Charlotte Big Anime brings cosplayers, voice actors to the Queen City
Charlotte Big Anime opened its doors to a massive crowd of attendees Saturday at the Charlotte Convention Center in uptown Charlotte, giving people a chance to connect with fellow cosplayers, collect art and enjoy a multitude of panels.
As the convention opened, hundreds packed the line stretching outside the convention center. The line itself formed a giant coil of attendees waiting to explore the convention.
The convention hall was filled with cosplayers, from rookies to experts, dressed as characters from a variety of genres, from anime to gaming. Walking 100 paces gave people the chance to hear, “I love your cosplay!” dozens of times before reaching their hundredth step.
The convention featured a massive artist and merchandise hall, full of artwork, vintage video games and cosplay merchandise for sale. The artist alley featured plenty of artists from Charlotte and across North Carolina, offering commissioned artwork and intricate paintings handcrafted by brush or pencil.
A car and motorcycle showcase was also featured, with vehicles stationed alongside the artist alley to let attendees photograph anime-themed cars and motorcycles decorated with custom wraps and artwork.
The voice actor hall allowed attendees to meet voice actors from some of their favorite shows. Actors from “Kaiju No. 8,” “Hazbin Hotel” and “Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End” were present to meet fans and sign autographs.
The convention also featured 17 fan panels held throughout the day, ranging from voice acting and art to discussions on pop culture and nostalgic cartoons.
For many, the convention was a chance to meet people with similar interests, including cosplay creation and Japanese anime. Some attendees spent months creating their costumes, sewing patterns and 3D-printing props just to attend the convention, and that dedication was shared by many at Charlotte Big Anime.
Catalan Welch and Ash Lawlor, both from the Charlotte area, described the financial investment they put into their cosplays, saying the time and money they spent were worth bringing the best versions of their characters to the convention.
Welch cosplayed as Katsuki Bakugo from “My Hero Academia,” while Lawlor dressed as Monkey D. Luffy from “One Piece.” Both spent about $500 to $600 creating their costumes.
"I think I spent around $600, because I ended up using the foam that we had on hand for the gauntlets, and then everything else rounded to be about $600-ish, and that's a cheaper version of the cosplay for us, actually," Welch said.
Rodney Wallace, who cosplayed as Madara Uchiha from the anime phenomenon “Naruto Shippuden,” spent extensive time creating an immersive version of the character using EVA foam and other materials. He invested about $250 to $300, but said the money could not replace the impact the character has had on him.
“I'm a huge Madara fan. I've met the voice actor, Neil Kaplan, before — great guy. And I love cosplaying, just being able to take pictures with people and having them freak out because they see a character that they've seen on TV,” Wallace said.
The convention continues through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., featuring 12 fan panels and an open vendor hall for attendees looking to get their fill.
This story was originally published June 27, 2026 at 9:45 PM.
