MTAC which stands for Middle Tennessee Anime Convention is an event that happens every year since 1999 around the month of April. The event changes locations from the Nashville Fairgrounds to Sheraton Hotel. MTAC is an event to chat with other Anime lovers, buy anime merch, and meet voice actors from your favorite anime.

The Middle Tennessee Anime Convention is an annual event dedicated to anime, gaming, music, and Japanese popular arts and culture providing enthusiasts and the public at large with a forum to share knowledge and passion in their collective interests. MTAC began in 1999 and operates entirely on a volunteer basis. MTAC is overseen by the Southeast Pop Arts & Culture board (SEPOP).

Some of the major events include: the Cosplay Contest, Ramen Eating Contest, Anime Music Video Contest, Electronic Dance, Lolita Tea Party, Otaku Ball, Risque Cosplay Contest, J-Fashion Show, Lip-Sync Contest and many activities.

Established in 1999, MTAC has been an annual mainstay in the Middle Tennessee community, with thousands of attendees and guests coming from the country and beyond. Throughout the years, MTAC has featured several special guests covering a variety of aspects of anime and media.

MTAC lives up to being Music City’s Anime Con by hosting top-notch musical shows with talent both local and foreign. MTAC also gives back to the community which hosts it by assisting local charities at the convention, as well as donation drives during the year.

This event allows anime fans from around the world to gather together to buy anime merch, talk about their interests, and even dress up as their favorite anime or game characters.

Anime conventions also have voice actors from different anime where fans can meet with them and buy signatures. At MTAC Super, the voice actors featured this year were:

Jessie James Grelle.

They have been voice acting since 2004 and have played many famous characters such as: Armin Arlet in Attack on Titan, Izo in One Piece, The Grand Priest from Dragon Ball, Yuri Katsuki in Yuri on Ice, Tokoyami Fumikage in My Hero Academia, Togami from Danganranpa, Kinro in Dr. Stone, etc.

Megan Hollingshed is known from many iconic voices, but her most iconic voice was the original voice of Pokémon’s Nurse Joy.

Other voices she plays are: Mai Valentine in Yu-Gi-Oh, Rangiku in Bleach (in which I got an autograph from), Shizune in Naruto, Adiane from Gurren Lagann, Villetta in Code Geass, Caster in Fate/stay night, Lenneth in Valkyrie Profile, the twins Mion and Shion in When They Cry,  several roles in the Fire Emblem series, Ada Wong in Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles, and a hundred more characters in anime and games.

John Bentley has been working at his trade in the business since 1996. He has several on-camera, commercial and voice over credits.

His voiceovers include Barret in the Final Fantasy VII remake, King Bulgher in CannonBusters, Mr. Kapusinski In 12 Forever, Varys Truss in Promare, Sonada in Baki, Tiger’s Claw In Sailor Moon, Whiplash in Turbo Netflix, and Fire Emblem in Tiger and Bunny.

Several other projects he’s worked on are as follows: Digimon, LA Noire, anything Nick Fury or Frozone, Red Dead Redemption, Call of Duty, Mecard, Carole and Tuesday, MFKZ and several other genres including film and television.

Molly Zhang is best known for voicing Seele from Honkai: Star Rail, Astra Yao from Zenless Zone Zero, Gyokuyou from Apothecary Dairies, Emul from Shangri-La Frontier, Ena Saito from Laid-Back from Camp, Bao Huang from One Piece, Mulan from SMITE, Akane Nishimura from My Clueless First Friend, Young Xie Lian from Heaven Official’s Blessing, and much more.

Lastly, Dawn M. Bennett, who is an American voice actor with roles in anime and video games. Known for her distinctly wide range, she received critical acclaim and a Golden Joystick Award nomination for her role as Aigis in Persona 3 Reload. Other notable roles include Orphie Magnusson and Magus in Zenless Zone Zero, Kale from the Dragon Ball franchise, Setsuna Tokage in My Hero Academia, Frosch in Fairy Tail, Smoothie Charlotte in One Piece, Marnie in Pokémon: Twilight Wings, Lusamine in Pokémon Evolutions, Bellibolt in Pokémon Horizons, Nabbit in Mario Kart World and Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Yukong in Honkai: Star Rail, Shez from the Fire Emblem franchise, and Frederica Baumann in Re: Zero.

Not only did they have great voice actors they also had many people from around the US to dress up and attend this event. I interviewed students who went to the convention asking them a series of questions relating to what they did at the convention.

First interview is Addie Nine. She’s a junior who attends Hillsboro High School. She was dressed as Princess Guinevere from Knights of Guinevere.

Hillsboro Globe (HG): Who were you dressed up as?

Addie Nine (AN): “I was Ruby Rose from RWBY on Friday, Princess Guinevere from Knights of Guinevere on Saturday, and Roxanne Wolf from Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach on Sunday.”

Hillsboro Globe (HG): What was the main reason of going to the convention?

(AN): “My main reasons for going were for a weekend to make new friends, attend panels, do the cosplay and Lip-sync contests, and meet some voice actors.”

Hillsboro Globe (HG): What did you do there?

