Shortly after the release of the live action fantasy adventure television series One Piece, four of its stars made their convention debut at 2024’s MegaCon Orlando, including Aidan Scott. The South African native went in with zero expectations regarding his appearance - his character, Helmeppo, recurred in the eight episodes - but was pleasantly surprised with the fan reception.

“I was [at MegaCon] with quite big characters in the show and I didn’t know what to expect,” he said. “I didn’t know if anybody wanted to see me. I didn’t even know if they knew who I was!”

He quickly adapted to the convention lifestyle and learned small tips and tricks, such as staying hydrated and making sure to always have a hat handy to keep the harsh artificial lighting from shining down on him all weekend. His biggest takeaway from attending conventions, however, has been forming a connection with everyone he meets. He makes sure to take his time with each individual that lines up to say hello, take a photo or receive an autograph.

“You start realizing that people are people wherever you go,” he said. “You get to connect with people, and that’s been the most rewarding thing for me.”

An unexpected moment for him was meeting his first Helmeppo cosplayer, a six-year-old child complete with a tiny blonde wig and sailor suit. Helmeppo is considered a minor character, especially in the original anime, and Scott did not expect to see anyone dressed as him.

He also admits to having fan moments of his own, such as being in the same room as Rainn Wilson at MegaCon. His latest convention experience, FAN EXPO Cleveland, found him in the same restroom as David Tennant, where he joked that he was tempted to deliver his Helmeppo line, “Do you know who I am?” (In our fantasy world, Tennant responded, “A shithead Marine with a bad haircut.”)

While he may not collect a traditional piece of memorabilia sold at conventions, he has started to collect something equally as valuable. Any time a fan gifts him something, he asks them to sign it for him. Any time he has a meaningful conversation with a fan at his autograph table, he asks them to sign one of his headshots or items at his table. That way, both parties go home with a prized possession.

As Aidan Scott dives more into the world of conventions, the more he recognizes the impact these weekends have on fans. He has the pleasure of being in a new take on a beloved series, and getting to interact with fans gives him a chance to truly understand how deep that passion goes.

“You never know what your character means to people,” he said. “You might think you know, but you have no idea.”