment? People who have ever felt like they’re “losing their spark” will find comfort in this movie and be encouraged to take a break and reset. 

From Elusive to Main Stream

There was a time when watching a Studio Ghibli film meant importing DVDs or hoping a friend had a copy, even if it didn’t have English subtitles. For many Western fans, seeing an IMAX screening of an animated film from 1989 would have seemed impossible a couple of decades ago. Now, thanks to the success of Princess Mononoke’s 4K IMAX remaster last year, fans can continue to experience Studio Ghibli stories together and on the biggest screen possible. 

Watch Kiki’s Delivery Service in 4K IMAX nationwide on Friday, March 13, 2026, for one week only. The next two Studio Ghibli 4K IMAX remasters will be one-day-only releases of Whisper of the Heart on April 21, 2026, and The Secret World of Arrietty on May 19, 2026.

The post A Night of Kiki’s Delivery Service Magic in 4K IMAX appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

Spoiler alert: I enjoyed it. The movie was fun, musically catchy, comical, and animated beautifully. Definitely a new kind of movie night. I immediately thought of the “choose-your-own-adventure” books I loved as a kid, brought onto the big screen.

So if you’re interested in not just watching a movie, but participating in one, HYPNOSISMIC, Japan’s first fully interactive theatrical film, lets the audience vote in real time using their smartphones to guide the story. There are 48 paths, 7 different endings, and 25 songs. Tickets are now available, as the movie releases exclusively at select Regal locations on February 27.

For Both HYPNOSISMIC Fans and Newcomers

For fans already familiar with the franchise, you’ll be happy to see the returning rap groups battle it out, but the story is structured for newcomers to enjoy as well. Anime Expo attendees last year got the first taste of interactivity when a portion of the movie was screened at the largest anime convention in the U.S. and North America.

HYPNOSISMIC – Division Rap Battle takes place in a world where WORDS have replaced weapons, and the rise of the Hypnosis Mic has ended armed conflict, allowing disputes to be settled through rap battles rather than violence. Now in the third year of the H. Era, the nation’s top rap divisions from across Japan face off in the Final Division Rap Battle, where rival crews compete for power, pride, and the future itself in the ultimate lyrical showdown.

Rap Groups:

• IKEBUKURO’s Buster Bros!!!
• YOKOHAMA’s Mad Trigger Crew
• SHIBUYA’s Fling Posse
• SHINJUKU’s Matenro
• OSAKA’s Dotsuitare-Hompo
• NAGOYA’s Bad Ass Temple

With high-energy performances, team loyalty, smack talk, fun competition scenes, and audience participation, the moviegoer will immediately know whether their team advances to the next round.

How the Interactive System Works

With real-time audience voting, you’ll directly affect the rap battle outcomes and story progression, making every movie screening a unique experience. 

Voting is done through the CtrlMovie app, which you should download in advance. You’ll scan the QR code that appears on the screen before the movie starts, and you’ll be ready to vote! 

After each energetic rap battle, you’ll be prompted to vote, and you’ll have about 10 seconds to lock it in. The winner is announced after heartbeat sound effects, as you’re in suspense alongside the rap groups, anxious to know who won. Once the winner is announced, you’ll experience the adrenaline rush of live feedback from your theater group. 

This Letterboxd review from Starfrooot summed up my feelings about my particular showing, though: “I voted for my guys, and the whole theater let me down. #FlingPosse”

My favorite group FlingPosse, didn’t make it to the final stage

The Choose Your Own Adventure Film Designed for Repeat Viewings

With 48 paths and 7 different endings, the movie is built for and encourages viewers to come back again and again. Even the CtrlMovie app saves your progress and offers 60 achievements to unlock. My one viewing unlocked 6. 

There’s a lot going on screen that you can’t take in the first time, and I found my eyes darting between reading the speedy lyrics and absorbing in the crazy battles. Maybe I’ll watch another screening to redeem my group, FlingPosse. When the movie was released in Japan, more than 30% of moviegoers returned to theaters to experience different story lines. 

