PRESS & INTERVIEWS

Anime Los Angeles, as the arc comes to an end, we wrap things up with one final interview featuring a stunning Albedo cosplay @Lungi from the anime Overlord.

We dive into their very first cosplay experience, favorite anime picks, and what it really feels like to step out and own it on the convention floor.

But don’t worry… this is just the end of one arc. Next up: Anime Impulse LA 2026 Arc

I had the awesome opportunity to interview the JoJo Pose Competition winner at Anime Pasadena, who showed up in an incredible Guido Mista cosplay from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure during Anime Los Angeles weekend. The cosplay was on point, from the outfit to the attitude, really bringing one of the most iconic characters from the JoJo universe to life.

During our conversation, we dove into everything that makes JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure such a legendary anime series. We talked about the unique art style, the unforgettable characters, and of course the over the top poses that have become a huge part of anime culture. As the JoJo Pose Competition champion, he shared what it felt like to win and how much fun it was representing the JoJo fandom at the event.

We also got into a fun debate about Stands, the powerful spiritual manifestations that define the battles in JoJo. One of the big questions I had to ask was, if you could have any Stand in real life, which one would it be? His answer sparked a really fun discussion about the abilities, personalities, and strategies behind some of the most famous Stands in the series.

It was a great moment celebrating the passion of anime fans and the creativity of the cosplay community. Interviews like this remind me why the anime community is so special, bringing people together to celebrate the stories and characters we all love.

Stay tuned for more interviews, cosplay highlights, and anime conversations from the convention floor.

We had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Ben Diskin, the legendary voice behind Joseph Joestar, Sai, and Numbuh 1—and trust us, this conversation was packed with gems.

Ben takes us back to where it all began, sharing how his journey into voice acting started as a child actor, including early roles in films like Kindergarten Cop, and how those experiences laid the groundwork for a long-lasting career behind the mic. From there, he walks us through the transition into voice acting and what it was like stepping into some of the most iconic animated and anime roles fans know and love today.

We also get into the real behind-the-scenes talk—Ben opens up about which voice acting job pushed his patience the most, which role brought him the greatest sense of satisfaction, and how he balances the technical challenges with creative freedom. It’s an insightful, honest, and inspiring look at the craft from someone who’s truly mastered it.

If you’re a fan of anime, animation, or voice acting—or just love hearing how childhood dreams turn into legendary careers—this is an interview you don’t want to miss. 🎧🔥

Out here at Anime Los Angeles, I got to tap in with the Pokémon community and it was nothing but good vibes from start to finish. I interviewed two passionate Pokémon fans who really understood the assignment — one pulling up in a spot-on Brock cosplay, repping Pewter City Gym Leader energy, and the other absolutely stealing the show as Mega Lopunny, bringing the power, elegance, and battle-ready aura straight from the games and anime.

We talked about their love for the Pokémon franchise, what inspired their cosplays, and how Pokémon continues to connect generations of fans through games, anime, and conventions. From nostalgic memories of watching Pokémon growing up to the creativity and dedication that goes into cosplay, this interview was a reminder of how strong and welcoming the Pokémon fandom really is. Anime Los Angeles once again proved why it’s the perfect place for fans to express themselves, celebrate their favorite characters, and connect with people who share the same passion. Pokémon fans really came through and showed out at ALA.

Caught up with an incredible Choso (Jujutsu Kaisen) cosplayer to talk all things JJK, from what makes Choso such a complex and tragic character to why fans connect so deeply with his loyalty and emotional depth. We also got into the hype around the upcoming season of Jujutsu Kaisen—sharing theories, expectations, and which moments we’re most excited to see animated next.

Between the insane cosplay details, passion for the series, and some real fan-to-fan conversation, this interview is a must-watch for any JJK fan waiting on what’s coming next in the story. Blood manipulation, brotherhood, and pure sorcerer energy—this one’s for the culture.

🎮🧟‍♂️ Resident Evil Fans, This One’s for You! 🧟‍♀️🎮

Out here interviewing two fire Resident Evil cosplayers bringing Leon S. Kennedy and Ada Wong to life!

We chopped it up about the hype around Resident Evil 9, our favorite games in the franchise, and which iconic characters we NEED to see return in RE9 👀

From survival horror classics to modern RE greatness, this convo was full of passion, nostalgia, and real fan energy.

Who do you want to see come back in Resident Evil 9?

