FunimationCon 2020 is nearly here! The new virtual convention will deliver panels featuring voice actors from some of the best anime shows around straight to your screens on July 3-4, with a whole host of other unmissable events and performances. Aside from the incredible guest appearances, there’ll be cosplay advice panels to help you perfect your outfit as well as deep dives into some of the most popular shows available on the streaming service. Let’s take a look at what to expect from FunimationCon 2020!
Voice Actor Panels
There’s a number of shows getting the spotlight across the event this year, but Attack on Titan might be the one most fans are excited for! With the final season arriving this fall, hopefully, the actors will reveal what’s ahead as Eren, Mikasa, and Armin were last seen on a scouting mission beyond the wall. Season three’s peaceful ending on the beach was bittersweet as Eren was reminded of the new threat waiting for them across the ocean, the sovereign nation of Marley. The panel will feature Bryce Papenbrook (Eren), Trina Nishimura (Mikasa), Josh Grelle (Armin), J Michael Tatum (Erwin) and Bryn Apprill (Christa). The ADR director Mike McFarland is also joining the panel hosted by Funimation’s Josellie Ríos. They’ll discuss the journey the heroes have taken over the last three seasons as the actors hopefully provide insight on what the characters will be up against in the final season..
Another highly anticipated arrival this year is Fire Force season two following the dramatic ending with Shinra Kusakabe’s mind-blowing fight with his long-lost brother, Sho. We also learned that the Evangelist wants to recreate The Great Cataclysm that happened hundreds of years before the show began, so hopefully, we’ll learn more about the villain soon.
This panel is unmissable for Fire Force fans, mainly because it will feature the world premiere of the first two dubbed episodes from season two! A number of actors from the series will discuss Fire Force with host Matt Acevedo, with Derick Snow (Shinra), Justin Briner (Sho), Eric Vale (Arthur), and Christopher Wehkamp (Hinawa) all confirmed to appear, along with ADR Director Kyle Phillips. Hopefully, Derick Snow and Justin Briner reveal more about what’s in store for the Kusakabe brothers in the new season.
If you’ve loved watching the mecha-adventure Listeners, the panel hosted by Jacki Jing will explore the musically-inspired world of the series. Stay tuned to hear Dai Sato, the co-creator and head writer of the series answer questions from fans about the series. Hopefully he’ll reveal the reason behind some of the incredible musical references! The English voice cast Justin Briner (Echo Rec), Bryn Apprill (Mu), and Lee George (Jimi Stonefree) will also appear alongside the ADR director Cris George to open up about the show.
But aside from newer, crowd-pleasing shows, FunimationCon 2020 boasts a few panels about old favorites too! After nine impressive seasons, the One Piece fandom only grows bigger each year. Funimation’s Josellie Rios is moderating the panel to celebrate the long-running adventure series, with appearances from Colleen Clinkenbeard (Luffy), Brina Palencia (Tony Tony Chopper) and Mike McFarland (Buggy the Clown). It also marks the return of dubbed episodes to the streaming service, so squeeze in some of your favorite moments before the panel. Will we ever learn what the One Piece treasure actually is? Let’s hope the voice cast discuss their theories!
After Toilet-bound Hanako-kun surprised fans with its spooky tales and unique charm, many are desperate to learn about the show’s future. Until then, tune into the panel to hear from the impressive cast as Justin Briner (Hanako) and Ian Sinclair (Tsuchigomori) take fans behind-the-scenes of the series. There’s even an unmissable Q+A session with Megumi Ogata, the voice behind Hanako and Tsukasa!
If you’re excited about new content, you’ve definitely come to the right place. The virtual convention will also screen the subtitled premiere of DECA-DENCE, a gargantuan series about a towering mobile city and its heroes who go up against towering Kaiju-beasts. The first episode airs before the Japanese broadcast and will even be followed by commentary by Mob Psycho 100 director Yuzuru Tachikawa and Studio NUT producer Takuya Tsunoki. If Kaiju battles don’t interest you, perhaps a light-hearted fantasy adventure will be more entertaining? The premiere episode of By The Grace of the Gods will air during the event, and it follows a 39-year-old man who gets reincarnated as a young boy studying friendly slimes in a forest. It sounds adorable if you ask us.
But for fans looking for recommendations on what to watch next, hosts Rose and Anthony will help fans unearth hidden anime gems on Funimation in The Aniplex of America Living Room Sessions. Shonen Jump lovers should definitely watch the virtual panel with Urian Brown and Alexis Kirsch as they examine incredibly popular shows like Black Clover and One Piece. We’d definitely recommend Black Clover to fantasy fans, as Asta and his brother both try and become the Wizard King.
Game Shows
But the convention isn’t just full of panels and Q+A sessions; there are other events to keep fans entertained at home! The My Hero Academia Game Show with Voice Actors should be brilliant to watch as Justin Briner (Deku), Clifford Chapin (Bakugo), Caitlin Glass (Ashido), Ricco Fajardo (Mirio), Kyle Phillips (Kaminari), and Dani Chambers (Mahoro) all go head-to-head to see which voice actor knows the most about the series. But that’s not all for My Hero Academia fans! Wrestler Kenny Omega hosts Justin Briner, Clifford Chapin, Ricco Fajardo, Christopher Sabat (All Might) and Patrick Seitz (Endeavor) and more, as they all duke it out in the new game My Hero One’s Justice 2.
One of the biggest parts of any convention is cosplaying as your favorite characters, and FunimationCon 2020 is no different. The LIVE Cosplay Showdown: Pro vs Pro pits a number of cosplayers against each other as they’re tasked with creating a prop or a costume using items they have at home in under an hour.
FunimationCon 2020 is a free two-day stream of cosplay meetups, industry panels, Q&A sessions, and more. The con is coming to you July 3-4.
