The first-ever Atlanime Fest brought the best of multiple fandoms to Atlanta for a celebration of music and culture. Earlier this month, thousands gathered at Center Parc Stadium for live music, cosplay contests, gaming tournaments, artist meet-ups, and interactive experiences.

In its first year, the event served as evidence of the expansion of the anime fandom as “cool,” especially among Black audiences.

“It’s always been cool on an underground level, so to speak,” explained expert LeAlec Murray, host of Crunchyroll’s The Anime Effect podcast on a Zoom call ahead of the event, as he detailed the RZA’s link to Afro Samurai, the Hip-Hop and Jazz elements in Cowboy Bebop, and later Megan Thee Stallion’s influence.

He added later, “I love all of it, because we as Black people are always so welcoming, and we always find a way to spin things and make it our own and give it a new vibe and a new twist. We welcome people into that, as well. It ultimately shows up in comic books. I mean, there are Black artists who exhibit their work in a very anime way for comic books. One of the biggest WebToons right now, Ordeal, is done by a Black author. Seeing stuff like that and how influential anime has been to us, for us to be able to put our spin on it and give it back, I think, is the thing that I love the most.”

At Atlanime Fest, the spirited audience exchanged theories, danced to DJ sets, and orchestrated TikTok and Instagram challenges as the sunset for the perfect southern Autumn evening. Off stage, a mechanical bull ride, gaming tournaments, and shopping opportunities kept ticketholders busy.  On stage, a variety of acts captivated the crowd for the duration of the event.

Performances from Duke Deuce, Troop Brand, Keats, Kiko Blac, Waka Flocka Flame, TiaCorine, Travis Porter, DRAM, and more took the energy to another level.  Atlanime Fest 2025

Take a look inside Atlanime Fest 2025 below.

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