You’ve made it to the final stop, Animazement! If you listen closely, you might even hear the distant clatter of dice rolling and the buzz of excited voices. Welcome to Raleigh’s very own anime extravaganza, held right here at the Convention Center every May. Animazement isn’t just an anime convention; it’s a wild celebration of fandom, creativity, and let’s be honest, some of the best cosplay you’ll ever see. Whether you’re dodging pirates, chasing Pokémon, or debating which anime villain has the best hair, there’s something here for you-and yes, families and kids are welcome!
Can you picture it? The artist alley overflowing with amazing artwork, dancers spinning at the masquerade ball, the clacking of game controllers during heated tournaments, and maybe a very mysterious masked ninja passing by so quickly you wonder if they were real or just your imagination.
Animazement actually began with a single, marathon anime screening back in 1997-36 hours non-stop! Over the years, it’s grown, moved venues, and brought thousands together to share their love for all things anime. There have even been moments of drama-like when guests were canceled because of swine flu, or when COVID-19 paused the fun for two years. But Animazement always bounces back, powered by a huge team of volunteers. They’ve even given back by raising thousands for charity.
So if you hear music, laughter, and the swoosh of a samurai’s sword, don’t worry-you’re exactly where the fun is. Welcome to the creative heart of Raleigh’s pop culture!
