Animazed was born from a lifelong love of anime, fandom, and community.

Founded by Will and Susan, Animazed is a family-owned business rooted in a passion that has been shared across generations. In their early twenties, Will and Susan originally opened a retail store of their own before stepping away from the industry to focus on raising their growing family. But their love for anime and the communities surrounding it never faded. As their children grew older and developed that same passion, the Williams family saw an opportunity to bring their love of fandom back to the community. On October 1, 2022, the first Animazed store opened in Raleigh, North Carolina, with a simple goal: create a place where fans could find the things they love and, just as importantly, feel like they belonged. Since then, Animazed has grown from a single local store into one of the largest anime retailers on the East Coast. What began in Raleigh has expanded into a growing collection of stores serving fans throughout North Carolina, with our fourth location opening in September 2026. Today, Animazed is more than a place to shop. We are a community built by fans, for fans, celebrating anime, manga, K-pop, danmei, gaming, and all the wonderful ways people connect with the fandoms they love. From our stores and events to our online shop and the communities we help build, our goal has remained the same from day one: to create a space where everyone can find something they love, meet people who share their interests, and feel at home.

Where Fandom Feels Like Home.