GKIDS Bringing Innovation to Select U.S. Regal Theaters

It’s no surprise that GKIDS, the producer and distributor of award-winning feature animation for both adult and family audiences, including The Secret of Kells, Mirai, Wolfwalkers, The Boy and the Heron, and much more, is responsible for bringing the first interactive film to U.S. audiences by teaming up with select Regal cinemas. 

This “gamified” theatrical format could shape how studios reimagine audience engagement and storytelling, giving everyone a chance to play an active, fun role in a unique experience.

Buy your HYPNOSISMIC – Division Rap Battle tickets online now for the limited one-day release on February 27 at participating Regal locations and “feel the beat!”

The post HYPNOSISMIC: Division Rap Battle Review – The Interactive Anime Movie That Gets Audiences Involved appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

The intimate KPop Demon Hunters event started with the bar serving up drinks named after the film’s iconic songs: Golden, Takedown, Your Idol, and a non-alcoholic option: Soda Pop. There were also photo opportunities in front of a backdrop adorned with gorgeous flowers. The color scheme screamed, “If Gwi-Ma were floral.” My personal favorite was the meet-and-greet pictures with the songwriters themselves.

Record-Breaking Film with a Record-Breaking Soundtrack

“We had no idea this movie would become the most-watched movie in Netflix history. And if that wasn’t impressive enough, our stellar music team has produced five Grammy nominations,” Maggie Kang said at the start of the panel.

Chris Appelhans added, “We threw so much crazy sh*t at those two. Google Docs that were pages long, with stories, scenes, characters, and things we wanted to do in the songs. Mashup of references from H.O.T to Bill Withers to Imogen Heap to BTS.”

The creative version for KPop Demon Hunters started with Maggie and Chris, for a world that hadn’t been musically defined before, since they wanted the songs to work both inside and outside the narrative. “All the songs were truly the guidance of the directors telling us exactly what they needed,” EJAE said.

EJAE x Mark Sonnenblick Collaboration

While EJAE joined the project early in 2020, before the story was finalized, Mark was brought in much later through Ian Eisendrath, Executive Music Producer. Their dynamic blends EJAE’s extensive pop background with Mark’s theater storytelling. 

“We’re constantly policing each other like, ‘Hey EJAE, let’s get back to the story.’ So if I’m writing a line and it’s kind of general, you’d be like: That’s not really telling what Rumi wants to say. So he helped me a lot. Or you would write a lot of words and I’d be like: Oh no, it’s too many words!” EJAE shared.

The result, as you know by now, became irresistible songs with deep storytelling packed in.

Building “Golden”

“This is the story of the girls. This is the story of Huntrix. How do you get the backstory of all three of these girls in like eight lines of this song? And so, figuring out the melody that has enough syllables to do that,” Mark continued.

They debated between two melodies, but ultimately chose the one with “more real estate” for lyrics. With many versions sent back and forth among writers, directors, and producers, they coordinated to build Golden as the thematic backbone of the Huntrix trio. “Maggie was coming back and being like, can it be more yearning?” said Mark.

The audience then had a fun moment to sing along (briefly) with the songwriters.

The Hunter’s Mantra: The Film’s Spiritual Core & Korean Roots

Maggie and Chris had written what elements needed to be in “The Prologue (Hunter’s Mantra),” and EJAE composed it to be powerful, emotional, and cinematic. “Every time EJAE sent a voice memo, it was like, where is this divine inspiration coming from?!” Mark said in awe.

EJAE said, “It was a melody that could fit in many outfits throughout the movie.” She then dived deeper into how her being bilingual and culturally rooted helped her blend tradition + pop + cinematic styles. “The Korean lyrics aren’t modern, they’re actually old historical Korean.”

She continued to explain “pansori” (Korean traditional storytelling), which is typically known for emotional grit and vocal power, and that she blended it with “arirang” (Korean folk anthem), which is a more modern melodic approach. “I’m proud I brought that side of Korea into it,” EJAE smiled.

“Your Idol”: The Film’s Darkest Track 

Internally called The Black Hat song, EJAE is the original singer and songwriter for the “demo” version of “Your Idol.” 