(AN): “I went with my friend, Annika, on Friday, and we walked around the con, met some voice actors, and attended a couple panels. I then went to the Otaku Anime Prom with my sister that night in a closet cosplay of Ruby Rose’s outfit for the prom in RWBY and then went to Conkitty’s Power Hour for a couple rounds of Just Dance.

“On Saturday, I brought Damien with me, went to prejudging for the cosplay contest, attended the KiRA KiRA Idol Festival, went to a ballroom dance panel before my call time for the contest, and participated in the cosplay contest. I didn’t end up winning anything, but I am still proud of myself for making Princess Guinevere. I then attended a feedback panel to know about what I could’ve done better on my cosplay, and I plan on using that feedback for the next cosplay contest for the next con I’m attending.

“Finally, on Sunday, I went with my sister, Allie, and I participated in the lip-sync contest, performing as Roxanne Wolf to ‘Oh No!’ by MARINA. I enjoyed cheering on my fellow contestants, and chanting the words, ‘chair,’ ‘table,’ and ‘tea set.’ ‘If you know you know’ *she whispered*
I also attended closing ceremonies and then that was my experience with MTAC.”

Hillsboro Globe (HG): Did you meet any of the voice actors? If so, who?

(AN): “Yes, I met Jessie James Grelle, Molly Zhang, Dawn M Bennett, and John Bentley. I was very excited to meet Jessie James Grelle since they were Tyrian Callows in RWBY.

“The interaction on Friday went like this: I noticed them with their suitcase that had stickers spelling out, ‘Mim,’ their VTuber persona, waiting to be directed somewhere. I gently greeted them, they returned the greeting, and I told them that my Crescent Rose replica transforms. I showed them, they loved it, and in character, as Tyrian, they said, ‘Just make sure not to go around cutting people’s tails.’

“I responded as Ruby, ‘No promises!’ Then we both evil laughed. I then visited them again at their table, and they asked if they were going to sign it, to which I kindly said that they wouldn’t, but I said that I can show them the transformation again. They agreed, and said aside to their handler, ‘Watch this.’ I transformed my prop again, they really enjoyed it, and then as I headed out, they said as Tyrian, ‘Take care, Ruby. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!’

“I acted rival-like with my returning sign off, and then said goodbye kindly, and then left with Annika. I then met Molly Zhang (Lady Gyokyou in The Apothecary Diaries) and Dawn M Bennett (Nabbit in Super Mario) and attended Dawn M Bennett’s panel where I played Mario Kart with her.

“The next day, I took Damien to meet Jessie James Grelle, and Damien was excited to meet them because they portrayed Byakuya Togami in the Danganronpa anime. They and Damien had a very passionate conversation about Danganronpa, and then we left. As John Bentley was on his way to take a break, he stopped to praise these two cosplayers, one of whom had crocheted both of their cosplays. They were cosplaying Tiana and Charlotte, and John Bentley was absolutely in love with their cosplays! He then looked at my Guinevere and was pleasantly surprised by my craftsmanship! Overall, the voice actors were very nice and friendly this weekend.”

Hillsboro Globe (HG): What is the next convention you’re going to attend?

(AN): “The next convention I will be attending is AkaiCon at the Farm Bureau Exposition Center, June 26-28, 2026. I will bring Ruby Rose from RWBY on Friday, Princess Guinevere from Knights of Guinevere on Saturday, and Quinn Huckley from the upcoming indie animated pilot of Far Fetched.”

Second interview is Damien Bishop a senior who also attends Hillsboro. He was dressed as his own original character named Astaria.

Hillsboro Globe (HG): Who were you dressed as?

Damien Bishop (DB):  “I was dressed up as my original character. Her name is Astaria, she has sun-based powers.”

Hillsboro Globe (HG): What was your main reason of going?

(DB): “I went to support my bestie, Addie in the cosplay contest and to meet Jesse James Grelle.”

Hillsboro Globe (HG): What did you do there?

(DB): “We walked around, played some games at the embassy, went to the idol fest, did some ball room dancing and I saw my bestie participate in the cosplay contest.”

Hillsboro Globe (HG): Did you meet any of the voice actors? If so, who?

(DB): “I met Jesse James Grelle; I know her from Danganronpa as Togami in the anime.”

Hillsboro Globe (HG): When is the next anime convention you’re going to?

(DB): “The next convention I will be attending is AkaiCon.”

The last interview a is sophomore who attends Hillsboro named Annika Abe. Who dressed as a character named Sua from Alien Stage.

Hillsboro Globe (HG): Who were you dressed as?

Annika Abe (AA): “I was dressed up as Sua from Alien Stage.”

Hillsboro Globe (HG): What was your main reason of going?

(AA): “The main reason I was going there was to explore the cosplay community and enjoy my time there with a friend as it was my first time at a convention.”

Hillsboro Globe (HG): What did you do there?

(AA): “I went to panels, bought items from booths and meet voice actors.”

Hillsboro Globe (HG): Did you meet any of the voice actors? If so, who?

(AA): “I met two voice actors named Dawn M. Bennett and Molly Zhang.”

Hillsboro Globe (HG): Lastly, what is the next convention you’re going to attend?

(AA): “The next convention I’m going to is AkaiCon.”