HAMPTON, Va. — NekoCon kicked off its 3-day anime convention at the Hampton Roads Convention Center on Friday.
This year marks 26 years of NekoCon, Virginia's longest-running anime festival in Hampton Roads.
Friday marked day one of the Convention with long lines wrapped around the Hampton Roads Convention Center.
For some attendees, the convention provides a special meaning.
“It’s inspiring to me. I lost my mom in September, and she used to watch Sailor Moon with me all the time,” said one anime enthusiast.
Pheno Skyrty, the Head of the Marketing Division of NekoCon said the anime convention welcomed 7,000 people last year, and he expects that number to rise this year.
“We do a theme every year, and this year, it is Mewths and Legends,” said Skyrty. "Every year, we try to do a cat pun.”
Organizers said the convention is also an opportunity for entrepreneurs to showcase iconic anime relics, comics, and gear.
This year, Aubrey Kanagy is debuting her Sailor Moon-themed car for the first time.
“This is a 2015 Mitsubishi Evil they don’t make it anymore,” said Kanagy.
The convention is a space for fans to connect and showcase their creativity.
“That’s the best part about cosplay, being able to release your life and being something that excites you,” said Skyrty.
VIP and Saturday-only tickets for NekoCon are already sold out, but tickets are available for other parts of the weekend.
To buy tickets for NekoCon 2024: Mewths and Legends, visit the Showclix website.