She shared, “I don’t know if Maggie and Chris know this, but I purposely put the Mantra reversed as the intro. It sounds really eerie and demonic that way. So I did that, and then I harmonized it.” Drawing upon childhood exposure from her dad’s appreciation for cathedral Latin music, she layered in different harmonies to translate her metaphor strategy of: “They’re trying to kill the Honmoon.” 

“To sound like a dude, I had to transpose my tracks down. I had hundreds of tracks for this. I had to do the lead tracks, the doubles, harmonies, and effects vocals. I’m one vocalist and literally had to pitch down every single vocal take,” said EJAE. “Screaming in my room, it was fun.”

Mark added, “My favorite part of the song – dropping the beat going into the chorus. It’s missing a beat, and you just slam into the chorus harder, and it’s cool when there’s like little sort of weird things happening.”

EJAE continued, “Exactly, it was great. THEBLACKLABEL, like 24, and TEDDY just killed it with the trap. It’s like modern combined with that choir voice and the trap beats.”

The Soundtrack That Will Dominate Your Spotify Unwrapped

With multiple writing teams, working with people who have or haven’t done films before, “collaboration was so important and just no ego, and just making sure the song is king and making sure the story is alive while writing these songs were so hard, but magical,” said EJAE. “I think we did it!”

With KPop Demon Hunters being the most watched movie in Netflix history and with five Grammy nominations of Song of the Year (“Golden”), “Best Pop Duo/Group Performances (“Golden”), Best Song Written for Visual Media (“Golden”), Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media (The “KPop Demon Hunters” soundtrack) and Best Remixed Recording (“Golden” David Guetta REM/X), it’s safe to say, yes, yes they did. 

Thank you, Netflix, for inviting us to this intimate event! I look forward to seeing my Spotify Unwrapped to confirm what I already know.

The post How ‘Golden’ Was Made: The Songwriting Geniuses Behind KPop Demon Hunters’ Viral Soundtrack appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

“We’re very appreciative of the positive reaction on social media, especially when people have said that P5X is equivalent or even better than the console version,” Uda-san tells Nerd Reactor during Anime Expo 2025. “We’re really happy to hear that.”

And so far, I agree. While I’m still working my way through the first Palace on mobile, there’ve been many times when I’ve appreciated that the game feels almost the same as the console version, despite being a gacha game.

A Gacha That’s F2P-Friendly

When asked how they would respond to players’ concerns about gacha and the potential feeling of pressure to spend, the team responded that typical gacha games often disappoint players if they don’t get the character they want. However, they haven’t heard any specific complaints about P5X. The feedback they’ve received is that people can progress in the story as far as they expect to go, and by doing events and collecting gems, you can still unlock other characters.

I mentioned how fun it was to find Golden Tickets in the Palace treasure chests, and the team said the tickets would continue to appear in later Palaces. The idea is to reward players just for playing, although they did mention they’re still making adjustments. While the Golden Tickets only apply to the Standard Banner and not the Limited-Time Event Banners (those require Platinum Tickets), you can still get 5-star characters to include in your team without spending money if you don’t want to. 

Persona5: The Phantom X Keeps the Signature Jazzy Beats Alive

As music is such an essential part of the Persona series, to complement the game’s stylish visuals and gameplay, we asked how they balanced between adding new music and nostalgic beats from the original Persona 5. 

The team’s goal was to create fresh music that matches the new experiences players will have in P5X while still incorporating elements reminiscent of Persona 5.

“We want them to feel excited and pumped up about the experience, including music tied to specific moments, such as boss fights,” said Uda-san.

There are definitely some boss fight bangers, and you’ll be nodding along to the beat before you even know it.

Matsunaga-san also explained that after Act 2, players can unlock the School Band club, where they’ll get to choose songs and perform Persona music through a series of rhythm mini-games. It’s the extracurricular student life activities that enhance this game even further. Not only will you get Band Club Experience, but also Band Badges, which can be exchanged for rewards like Gifts for companions and, more importantly, Platinum Milicoins and Platinum Tickets!

