LeftField Media will launch Anime NYC, a new convention focused on anime, manga and Japanese pop culture, next year in New York City.

The first Anime NYC will take place Nov. 17-19, 2017, in Midtown Manhattan’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and bring fans together with guests from Japan and publishers across America.

Anime NYC will be presented by anime streaming portal Crunchyroll and built with the support of industry partners Funimation, VIZ Media and Kinokuniya Bookstore.

Anime NYC is the creation of LeftField Media, a boutique event company also responsible for Play Fair, a toy and family entertainment celebration run with the Toy Industry Association, and Awesome Con, Washington, D.C.’s Comic Con.

“Anime and manga have never been more prolific in America, with anime conventions in other cities bringing together as many as 100,000 attendees,” said Greg Topalian, founder of LeftField Media.

He added, “Yet while New York City is the largest city in America, no large event championing Japanese pop culture calls it home. Anime NYC will change this, and once established, we believe Anime NYC has the potential to become the largest anime convention on the East Coast.”

Crunchyroll - the world’s largest anime streaming service, with more than 20 million registered users and more than 750,000 paid subscribers - will present premiere screenings and special guests throughout Anime NYC, and Crunchyroll Premium Members will receive exclusive benefits at the event.

“It’s been years since there’s been a dedicated anime convention in the Javits, and we’re excited to have the opportunity to support a show in New York,” said Dallas Middaugh, Crunchyroll’s head of content management. “The LeftField team already has amazing experience working on anime shows, and it’s great to have the chance to help bring the best of anime and manga to East Coast fans at Anime NYC.”

Attendees overall will take in appearances by some of the biggest creators in Japan, extensive screenings, robust panel sessions, and features from anime, manga, and cosplay to Japanese toys, games, food and fashion from brands across the Japanese pop culture spectrum, headlined by Funimation, VIZ Media and Kinokuniya Bookstore.

“New York is a city where Japanese performers hold sold-out concerts and Japanese films receive North American premieres. Various events touch Japanese pop culture here, but no major event exists specifically for the anime and manga community,” said Peter Tatara, LeftField’s head of content.

He added, “There’s a demand from fans for an event to call their own, and I’m proud to work with our friends across the anime and manga worlds to create Anime NYC.”