The Rogue Valley’s beloved anime convention, Ani-Medford, is returning this year with plenty to explore from celebrity guests to vendors and events celebrating the Japanese art form as well as Tokusatsu (Japanese live-action films or TV shows with tons of special effects) and manga (Japanese comic books).

Ani-Medford will be held at Rogue X for the first time ever, offering convention-goers, vendors and panelists alike plenty of space to celebrate Japanese art and culture in the state-of-the-art venue.

The convention will have dozens of activities, vendors to visit, panels to hear, cosplay contests to join or observe and much more.

“It’s an anime convention, so it’s different from a comic con (in that) it celebrates Japanese culture and anime and Tokusatsu, and there’s a lot of fun activities, different panels and kids activities and a manga library,” said Dave Haworth, president of business operations for Ani-Medford.

The event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 21-22, at Rogue X, located at 901 Rossanley Drive in Medford.

Tickets range from $10 to $35 per person for one- or two-day passes. Tickets are cheaper to purchase online with general admission costing $25 per person for both days, or $15 for Saturday and $10 for Sunday. Kids 12 years and younger can get in for free with an accompanying adult who has a paid ticket. Exclusive VIP tickets and Forever Passes are also available for purchase.

The convention will host multiple celebrity and community panels for visitors to ask questions and discuss their favorite anime, TV shows and more.

“Guests will have panels on topics regarding their voiceover work, a lip sync contest, a karaoke contest, cosplay contests and two different stage areas and two different panels going on all day for two days,” Haworth said.

Organizers of Ani-Medford are expecting around 8,000 people to show up to the convention over the two days. More than a dozen special guests involved in anime, voice acting, cosplay and other industries will be on panels.

Those guests include: Laurie Hymes, a voice actor with roles in “Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Dark Side of Dimensions,” “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” and “Lupin III: The First;” Chris Carson, a voice actor with roles that include “Fullmetal Alchemist” and streamer and video game speedrunner Nitevision, who holds a speedrunning world record for “Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach,” among others.

“They do voiceover, direct, produce and all are involved in the anime community,” Haworth said of the guest celebrities. “The one I’m most excited about is Emily Cramer, who’s been in “Pokémon” and was one of the trainers for Pikachu.”

For cosplay contests, longtime anime convention emcee Zach Marsh will host contests at 4 p.m. both days with categories for groups, adults 20 years and up, kids ages 0 to 12 and teens ages 13 to 19.

Other activities include a manga library, maid cafe and live music performances from pop punk and opera artist IgikoPop and video game covers from Portland jazz band Under The Deku Tree.

With plenty of space at Rogue X, a wide variety of vendors will be selling merchandise inspired by all manner of anime films and shows, trading cards and more, visiting from as far as Montana, Idaho and bordering states.

“We’ve been lobbying for that venue for such a long time … to have something that high tech and has all the bells and whistles of a brand new-building is plus for us,” Haworth said. “We will probably be there forever.”

For more information about Ani-Medford’s schedule, guests, tickets and more, visit ani-medford.com.