This weekend, thousands of anime and manga fans descended upon the Middle Tennessee Anime Convention — including a large number of UT students.
MTAC is a yearly anime convention that, since its inception in 1999, has been attracting people from all over the south. The event features panels about popular series or topics, guests from the anime industry, a dealer’s room and many, many cosplayers. This year, it took place at Nashville’s Music City Sheraton.
Cosplaying — dressing up as characters from any form of entertainment — has become increasingly popular in recent years. Cosplayers will spend countless hours and, sometimes, large amounts of money, in order to make sure their costumes are just right.
Christian Applegate, senior studying supply chain management, said that the hobby combines the worlds of acting and creating.
“I cosplay because it gives me a way to combine a lot of the things I really like to do, such as getting into character and acting,” Applegate said. “I also love the constructing, the creating, the building … it’s something that challenges me to do something outside of my comfort zone every time and still allowing me to learn from it.”
Cosplay and conventions such as MTAC allow people to express what they love. They also give them the opportunity to meet like-minded individuals and build a community.
Kalissa Bearden, freshman studying advertising, said that fan conventions are an accepting, engaging environment.
“I come to conventions like MTAC because I love the environment,” Bearden said. “Everyone here is really accepting … I make a lot of friends through cosplay. I feel like if you go to a convention and don’t cosplay, you’re really missing out on a big part of the experience.”
While a large number of attendees at MTAC did cosplay, others opted to participate in other ways, such as Sean Sloas, junior studying journalism and video broadcasting. Instead of getting into costume himself, Sloas comes to conventions to take pictures of cosplayers.
“I always did photography as a hobby and have always been going to conventions. I always saw people taking photos, and I thought, ‘I wonder if I can use photography to do something in the cosplay community,’” Sloas said. “I remember going to YamaCon 2018 and taking photos for people there and, ever since then, I’ve been taking photos for people.”
MTAC not only draws in students and fans, but also those that work within the anime industry. Martin Billany, known online as Little Kuriboh, creates fan dubs for the anime “Yu-Gi-Oh!” and has amassed a large online following over the past 13 years. Although he is based in California, Billany has been attending MTAC every year since 2014.
“MTAC has a very positive and respectful community, and I really love that,” Billany said. “It blows my mind that so many people here have a deep love and connection for my work … Really, you couldn’t keep me away.”
Whether guests attended MTAC as cosplayers, photographers, guests or simply just fans, it was clear that the convention was truly something special. As the convention continues, many more UT students will make the drive to Knoxville and become part of the community.
