Internationally renowned illustrator and creative visionary Acky Bright returned to Anime Expo 2025 with an energetic, fan-first panel celebrating his global brand collaborations, award-winning campaigns, and expanding slate of original projects. Hosted by actor and singer Takaaki Hirakawa, known for standout roles in Shōgun (FX/Disney+), Blue Eye Samurai (Netflix), and other international hits, the panel spotlighted Acky’s growing cultural footprint and teased what’s next.
Kicking off the event, Acky teased a major new collaboration launching this October, building excitement among fans and hinting it would be one of his most significant cross-industry projects yet. He also reflected on a landmark year that solidified his position as one of Japan’s most globally recognized illustrators, with high-profile partnerships across music, gaming, fashion, and food. From viral campaigns to museum exhibitions, Acky continues to blend creative storytelling with cultural relevance, reaching fans across borders and mediums. Highlights included:
- McDonald’s Japan partnerships, featuring original artwork and merchandise, including a viral music video collaboration with Ado × YOASOBI × Hoshimachi Suisei, where Acky served as character designer and key visual artist.
- A high-profile Monster Hunter Now × Ayase illustration collaboration, a natural extension of Acky’s passion for Capcom’s beloved action RPG franchise.
- Creative contributions to DC’s Blue Beetle promotional campaign, showcasing Acky’s distinct visual style in the Western superhero space.
- His “Studio Infinity” solo exhibition at Japan Society in New York, where Acky live-drew onsite for weeks, transforming the gallery into an interactive space where visitors could experience his process in real time.
- Ongoing character design work for a fragrance collaboration, with a second installment currently in development and expected later this year.
Anime Expo fans were also treated to two signature interactive activities:
- “Guess the Sketch” Game: Attendees won prizes for correctly identifying Acky’s live illustrations, ranging from Tanjiro (Demon Slayer) to Pikachu and even a self-portrait. Prizes included an exclusive McDonald’s collaboration t-shirt and the limited-edition KBK-18 card deck, created by Acky as part of a series from his previous NYC exhibition, which reimagines 18 kabuki theater roles in his signature style.
- “3 Deck Challenge” Drawing Game: Audience members picked three random words to inspire an original character design. In one round, Acky live-drew a concept based on Mage, Bone, and Eternal Adolescence, while engaging in live Q&A. In another, words like Bard, Fishtank, and 10 Million TikTok Followers inspired a more playful creation.
The Q&A segments offered fans a deeper look into Acky’s personal journey and creative philosophy. He shared how a lifelong desire to create original characters, rather than draw existing IP, helped set his work apart and attract collaborators across industries. When asked about his favorite characters to draw, he cited Tokyo Ghoul and Pikachu, and teased more fashion collaborations ahead, building on the growing demand for his artwork in merchandise and apparel design.
Additional highlights included:
- A heartfelt nod to fellow artist Kenji Watanabe (Digimon), who once called Acky a genius. “He’s a good friend,” Acky said. “We’ve talked about collaborating, and I hope we can make it happen.”
- A lighthearted discussion of Monster Hunter, Acky’s favorite game, and his weapon of choice—the great sword.
- An exclusive reveal of an upcoming figure, shown only at Anime Expo, featuring one of his designs wielding a massive sword.
To close out the event, Acky hosted a raffle featuring Squid Game coloring books he illustrated, limited-edition t-shirts, and other exclusive giveaways. The biggest prize of the day was his original Shikishi art, an especially personal piece that drew excitement from fans. He wrapped the panel with a heartfelt thank-you and a promise to return, hinting at an ambitious upcoming project that may bring his original characters to life in his most personal creative endeavor yet.
Acky Bright
Acky Bright’s style has been described as “cute and cool” and he has created artwork for many global companies such as BMW, Hasbro, NETFLIX, Meta, and more. He also regularly performs improvised live drawings on huge canvases all over the world. In Japan, he is known for his work as a character designer, including the much-discussed “Tillo Remix” collaboration with YOASOBI, VAUNDY, ADO, and Suisei Hoshimachi.
While drawing traditional Japanese manga, he also has experience with creating cover art, comics, and writing for DC Comics in the U.S. Acky Bright’s activities are attracting attention as a rare artist who can work with both Eastern manga and Western American comics culture. He also participated as the main designer in the “WcDonald’s” worldwide campaign conducted by McDonald’s in the U.S. and has received numerous advertising awards, including The ONE SHOW.
Official Website: https://www.acky-bright.com
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