I got to check out Anime Impulse as part of my tickets to the Asian American Expo. This is a fun event where Anime fans gather. It was entertaining to see all the different anime fans in cosplay costumes. I also enjoyed seeing some of the cars on display that were decorated with anime characters. From the costumes, I saw some funny, some scary, and some cute! It was such a range of uniqueness and I could not help but someone dressed as Hello Kitty. For the cars, my favorite had to be the Kuromiata. It was a Miata with a giant Kuromi character on the side. They even creatively had a mini Miata car with a Kuromi doll. Inside there were plenty of anime merch for sale. Whether one wanted dolls and figurines or art, there was plenty of anime merch to purchase. Overall I felt like I was stepping into a whole other world with visiting Anime Impule. Anime fans are hardcore and this was the place to be to see a lot of anime in full force. read more

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This is a yearly tradition for our family and I think this year is possibly the best year so far. It just keeps getting better and better! Every year they seem to learn from previous years and the layout was way more efficient. For the price of admission to one place, you get admission to Anime impulse, Asian American Expo, KPlay fest, and collectors expo. There are anime merch vendors, a Maid cafe, food trucks and food vendors, meets and greets with the voice actors, and discussion panels lead by the voice actors. So excited to see what's to come in the following years! read more

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"Huge selection of vendors--from official figures to handmade charms. It's more than just a con; it's a full weekend of hunting for rare collectibles!" Came for the vibes, stayed for the... well, everything. First year and totally obsessed with the selection here ! read more

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Anime fans, video game fans, manga fans, all things geek fans - conventions are great fun. Meet artists, voice actors, find your favourite cosplayers, play games, dress up yourselves, and just all around have fun. It's a decent size convention with plenty to see, eat, drink and do. Can be pricy so bring the wallet or credit cards but there's a lot of great stuff to support. Oh and be prepared to line up for things too - but that just means they're worth it. read more

PS. CHECK OUT MY OLDER REVIEWS FOR A LIST OF PRO TIPS IF IT'S YOUR FIRST TIME ATTENDING When asked when my favorite cons are, I always answer Anime Impulse first, and then closely followed by Fanime. AI only because it shares the space with Asian American Expo, K-Playfest etc, it's affordable with the fact that you get entry to all these events, and by default you get so many freebies and food from this collaborative event. Of course I'm not going to ding AI for issues that arose from the horrific rain and weather, but there some issues that made me kinda eugh with the event, at least for this year. Yes, this event has grown so much from when it was sequestered in a shared hall and then into single hall, and now it's spread to a whopping 4 halls! It's easily one of the biggest parts of the event now! Yet despite this, the allocation of event space was done so poorly. Sure, it might have been much more crowded since people are clustering to hide away from the rain, but despite this, it really felt cramped in the artist alley with the amount of artists they shoved in AND the fact that they had the autograph lines and meet and greets all in the same space. I didn't even go to the Vtuber stage/hall until the end of the final day and even then it was ear drum piercing loud and the sound quality and acoustics were absolutely dreadful. I could barely hear my friends even with shouting ALL THE WAY at the entrance of the hall, I cannot fathom what it was like for vendors or people who were just trying to vibe at the arcade that had to share the same space with this hall. I still do enjoy this even a lot (probably because of the collaborative thing still), but I do want to see this con become better organized especially with the growing crowds and the event just getting much bigger and much more popular with each coming year. read more

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Bad event planning. Made everyone wait in an extremely long line and had one person check tickets in big building. Was unnecessary

Animal impulse is actually connected to Asian American expo. They are actually right next to each other! We entered the parking lot for anime impulse only and it was a bit of walk to the gate. I saw mostly young adults and big kids here. Many of them were in cute costumes. The beer bar is always right next to the stage. We usually sit there to watch some anime personalities for a little while. I was glad that the halls were packed with many vendors. I really liked the anime posters and got 4 for $60 which was great deal. If you like anime and cute stuffs you will love this event! Ps. They required vaccine proof or negative Covid test on site! read more

