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Inside AnimeJapan 2019: Aniplex, Magia Record, Fate/Grand Order Booths
posted on by Kim Morrissy
AnimeJapan is Japan's biggest trade show for anime and other otaku-related hobbies. Whether you're a businessman or a simple fan, AnimeJapan is where you need to be.
This year's event was a bit of a change of pace from previous years. Normally, the business days take place before the weekend, which is when the event opens to the public, but the order was reversed this year. In 2019, the public days took place on March 23 and 24, while the business days took place on March 25 and 26. Outwardly, this had no effect on how the event was run; it's just a bit of trivia I'd like to note.
On the public days, dozens of companies set up booths promoting their hottest anime properties. 2019 saw the continuation of Aniplex and Fate/Grand Order's dominance in that area - FGO got a booth all to itself once again this year.
Here are some of the photos straight from the booths:
One entrance of the Aniplex is a scary sight - a life-sized recreation of one of the demons from The Promised Neverland.
The other entrance is a more comforting and familiar sight: Alphonse Elric from Fullmetal Alchemist. FMA's representation here is to promote the Blu-ray box set coming out in Japan in April. You could get a look at the cover of the box set and some signatures and figures inside the booth itself.
Fullmetal Alchemist was far from the only series to get this sort of treatment. You'll see glass cases with props and cast signatures from various Aniplex properties, including The Promised Neverland, Persona 5 the Animation, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress, City Hunter, Do You Love Your Mom and Her Two-Hit Multi-Target Attacks?, and others.
Sword Art Online: Alicization's area was rather nondescript at first glance, but when you look closer, you'll realize it's a simulation of the forbidden Dark Territory. Put one foot in it, and you'll suffer a great penalty...
The area for the Seishun Buta Yarō series had a map with all the locations shown in the Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai anime. The series is set in Fujisawa City in the Kanagawa Prefecture and the island of Enoshima.
There were some key animation frames for the upcoming Sarazanmai anime, but it was forbidden to photograph them so you'll have to wait until the anime comes out. Hopefully, this concept illustration can tide you over.
The Ore wo Suki na no wa Omae Dake ka yo area showed some character setting sheets for the upcoming anime.
The not-so-boring heroine of Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend had an area all to herself.
Sakura from I want to eat your pancreas also had a shrine dedicated to her memory.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba had a neat folding screen, a nod to its historical Japanese setting.
To promote the release of the Fate/Prototype drama CD, visitors were encouraged to put on headphones and listen to samples from the tracks. There was also a tablet where fans of the Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel II. lost butterfly film could try out the Bug Buster game.
The upcoming Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story anime had a really neat display of all the weapons used by the girls. This anime even had a booth to itself, which I'll cover later on in this article.
Kyubey was hanging around the Madoka props. Perhaps he wants you to sign a contract.
The idol group 22/7 was showing off some animated dance sequences, plus signatures and messages from all the members.
This Macchi from the mobile game Kirara Fantasia was spinning round and round the entire weekend. The poor creature is probably suffering from dizziness now.
A display of the cards from the Ao no Exorcist: Damned Chord mobile game shows some familiar characters from the Blue Exorcist anime.
Other franchise mobile games like Cells at Work!, High School Fleet, and Monogatari got some attention too.
Here's some Fate/Grand Order memorabilia from the Aniplex booth, including music from the soundtrack and a gallery.
There was also a roundup of goods from the fifth anniversary of Aniplex+, Aniplex's merch line. (Technically, the anniversary was last year.)
Moving on to the Magia Record booth, this one stood out a lot thanks to the giant suspended witch out the front.
Inside was a gallery of Magia Record art and a timeline of which parts of the storyline were released when.
Russian figure skaters Alina Zagitova and Evgenia Medvedeva's Madoka and Homura outfits were on display. The skaters participated in a live-action ad for the game. These were accompanied by gold, silver, and bronze medals of Madoka.
One of the biggest delights was a recreation of the cute and terrifying Walpurgisnacht.
Some other things of note were a map of the town of Kamihama where the story of Magia Record takes place, plus some beautiful art boards.
Finally, we reach the front of the Fate/Grand Order booth, which is gearing up for the Fate/Grand Order: Zettai Majū Sensen Babylonia TV anime.
This booth had quite a number of impressive replicas of weapons and costumes from throughout the series.
The walls show all the key players from each "singularity" within the game.
Plus, another wall shows key animation frames from the various animated commercials and art from other Fate/Grand Order paraphernalia.
And here's a wall showing the multitude of Servants that are collectibles within the game.
Whew! That's all for now! Join us again for more coverage of the show floor of AnimeJapan 2019.
