Charleston’s annual celebration of anime, the Charleston Anime Fest, returns for its second year on April 28 in North Charleston.
Animated Japanese film and TV, also called anime, combines rich, diverse storylines with gorgeous artwork, and it’s really grown in popularity in North America over the past several years.
In fact, it’s more mainstream than ever: The dystopian anime Attack on Titan was one the most viewed TV shows in the United States in 2023, according to data science firm Parrot Analytics. There’s no shortage of anime fans in Charleston — so much so that one year ago, Charleston got its very own comic-con style Anime Fest.
The celebration returns for its second year at the Embassy Suites Hotel in North Charleston.
“People love Japanese culture, people love storylines, and people love art … I think that’s what anime’s all about,” said Charleston Anime Fest show promoter Carmine De Santo.
Back for its second year
The first Anime Fest in 2023 had an “unbelievable turnout,” said De Santo, who also runs CharlestonCon, an annual pop culture convention. “Charleston has a big love for the anime world.”
This year’s show boasts an expanded vendor space, where attendees can browse anime artwork, figurines and snacks from Japan. Throughout the day, Anime Fest will host panels featuring both informative and interactive panels on topics like anime history and Gundam model making. Fest attendees can also participate in an anime lip sync battle and cosplay contest.
There are special guests from the anime world, including voice actors Aaron Roberts (Toriko, Tokyo Ghoul) and Cris George (My Hero Academia, One Piece).
De Santo said bringing in the voice actors is a favorite part of the fest for attendees.
“Voice actors are now becoming more popular than comic book guests, and are like celebrities at these shows … These are the shows that people watch at night or in bed, shows like Demon Slayer and My Hero Academia and Dragon Ball Z. They can actually see the voices behind these characters.”
Anime’s North American popularity grows
For anyone new to anime, De Santo emphasized the Charleston Anime Fest is a welcoming place for veteran fans and newcomers alike.
De Santo, a self-described “old school guy,” said he grew up on anime classics like Force Five. He attributes the last ten years of growth in anime’s popularity in the North American market to the impact of streaming services, which has turned anime shows like My Hero Academia into pop culture powerhouses.
He also explained how early anime like Akira and Ghost in the Shell in the eighties and nineties paved the way for the popular series of today.
“[Those shows] started anime again. It’s slowly gotten bigger and bigger every year with these new TV shows that came from Japan.”
Reunion specials and anniversaries, like for Dragon Ball Z’s 35 years, have also boosted the visibility of the genre. Many series have also begun releasing spin-offs of popular series, like Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, which introduces a new cast to the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise while cashing in on the nostalgia aspect to cater to younger and older audiences alike.
As anime’s popularity has grown, so has its social currency — and the need for places like Charleston Anime Fest where fans can come together to celebrate the art form.
“Anime fans were always known as “nerds” or “dorks,” and now they can actually come out of their shell … [But] it’s changed in the last ten years, anyone that’s watching anime, they’re not a dork or geek anymore.”
A family affair
The event caters to people of all ages, which is something Charleston Anime Fest prides itself on, De Santo said. Since anime has only increased in popularity, families are watching anime together, and family group cosplays were something De Santo noticed at last year’s Anime Fest.
“It’s shocking,” he laughed. “Kids coming dressed up as Dragon Ball Z with their dad as Master Roshi and the kids are Goku.”
With the proliferation of “nerdy” media in the last 10 to 20 years, it only makes sense that now attendees are sharing their enthusiasm for pop culture like anime across generations.
“I think that’s the best feeling in the world — seeing families having a good time and dressing up as a show that they love at home, coming out and representing those characters’ lives,” De Santo said.
De Santo hopes that Charleston Anime Fest will only grow in the coming years as more people begin to display their love for anime.
“I hope [attendees] are getting more involved with the shows and that they are more knowledgeable in this beautiful community we have,” he said. “And they can’t wait until the next show.”
Find tickets for Charleston Anime Fest at charlestonanimefest.com for $20. One free child entry allowed per adult ticket. Additional children’s tickets are $10.00. The event runs from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
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