As the city gears up for a weekend of pop culture extravaganza, fans are in for a treat with an array of events taking over Phoenix. This time, it's the anime enthusiasts and gaming aficionados who get to revel in their passions on back-to-back weekends, thanks to Anime Impulse Phoenix 2024 and Phoenix Fan Fusion. For those ready to embrace the cacophony of cosplayers, voice actors, and comic book heroes, here's what you need to know.

Starting with Anime Impulse Phoenix, the event will take place at the South Building of the Phoenix Convention Center on the upcoming Saturday and Sunday, as reported by the Phoenix New Times. Described as a “weekend-long celebration of all things anime, manga, video games, and fandom,” the convention is slated to run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day, and the adjacent K-PLAY! Fest will simultaneously spotlight the K-pop culture.

Visitors can expect to rub shoulders with notable guests like Sarah Wiedenheft of “Chainsaw Man,” Aaron Dismuke of “Fullmetal Alchemist,” and more than two dozen other special guests including YouTubers and professional cosplayers, as detailed by Phoenix New Times. Fans can secure their weekend passes for $40 per person (plus fees), which includes both Anime Impulse and K-PLAY! Fest. The organizers suggest taking the Valley Metro Rail to reach the venue, offering an affordable and convenient alternative to navigating through parking woes, which, in the downtown vicinity, are often as elusive as a parking spot during rush hour.

The following weekend, Phoenix Fan Fusion commences with an extensive roster that leaves little to be desired for fans of broader pop culture. According to the AZFamily, the convention spreads across four floors and offers something for every stripe of fans. The enthusiasm isn't just limited to daytime with events running until almost midnight on Friday and Saturday, the fusion of fandom is set to be a relentless three-day affair.