Anime characters come alive at expo Pictures Anime characters arrive at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Saturday, June 30, 2012. Some 130,000 fans converged on the Los Angeles Convention Center Saturday for Anime Expo 2012, North America's largest gathering for devotees of manga, anime and other expressions of Japanese pop culture. Activities included concerts, karaoke, panel discussions, fashion shows and interactive events, including "Masquerade," in which fans transform into their favorite characters. Credit: AP Photo/Richard Vogel