Photos : Kat Astrophe
The Orange County Convention Center pulsed with energy from August 8-10, 2025, as GalaxyCon Presents Animate! Orlando transformed the venue into a vibrant celebration of anime, animation, and pop culture. Hundreds of fans flooded the halls for three unforgettable days packed with celebrity meet-ups, jaw-dropping cosplay, gaming tournaments, and late-night parties.
A Star-Studded Affair
Voice acting legends drew massive crowds, with fans lining up for autographs and photo ops with icons like Jodi Benson (Ariel from The Little Mermaid), Robbie Daymond (Spider-Man), and John DiMaggio (Futurama’s Bender). Exclusive Q&A panels offered behind-the-scenes stories, including Sarah Natochenny reflecting on 20+ years voicing Ash in Pokémon and Susan Egan singing Belle’s reprise live.
Gaming & Creative Panels Thrived
The Tabletop Gaming Room stayed packed with Dungeons & Dragons one-shots and Warhammer battles, while the Video Gaming Arcade hosted a Street Fighter 6 tournament . Artists like Philo Barnhart (Little Mermaid designer) led workshops on character design, and the Tattoo Row buzzed as fans left with fresh ink of their favorite characters.
Family Fun & Shopping Sprees
Families loved the kid-friendly zone, offering Studio Ghibli-themed crafts and a mascot meet-and-greet with Pikachu and SpongeBob.
A Triumph for Fans
By Sunday’s close, exhausted but elated attendees traded social media handles and vowed to return in 2026. With great attendance and rave reviews, Animate! Orlando 2025 proved animation fandom is stronger than ever—and left everyone counting down to next year.
Missed it? Relive highlights on GalaxyCon’s YouTube channel or start planning for Animate! Orlando 2026!
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