ANIME Impulse - Got 4 of them for $60 - Festivals Near Me - Pomona, California

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I'm surprised at how little advertisements are for this event. Maybe I'm the one who's not looking hard enough? Lol. Anyways, this popped into my radar because one of my husband's cousins was a part of the genshin impact panel and had a signing event for the weekend. We got the ticket through her. Thanks, cuz!! This was a way better experience than Animanga. And a lot more space too! There was some line when we were paying for parking, and then some more line as we had to show proof of vaccination and ID, before yet another line to show your ticket prior to entry. Once you enter the event, there are anime cars visible, lining up all around the exhibit halls. There are 2 main halls. One with vendors for shirts, figurines, and aracades, and the other is more like an artist's hall where they sell stickers, clothing, accessories, and other crafty pieces. There's also half of a hall where you can meet and greet some voice actors/actresses. This half hall is also shared with the asian expo. There is also a stage where they conduct panel interview and play music throughout the day. Another benefit of going to anime impulse is definitely being able to experience the asian expo itself. There are plenty of food vendors and super cheap treats if you're looking for somr asian ingredients, snacks, or ramen. I love all the freebies that they give out too. I had a lot of fun walking around and enjoying the atmosphere that I literally only took pictures of just the food we had. We tried melon envy drink, melona ice cream, melon flavors into a drink with honey boba. Then a yummy pizza baos. We wanted to try the Margherita pizza but instead, we tried the creamy spinach. We didn't know how exchange the food because of the line, so we just are it. It was good. We also tried the pepperoni too. Both on fried buns. Then we ended the day with some mentaiko takoyaki. read more

ANIME Impulse - Pizzabao - Festivals Near Me - Pomona, California

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**January 2023: Sunday Afternoon Visit** For $20 for a day pass, you get to see this convention, the Asian American Expo, Sneaker Expo (I skipped), and K-Play Fest (Korean centered expo). There's a pretty good assortment of vendors in artist alley and cosplayers walking around. They had a gaming area, voice actors who are doing autograph signings for a fee, a maid cafe and panels. I came a little bit later than I wanted and it rained during my visit so I didn't maximize my time this year, but I think it's a good value considering the number of things you can see and do. Overall, I would recommend this location as the Orange County didn't have nearly as many things to see - also there were tons of performances and a cosplay contest on Sunday. Enjoy! read more

I attended Anime Impulse years ago, and this year, the event was bigger than ever! On the day of my visit, there were other conventions occurring at the same time: Asian American Expo, K-Play! Fest, and Collectors Expo. An admission ticket for either convention will give you access to the other conventions. There were crowds everywhere, which was to be expected with four conventions happening at the same time. Parking at the Pomona Fairplex was $20, and it was card only. I recommend carpooling with a friend or family member to save on parking fees. A one-day admission ticket for Anime Impulse was $20. There were many vendors selling trading cards, blind boxes, and anime merchandise. There was a decided hall for Artist Alley where artists showcased and sold their fan art or original art. If you love anime, Anime Impulse is a good beginner's anime convention to attend compared to Anime Expo in Los Angeles, which is more expensive and crowded. read more

Love videogames, anime, and cosplay? This has all of those and is similar to anime expo, but with less activities and a much smaller scale. Regardless, for only $12 (if bought online), it is such a good time, paired with the Blush Con and Asian American expo, which your ticket also covers. I honestly can't wait to go next year. Pros: Everyone actually cosplaying An indoor building full of anime stuff you can buy Voice actors you can meet Karaoke Free gameplay on popular Japanese Arcade Games A building full of anime Artist Cool cars displayed outside Access to freebies at blushcon and Asian American expo Cons: Parking cost $12 per car It does get very crowded around 1pm Scavenger hunt was a turn off due to not being able to find one of the stores Food is somewhat expensive as usual Waiting for events on the main stage on Sunday- it looks like some got cancelled which was a waste of my time of me going back and forth to see if it started yet Tips: Go when it opens at 10am and go enjoy the free things that usually get a line and shop for stuff later Bring your own snacks and drinks, as they won't take it away Dress up because it's fun and you won't be alone I'd you decide to cover all three events, be ready spend more than 4 hours if you plan to enjoy everything If you go in a group, expect to separate because it gets crowded Great for a date, but go early read more

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Won 2 tickets thru Yelp!! These tickets also gave entrance to the Asian American Expo, so one stone two birds! My daughter had a great time! There were so many elements in the event - shows, video games, cosplaying, merchandise... And since the Asian American Expo is next door, there were all kind of food too. read more

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Thanks to Yelp's Tix Giveaway, I scored 2 free tickets to Anime Impulse (and also Asian American Expo and Blushcon)! The cost of parking was not covered and traffic near the Fairplex was really bad, but these things did not ruin the experience. The con was mainly split between 2 buildings with an outdoor area that included eye candy on wheels. If you asked me what were my favorite parts were, I'd have to say seeing all the uniquely styled cars on display and the free gaming in a building that included consoles and various arcade games! The rest of the con included many vendors, a showcase for artists, panels, signings, and many cosplayers. I have to say that this con was the perfect size and scope for a casual anime enthusiast such as myself. The well-known Anime Expo can be super crowded, costly, and a bit intimidating at that. With free admission included to the Asian American Expo next door, this Asian American most definitely had a great time this past Sunday. read more