And before the interview ended, a fun fact was shared. Other birds, like a penguin, were considered before ultimately deciding that Lufel, the owl-like creature, would accompany Wonder throughout the Metaverse. While Mona from Persona 5 was expressive and energetic, Lufel is more reserved and mysterious, speaking like an old soul, which suits his animal.

Development Reveals, Live Art, and Lyn’s Vocals at the P5X Panel

At the official Persona5: Phantom X panel moderated by CDawgVA, the fanbase got to hear from:

• P-STUDIO Director Kazuhisa Wada
• ATLUS Producer Yohsuke Uda
• SEGA Producer Jun Matsunaga 
• Persona Series Character Designer Shigenori Soejima

The team discussed their philosophy on character design, particularly for the Phantom Idols, where they explained their approach to balancing fantasy elements with realism. They aimed to create characters that are visually distinctive while still feeling authentic, and to have them embody cognitions and desires.

Appropriately, while the team showed amazing visual slides of the characters, Soejima-san was live drawing Wonder, and we got to see his impressive work in progress throughout the panel. 

Fans also got a sneak peek at the upcoming seasonal events, which will align with real-world timelines rather than being restricted to the game’s internal calendar. Look forward to a summer festival, a Christmas event, Valentine’s, and more. 

As the panel wound down, Matsunaga-san gave a closing remark, “Having just started the live service of the game, and to come here as a developer to get this interaction with you, your feedback, and your energy is super useful. We look forward to many months and many years!”

Uda-san added, “This is my first time coming to Anime Expo, and I love being in the room with you guys. We’re really going to pull out the stops and punches with P5X to make it amazing.”

The audience was then treated to a special live performance by Lyn Inaizumi, who sang “Ambitions & Visions,” the opening theme for Persona5: The Phantom X, and “Life Will Change” from Persona 5. 

Ambitions & Visions song:

Anime Expo, the largest anime convention in North America, will return next year at the Los Angeles Convention Center from July 2nd to July 5th. You can play Persona5: The Phantom X now on PC via Google Play Games or Steam, and on mobile devices, iOS, and Android.

The post Persona5: Phantom X Team Talks Gacha, Music and Future Plans at Anime Expo appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

Note that there are spoilers for 3.4, so if you haven’t completed the “For the Sun is Set to Die” trailblaze mission, you’ve been warned!

Moderated by Trash Taste, a group of Tokyo-based content creators, Joey (The Anime Man), Garnet (Gigguk), and Connor (CDawgVA) had a lively panel discussion with the voice actors:

• Hayden Daviau: Voice actor of Tribbie, Trianne, and Trinnon, the three remaining fragments of Tribios, the first demigod of the Chrysos Heirs
• Gabriel Warburton: Voice actor of Mydei, Chrysos Heir and Crown Prince of Kremnos
• Joshua Waters: Voice actor of Phainon, Chrysos Heir, and the newest pullable character of 3.4
• Aiden Dawn: Voice actor of Cyrene/Mem, a childhood friend of Phainon and a floating cute fairy

All of them were fans of the game before joining and talked about how excited they were to be part of the cast officially. While I was sitting in the press and industry section during the panel, I came to realize that other HSR voice actors, such as Clara and Anaxa, among many others, surrounded me. They were really warm, supportive, and loudly cheering for their teammates on stage.

Notable Moments from the Panel

The actors discussed their approach to character development, and particularly for Daviau, who had to voice three characters. She focused on what their personalities were to hone in on how to distinguish them. 

“Tribbie was more energetic, the face and leader of the group,” said Daviau. “Trianne was a little more scrappy and kind of bratty at times. Trinnon was quite reserved. So it started from taking what her personalities were and then finding where that sat in my body for me.”

When asked which was her favorite, she picked Trianne with almost no hesitation, because of her scrappy energy, but would also choose Tribios as the older, whole form.

For Phainon, the 3.4 character of the moment, Waters explained his character’s progression. 

