“The centre of Anime-Zing KIDS is the lesson that imagination and play inspire creativity and personal growth by letting children find them.” - Adelaide Fringe CLARA Review
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Anime-Zing Kids! at Adelaide Fringe Festival 2026
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“Imagination and play inspire creativity and personal growth by letting children find their own voices.” — Adelaide Fringe CLARA Reviewed
What parents say about the best kids show at Fringe…
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![Colorful anime-style characters promoting Anime-Zing! Game Show live dubbing performances and audience comedy games.]()
Karena J.
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![Anime-inspired singer character representing creativity, voice acting, and audience participation at Anime-Zing! Kids.]()
Abigail G.
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![Anime-style characters in Japanese-inspired costumes promoting live voice acting and comedy at Anime-Zing! Game Show.]()
Christine V.
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![Five-star audience review calling Anime-Zing! “the best show of the fringe.”]()
Beth N.
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![Anime-Zing! promotional artwork featuring colorful anime-inspired characters and live audience interaction at the Edinburgh Fringe.]()
Nic K.
Family-Friendly, playful, interactive, game show. Where kids play with imagination + sound + characters.
(No anime knowledge required)
“The audience became active participants in the creative process rather than just witnesses to a Fringe show.” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Guided by real, professional voice actors, kids use their voices to create characters, sounds, and join games and live indie animation dubbing. Kids don’t just watch…they become the sound effects, using their voices to power characters and scenes together.
Children can watch, play along from their seats, or volunteer to pick up a mic and join on stage (participation is always optional). A playful way for kids to build confidence, creativity, and experience what it feels like to be part of the Fringe.
Hosted by Tokyo-based voice actor Soness Stevens – known as the English voice of Hello Kitty (1999–2024), Time Crisis 5, Nintendo’s ARMS, and Bomberman. She even voiced the worst video game ever!
✅ Family-friendly clean
✅ Bilingual fun (EN/JP)* (in Japan)
✅ New show each day!
Featured Animations Kids Help Bring to Life
Created by Pearl Low and the teams at Orange Blossom Studios and NuBoom Studios, Wheels & Roses is a magical animated adventure filled with roller derby action, comedy, teamwork, and creativity.
When Sahara, a teenager without magic powers, accidentally enters the wild world of roller derby, she teams up with a group of spell-slinging skaters to discover that courage, friendship, and determination can be just as powerful as magic.
Planet Bound created by Caterpillart Studios is an indie animated adventure exploring friendship,
From another planet, Vinnix and Keros are sent to find out if Earth has the resources necessary to restore their dying planet. They quickly discover that Earth is more than just its resources. Vinnix falls in love with Earth and is determined to save this world. But Keros has a harder time ignoring his responsibilities, afraid of what might happen if they don't complete this mission.
During Anime-Zing! Kids, children may help create character voices, dramatic reactions, and sound effects inspired by scenes from the animation.
We’re excited to help introduce families to independent animation and the creative artists behind it. We believe in human creativity. No AI.
“Kids can speak up and be heard for what they have to say in their own stories.”
Meet the Voices
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Creator. Voice actor. Possibly an appliance.
You’ve heard her somewhere...
Soness is a Tokyo-based voice actor, comedian and creator of “Anime-Zing!” Game Show.
🍎 Insists Hello Kitty is a little girl (English voice 1999–2024)
⚠️ That calm voice warning you not to lick industrial machinery
🤖 Accidentally taught AI to do her job—but she still does it better
🍙 Once ruptured her Achilles in a sumo match. Worth it.
🎤 Screamed “Take this!” 237 times in a sound booth
🚃 The voice of your train delay—and your nightmares -
Creator. Voice actor. Possibly an appliance.
You’ve heard her somewhere...
Soness is a Tokyo-based voice actor, comedian and creator of “Anime-Zing!” Game Show.
🍎 Insists Hello Kitty is a little girl (English voice 1999–2024)
⚠️ That calm voice warning you not to lick industrial machinery
🤖 Accidentally taught AI to do her job—but she still does it better
🍙 Once ruptured her Achilles in a sumo match. Worth it.
🎤 Screamed “Take this!” 237 times in a sound booth
🚃 The voice of your train delay—and your nightmares
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Child star. Grown up. Can still do the voice.
Jesse R. Tendler is a New York based actor, director, and voice artist. Known best for his roles on Law & Order, Are You Afraid of the Dark, and video games such as Grand Theft Auto and Bully (Canis Canem Edit).
Frequently Asked Questions
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Anime-Zing! Kids is a family-friendly interactive Edinburgh Fringe show where children use their voices, creativity, imagination, and storytelling skills through anime-inspired games, live dubbing, sound effects, and playful performance activities.
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No. Participation is always optional. Children can watch quietly, participate from their seats, or volunteer on stage when they feel comfortable.
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Yes. Shy children are never pressured to participate. Many children begin by quietly watching and later choose to join in once they feel comfortable and safe.
