All Photo By Gail

Anime NYC is always a highlight of the fall convention season, spanning four days of panels, screenings, and an overwhelming array of exhibitors and fan experiences. This year, however, my time on the show floor was limited to the Thursday evening preview, since I flew out the next morning for a long-planned San Diego vacation. That meant I had just a few hours to explore before the weekend crowds rolled in, and I knew I’d need to be selective with what I chose to cover.


Excited Crowds Await Access to the Show Floor on Opening Day

In previous coverage for The Gig, I focused heavily on documenting the incredible cosplayers who bring the fandom to life, but this time around I decided to skip cosplay coverage, as it requires a lot of effort and is best left to the experts. Instead, I spent my evening zeroing in on other aspects of the convention — unique vendors, eye-catching displays, and the kinds of details that make Anime NYC such a special event for fans.

Anime NYC: A Great Place to Run Into Friends!

So, while this year’s coverage may be a bit more “bite-sized” than usual, consider it a curated snapshot of the opening night — a small but satisfying taste of what Anime NYC has to offer.

Signage inside and outside the Javits Center made it clear: no weapons — or anything resembling weapons — would make it past security. Still, cosplay-related weaponry of every imaginable type was on sale at several booths, ensuring fans could keep their looks authentic. As for the tiny shark guitar and the small Jake-from-Adventure Time shield, I have no idea what is up with those, but I’m definitely intrigued.

If you’re familiar with the concept of “shipping” — when fans imagine a romantic relationship between two characters — then you’ll appreciate that the design on this box ships a queer version of Elphaba and Glinda from Wicked. Shipping is everywhere at Anime NYC, and honestly, I find it  fun!

I did ask for, and receive, a free pebble! People are so friendly here!

If they let me in again next year, I’m going to dedicate a few hours to scouting out the fans with excellent manga and anime-themed tattoos. This one appears to be the character Mondo Owada from Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc. You can tell it belongs to a solid  fan, because his pass (seen just to the right of the tattoo) covers all four days of Anime NYC!

This tattoo is from the Legend of Zelda, a beloved Nintendo video game series that follows the adventures of a young hero named Link as he battles evil forces to rescue Princess Zelda and protect the magical land of Hyrule. Known for its mix of exploration, puzzle-solving, and epic quests, it’s one of the most iconic franchises in gaming history.

If you like to shop for collectibles and fun gifts, Anime NYC offers something for every taste. If you didn’t make it to the show, you can still connect with artists and purchase their work via Instagram. Let’s check it out!

 Anime NYC’s Artist Alley is a curated section of the exhibit hall floor for independent and mainstream manga/comic creators, webcomic artists, professional writers/illustrators, and 2D artists. Everything being offered for sale is the work of the creator at the table, and you can get some great bargains because there’s no middle man. The work above is by illustrator and character designer Pinlin.

Pikachu doing his best Pizza Rat impersonation, by artist Matsumoto.

Inspirational Posters by cat-loving artist Q Sketches.

This artist scored a prime bit of real estate with a booth sits at the intersection of two aisles!

Cosplay Cop is a one-shot manga by the fan artist Nunu, published via VIZ, about an Anti-Goblin Police cadet who must pass a final exam while hiding a painful past. I’m sure many of us can relate.

Nunar is a New York–based illustrator and art teacher whose work explores the darkly romantic dynamic between Hannibal Lecter and Will Graham as “murder husbands.” Their zines and fan art balance beauty and menace, capturing the twisted devotion at the heart of the pairing. Deeply engaged with the Hannigram community, Nunar’s work thrives on collaboration and fan connection.

Let the homoeroticism begin!

Art By Jordy Draws

Everyone who knows me understands my weakness for anything cute — but I’m especially delighted when it comes with a sharp edge, whether that’s swearing or a cheeky nod to violence, as seen on this selection of merchandise.

Cute cat art by Neko Mimir.

Is this cat-as-murderer trend something we need to pay closer attention to?

Blob Fish as Arsonist Zip Bag (yes, it exists) by Chaotic Blobs.

Collectible Plushies are everywhere at Anime NYC, and the cuteness factor is intense.

As art imitates life, even the Onigiri (Japanese rice ball) snack bar is obsessed with cuteness.

Niko, The Cat-like Protagonist of the Game OneShot.

Oversized Plushie at Rest, Because Anime NYC is Hard on the Feet!

If Pokemon is your thing, Anime NYC has you covered. This Gengar plush is big enough to use as a travel pillow.

Collect every Pokemon figure in existance starting at just $4 each! What a bargain!

One of the most striking things about walking the show floor at Anime NYC is just how many anime scale figures you encounter. These are the beautifully crafted, pre-painted collectibles — usually around 7 to 9 inches tall — that bring characters from manga, anime, and games vividly to life.

Whether it’s a heroine from a fantasy RPG or the stoic lead from a shōnen series, the attention to detail is astonishing: from intricately sculpted hair and costumes to facial expressions that perfectly capture each character’s personality.

With so many different figures on display, spanning virtually every genre and fandom, it’s easy to see how collecting them can become both a passion and an art form in itself.

This is a character named Power from Chainsaw Man, a hugely popular Japanese manga and anime series created by Tatsuki Fujimoto. You are probably wondering why she is sitting on a toilet. Apparently, it’s because after Denji (the story’s chef protagonist) saved her cat, Meowy, she invited him to her bathroom to grant his wish for touching her breasts, which she agreed to for three “squeezes” as payment. She uses the toilet as a makeshift throne to assert dominance over Denji, and as a way to humanize her character. (Kind of makes you want to treat her with more respect.)

Speaking of breasts, check out the rack on Nikke from Goddess of Victory: Nikke (yes she has her own popular mobile game)!

Are you ready go down a rabbit hole? OK, this is a figure of Hatsune Miku, but she isn’t an anime character — she’s a virtual pop star created by Crypton Future Media in Japan. This figure, Hatsune Miku Bitter Patissier is a themed version of Miku where she’s dressed up in a patisserie-inspired outfit. It’s part of SEGA’s Luminasta line, which is a series of high-quality prize figures designed to be affordable but still beautifully sculpted and detailed.

Believe it or not this figure is also Hatsune Miku, styled for  Sakura, the Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival! Since she’s a virtual pop star, she can be styled as virtually anything.

Meet from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. Very hot.

This is Yotsuba Nino, a character from the anime series, The Quintessential Quintuplets. I love how expressive she is.

Unless, What?

And with that, I’ll wrap up this not-so-brief recap of my very fun few hours at Anime NYC 2025, brought to you by Crunchy Roll! See You next time!