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This year, my boyfriend and I were thinking about checking out Anime Expo for the first time. But due to its size and attendance rate, we've heard that Anime Expo is often times chaotic for the first timer. Lucky for us, we found out about Anime Impulse, all thanks to Yelp. Typical one day admission when bought online is $12 plus tax. If you buy at the gate, I believe it's double that price. So a tip for all to plan in advance and buy before you go! We arrived once it opened at 10am. So glad we did! There was a bit of a line but we got in pretty quickly. By the time we left around 2:30, the convention was packed and bustling. The expo was primarily located in two buildings plus the outdoor stage area. One contained booths selling popular anime merchandise, mostly figures, posters and keychains we saw in Japan. This building had the scavenger hunt where you collect stamps from certain booths for a prize at the end. That made exploring more fun. Building 2, aka the Artist's Alley, was my favorite. All the booths showcased artists who created their variations of anime and popular movie characters. Some artists are really creative with their media, so it was inspiring and a real joy for me to see their works. At the back of the building is an arcade with consoles to play on. The best part: all games were free! We were able to play DDR to our heart's content (also because we came early so there weren't lines of people waiting for the games). Lots of cool cosplay everywhere too! This was definitely a good way to show how creative people can be. It's also nice that others are appreciative of these cosplayers' efforts, some even asking to take photos with them. I can see how Anime Impulse creates a friendly environment for others to share their love for anime. Definitely would recommend this if you're not fond of the crowds at Anime Expo. read more

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I won my tickets from Yelp and it was my first time coming to Anime Impulse. I don't know if one ticket gets you into Asian American Expo and Beautycon every year as well, but if so, it's totally worth it. I wrote a separate review for Asian American Expo (Beautycon alone is definitely not worth it). I came on a Sunday and one day was perfect for me. Admission is normally $12 pre-sale for a day or $24 at the door. $12 would be worth it for sure. $24 maybe. Parking was $12 and was fine for carpooling. They had two halls (9 and 10)-- a vendors/exhibitors hall and an artist alley/performance hall that included a PC gaming area, an arcade game area, and a stage for panels. The main exhibitor I saw at Anime Impulse was Toyota. I didn't see any other major anime brands there. The Viz logo was shown on their site, but I didn't see much evidence of them. I wasn't interested in panels or signings; I was there for the artists. My only other experience with a local con is Animanga, which is also held at the Pomona Fairplex. This con isn't really comparable to Anime Expo for size/attendance reasons. Compared to Animanga 2018 and 2019, Anime Impulse 2020 had: * more itasha cars * larger artist alley * equal amount of free arcade games to play * more interesting vendors I would definitely come again. read more

Won my tickets through Yelp so I only had to pay $12 for parking. The great thing is that tickets to Anime Impulse also got you into Blushcon and the Asian Expo. It was a great experience. My husband and I both had fun attending on a Sunday afternoon. The crowds weren't horrible, luckily. It was super cool to see all the cosplay and the cool anime cars. We also checked out the Asian Expo while we were here and got to enjoy a bunch of free food samples. There are really good deals for the food vendors selling their products, such as the Kikkoman stand, the ramen stands, etc. There are also a lot of food stands like at a fair, but as usual, the food is pretty pricey. Overall, great experience. Would definitely come again and drag my family with me! read more

ANIME Impulse - Festivals Near Me - Pomona, California

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The anime part of this expo is so much smaller than anime expo but the tickets at anime impulse are like 1/3 of the price and it includes admission into the Asian American expo which has lots of free giveaways btw. They have a gaming section where there are about 40 arcade games setup for you to play for free! That was really awesome. And on the other side there're a bunch of old console games setup too. A lot of people cosplayed, so that's always fun. Lots and lots of vendors. We won our tickets from yelp, but the admission $12 would've been totally worth it too. Parking was at gate 9 for $12. read more

I was fortunate enough to win my Anime Impulse tickets this year through Yelp so I managed to save myself an extra $12.50 (although that ended up quickly being used towards parking once we got into the parking lot). The tickets themselves were for Sunday only which was great since I already had tickets for Saturday itself. The tickets to Anime Impulse itself expanded out into three different conventions happening that same day as well: Blushcon and Asian American Expo. Anime Impulse - A fun small anime and gaming convention taking up two whole warehouses. There was a variety of different vendors selling merchandise ranging from a body pillow of your favorite protagonist or cute jewelry you could wear with your next outfit. There was also an artist alley where you could see different artworks (original and fanart) for sale and help contribute to the artist's work and be able to own a lovely piece of their art piece in your own home! There were different panels you could attend during the day and there were even fan signings from the voice actors of different video games, animes, or cartoons. It was a small but very organized event as well, communication was smooth throughout and any little mishap was communicated clearly to the attendees to ensure a safe and fun time. It was such a fun time and I had a chance to get to see alot of great cosplays, listen to some great music, meet some cool voice actors, and overall make lots of memories I will definitely remember in the future! read more

