Renowned illustrator Acky Bright returned to the stage at Anime Expo 2025 with a panel celebrating his original projects, campaigns, and brand collaborations, with some teases of what’s next. The panel was hosted by actor and singer Takaaki Hirakawa, who previously starred in hits like Shōgun (FX/Disney+) and Blue Eye Samurai (Netflix).
To kick off the panel at Anime Expo 2025, Acky Bright teased a major collaboration launching this October, hinting that it’s one of his most significant cross-industry projects yet. Acky also reflected on the past year as one of Japan’s most globally recognized illustrators with high-profile collaborations across gaming, music, fashion, and other sectors.
Acky Bright Anime Expo 2025 Panel Highlights His Past Collaborations
Some of the most notable collaborations include Acky’s partnerships with McDonald’s Japan, which included original artwork, merchandise, and a viral music video collaboration with Ado × YOASOBI × Hoshimachi Suisei. He also shared his passion for Capcom’s beloved Monster Hunter franchise with an illustration collaboration between Monster Hunter Now and Ayase.
Acky also contributed to DC’s Blue Beetle promotional campaign, showcasing Acky’s adaptability and distinct visual style in the superhero space. Moreover, Acky’s “Studio Infinity” solo exhibition at Japan Society in New York gave visitors the opportunity to experience his creative and illustrative process in real time.
The Panel Looks to Acky’s Future and Brings Some Fun Activities
Acky Bright confirmed that there’s 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 activities: Guess the Sketch and 3 Deck Challenge.
In the Guess the Sketch game, attendees won prizes for correctly identifying Acky’s live illustrations, which ranged from Tanjiro from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba to Pikachu from Pokémon. Prizes included an exclusive McDonald’s collaboration t-shirt and the limited-edition KBK-18 card deck from Acky’s previous NYC exhibition.
The 3 Deck Challenge game saw audience members pick three random words to inspire an original character design from Acky. In the first round, Acky live-drew a concept based on Mage, Bone, and Eternal Adolescence while engaging in a live Q&A session. In another round, Acky drew an illustration based on words and phrases like Bard, Fishtank, and 10 Million TikTok followers.
The panel’s Q&A segments brought an in-depth look into Acky’s personal journey and creative philosophy. Acky discussed his lifelong desire to create original characters instead of characters from existing IPs. Despite that, he shared his favorite characters to draw, including Pikachu and characters from Tokyo Ghoul. He also teased more fashion collaborations, which builds on the growing demand for his artwork in merchandising and apparel.
Final Reveals and Comments
Acky’s final discussions during the panel include a nod to Digimon artist Kenji Watanabe, 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.”
Acky also discussed his weapon of choice in the Monster Hunter series—the great sword. This was a segue to the exclusive reveal of an upcoming figure featuring one of his designs wielding a massive 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 panel, Acky hosted a raffle featuring Squid Game coloring books he illustrated, limited-edition t-shirts, and other giveaways. The biggest prize was his original Shikishi art, which is a personal piece that got fans excited. Finally, Acky wrapped the panel with a thank-you and promise to return to Anime Expo, with one last hint toward his upcoming project.
