FORT WORTH, Texas — After 2019, the global anime market — including TV shows, movies and merchandise — doubled. After that year, the industry hit $24 billion. The pandemic boom in video streaming has further accelerated demand at home and abroad, as people binge-watch kid-friendly fare like “Pokémon” and cyberpunk extravaganzas like “Ghost in the Shell.”

What You Need To Know

  • From Dec. 3-5, Anime Frontier is coming to the Fort Worth Convention Center

  • The event will be the biggest of its kind ever in Texas

  • Anime Frontier is produced by the same company behind Anime NTY, the second-largest such festival in the U.S.

  • The festival will bring the biggest names in anime to Fort Worth

A pioneering company is bringing a celebration of the stylized animation to Fort Worth. LeftField Media, creators of Anime NYC, announced Friday the debut of Anime Frontier Powered by Crunchyroll, a new anime experiential event taking place on Dec. 3-5, 2021, at the Fort Worth Convention Center.

Anime NYC is the second-largest anime conference and festival in the U.S., and stands to be the biggest-ever such event in Texas. Organizers have promised to bring the best and biggest talent and content the Japanese pop culture industry has to offer to the Lone Star State. Leading anime publishers, special guests and show features from across America and Japan will make appearances at their first-ever anime festival in Fort Worth.

Peter Tatara, Show Director of Anime NYC and Anime Frontier, said his team chose Fort Worth because the city represents a perfect cross-section of history and innovation.

“Here in the city where the West begins, it’s our honor to bring the best of Japan and introduce tens of thousands to what’s new, exciting, and cool in Tokyo,” he said. “Fort Worth is a perfect representation of American heritage and modern innovation in one amazing community, and we’re deeply thrilled to now showcase the future of Japanese entertainment in its heart. In our seven years of producing conventions, LeftField Media’s fans and publishers have come to expect an experience like none other, and we promise to exceed those expectations with the launch of Anime Frontier.

“We will bring one-of-a-kind activations, premiere experiences, exclusive sneak peeks and so much more, all brought to life by the top industry innovators, creators and talent,” he continued. “Anime Frontier Powered by Crunchyroll is all about celebrating all things cool in Japan, and we can’t wait to share it with our Texas fans.”

Anime Frontier’s title sponsor is anime streaming platform Crunchyroll, the world's most popular anime brand, connecting a community of over 120 million registered users and 5 million subscribers.

Organizers say the event will feature the kind of eye-popping, dazzling entertainment rarely seen in Texas — outside of South by Southwest.