At Anime NYC 2025, the SPY×FAMILY panel drew a crowd of approximately 2,200 attendees. Voice actors Kenichiro Matsuda and Emiri Kato appeared on stage, with a surprise video message from Atsumi Tanezaki. Fans dressed as Anya, Yor, and other characters filled the venue, which erupted in cheers as the event began. The panel included live greetings, behind-the-scenes stories, and fan interactions that captured the enthusiasm of North American audiences.

SPY×FAMILY Panel at Anime NYC 2025 Draws 2,200 Attendees

The special panel event for SPY×FAMILY was held at the major anime convention Anime NYC 2025, attracting around 2,200 fans. Standing-room-only crowds packed the venue, and many attendees arrived dressed as characters such as Anya and Yor, creating an energetic atmosphere even before the event started.

When the familiar soundtrack from the series began playing, the crowd erupted in cheers. Kenichiro Matsuda, who voices Bond Forger and serves as the series' narrator, and Emiri Kato, who plays Becky Blackbell, entered the stage with enthusiastic waves. Matsuda greeted the audience in English, saying, “Hello, Everyone! My name is Kenichiro Matsuda. I’m Bond Forger and narrator. It’s great to be here today. I’m so happy to meet all of you!!” Kato followed with, “Hello, Everyone! I’m Emiri Kato. I’m playing Becky. I’m happy to meet you all!!” Their greetings were met with loud cheers as the panel officially kicked off.

First-Time Visitors Share Impressions of New York

This marked the first time both Matsuda and Kato attended Anime NYC, and it was also their first visit to New York. When asked if she was nervous, Kato replied playfully, “Not at all~!” while Matsuda joked, “I’m really nervous…” drawing laughter from the crowd.

Matsuda remarked, “This is my first time in America, first time in New York. It feels like I’ve stepped into a movie—it’s such a beautiful city.” Kato added, “It’s my first time in New York too. There are so many dogs, and everyone walking around is so energetic and friendly. They even complimented the camera I brought with me as a hobby, which made me really happy.”

When asked if they had seen any dogs resembling Bond Forger, Kato exclaimed, “Yes, yes!!” and Matsuda responded with a cheerful “Bofuu,” mimicking Bond’s signature sound, prompting screams and loud applause from the audience.

Atsumi Tanezaki Sends Surprise Video Message

The next segment featured a surprise video message from Atsumi Tanezaki, the voice of Anya Forger. She was asked to share her favorite scenes involving Bond and Becky. For Bond, she chose the moment he first joined the Forger family in MISSION:15 "New Family." For Becky, she picked the shopping scene from MISSION:24 "The Role of a Friend and a Shopping Trip."

Tanezaki briefly left the frame and returned holding a plush sheep charm identical to the one Anya and Becky purchased in the episode. She commented, “It’s really wonderful that Anya has Becky, and Becky has Anya,” which resonated emotionally with fans.

Season 3 Talk and Character Picks in New York

Tanezaki also shared her thoughts on the upcoming SPY×FAMILY Season 3, which premieres on October 4. She expressed her excitement, saying, “I’m so excited to play Anya again! I’ve heard from so many fans eager to see the next season. I’m really happy we can finally bring it to you!” Regarding highlights, she teased, “We’ll learn more about a certain character’s past, see others caught up in unexpected events, and even meet a character’s mother!? Season 3 is packed with exciting content you won’t want to miss!”

Following the video, Matsuda and Kato responded to a question from Tanezaki: “If you could spend a day in New York with a SPY×FAMILY character, who would it be?” Matsuda chose Sylvia, explaining, “She’d probably make all the plans and tell me where to go and what to buy, which would be really helpful.” Kato chose Becky without hesitation, saying, “Definitely Becky! She has so much money!” Imitating her character’s voice, she added, “She’d probably say, ‘I’ll take everything from here to here!’ and ‘Is that all you’re getting?’ It’d be amazing—Becky is the best!”

Closing Reflections from the Cast

After the panel, Matsuda reflected on the crowd’s response: “Every time I made Bond’s barking sound, the cheers were deafening. I truly felt how popular Bond is overseas.” Kato also commented, “Whether it was the live dubbing or our comments, the fans responded to each moment with such joy. They were so warm and welcoming—I’m really glad I came.”

Source : ORICON NEWS