My daughter was very happy this time.Also I am happy too,they have many food truck. This was my daughter first big Anime event.She's so enjoyed seeing a cosplayer and a lot of selling anime items. Thank you :) read more

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First time ever attending, and I absolutely loved itm it was relaxed. Not as packed as most conventions and the merchandise was affordable! PLEASE BE AWARE TO NOT PLAY THAT BALL CATCHING GAME AT THE BOOTH BY TOYOTA. They swindled us out of our pocket money , ruining most our day. It wasn't til a friend told us they pulled a Razzle Dazzle scam. Please don't fall for it! read more

So awesome! Anime impulse was held in one of the halls within the Asian American expo. Hall 9 of the Pomona Fairplex was a huge indoor venue with anime art and merchandise. The space was big enough to carry hundreds of vendors but not overly crowded and suffocating. The stage was big and filled the venue with music and great energy. It was awesome that there were so many food vendors and even trucks right outside of the hall. Lots of games going on at different booths for free gifts and prizes. I'd definitely go again! FYI, most vendors are Asian (mainly Chinese) so if you have a friend who's Chinese drag them with you to get a better bargain! read more

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I am at my third year of Anime Impulse and I have fun at this cozy con! I do honestly wish that there is a public longue area, and not someplace outside of the con, but that's a personal preference. I do wish that this con provides a physical map and not reliant on digital platform, because I don't have data and can't check the wall map. Also, I don't think the volunteers are aware of the mapping too, so hopefully next year provide them personal con maps? Otherwise, I have fun and I would return next year! (And hopefully it doesn't clash with Anime Los Angeles!) read more

This was my 2nd time attending AI and compared to the 1st time, it was a lot better. It wasn't so hot inside, and things were more organized. Things such as the layout of the booths not being so crammed, air conditioning was in working order, cosplay gatherings were organized, and there were more food trucks available. There were also more big name brands boothing at AI so that was nice. I also noticed that AI was officially selling AI merchandise there, most notable were their limited edition pins. As a pin collector myself, I greatly enjoyed this. In addition, AI had a new neon sign featuring their logo for attendees to use as a selfie location which was popular among the crowd. There was a good sized crowd this year too. It wasn't too barren where it felt like it wasn't worth going, but at the same time, it wasn't too crowded to the point where my claustrophobia was provoked (like at AX). Since AI happens at the same time as the Asian American Expo (like it does every year) and Blushcon (a new con this year as far as I know), your ticket AI doubled as a ticket to these conventions occurring in the neighboring buildings. That provided a good change of pace for when I was done checking out all AI had to offer. AI had also organized meet and greets with big time cosplayers and social media personalities which was very fun to experience. Overall, AI really stepped up their game this year and if AI continues on this path, then I'm already looking forward to attending every single one of their future conventions in the coming years! (Shoutout to Sean for working so hard on making AI a huge success, it really paid off!) read more

This show was put on by the same company as the ktownnightmarket and the ocblockparty. As a vendor, the show was very organized and events staff were very attentive to the vendors needs. There was vendor parking and easy access to the areas. Walking space was more than adequate and foot traffic was as promised. As a first time anime show, a surprising number of people came to the show in complete awesome cosplay. There was a lot of entertainment and give always. I would attend this show again. read more

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No weapon check, my friend got pickpocketed. So disappointed. Park in dirt lot for $15.... No rideshare dropoff or pickup. Overcrowded, unsafe,, and overpriced food you have to wait in line for.... I don't think I'll go back. read more

Honestly it was really wise to pair this convention up with the Asian American Expo because you get such a huge mix of people. The anime con itself is smallish, a bit bigger than last year. After blush con started up last year it's grown even more so. There's a lot to do and A LOT of free samples ranging from food to beauty products. The artist alley was cool but wayyyy too crowded all day so watch out for that. The cosplay is cool, and I like the videogame area a lot this year! read more

