Toei Animation Reveals First Look Inside the Immersive Dome for ‘One Piece Fest’

In recent years, anime festivals have increasingly embraced full-sensory experiences, but few franchises can match the fervor that ‘One Piece’ inspires. With the manga nearing its conclusion after nearly three decades, fans are eager for ways to connect more deeply with a world they’ve only known through pages and screens.

This desire is finally being fulfilled in an unprecedented manner. Toei Animation has been building excitement for the inaugural ‘One Piece Fest,’ a two-day celebration tailored for the franchise’s passionate fanbase. The studio has now unveiled a sneak peek of the immersive centerpiece that fans have eagerly awaited.

Toei Animation has confirmed that the event is officially underway, sharing a video preview of The Dome at Cosm Los Angeles ahead of ‘One Piece Fest,’ which takes place on August 25 and 26 in Inglewood, California. The highlight of the event is the specially produced “Elbaph Experience” projected onto Cosm’s massive 87-foot diameter LED dome. This immersive presentation spans 5,000 square feet and features a stunning 12K-by-10K display themed around the story’s current giant-filled arc.

This scale is no exaggeration. According to event organizers, the dome allows the floor, ceiling, and surrounding walls to move in unison, creating an experience that past attendees of a similar Tokyo edition have struggled to describe, often likening it to physically standing on the Grand Line.

Access to ‘One Piece Fest’ has been a challenge to secure. The event is limited to approximately 7,000 fans across four sessions, evenly divided between the two days, with entry determined by a ticket lottery system rather than traditional sales. This scarcity has prompted fan communities on Discord to organize group registration efforts in the months leading up to the event.

In addition to the dome experience, each session features panels, live performances, partner activations, and exclusive merchandise not available anywhere else. Toei Animation has also confirmed appearances by English voice actors and Japanese musical artists throughout the festival, with specific names being revealed gradually.

Lisa Yamatoya, senior director and head of marketing for Toei Animation Inc., described the event as the studio’s first-ever “All ONE PIECE” celebration designed specifically for fans. She emphasized that the combination of featured guests, panels, and the immersive dome presentation creates a packed experience that no fan would want to miss. The timing coincides with this year’s One Piece Day, the annual global celebration held each July to mark the manga’s anniversary.

Taking place at Cosm Los Angeles, a 65,000-square-foot experiential venue that opened in 2024 within Hollywood Park’s entertainment district, the festival also included a private VIP preview for special guests and media the night before the public event began. With sessions running throughout both days, guests have multiple opportunities to experience the Elbaph presentation, regardless of their assigned lottery time slot.

Given the anticipation surrounding this format since its debut overseas, ‘One Piece Fest’ appears to be Toei Animation testing the limits of the franchise’s immersive potential for its Western audience.

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