Immersive Anime Worlds

As one of the festival’s most thrilling features, the immersive anime worlds gave fans the rare opportunity to step into life-sized recreations of their favourite series, such as Attack on Titan’s world where attendees could scale Wall Maria, navigate the Shiganshina replica, and live out scenes from the series. Meanwhile, Jujutsu Kaisen fans were transported into the chaos of the Shibuya Incident, where they could explore domain expansions, try out the Cursed Clash video game, and capture moments on iconic sets.

NARUTO enthusiasts found themselves in Konoha Village, tackling the Ninja Obstacle Course, navigating a shadow clone mirror maze, and even dining on ramen with a Hokage Mountain view. Additionally, the Hello Kitty and Friends zone celebrated matsuri season with fun games, kawaii interactions, and digital message boards to connect fans. For a nostalgic twist, Spacetoon’s section brought classic anime to life with beloved characters and retro gaming, paying homage to a brand cherished by generations across the Middle East.

Live Entertainment

At the centre of Animenia’s electrifying atmosphere was the main stage, where fans were treated to an incredible lineup of performances from some of the biggest anime superstars. On October 25th, the beloved Rasha Rizk, known for her iconic Spacetoon anthems, captivated fans with songs from Detective Conan: Case Closed, Dragon Ball Super, and Hunter X Hunter, sparking moments of nostalgia and uniting the audience in song. The energy hit new heights on October 26th, when rock band FLOW delivered a set of anime anthems, from Naruto’s GO!!! to tracks from Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, with the crowd singing along to every word.

The excitement didn’t stop there, with performances from supporting acts like Japanese duo angela who took the stage with powerful anime tracks from Fafner in the Azure and Knights of Sidonia, while Jeddah-based pop artist Mojo captivated the audience with his blend of Middle Eastern and anime-inspired sounds. Legendary singer Yoko Takahashi known for the Neon Genesis Evangelion song “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis” opened up the festival on the first day. Dance crews REAL AKIBA BOYZ and Team Anime DXB were also there to hype up the crowd with their anime-themed choreography. Making their debut in the region, video game power metal band from the United States Powerglove delivered a high octane show gaining a whole new fanbase. To end the festival on an unforgettable note, anime-inspired rock bands Blinding Sunrise, Koyomi, Catch Me Yesterday, and Snowkel closed the stage on October 27th, leaving fans in awe.

Cosplay Competition

Animenia’s cosplay competition on October 27th was an electrifying showdown, as the best and boldest cosplayers took to the stage to bring anime’s most iconic characters to life in intricate detail. Boasting a record-breaking prize pool of over AED 400,000 up for grabs, the competition saw participants flying in from Japan, Russia, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, Thailand, Philippines, Kuwait, Bahrain and France.

Solo and group contestants dazzled the judges as the crowd cheered them on. After hours of jaw-dropping performances and mind-bending costumes, the judges finally crowned Shadowhart from the Philippines, who cosplayed as Clockwerk - Dota 2, receiving 55,000 AED and Majed cosplay and Anya Dogari in the group category from Kuwait for their mesmerising rendition of Sekiro Shadows Die Twice, taking home 90,000 AED.

Additionally, special categories swooned the judges with extraordinary talent and dedication. Serag from Egypt claimed the Best Craftsmanship award for a stunning Skyrim cosplay, while Osmo from Bahrain won Best Performance with an unforgettable take on Beetlejuice. For Best Anime Adaptation, Amihan and Chrispy from the Philippines and Lebanon thrilled the crowd as Team Rocket from Pokémon, marking a spectacular ending to the five-day festival.

Meet & Greets

Fans lined up eagerly to snap photos, get autographs, and enjoy memorable conversations with the creators, artists, and voice actors behind their favourite series and games at a series of meet and greets. Special Q&A sessions added to the thrill as audiences asked top industry stars their most burning questions.

The star-studded guest list included SNK character designer Eiji Shiroi, Gundam and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure animation director Hidetoshi Omori, and Square Enix art director Isamu Kamikokuryo. Additional highlights were Keiichiro Toyama, the mind behind Silent Hill, and Digimon’s chief designer, Kenji Watanabe. Voice talents like Kikuko Inoue, known for Oh! My Goddess and Captain Tsubasa, and Naoto Ohshima, chief designer of Sonic the Hedgehog, also left fans starstruck. Other names included Megumi Hayashibara, Fumi Hirano, Masaya Matsukaze, Ryo Horikawa, Yuichiro Hayashi, Wataru Kawagoe, Shingo Adachi and more. Overall, there were 21 unique artists across the five days doing multiple signing sessions for a total of 57 sittings.

Workshops and Gaming

Bringing a hands-on celebration of anime and Japanese culture, fans could learn from the pros with an array of workshops like anime dance sessions with REAL AKIBA BOYZ who taught attendees how to master the dance crew’s iconic moves. In the creative zones, OtakuME’s model kit workshops let guests build their own Gundam miniatures, while Tamiya model car racing added some high-speed thrills to the event. Fans also immersed themselves in the intricate art of origami, crafted shamisen music with KUNI-KEN, and embraced tradition with a Japanese tea ceremony and relaxing Nurie colouring sessions.

In the Esports Zone powered by Abu Dhabi Gaming, competitive spirits soared as players went head-to-head in pop-up tournaments for epic prizes, while Animenia’s Centre Stage kept the energy high with Just Dance challenges, trivia, and fun giveaways. Adding a nostalgic touch, retro gaming stations let attendees relive the classics, and a Japanese arcade combined timeless favourites with new titles, creating a haven for everyone from pro gamers to newbies

Food and Retail

Animenia’s food stalls brought the flavours from Japan’s bustling streets straight to Abu Dhabi, keeping fans well fuelled for all the anime mania. Fans slurped up bowls of Animenia’s special menu from Hooked on Ramen, savoured delicate Yuzu Moishi from M’oishi, and cooled off with Tokyodog’s refreshing Lychee Lemonade. Some of the crowd-pleasers included vegan ramen from Sakura Sushi, anime-inspired onigiri and

takoyaki at the Forest Café, and fluffy Japanese pancakes and cheesecakes from Keki, all adding up to a deliciously immersive experience. Festival-goers also got to indulge in more food offerings from Match-A-Treat, Boba Bae, Crake, Ichiryu Ramen, as well as snacks from Let’s Popcorn.

On the retail side, fans enjoyed an anime shopping spree with an impressive selection of regional and international brands. Bee Honpo’s trading cards attracted collectors, while Usagi AE offered a curated selection of Japanese cosmetics, and Speedy Comics showcased rare comics and anime posters, plus everything in between. In addition, The Little Things, a collectible and Pop-culture shop, was very popular with visitors.

After five days of nonstop anime mania, it’s time to say Sayōnara to Animenia, marking the close of the region’s largest anime festival. This unique celebration solidified Abu Dhabi’s role as a vibrant hub for anime, cosplay, and Japanese culture, creating unforgettable experiences for fans from far and wide. Celebrating a fusion of Japanese and Emirati influences, Animenia brought together a passionate community, reimagining anime expos in the region.