Anime Impulse is a relatively small convention with a lot of events, things to do, vendors and artists to see. It's held in the same venue as Blush Con and Asian American Expo, so it's convenient to buy food (and makeup) during the convention, so you don't have to go far to find a meal. The ticket for two days is very inexpensive (only around $16 when still on sale), it's quite affordable for those who don't want to pay insane amounts of money just to enter the convention, plus you automatically get access to Blush Con and Asian American Expo when you buy the ticket. It's nice that they have cosplayer special guests from out of state and even out of country. From what I remember, parking cost $11 in 2017 and it was raised to $13 in 2018. It takes a long time to get into the parking lot though, it took nearly an hour just to drive 1 mile and enter the parking lot on Day 1 around noon. The traffic wasn't as bad on the second day. read more

One of my favorite conventions to attend! I've been to wvery Anime Impulse since day 1 and I always have a great time! It's not as packed/overwhelming as other conventions like Anime Expo, but there's still a lot to do. The tickets are inexpensive, so there's no excuse to not go! read more

Hands down one of the BEST conventions I've been to and will keep going to every year ! The Vibe was great, the FOOD was amazing, the fact that just everyone looked so comfortable made my heart warm Hikarin was the best , she's so beautiful keep it up AI! Me and my family will be at the con 2019 ! read more

For a small con, it was very relaxing and fun! The activities were also very fun to either observe or join in. Plus it was not as packed as AX so it was more relaxing and easier to breath. We were able to meet a lot of friends and the list of invited guests were awesome too!!! It was my friend's first time at Anime Impulse and she generally gets very tired and a bit of an anxiety attack if it gets too crowded but she was able to walk through the maze of people and not feel cramped. Although there are a few little points I would like to make public knowledge. There was not really a rule or guide on what weapons are ok and if there was a prop check station. I was running around the con the first day, trying to ask volunteers and employers what the policy for the weapons were and if we needed to go get them tagged. No one could give me an answer and most said to check with the security guards which didn't really know much at all. We were bringing swat weapons which was made of paper but looked realistic enough to give someone a scare from far away. The chill atmosphere for weapons was nice but at the same time kind of gave me anxiety because I didn't know what to expect. Also, last year I remember there was a post on great places to take pictures at and a big map that showed the whole convention center but I didn't see if this year. I do not know if it was because I couldn't find it myself or if it was not there. But either way, it would be nice to have that. Overall It is a really fun and relaxing con to go to and can't wait until next year!!!! read more

This was my first anime convention and I must say it was amazing! I enjoyed seeing the cosplay and all of the vendors!! Delicious food, amazing merchandise, and good vibes. I definitely enjoyed the itasha cars on display as well. I was told that last year there was a silk show, which is honestly one of the reasons I was so hyped up to attend for my first time. I can only say I hope you guys have the silk show next year! I am really looking forward to attending the 2019 festival! read more

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This was our first time going to Anime Impulse, and it was amazing!! I've only ever gone to Anime Expo, but this was just as great. It's pleasantly way cheaper than AX tickets too! Coincidentally, the Asian Food Expo was happening in the other building beside AI so we enjoyed that as well. We met new friends, ate all kinds of good food, and met popular YouTubers and cosplayers!! Overall, even though we came for one day, it was very fun! Would go again for next year! read more

Loved it here!!!! There was lots to do including different areas for anime merchandise, food vendors and stalls, panels, even some random Chinese booths! Plus the prices were so cheap and reasonable compared to other events I've gone to like Anime Expo, why waste your money there when you can go here for 1/4 the price! Will be back again since it is also at a good time for cosplaying read more

It was neat watching all the cosplay people walking around in full costume. Even better was the relatively easy entrance and exit. I live in DTLA and see the crazy lines for their anime expo. No thanks! read more

Looking for a fun event look no further. This is one of the best anime conventions out there in SoCal. It's not so crowded and well organized. There is lots of fun things to do from live performances to singing karaoke and games. Looking for that special gift for the Otaku in your life or for yourself they got you covered with various anime merch vendors and artists to choose from. Feeling hungry no worries enjoy great food from some of the best food trucks ever. Make new friends and memories with some of the nicest people you'll ever meet. Come and meet cosplayers from around the world there literally works of art. Come on down and hope to see you there. read more

Pairing it with Asian expo is a clever idea not only did me and my daughter have fun on the event. I get to taste different Asian food without leaving the country. I would do it again anytime!! read more

It was so much fun to go to. I went with my school anime club and I hope to go next year for many reasons. One is the tub of noodles that looked kinda sketchy but the pic came out great. I bought lots of stuff and I wish I would've had more money to buy more stuff because they had lots of great items. read more

probably one of the best anime events bc it's so reasonably priced! one of the best parts is that it's attached to asian american expo so it's right next to sooo much good food! the variety of stuff to do was amazing for what seemed to be such a small con. well organized, entertained from day to night. workers were helpful with directions and super nice about any and all questions asked. also got to meet ely cosplay so that was dope xD read more