“Phainon is the mediated football coach, and we’re the Amphoreous squad,” Waters said. “He doesn’t want anyone to be mad or upset. He’s always quick to make them feel better. But as we got to 3.4 and his friends started passing away, he progressively got worse and became more Flame Reaver. So, if you look at the beginning of 3.4 and then the end, it is night and day, which I’m really pleased with.”

And how he voiced the Flame Reaver, who was revealed to be Khaslana, the Phainon of the previous Eternal Recurrence, elicited horrified gasps from the VAs sitting behind me. Waters explained that he pinches his larynx a little to get that growly voice. A no-no since it can lead to vocal cord damage.

Mydei’s Vulnerability

Warburton, while wearing the Phainon convention bag around his neck, talked about how he balanced Mydei, explaining that the toughest, most battle-hardened character can be the most emotionally vulnerable in private. He connected to Mydei by relating to his deep love for his mother, saying that if his mother were ever in pain, it would break his heart. That emotional connection helped him bring out the softer, more sensitive side, creating a natural balance between war, aggression, and vulnerability.

Cue back to the moment in 3.1 where Mydei first met his mother in the nether realm, telling him that the bloodline of Gorgo flowing within him will guide him home, and then later in his final cutscene, when he announces, “Mother, I’m home.”

Dawn talked about finally being able to reveal that Cyrene is Mem, a physical manifestation of Cyrene’s lost memories. As someone who hasn’t caught up to the latest patch, because I was busy building Phainon and grinding for his relics, this was a surprise to me. 

With Mem’s language, though, the team decided that every single syllable was still going to have to mean something, even if all you hear is “mem, mem, mem.” The tone and inflection still need to convey what she actually means.

“I had a lot of fun being this bratty little flying thing and being that character that’s always got some fun commentary on her,” Dawn explained.

Live Voice Acting and Surprise Song

It wouldn’t be a panel with voice actors without some voice acting, so the audience got to experience live performances with the most entertaining ones being Hayden voicing her chaotic character trailer, “Children Know Nothing,” along with Joshua and Gabriel voicing the Mydei and Phainon bathhouse scene where they had a “sauna battle.” Complete with sauna stools and privacy towels as props!

Another bonus? We were treated to a musical performance of the animated short “Hark! There’s Revelry Atop the Divine Mountain” with vocals by YMIR, who kind of looked like the Flame Reaver, with his hooded cloak. Joshua also voiced Phainon as he fought his way to Nanook.

Overall, the official Honkai: Star Rail panel was full of energy, and the voice actors are obviously huge fans of each other, making the in-game moments even more tight-knit. As a regular Honkai: Star Rail player, I was thrilled that everyone who attended received an exclusive Phainon metal card, an amazing memento to commemorate the panel, a temporary stop for the Astral Express. 

As Pom-pom would say, rest up, Trailblazers, your next adventure is right around the corner!

Anime Expo, the largest anime convention in North America, will return next year at the Los Angeles Convention Center from July 2nd to July 5th. You can play Honkai: Star Rail, currently on version 3.4, on PlayStation 5, iOS, Android, GeForce Now, and Windows.

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Yes, Aniplex is teaming up with Anime Expo, the largest anime convention in North America, to host an exclusive live performance on July 4th at the Peacock Theater to celebrate the music of our favorite main character slayer, Tanjiro Kamado, during his Unwavering Resolve arc (the first season). You can expect Natsuki Hanae to perform (Japanese voice actor for Tanjiro) as well as other surprise appearances during this highly anticipated panel!

This event is open to everyone who has a valid Anime Expo badge for the day. If you haven’t gotten your badge yet, you can still do so here.

Event: Demon Slayer 6th Anniversary Celebration
Date: Friday, July 4

Times: 10:30 AM (doors open at 9:30 AM and event ends at noon)
Location: Peacock Theater, 777 Chick Hearn Ct, Los Angeles, CA 90015

While the Peacock Theater (formerly called Microsoft Theater) has a capacity of 7,100, this event will be extremely popular. It’s recommended to line up early to increase your chances of getting in, as it’ll be the first main event of the day. Anime Expo 2025 will take place July 3 – July 6, 2025, at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

This celebration is the perfect lead-up to the first movie of the three-part film series, “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle,” which will be released in the United States on September 12, 2025.

