Animazement

text laid over an image of a microphone on stage. The text reads "Karaoke Contest Applications Open through May 1st"

Applications for our Karaoke Contest are now open! We've made some changes for 2026, so be sure to read the contest rules before you apply! We can't wait to see you perform! www.animazement.com/karaoke/

A photo of Aaron Dismuke with images of many characters he has voiced. The text below his name reads "May 22-24, 2026 Raleigh, NC"

Please welcome Aaron Dismuke as a guest for AZ 2026! His voice acting credits include Alphonse Elric in Fullmetal Alchemist, Tamaki Amajiki in My Hero Academia, Senku Ishigami in Dr. Stone, and many others! www.animazement.com/guests/aaron...

A photo of Kamen Casey also featuring images of many characters he has voiced. The text below his name reads "May 22-24, 2026 Raleigh NC"

Please join us in welcoming Kamen Casey as a guest for AZ 2026! He has voiced characters in anime including Blue Lock, One Piece, I'll Become a Villainess, and more! www.animazement.com/guests/kamen...

a photograph of Sarah Wiedenheft and multiple characters she has voiced. The text below her name reads "May 22-24, 2026 Raleigh NC"

Please join us in welcoming Sarah Wiedenheft as a guest for AZ 2026! You've heard her voice in numerous anime including Chainsaw Man, Dragon Ball Super, and Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid, among many others. www.animazement.com/guests/sarah...

text reads "AMV Contest submissions open through May 1st"

AMV creators, get ready! Submissions are now open for our 2026 AMV Contest. You'll have until May 1st to submit your entries. We can't wait to see your creations! www.animazement.com/amv-contest/

a photograph of Lisa Ortiz along with numerous animated characters. The text beneath her name reads "May 22-24, 2026 Raleigh, NC"

Please welcome Lisa Ortiz to AZ 2026! Lisa is a voice actor, director and producer. She's currently the director of Pokémon Journeys and Pokémon Horizons, and has voiced dozens of Pokémon. You've also heard her as many characters including Lina Inverse & Amy Rose www.animazement.com/guests/lisa-...

A photograph of Reagan Murdock along with images of several anime characters. Below the image it reads "May 22-24, 2026 Raleigh, NC"

Please join us to welcome voice actor Reagan Murdock as a guest for AZ 2026! You've heard his voice as Aki Hayakawa from Chainsaw Man, Shion from Hell’s Paradise, among others! www.animazement.com/guests/reaga...

a photograph of Norm Nakamura in profile. He is holding a camera and looking out over a brightly lit city at night.

Please join us to welcome YouTuber and content creator Norm Nakamura for AZ 2026. He can usually be found capturing the many sides of Japan on his YouTube channel Tokyo Lens. www.animazement.com/guests/norm-...

Koki Endo is a Technical Artist / CG Generalist at QREAZY. He is responsible for a wide range of CG production processes, and has worked on projects like Wave!!: Surfing Yappe!!, SHY, and The Irregular at Magic High School. www.animazement.com/guests/koki-...

Akira Yoshiyasu has been active as a CG director since around 2003. He has served as a 3DCG director for anime works like One Piece: The Cursed Holy Sword, Air: The Movie, Zatch Bell! Attack of Mechavulcan, among many other projects. www.animazement.com/guests/akira...

We are pleased to welcome two talented guests from the CG production company QREAZY.

a photo of Hiroaki Hirata smiling at the camera

Please join us in welcoming voice actor Hiroaki Hirata to AZ2026! You've heard his voice as Sanji in One Piece, Kotetsu Kaburagi in Tiger & Bunny, and most recently, Beryl Gardinant in From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman, among many other anime and games www.animazement.com/guests/hiroa...

Hakusui Ogiyama kneeling in front of a white background holding a biwa.

Please join us in welcoming back biwa player Hakusui Ogiyama to AZ 2026! She specializes in Satsuma Biwa and performs both traditional Japanese classical music and more modern songs. www.animazement.com/guests/hakus...

