Family Zone presented by Scholastic

Anime NYC is proud to introduce the Family Zone presented by Scholastic, made for kids, parents, and caregivers to enjoy anime and manga together!

Our Family Zone is a welcoming space where families can explore fandom side by side. To make it more accessible, we are also rolling out a $15 Sunday kids ticket, so families can check out the show without breaking the bank.

The Family Zone, designed for kids ages 0-12, will be open Friday through Sunday stacked with the most interactive experiences, hands-on activities, and giveaways. With Scholastic leading the charge, it’s all about helping new readers discover manga while giving longtime fans a fun way to bring the next generation into the fandom.

Scholastic will be bringing fun to the Family Zone!

Meet Captain Underpants all 4 days of Anime NYC, and don’t miss exclusive swag drops and programming from Scholastic within the Family Zone!

Family Zone Special Guests

Family Zone Partners

Family Zone Event Highlights

Captain Underpants Meet and Greet

Meet Captain Underpants all 4 days of Anime NYC! Location and times will be shared soon, don’t miss it!

Tea Time for Parents: Sip and Sit with Ito En

Have a cup of calm in the middle of the convention during this tea moment created just for parents and guardians. Tea Time for Parents offers a chance to sip, sit, and finally have that minute to yourself while you watch your children play in the Family Zone.

Cozy Manga Reading Corner

Take a break from your adventures and settle into the Cozy Corner! Featuring books from Scholastic, JY for Kids, and TOKYOPOP, this family-friendly reading space invites kids and parents alike to discover new stories, meet unforgettable characters, and enjoy a quiet moment together.

Color Me To Life: Kamishibai Paper Theater

AniTOMO brings the decades-old Japanese storytelling art form, which combines illustration with oral narration, to young audiences to help spark imagination, shared dialogue, and mutual understanding. Youth participants will have an opportunity to color newly illustrated pages of a Japanese story drawn by Manny Knight, using different art materials to encourage their visual storytelling skills. Afterwards, the storyteller will collect and present the colored pages. Stay tuned for more info!

Mission Anime NYC: Anime Heroes to the Rescue!

AniTOMO invites youth participants to bring some of the most popular Japanese heroes in anime and gaming to life through puppetry to help save the day!

Starting with a paper bag, participants will have an opportunity to tap into both their visual and performing art skills by transforming the bag into a hero with extraordinary abilities, super strength and courage. Stay tuned for more info!

Cosplay Yoga for Kids

Join Aurora Winnicki to stretch, play, and power up! The kids’ yoga class in the Family Zone invites young heroes to move, breathe, and imagine as their favorite anime and manga characters. Through fun poses, games, and storytelling, kids will build strength, focus, and confidence—no experience needed, just bring your costume and your imagination!

Draw your own yokai monster!

Join comic creator and art educator Matthew Loux, author of My Journey to Japan, Escape to Yokai Mountain, and learn all about the wild and magical Japanese monsters called yokai! Kids and families will see how these creatures are drawn by a pro cartoonist and can help create all new yokai of their very own with both interactive drawing games and individual drawing challenges!

Create a Word Chain

Kids, get ready to make music using your hands, feet, and whole body! Families will learn a fun poem and rhythm game using claps, stomps, and body percussion, then create their own silly sounds and beats to share together with the group. It’s rhythm time!

Okumichi's TCG Laboratory

Sit in the designer’s seat and bring your very own trading card to life! In this hands-on workshop, we provide professional cardstock templates and all the supplies you need to create a one-of-a-kind trading card. Come make your mark on the TCG world! The first 50 attendees at each session will receive an exclusive, limited-edition Okumichi card to kickstart their custom collection.

Magical Maid Cosplay Runway

Join Machi Mahou Maid Café for a kid-focused interactive cosplay experience where children can learn how to confidently walk the runway, pose, and showcase their favorite cosplay characters alongside our maids. Cosplay is encouraged but not required, and everyone is welcome to participate!

Buy your tickets now!