If you want to catch up or rewatch your favorite moments, all seasons of Demon Slayer are available on Crunchyroll, Netflix, and Hulu. 

Shout “Umai!” at Demon Slayer x Bearology Mugen Train Pop-Up

Can’t get enough of Demon Slayer? Then check out the latest immersive experience held at Bearology in Temple City, CA, where you can board the Mugen Train and try some of the tasty foods that Rengoku was chowing down on, along with testing your reflexes.

Here’s a closeup of the delicious Tuna Grilled Onigiri and the Gyunabe Bento:

Bearology x Demon Slayer reservations are available until July 31st, and they’re open every day from 11 AM to 11 PM at 5805 Rosemead Blvd, Temple City, CA 91780. Please note that a $10 pre-payment per person is required to reserve on OpenTable, but this amount will be credited towards your final bill! To maximize seating space, if your group is three or fewer, you’ll be seated with other folks. It’s a great chance to meet other Demon Slayer fans!

It wouldn’t be a pop-up without exclusive merchandise, so here’s a closer look at the menus:

A similar experience is expected to appear at Anime Expo, 626 Night Market, and Foodieland throughout the rest of the summer if you don’t get a chance to visit the Temple City location.

Happy 6th Anniversary, Demon Slayer!

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And if you’ve ever thought, “Hey, I want to do that too,” we attended a fun and insightful WonderCon 2025 panel discussing how to break into the voice acting industry for games and animation. Curious if you have what it takes to be a voice actor? Read on and find out!

Panelists Introduction

Moderated by artistic director Shawn Strider, the founder of Labyrinth of Jareth Masquerade Ball, the panelists included:

• Daniel Ross (Emmy Award-winning voice actor, Donald Duck in Mickey and Minnie Wish Upon a Christmas)
• Heather Gonzalez (Tsuru in Beyblade X, Yukari Takeba in Personal 3: Reload)
• Stephanie Southerland (Jean Gunnhildr in Genshin Impact, Tess Bailey in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6)
• Alex Bankier (Gran Kirkwayne in Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture, Crème Brûlée Cookie in Cookie Run: Kingdom)
• Isaac Robinson-Smith (Bishop in X-Men ‘97, Mushu in Disney’s Dreamlight Valley)

Guess what they all had in common?

A background in theater.

Stage performance played a significant role in their voice acting, and the panelists started with community and/or school theater, as it helped them with vocal control, characterization, and performance skills. So, if you’re seriously interested in pursuing this career, start by joining your local or school’s theater program as a valuable stepping stone!

It’s Not Just Doing Funny Voices

For aspiring voice actors, the panelists emphasized that training is essential.

“It’s voice acting. It’s not just about the voice. There’s a misconception that you get to do funny voices in front of a microphone, but it’s so much deeper than that. You really need to be able to have your acting chops reflect that you can do an actual character, a living, breathing creature, or a person or whatever,” said Stephanie Southerland.

“Yeah, it’s like you can do SpongeBob, but can you do SpongeBob reciting Shakespeare?” quips Heather Gonzalez.

“Know yourself, your instrument, and what your capabilities are. Saying ‘I’m really passionate, and I really want to do this is not enough,’ said Daniel Ross on stressing the importance of knowing oneself and how to stand out in a competitive industry.

Other essentials for aspiring voice actors? Mindset and Resilience.

Knowing WHY you want to do it and having that clear motivation will help guide you when things get hard, especially when auditions can be exhausting, and you’ll experience more rejections than acceptance.

“It’s a marathon, not a sprint. The people who make it have usually been at this for at least a decade,” said Alex, reminding everyone that success takes time, persistence, and patience.

Regarding major challenges, Isaac discussed stepping into the role of Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther for Disney Parks and cruise lines as well as Eddie Murphy for the role of Mushu. “Chadwick meant so much to the world…it was definitely intimidating but very humbling at the same time. I just want to make sure I’m a good steward of those characters because they mean so much, but so challenging and exponentially rewarding.”