Please join us in welcoming back sanshin player Kaizan Nitta to AZ 2026! Born on Okinoerabu Island, which is just north of Okinawa, he learned to play the sanshin. He performs a wide range of genres from traditional to Okinawan pop. www.animazement.com/guests/kaiza...

a photograph of Koji Nagai wearing a suit and tie

We are pleased to welcome back Koji Nagai to AZ 2026. He has produced many works for TV including Ace Attorney, Space Brothers, Kekkaishi, Yashahime: Princess Half Demon, and My Hero Academia. www.animazement.com/guests/koji-...

Mr. Yusa seated in front of a tablet screen that features a drawing of a baseball player. His hand is poised to draw, and he is looking back at the camera.

We are always pleased to welcome back Kazushige Yusa as a guest for AZ 2026. He is a 2D and 3D animation writer, director, and illustrator and he brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience in the animation industry. www.animazement.com/guests/kazus...

an image of performers on a stage. the text reads "Idol Showcase sign ups open through Feb 28"

Attention Idols! Our sign ups for this year's Idol Showcase are now live. Follow the link below to find out how to sign up. We can't wait to see you on our stage! www.animazement.com/idol-showcase/

a picture of Someta Hayashiya. He is dressed in bright orange and smiling brightly at the camera.

Rakugo comedian, Someta Hayashiya, also returns for Animazement 2026. Rakugo is a comic storytelling art that has been entertaining the Japanese for over 400 years and you won't want to miss his shows! www.animazement.com/guests/somet...

Etsuko Kawamura seated at a table dressed in a black and grey kimono

Etiquette teacher and kimono expert, Etsuko Kawamura will return to Animazement in 2026. From Japanese tea to traditional kimono, she has taught us so much about Japanese culture. We can't wait to see what we'll learn this year! www.animazement.com/guests/etsuk...

We hope we'll see you again this year!

an image of a panel room full of people watching a screen. The text reads: Fan Panels Applications Open Through March 29"

Do you have a favorite anime you want to talk about? An anime game show you want to host? Something about Japan you love and can't wait to share? Now's the time! Fan Panel applications are open through March 29th! www.animazement.com/panels/

We're very excited to announce that in 2026 the Animazement Idol Showcase will be an official convention event! Sign ups will open on February 1st. You can check out the link below for rules and information. www.animazement.com/idol-showcase/

a happy new year greeting card with fireworks behind it ALT: a happy new year greeting card with fireworks behind it

Happy New Year to you all! We can't wait to see you in 2026!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and happy holiday season from our AZ family to yours. We hope your holiday is filled with joy, fun, and lots of anime goodies to unwrap!

the text reads: "Artists Alley applications open through December 29"

Attention Artists! Applications for our 2026 Artists' Alley are now OPEN! Follow the link below for information on how to apply. You've got until 12am on December 29th to apply. As always, we look forward to seeing all of your outstanding portfolios! www.animazement.com/artists-alley/

Attention Artists! Mark your calendars and get your portfolios ready. Applications for our 2026 Artists Alley will open on Monday, December 15th and will remain open for the following two weeks. Visit our website to learn everything you'll need to know to apply! www.animazement.com/artists-alley/

UPDATE: The Residence Inn link is now up and running. We're sorry again for the inconvenience.

We'll reach out to the Marriott and let them know. It may be a traffic issue, but we'll look into it.

Reservation blocks for our convention hotels are now open!

PLEASE NOTE! There will be some delay in opening reservations for the Residence Inn Raleigh Downtown as we work on correcting an issue with the reservation link. We apologize for the inconvenience. www.animazement.com/hotels/

Attention Vendors. Tomorrow is the last day you can apply for our 2026 Dealers' Room. Don't miss the deadline tomorrow night at 11:59pm. www.animazement.com/dealers-room/