Los Angeles Convention Center & Dodgers Stadium | LOS ANGELES, CA | 2025

Bandai Card Games - Anime Expo 2025

Events and Activations in Los Angeles, CA

Powering Bandai Card Games’s Biggest Anime Expo Presence Yet

From Demos to Digital: Play Interactive Brings Bandai Card Games to Life at Anime Expo 2025

At Anime Expo 2025, Play Interactive partnered with Bandai Card Games to deliver a landmark brand presence across five large-scale activations and three supporting engagements—elevating fan interaction, product awareness, and multimedia storytelling across thousands of attendees. Through full-service creative, production, and logistical leadership, Play orchestrated a seamless blend of physical card games and digital-first experiences that set a new bar for fandom marketing.

ACTIVATION HIGHLIGHTS

Gundam Card Game – First Strike Showcase

1

To unveil the highly anticipated Gundam Card Game, Play designed and executed a commanding exhibit booth that blended retail, play, and media.

  • 40+ demo tables for live gameplay

  • Exclusive product drops and card reveal panels

  • A first-look ribbon rally linking all Bandai booths via collectible lanyards

  • Custom booth render, construction, staffing, and print collateral managed in-house

Union Arena –
Multi-IP Powerhouse

2

Play oversaw Bandai's largest indoor booth—anchored by the Union Arena brand—and transformed it into an IP-rich retail and demo environment.

  • Larger footprint with enhanced demo bays and product sales

  • Rigging coordination for the iconic globe-shaped ceiling display

  • Comprehensive booth build, staffing, and retail training operations

Digimon Alysion –
Virtual Frontier Debut

3

As the face of Anime Expo’s welcome experience, the Digimon Alysion booth introduced fans to the franchise’s bold next chapter.

  • Confidential beta demos of the unreleased virtual TCG

  • Life-size Renamon statue photo-op with LED motion wall

  • QR engagement campaign offering exclusive merch for sharing photos

One Piece x Dodgers Crossover – Iconic Photo Moments

4

In partnership with Toei Animation and MLB’s LA Dodgers, Play transformed a once-in-a-generation collaboration into a fan-forward spectacle.

  • Oversaw final-mile logistics for the Monkey.D.Luffy Dodgers promo card

  • Designed and installed multiple custom card frame photo stations

  • On-site staffing and flow control during peak foot traffic hours

Shonen Jump x Viz Media Pop-Up

For this niche but high-value activation, Play supplied support staff and decor fabrication for an intimate Shonen Jump x Bandai collab space.

5

  • Pop-up store ambiance built around exclusive merch and Viz/Bandai crossover titles

  • Enhanced atmosphere through subtle branded decor and touchpoint curation

Additional Support Activations

  • Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War

  • One Punch Man: Season 3

  • Mobile Suit Gundam: GQuuuuuuX Panel

Play also extended logistics, promotional, and staffing services for marquee partner panels and screenings, including:

Deliverables ranged from promotional flyer coordination to in-room fan engagement teams.

IMPACT

120K+

fan impressions across Bandai booths

100+

staff hours of demo training and live engagement

5

major buildouts

3

support activations fully managed end-to-end

Zero delays in international card logistics

CONCLUSION

Play Interactive’s execution at Anime Expo 2025 demonstrated our unique position at the intersection of anime IP, fan culture, and premium card games. Through unified creative vision and operational excellence, we delivered one of Bandai Card Games’ most successful AX showings to date—building not just booths, but moments fans will carry forever.

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