JAMS@AX26

Want to present your work at the one-and-only Anime Expo? The Journal of Anime and Manga Studies(JAMS) and Anime Expo have once-again teamed up to give you the JAMS@AX26 academic symposium, July 2-5, 2026 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. This symposium presents an incredible opportunity to connect fans of all ages directly to scholars researching and writing about the medium we all love. 

The JAMS@AX26 welcomes all papers taking a scholarly perspective on anime, manga, cosplay, and their fandoms.

Interested academics should submit a title, 250-word abstract, and bio through this form. 

Submissions are due by: March 27th, 2026

Submit through this link: https://forms.gle/tY4Rx1um9bSheN8p6 

Questions can be sent to: Billy Tringali, animestudiesjournal@gmail.com 

Notes to submitters:

The JAMS@AX Conference is held in the late-morning through late-afternoon over multiple days of Anime Expo and is open to all attendees.

Presenters will have roughly 20 minutes to present in their session, and will be paired with one or two additional presenters. Sessions will run for roughly one hour, with time divided between presenters, with additional time for questions following the session during “Office Hours”.

All accepted presenters will be given complimentary weekend badges to Anime Expo.

Example Title and Abstract:
The Power of Anime In STEM: Using Anime As a Vehicle for Science Education and Outreach

“Anime is arguably more popular than ever before in the United States. A study by Wong and Fernandez (2024) revealed that members of Gen-Z in the United States watched more anime than football, with 42% watching it weekly. Yet, using popular culture as a vehicle in science education hasn't progressed much beyond Kakalios’ seminal 2005 text 'The Physics of Superheroes.' Our science education panel, 'The Physics of Anime', has run for three years at North America's largest anime convention, Anime Expo. Filling the lecture hall three times, with a waiting line stretching across the Los Angeles Convention Center, this year we surveyed attendees about how anime might ignite their interest in science, or ease their science anxiety. Pre- and post- “Physics of Anime” panel surveys conducted at the Journal of Anime and Manga Studies (JAMS) academic symposium at Anime Expo revealed a preference for teaching Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) concepts using anime as an introduction and discussion device.

Additionally, anime as a STEM discussion device appealed to individuals from the current target demographic (20–30 year olds). Overall, the majority of survey participants expressed greater comfort with the subject matter. Specific details of the survey are the subject of this exciting presentation.”

Conference Coordinator: 

Billy Tringali

Editor-in-Chief - Journal of Anime and Manga Studies

Faculty Librarian at Indiana University - Indianapolis