Exclusive Sneak Peek: Bandai Namco's Phenomenal Anime Expo 2023 Merchandise Unveiled!

Highlights

Bandai Namco showcased their new products and collectibles at Anime Expo, including nanoblocks and upcoming model kits from the Gundam franchise.

MegaHouse unveiled their latest collaboration called MegaCats, an animal-themed collectible shop with a diner setting that showcases anime characters in animal cosplay.

As the primary distributor of Studio Ghibli merchandise in North America, Bandai Namco exclusively offers their products through their online retail section.

Bandai Namco is one of Japan's largest multinational video game publishers and is renowned for licensing popular anime franchises such as Naruto, Gundam, Sword Art Online, and Dragon Ball. Originally separate entities, Bandai and Namco merged in March 2006.

During the 4th of July weekend, Bandai Namco had two prominent booths at the convention. The Gundam Base was located in the Exhibit Hall, while another one was in the Entertainment Hall. These booths offered various workshops, demos, and featured MegaHouse's latest collaboration, MegaCat. Additionally, there were sections dedicated to Studio Ghibli merchandise and smaller photo areas for mascot and cosplay enthusiasts. We were fortunate to have the exclusive opportunity to visit their merchandising booth and discover their newest collectibles and interactive projects!

Being The Builder

Mega Cat's In The House

The primary objective of this particular area was to showcase new products through interactive workshops with popular brands. The art of merchandising and selling is an unparalleled skill. The concept is straightforward: organize a workshop, generate interest, and make products available for purchase! In order to introduce a wider range of their specialized goods to audiences in America, Bandai Namco set up demo stations for collectibles such as nanoblocks, which are micro-sized building blocks similar to Legos, but with various shapes and characters to choose from. These options include characters, food items, furniture, and even intricate models for passionate architects. Visitors had the opportunity to sit down and build their own nanoblocks, and they also had the option to buy additional sets to further enhance their building skills at home. A highlight of their upcoming model kits from the Gundam franchise is The Witch From Mercury, featuring a female protagonist.

MegaHouse's latest and most ambitious endeavor, MegaCats, has unveiled their collaborative project - a charming collectible shop with a diner theme, featuring adorable animal cosplays of beloved anime characters. Meet Sailor Mewn, Nyaruto, Nyan Piece, and Nyandam. While an array of small figurines were available for purchase, the booth astounded visitors with its innovative "menus". Modeled after a 1950s diner called Nyaruto Diner Menu, these menus showcased captivating images accompanied by concise descriptions and prices of popular figurines, predominantly from casual brands, with a sneak peek of a few upcoming releases. Each section of the menu corresponded to a particular type of collectible, and encompassed "Starters", "Small Bites", "Shareables", "Specials", "Side Dishes", "Refresher", "Main Entrees", and "Desserts". Notably, for Anime Expo, MegaCat offered an exclusive Nyaruto 2023 Limited Edition set, featuring Naruto and Sasuke in their feline forms.

Embracing The Niche

As previously mentioned, Bandai Namco has a plethora of franchises, each with their own unique popularity. Studio Ghibli is one such franchise, known for its niche appeal in the US. Recognizing the demand, Bandai Namco set up a stand with a whimsical background to cater to fans. What sets Bandai Namco's involvement with Studio Ghibli apart is that they are the primary distributor of merchandise for Studio Ghibli's North American branch. Unlike other franchises, Bandai Namco does not rely solely on other retailers to sell Studio Ghibli merchandise. Instead, they ensure that these goods are always available for purchase on their official website. However, for fans of Gundam and Tamagotchi, they will need to find alternative retailers to make their purchases.

Fun Is Fundamental

Explore the convention center and you'll find numerous sections, each showcasing a wide array of collectibles. However, what truly warmed the heart was discovering how much Bandai Namco deeply values its consumer base. Stay in the loop with their latest releases by visiting their official website.