🎈🤡 **It’s not Welcome to Derry… it’s WELCOME TO ANIME LOS ANGELES! 🤡🎈

Ran into this INSANE Pennywise cosplayer at Anime Los Angeles and the vibes were spooky, hilarious, and lowkey terrifying. From the details to the character work, they stayed in full clown mode the entire interview — had me checking over my shoulder fr

Anime LA really brought anime, horror, and cosplay culture together this year. This interview is proof that cosplay is more than a fit — it’s PERFORMANCE. Horror fans showed out and the creativity was on 100.

I had the opportunity to sit down with Mary Claypool, the ADR writer behind the iconic anime film Ghost in the Shell. During our conversation, she broke down what ADR really is, how the dubbing process works behind the scenes, and what it takes to faithfully adapt anime for English-speaking audiences.

Mary shared how adapting dialogue for a film like Ghost in the Shell isn’t just about translating words — it’s about timing, mouth movements, cultural nuance, and preserving the meaning and tone of the original performance. She also talked about how the film became a major landmark for the Western anime community, influencing not only fans but filmmakers and the broader sci-fi genre.

We also explored the challenges of working with classic material during a time when the anime industry in the U.S. was still developing, and how the localization process has evolved since then. Learning about the historical context behind the English adaptation of Ghost in the Shell was incredible, and it gave us a deeper appreciation for everyone who works in ADR, dubbing, and translation to bring anime to new audiences around the world.

Huge respect to Mary and the entire localization community — their work continues to shape how anime is experienced internationally.

Interview with Gamers Heaven Bay Area — Gaming Café Spotlight! Pulled up to talk with the crew at Gamer Heaven Bay Area, one of the dopest gaming cafés keeping the community alive!

We got into how the café started, the vision behind building a safe space for gamers, the tournaments they host, fighting game culture, retro nights, and how local gaming scenes still thrive outside the internet.

If you love esports, LAN culture, or just being around gamers instead of yelling at them online, this place is a whole vibe 😂💯 More creator, café, and gaming community highlights coming soon — stay tuned!

Had the honor of talking with the legend himself, CHRIS TERGLIAFERA, aka the voice behind MOHAMMED AVDOL

We talked about bringing Avdol to life, what makes JoJo fans so passionate (and hilariously dramatic), and how voice actors build characters through performance and vocal choices. Chris also broke down how different the process is between anime dubbing, original animation, and video game roles — and yes, the range is REAL!

It’s always amazing hearing behind-the-scenes stories straight from the booth: the lines that hit, the sessions that pushed him, and the characters that surprised him along the way. The anime & gaming communities are lucky to have talents like him carrying the culture.

Anime Los Angeles 2026 continues to be a blessing to fans — voice actors, cosplayers, creatives, and fandom energy all under one roof 🤝🔥

Five Nights at Freddy’s Cosplayer Interview at Anime Los Angeles 2026! Why did this cosplayer have me checking my surroundings like I was on Night 5 with 3% battery left, FNaF fans stay committed to the bit — jump scares.

included, We talked about why Five Nights at Freddy’s refuses to leave the cultural spotlight, favorite animatronics, and how much lore a person can memorize before it becomes concerning. Between the movie hype, the games, and the fandom theories, FNaF stayed BUSY this year and the fans are loving it.

Anime Los Angeles really said “weebs, gamers, and horror kids can all sit at the same table” and honestly? I respect the crossover.

Talking Anime Conventions, Anime Culture of the Year & Toxic Fandoms

Out here at Anime Los Angeles 2026 asking the REAL questions:
✨ What cons y’all hitting this year?
✨ What shows actually carried the YEAR?
✨ And WHY are some fandoms so toxic you gotta put on emotional armor just to log on 😭💀

Anime culture been WILD lately — between the drip, the discourse, the hot takes, and the never-ending shipping wars, the community stays chaotic and entertaining
But that’s what makes convention culture so fun: people actually get to talk face-to-face without starting World War III in the comments.

Kakegurui Cosplayer Interview at Anime Los Angeles 2026! This cosplayer pulled up looking SO in character I low-key felt like I owed her money from a poker match I never agreed to Kakegurui really got people gambling with their life, dignity, AND lunch money at the con ♠️

We talked about why Kakegurui hits so hard, favorite gamble moments, and why the series makes everyone feel like they could suddenly risk it all in a high-stakes anime casino. The cosplay community always goes crazy for this series and this fan did NOT miss — details, attitude, poses, everything on point

Anime Los Angeles been delivering the vibes all weekend — cosplay, anime culture, and chaotic fandom energy at its finest. More interviews coming soon from the con floor!