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Yes. Anime-Zing! Kids encourages creativity, confidence, teamwork, listening skills, storytelling, vocal expression, and imaginative play through interactive games and performance.
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Yes. Anime-Zing! Kids was created by neurodivergent performers and aims to be welcoming, flexible, and low-pressure. Children are welcome to stim, move around, wear headphones, take breaks, and participate at their own comfort level.
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Absolutely. Anime-Zing! Kids is designed for families to enjoy together. Parents, teens, anime fans, and adults often have just as much fun as the kids.
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Yes. Anime-Zing! Kids is designed as a fun, creative, family-friendly Edinburgh Fringe activity during the festival season.
Show Schedule
Venue: Las Vegas Room at Laughing Horse @ City Cafe
19 Blair Street, Edinburgh EH1 1QR
Edinburgh Fringe 2026 Dates: August 6 – August 30 (not Aug. 19 & 26)
Time: 12:30 - 13:15
“So Fun! Great for all ages ❤️”
Indie Anime You Haven’t Seen Yet (But will!)
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![A bold, colorful illustration of two blue-skinned alien characters standing in the middle of a futuristic, high-rise city street. One is a tall, serious figure with a giant afro, holding a sci-fi blaster and protectively blocking the other. The secon]()
Planetbound by Sasha Aldrete /Caterpillart Studio
Inexperienced but well-meaning Vi’nnix and her bodyguard Keros are sent to find out if Earth has the resources necessary to restore their dying planet, Heleth. Once arriving, they quickly discover that Earth is more than just its resources. Vi’nnix is determined to befriend the locals, explore their cities, and save this world. But Keros has a harder time ignoring his responsibilities, afraid of what might happen if they don't complete this mission.
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![A vibrant, cartoon-style illustration of five quirky characters from the indie anime New Earth. From left to right: a giant red mushroom-headed figure in a hoodie with a matching mushroom shirt; a hooded character with heart-shaped sunglasses grimaci]()
New Earth by Hekate Studios
In the smouldering desert of a New Earth, the first domino of an occult conspiracy falls in the shape of a missing persons case. This pilot and proof of concept follow the first steps of the main cast into a world hidden behind one flyer...
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![Scene from Thanksgiving by Douglas Cortese, featured in Anime-Zing! Game Show’s live dubbing segment. A quirky grandma chats over bagels with a frazzled yellow-haired scientist at a kitchen table, saying, “But we don’t have an oven.]()
Thanksgiving by Douglas Cortese
Meet Bubby—sharp-tongued, unpredictable, and entirely (un)forgettable. Thanksgiving is an animated short inspired by creator Douglas Cortese’s real-life grandmother, a Jewish woman from New York City whose filter-free honesty only grew louder with age and dementia. Set inside (and occasionally outside) the retirement home she loves to escape, Bubby’s world is a blend of sass, love, confusion, and comedy.
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![Black-and-white illustrated portrait of Lin Illu, featuring a stylized character with long hair, round glasses, and no visible facial features. The figure is outlined with bold strokes and soft textures, giving a dreamy, introspective vibe.]()
Comic Zines by Lin Illu
Lin Illu —Linda (she/her)— is an illustrator and media design student based in
Germany. She created Droplet, a monthly mini-zine series where she explores personal themes through art and storytelling in a DIY format. Each zine is self-published and freely available to download and print—because she wants her art to be accessible to everyone.
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![Page from Unfinished Business: Issue 2 by Tanya Roberts. Pink neon sign with swirling ghostly energy hovers over a crumbling city building. In the foreground, a demon-like character shouts at a white-haired human in a hoodie and boots. Speech bubble]()
Unfinished Business by Tanya Roberts
Comic book artist & illustrator based in Edinburgh, Tanya Roberts has drawn for Star Wars, Toy Story, Trollhunters, 2000AD, Netflix, and more. She also creates indie comics with her partner at BlueBottle Ink Studios—including Unfinished Business, a supernatural romp full of humor and heart.
Supporters & Thank Yous
Special thanks to Clifford Cideko for supporting our Fringe debut and helping bring Anime-Zing Kids! from Japan to the UK stage.
Thanks to Yuji Kitano of Yokohama Physio for his incredible physiotherapy, support and design. I wouldn’t be on this Sumo Injury Comeback Tour without Yuji.
And heartfelt thanks to Johnny Stenhouse for his generosity, help getting us settled, and encouragement throughout the Fringe.
Partners
Laughing Horse Free Fringe (Alex Petty, Edinburgh Fringe venue partner)
Our community of indie animators and comic creators featured throughout the show
Creative Team
Created and hosted by Soness Stevens
Co-host & Performer, Edinburgh Fringe 2025 Jonah Hagans
Original score by Nubia @nubia_cello recorded at Studio Goshu
Character art by Komaki @jpkomaki
