The future is here, and it’s wearing a mech suit. From 8-12 May, robots are taking over ACMI for a festival celebrating anime’s long-standing love affair with artificial beings.
From the pioneering days of Astro Boy to the existential depths of Neon Genesis Evangelion, anime has been imagining our robotic future—and our complex relationships with it—for decades. Now, fans can immerse themselves in a world where humans and machines collide through screenings, talks, trivia, and cosplay.
Anime’s fascination with robots began in the 1960s with classics like Tetsujin 28-go (Gigantor), which laid the groundwork for the genre. By the 1980s, series like Voltron became household names, blending giant robots with family-friendly storytelling.
The 1990s pushed boundaries with groundbreaking works like Ghost in the Shell and Evangelion, redefining what it means to be human in a cybernetic world.
At ACMI, fans can relive these iconic moments, test their knowledge at trivia night, or strut their stuff in a cosplay runway. A live Gateway to Anime podcast recording and a 30th-anniversary panel for Evangelion promise deep dives into the genre’s legacy.
Whether you’re a seasoned otaku or a curious newcomer, this festival is your gateway to a future where robots reign supreme.
More information and tickets available here.
