And yes, one of our favorite times of the year has arrived again! AnimeCon is coming back again strongly! Just before AnimeCon: Run Thessaloniki VI we give you some answers from the organizers about what we will see at the event.
The Greek Anime, Manga J-Pop Culture event returns for the seventh year!
1) It is almost time for the Anime, Manga J-Pop Culture event of the year in Greece. Tell us a few things about this year's event and guests.
This is the seventh year that we organize AnimeCon: RUN Thessaloniki and we are very happy that people have prompted this event to a two-day festival-institution of Thessaloniki. This year, we will have special guests from all over the Japanese Pop Culture, that is, from the fields of art, music and production.
THE Jack Liang is one of the international guests that the anime fans of the manga Blame!, but also Star Wars fans, will for sure want to get to know, as he is the producer of Studio Polygon Pictures, which created the Anime BLAME! in 2017, Season 4 of Star Wars Clone Wars and the series Star Wars Resistance.
Also, the singer MION will be in Greece for the first time in an exclusive concert full of J-Pop & J-rock songs!
Of course, the art of cosplay is directly linked to the Japanese Pop Culture and this year we are very happy to bring to Thessaloniki Grizzcoser, a cosplayer whose anime cosplay has a great impact, because his personality changes according to the character he plays.
Finally, we cannot fail to have international anime & manga artists, who cross the borders of Japan and succeed in their own characteristic style and way to render their own interpretation of manga & anime art
THE Ihabo Azzamo is this year's animator special guest who has worked on anime series such as One Piece & Dragon Ball Daima.
While the Tpiu and Issaka Galadima are the manga artists who bring their works to Greece for the first time!
The Maureen is the fresh special guest with kawaii aesthetics in her works and punk side of pink!
Last but not least, we can't let him «Ours.» Manos Lagouvardos, the Greek who has elevated the manga & anime elements with his art in Greece.
2) At last year's AnimeCon, the main attraction was the especially impressive Cosplay Room based on the anime "Kuroshitsuj", and we also hosted the "Japan Anime Marathon Day". Will there be similar events this year?
Last year's Cosplay room AnimeCon: RUN Thessaloniki is getting a power up this year! We will create two cosplay rooms so all the visitors of AnimeCon: RUN Thessaloniki can take fotos. In a combination Yin & Yang, we will create two thematic rooms, a bright and cuter cosplay room and a more dark with cyberpunk aesthetic cosplay room.
(3) Previously on Anime Con there was a tribute to legendary Akira Toriyama, who died in March 2024. Is there going to be a tribute to another mangaka this year?
This year there will be a special tribute to manga & anime BLAME! because of the guest of honor Jack Liang. People love the world of BLAME! and especially in the West the manga of Tsutomu Nihei has set bases on cyber punk setting similar to those of Ghost in the Shell. I'm sure the audience will love the panel that George Zoitas will coordinate as they travel through the secret and dark paths of the world of Blame! along with producer Jack Liang.
This year there will be a special tribute to manga & anime BLAME! because of the guest of honor Jack Liang.
4) In our interview last year, you mentioned that 'there are so many fresh ideas that every year we try, in one way or another, to bring at least a small part of them to life.' Will we see any of these ideas realized this year?
I wish we could organize and implement all the fresh ideas we have every year! This year, however, we aim at something fresh with nostalgia fragrance of 80s & 90s that listens to the name Igano Kabamaru!
(5) Anything else you'd like to tell your guests?
Those who attend the event know its uniqueness, the fun side of the activities, the crazy spirit given by the Greek anime community to the event, and of course the rich program that never stops! We offer the canvas of Japanese Pop Culture, Art, and Tradition to visitors, who enjoy a two-day experience full of Japanese art, music, cuisine, shows, and happenings rarely found elsewhere! Our goal is to transform Thessaloniki into the heart of Japanese Pop culture, Art, and Tradition! So, are you ready to run?
Thank you for your time. We can't wait to talk to you in person at AnimeCon RUN and see in person the surprises you have prepared.
AnimeCon returns on 4-5 October 2025 at the Convention Center «Ioannis Vellidis» (Thessaloniki)!
