Largest Anime Streaming Service Crunchyroll Gears Up to Launch First Convention
February 13, 2017
As the leading global destination and online streaming platform for Japanese anime and East Asian media, Crunchyroll is about to take its first foray into the event world with the launch of Crunchyroll Expo.
Scheduled Aug. 25-27 at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, Calif., the new event will offer everything ardent fans have come to expect from the popular brand wrapped into three jam-packed days of anime, manga, games and cosplay, as well as unique exhibits, immersive activations and guest appearances by some of the biggest personalities in Japan and the U.S.
Crunchyroll Expo also will feature a host of special events, premieres and interactive features focused around anime pop culture, including the latest content coming out of Japan and ways for fans to connect and share their passion for anime.
In addition to anime, the event will bring together key partners, exhibitors and influencers from the video game, manga and cosplay worlds.
“Crunchyroll has always invested in anime conventions,” said Dallas Middaugh, head of events at Crunchyroll. “It’s the best way to interact with our biggest fans, and with Crunchyroll Expo, we’re taking the best aspects of con-life and going next-level.”
He continued, “Crunchyroll has a special relationship with our fans and we’re uniquely positioned to give back to those fans with an incredible experience.”
With more than 1 million paid subscribers, 20 million registered users and 800 titles, Crunchyroll is the largest online provider of Japanese anime and Asian media, with fans spending billions of minutes per month on the platform viewing anime content, enjoying manga, participating in discussions and catching up on the latest Japanese pop culture news.
Crunchyroll has tapped LeftField Media to produce and manage the show, which plans to take full advantage of the SCCC’s 100,000 square feet of exhibit space, as well as its conference facilities for panels, premieres, screenings and special events.
“Our team has built pop culture events around the world and our goal with all of them is to create an environment where fans can be themselves and bond with others over shared enthusiasm,” said Greg Topalian, president and founder of LeftField Media, which is owned by Topalian and Clarion Events.
He continued, “We bring this same goal to what we’re helping to create at Crunchyroll Expo. By combining our planning expertise with Crunchyroll’s anime knowledge, we know we’ll create something anime fans will be excited about for years to come.”
LeftField’s growing portfolio of contemporary culture-themed events include Play Fair, a family-focused celebration of toys and play built with the Toy Industry Association; Awesome Con, Washington D.C.’s Comic Con; Anime NYC, a Japanese pop culture festival presented by Crunchyroll; AXPONA, a hi-fi audio convention in partnership with JD Events; The Classic Auto Show, a classic and vintage auto show launched in Los Angeles; Rose City Comic Con, Portland, Oregon’s premier pop-culture event, and Five Points Festival, a designer toy, comic and counterculture convention held annually in New York City.
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.
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