World’s First Official Afro Samurai VR Photo Experience Debuts at CES 2026

World’s First Afro Samurai VR Photo Experience

Debuts on Gakugeki’s Next-Generation VR Entertainment Platform

In collaboration with GONZO

A world-first Afro Samurai VR Photo Experience, officially created in collaboration with Japanese animation studio GONZO and VR entertainment platform developer Gakugeki, will debut on Gakugeki’s next-generation VR entertainment platform.

This special VR experience allows fans to step into the world of Afro Samurai and take two-shot photos alongside the iconic character inside a fully immersive VR environment. Rather than viewing the character on a screen, participants experience the sensation of standing face-to-face with Afro Samurai and capturing a memorable moment together as a photo.

The VR space is carefully designed to preserve the original visual identity of Afro Samurai, blending the anime’s distinctive 2D art style with a three-dimensional immersive environment. This approach enables a high-quality character experience that remains faithful to the original IP while taking full advantage of VR’s sense of presence.

The experience will be showcased at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, where attendees will be able to try the Afro Samurai VR Photo Experience at Gakugeki’s booth in the Japan Pavilion.

In addition, exclusive purchase tickets will be distributed to visitors at the Gakugeki booth during CES 2026.

These tickets grant access to a limited-edition Afro Samurai digital item featuring the producer’s autograph, available only to CES attendees.

This initiative represents a new form of character-based entertainment—transforming encounters that were once limited to theme parks or special events into accessible, immersive experiences delivered through VR.

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January 2026 | Las Vegas, USA

Japanese animation studio GONZO and VR entertainment startup Gakugeki will jointly present the world’s first Afro Samurai VR Photo Experience at CES 2026.

Built on Gakugeki’s next-generation VR entertainment platform, this experience demonstrates a new approach to character engagement—enabling fans to “meet,” stand beside, and capture moments with beloved characters inside virtual space.

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About Gakugeki

Gakugeki is a Japan–US based startup developing a next-generation VR entertainment platform focused on immersive, character-driven experiences.

The company aims to create new forms of fan engagement by enabling interactive, memorable encounters with entertainment IPs through virtual reality.