The primary way that the SPJA seeks to promote animation and comics in the United States is through its annual trade show, Anime Expo. Anime Expo is the largest and oldest exposition that has invited and hosted artists and professionals from Japan to meet with their American counterparts and fans.

Anime Expo also invites artists and designers from Japanese computer game companies, and is expanding its program to include computer animation companies and American animation companies. A frequent topic of discussion is how Japanese animation has influenced their works and vice versa.

Anime Expo serves to foster trade, commerce and the interests of the animation and comics industry by serving as a key meeting place for members of the industry to conduct business. Almost all of the major animation companies from Japan are represented at Anime Expo. All of the domestic distributors of Japanese animation are always at Anime Expo. The new trend has been for Japanese studios interested in soliciting new projects to attend Anime Expo to show off their latest projects and concepts still requiring sponsors. Another trend has been for an increasing number of American movie studios to attend Anime Expo to research Japanese animation as the next generation of products to be purchased and developed in Hollywood. The SPJA hopes to continue its role as a bridge between the U.S. and Japan, fans and professionals, and computers and more traditional methods of expression and art. With the continued support of industry and the public, the SPJA hopes to continue to lead the promotion of Japanese Animation and manga in the U.S. well into the 21st Century.

Anime Expo is a servicemark of the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation.
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