Thursday, April 3, 2025

Funko Returns To WonderCon 2025: Bringing Loungefly & Mondo

 

Funko was very much missed at last year's WonderCon. Many people finding it a highlight of the convention over the years. It comes back to fans and with it, sub-labels, no less and the much vaunted con- exclusives. Funko was nice enough the let us on a tour of their booths and show off what they had. Darn it, we were impressed and frankly bewildered by finally starting to understand those tiny backpacks people have.


The con saw the debut of these new arcade type Funko, the Arcade Cabinet Bitty Pops. You can display your mini Funko in a little arcade cabinet. It's pretty adorable.

If it isn't sold out, here's the Funko Exclusives +shipping for WonderCon online.

Loungefly showed off quite the collection of tiny backpacks perfect for cons, theme parks and pretending to be a giant going to school. Not the best size for school books or and iPad. They're good for what you need on the go. We've seen them around and spotted them being sold at Box Lunch/ Hot Topic; it's just sort of crazy how many different styles there are. 




Many have extra features like lighting up or some hidden lenticular.

Then, of course, came Mondo. We know they've had changes behind the scenes, but they make some amazing stuff still. It's just every figure you wanted as a kid made for you as an adult.

The question is more, "What don't you want to get?" We want it all! What to even go over, everything made from Mondo just looks perfect. Just hope your cartoon from your childhood has a deal with them. 

It's not just figures as they also do vinyl soundtracks, shirts, posters. It's hard to not just want to grab something from them.

 















Funko was fun. As we first got to the booths, they were holding a raffle and the person right in front of us won, beyond happy for a special prize he would be getting. WonderCon missed you and the convention needs these big booth to show off their stuff and get the fans pumped.

Keep up your convention game and keep showing off at WonderCon.

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Anime Hype: Devil May Cry, Lazarus, Anime Riverside, MLB Anime: Heroes of the Game & More

 

Devil May Cry premieres April 3 on Netflix.

Lazarus premieres April 4th @ midnight on Toonami on Adult Swim, next day on Max. From the Cowboy Bebop creator, people are looking forward to it.

Anime Riverside is on the horizon happening May 31st-June 1st. We've talked about it quite a few times praising it as a great way to ease you into the bigger cons of the Summer. We also love the ease of downtown Riverside, park not too far away and just grab food right outside of the convention at regular prices. Some places even have deals if you show your badge. Plenty of cosplay, voice actors and of course, nonsense anime wrestling.

MLB Anime: Heroes of the Game is an actual promotional piece for Major League Baseball in America. Anime has gotten so mainstream.

WonderCon 2025 Cosplay Highlights

 

Just a few highlights of the cosplay from this year's WonderCon.

Squirrel Girl from Marvel was easily the most worn costume at the con. We must have seen one pass us by somewhere at the con every ten minutes. They skitted around so much, it was so hard to get pictures of all of them. G-d did we want to buy a big bag of nuts and do the worst skits possible trying to get them on video.

As has been happening for a while now, 'Deadpool" checked out the other cosplayers at WonderCon too.

It's getting a little too Indy at WonderCon

*Hope you make it to the sexy minion below.











Is that a banana in your pocket or you happy to see me?

Weekly What To Do: It Wasn't Me, It Was The Easter Bunny! The Easter Bunny!

APRIL 3–6
Eastside venues across Los Angeles
 $20 - Individual film screenings 
$30 - Individual tickets to Opening & Closing Night, and Special Screenings
$30 - Individual tickets to Talks
or just buys a film pass
 
It's pure weird, sanctimonious, overpriced and a smaller-get-together with quite a strange selection. It's LA up the wahzoo and perfect for the cinephile who wants to both talk real, but escape talking so real. In other words, it's a LA Film Festival. Oh, man we wanted to see Happyend, but it's already sold out! Actually, quite a few are already sold out, sheesh.

Walt Disney Concert Hall
$$

Sound the bells! World-renowned icons reunite for an evening of film-music favorites and a cello concerto.

 
Walt Disney Concert Hall
$$

Experience a thrilling world of wizards, Jedis, and dinosaurs with John Williams’ iconic music and specially edited film clips!

 
For eight days and nights, we showcase more than 130 entrants from 15+ countries including features, shorts, documentaries, music videos, animation and web series. 

   
The Alamo presents Secret Mall Apartment, a fascinating documentary that opens for a limited run on Thu. 4/3. The film chronicles the story of eight Rhode Island artists who, in 2003, covertly built and lived in a hidden apartment inside Providence Place Mall for four years. They furnished the space, tapped into the mall’s electricity, and smuggled in over two tons of cinderblock to construct walls—all while documenting their experience. Director Jeremy Workman will appear for live Q&As following the first two screenings on Thu. 4/3 and Fri. 4/4.
 
Coachella for a Dying Boy
April 3 @ 10:00 pm - 11:15 pm
Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre 
5919 Franklin Avenue, Los Angeles, CA
$10
 
It’s that special time of the year again. Time to dust off the ol’ flower crown and culturally-appropriative club wear. Yes, it’s festival season, and everyone is excited for Coachella, SoCal’s favorite 120 degree festival of the year!
 