How AI is Impacting the Industry

You might’ve noticed that some of your favorite game characters aren’t speaking anymore.

On July 26, 2024, SAG-AFTRA initiated a voice actors’ strike between video game VAs and gaming companies over AI protections, fair wages, and better working conditions. As companies have used AI to clone voices without the actors’ consent and additional compensation, the actors want protection against unauthorized AI replication of their voices.

“Just because our industry is threatened right now, it doesn’t mean that AI is evil. It’s what people do with it. The nefarious notion that you can take interviews, TikTok videos, and YouTube videos and compile a composite of someone without their consent… It’s pretty disgusting. We’ve been striking for so long because the companies just want to say, ‘We worked with you once, now we own your voice forever.’ And we’re like, no, of course it’s not okay,” said Daniel Ross.

Alex Bankier said, “Certain automation can make aspects of production easier, but that does mean it can cut into our livelihoods as performers and even the livelihoods of audio engineers, the production team, game developers, it really affects all of us…this is an existential threat and these companies really want to be able to use just the bounty of existing performances to whatever end they want, but don’t want to compensate the performers.”

Currently, negotiations are still ongoing with no resolution reached, which has led to delays in some video game releases and even temporary removal of voice-overs in certain games. Actors are using the hashtag #GamePerformanceMatters to spread awareness and encourage people to do the same for support.

Real Questions Answered By Established Voice Actors

For the Q&A portion, audience members quickly lined up at the microphone to ask their questions, but due to time, 6 questions were answered. All of them were great, so we felt the need to share and summarize their answers!

Q: How do I create distinct voices for my cartoon characters?

A: Start with their personality traits. Are they tired, energetic, cynical, optimistic, etc? Use contrast to play with different tones and energy levels to make them distinct. Consider the emotional tone of the show; for instance, if it’s a comedic show with emotional moments, then balance humor and depth.

Q: What are some reputable voice acting classes or coaches?

A: Avoid any predatory courses that promise instant success and six figures. Panelists love coaches like Richard Horvitz, Keythe Farley, and Cissy Jones. Schools include Voice Trax West, Sound On Studio, and Real Voice LA. You can also get a free consultation at Global Voice Acting Academy, with other resources including Voice Over Resource Guide and IWantToBeAVoiceActor.com

Q: How do I start auditioning for roles in voice acting?

A: As mentioned, theater experience is a valuable stepping stone, but you can also begin with voice acting lessons to get in front of industry pros. During this time, start building connections with working actors, directors, and casting agents. Since big roles often require an agent, work towards getting representation.

Q: How do I stand out when the industry prioritizes A-list actors?

A: Alex emphasized the importance of standing out in the industry, not by stepping on others but by honing one’s craft and putting oneself out there through networking and self-promotion. Daniel utilized social media to showcase his talent and to gain visibility. But remember that success takes time since most established actors have been in the industry for at least a decade!

Q: Should I include impressions in my voice demo reel?

A: If it’s for an animation demo, then no, since those characters are already booked. However, a separate sound-alike demo can benefit you since sound-alike work exists in TV and movies. Have multiple demos. The ones you need for an agency animation and commercial demos because those are the ones that book the most, but you can also do a video game demo and a creature sounds demo. Put on display what you’re good at!

Q: As a voice actor, what’s the best direction you’ve received that improved your performance?

A: The best directors act as scene partners, making the performance feel real as most of the time, you just see an Excel sheet with some lines versus the whole script. They also help actors feel secure, especially during emotional scenes, so creating a safe environment is key. When actors were asked to imagine their physicality of the character, what the character’s posture is, and whether they are doing any movement. And when actors are encouraged to experiment, the element of play makes it easier for them to embody the character fully.

We hope this gets you one step closer to your voice acting journey – or at the very least, helps you understand the immense effort behind the work and why the use of AI can threaten the future of the profession.

WonderCon 2026 returns next year on Friday, March 27 – Sunday, March 29, in Anaheim!

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