Anime Expo Faces Fire Marshal Amid Record Attendance

Anime Expo continues to experience tremendous growth each year, attracting a larger number of anime and manga fans than ever before. This year's edition of the anime convention faced a particular challenge as record-breaking attendance led to a confrontation with the Fire Marshal during a particularly busy period on the opening day. The surge in anime and manga fandom in recent years, fueled by the popularity of series like Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Dragon Ball Super, Oshi no Ko, and more, has contributed to the significant expansion of Anime Expo's attendee base.

This increased fandom has translated into a growing turnout at Anime Expo, especially following the adjustments made to the annual convention due to the COVID-19 pandemic last year. Consequently, even more fans flocked to the event than ever before. The overwhelming number of attendees resulted in the closure of the entrances to the Los Angeles Convention Center, as the Fire Marshal declared that the venue had reached its capacity limit. Fans were temporarily unable to enter the convention as a result of the record-breaking attendance.

(Photo: Anime Expo)

Anime Expo 2023 Faces Fire Marshall

According to Megan Peters of ComicBook.com, the Fire Marshal closed the entrances to Anime Expo due to the overwhelming number of attendees already present at the event. This closure lasted for approximately an hour before more people were eventually allowed entry. This incident highlights the significant scale that Anime Expo has achieved, expanding not only in terms of global announcements for upcoming projects but also attracting major industry figures to participate.

The anticipation among Anime Expo attendees is palpable, as they eagerly await world premieres of upcoming anime slated for release later this year, as well as exciting announcements regarding future projects in development. The record-breaking attendance on the opening day of the convention reflects the immense enthusiasm surrounding the event. With the remainder of the weekend still packed with a plethora of activities and events, it remains to be seen if attendance levels will continue to soar in the following days.