Friday, April 4, 5–10 pm
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
900 Exposition Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90007
Cost: $20 Non-members | Free for Members

Discussion hosted by Dr. Yewande Pearse with guest speaker Jeff Rice.
Pop-ups by PayRay and Amoeba Music
Creative Station by Nova Community Arts.

 
Actor and star Paul Walter Hauser will appear in person at Landmark's Nuart Theatre on Friday, April 4 for a Q&A after the 7:00pm show!

Based on a true story, THE LUCKIEST MAN IN AMERICA is set in May 1984, when an unemployed ice cream truck driver from Ohio (Paul Walter Hauser) steps onto the game show Press Your Luck harboring a big secret: the key to endless amounts of money. His winning streak is threatened when the bewildered executives in the control room start to uncover his real motivations.
 
 
Opening Reception:
Saturday, April 5th 6-10pm
NUNO VIEGAS
Storybook
KEVIN PETERSON
Mist
WANG YALONG
Beyond the Stars
THINKSPACE PROJECTS
4217 W. Jefferson Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
April 5, 2025 - April 13, 2025
Reception / Apr 5, 5:00PM - 8:00PM
NUCLEUS
210 East Main St
Alhambra CA 91801
Free

In 2004, visionary director Masaaki Yuasa unleashed his first feature film, Mind Game—a wild, genre-defying masterpiece of animation. Now, two decades later, we're honoring its 20th Anniversary with an extraordinary exhibition, showcasing a rare selection of original animation drawings and stunning background paintings. Don't miss this rare opportunity to own a piece of animation history!
 
 

Sun Apr 6, 2025 2:00 PM - 8:30 PM
319 E. 2nd St. Los Angeles, CA, 90012 
$$

Get Ready for a BRAND NEW and REINVENTED AKIBA LIVE!Alongside our long-time talents such as Asayoru and Hamu Cotton, we will also have returning guests Super Melody, and two virtual talents Kou Mariya and Shabel Tonya from BRAVE group! And we're also welcoming a newly added talent joining us for the first time – Aquarius!

 
 
 
 
 
 
Apr 6–Oct 19, 2025
Resnick Pavilion 
LACMA Admission

An examination of the innovations in calligraphic art, Line, Form, Qi: Calligraphic Art from the Fondation INK Collection highlights experimental works of modern and contemporary calligraphic art.
 
Sunday, April 6 | Noon – 4 p.m.
1200 block of Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica
Free, but registration is encouraged
 
Families will have the chance to stop by the Easter Bunny’s festive photo station to capture special holiday moments (photos available first-come, first-served, max two per group.) Plus, guests will enjoy craft stations, face painting, balloon artists, stilt walkers, chalk drawing, giveaways from local businesses and thousands of filled eggs!
 
 
 
 
 
Connecting Hollywood, East Hollywood, Melrose Hill, and Koreatown
Free

On Sunday, April 6; between 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. CicLAvia will celebrate its 59th car-free open streets event catalyzing vibrant public spaces, active transportation and good health through car-free streets. CicLAvia—Koreatown meets Hollywood connects Hollywood, East Hollywood, Melrose Hill, and Koreatown, welcoming everyone of all ages and abilities to enjoy this day-long 4.75-mile pop-up park. You can enjoy the day f with your favorite people-powered way, whether that's walking, jogging, biking, roller skating, skating, or simply spectating. Always free, CicLAvia participants can show up anywhere along the route between 9am-4pm to enjoy the open streets, take the time to explore, and see where the day takes you.
 
Extra:
 
Free Hours at the Autry
Every Tuesday and Wednesday from 1-4 p.m.
Update: During this Wildfire season, The Autry closes off, please check day of event

Let the Autry cover your next visit with Free Hours at the Autry. Every Tuesday and Wednesday from 1-4 p.m. will be free to all Autry visitors. Enjoy access to all the Autry's exhibitions including Imagined Wests, Reclaiming El Camino and more by reserving your spot today!
 

Thanks to the generous support of the Autry Foundation, Free Hours at the Autry* are every Tuesday and Wednesday from 1-4 p.m.
 
UCB, a cheapo comedy show almost every night, see comedians before they make podcasts and have
stories about the UCB and before they hit the big time.
 


American Cinematheque-A celebrated independent theater group that brings both the talent and catalog of films to make for some of LA's best movie nights.
 

Street Food Cinema-Outdoor cult or recent hits you'll love.

Check out classics and cult movies just a few stories above street level. Rooftop Movies at The MontalbΓ‘n.


 New Bev-Tarantino owned independent theater with old school style

Cinelounge - Hollywood based tiny theater, showing off indies you've never heard of
 
Brain Dead Studios-manages to fill its schedule almost every night
611 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036
 
Vidiots -A one-of-a-kind hub for film lovers, filmmakers, and everyone curious about cinema. A small theater is more than made-up for with the constant content and special screenings.
4884 Eagle Rock Blvd