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ISEKAI QUARTET 2 x ANIPLUS Café Banner(Source: Press Release) 

ANIPLUS café is thrilled to announce the first ever Isekai Quartet 2 collaboration café in Singapore, beginning 22 October!

An Otherworldly Experience. Join us as we embark on an exciting comic adventure into a whole new world with Isekai Quartet 2 X ANIPLUS! It’s back to high school with an Isekai classroom-themed interior, premium school cafeteria menu, and not to forget – a wide range of exclusive souvenirs and original merchandise. 

The café presents a whimsical dining experience inspired by the otherworldly characters and school setting of Isekai Quartet, with a collaboration menu of unique mains, desserts and drinks. Fans can also look forward to bringing home limited-edition collectibles like transparent photo cards and a Isekai Quartet mask case, with the purchase of collaboration menu items and café merchandise. Every $30 spent in a single receipt will also entitle you to a chance to join the Isekai “Otherworldly Festival Draw”, where lucky fans can win Isekai Quartet goodie bags and posters.

To celebrate the collaboration, ANIPLUS will be holding a Isekai Quartet Cosplay Contest “Another World, Another You!” starting 22 October. Discover a new “you”! Simply cosplay as any of your favourite Isekai Quartet characters, submit your photo or video online and stand a chance to be featured on ANIPLUS! Selected entries will be showcased in the ANIPLUS café and on the ANIPLUS official social media channels during the collaboration. Stand a chance to win a dining experience for 4 with ANIPLUS café ! Overseas participants can also walk away with a full set of limited-edition Isekai Quartet 2 X ANIPLUS collaboration premiums.

ANIPLUS café  is located at 8 Raffles Avenue, #01-13C Annexe, Esplanade Mall. Opening hours are 12pm to 9pm (Tuesday to Sunday). For more information, please visit http://aniplus-asia.com/anipluscafe.

Café Interior

Press the red button and get cosy with your new school mates in a whole new world where anything can happen! Let the café’s themed interior bring you to the heart of the anime and right into the Isekai Quartet classroom! A larger than life display of the iconic «Isekai Quartet» anime key visual awaits you at the entrance, with a special pop-up standee that allows you to take memorial photos with your new classmates. Choose your desk mate! Get acquainted with your extraordinary peers through the character profiles displayed with the table decals. Watch the anime come alive with interior designs featuring the broken but mended School Festival Banner, a lightbox display of the cast for an Isekai school play, and more displays replicating the lockers and the view of the classroom chalkboard as seen in the anime. School has never been this fun!

Isekai Quartet 2 X ANIPLUS Collaboration Menu

Attention! It’s our favourite time of the day – lunch time! Survive school and refuel with a nutritious spread inspired by the characters and story of Isekai Quartet.

Most Ordinary Special Menu

Inspired by the special menu that Visja orders in Episode 8 of Season 2. A hearty meal of rice with demi-glace gravy, katsu, sausages, onsen egg and coleslaw on the side. Every student’s favourite.

The Disciplinary Committee’s Daily Grub

A comforting brunch plate inspired by the setting where Tanya came from. This plate of juicy German sausages, mashed potatoes and sour dough bread is all you need to kick start your day!

Megumin’s Crimson Explosion

Inspired by the character Megumin of KonoSuba, who is obsessed with Explosion magic. A wholesome plate of Mentaiko Pasta topped with chicken and onsen egg. Sit back and let euphoria explode!

An Isekai Karaage Crisis

A karaage platter inspired by Episode 6 of Season 2. Crispy and flavourful chicken karaage served with

mayonnaise, ketchup, salt and pepper. You don’t have to play dodgeball for this.

Emilia’s Mystic Ice Parfait

A dessert inspired by Emilia’s special ability of ice magic and her lovely

appearance as a half-elf. Silver hair and bluish purple eyes, what an angel she is. ♥

Angel’s Landing Waffle Stack

A fluffy waffle dessert inspired by the image of Filo. Enjoy the creamy goodness of the special glaze, as well as white chocolate in the shape of Filo’s wings! Up, up in the air we go! ♪

WEEK OF WORSHIP: Special Drink Menu  Each special drink comes with a limited edition postcard.

Week 1 – 4: Ainz’s Undead Potion                                    

Week 5 – 8: Aqua’s Goddess Blessings

                                               Other Menu items (Drinks):

Naofumi's A Hero's Destiny

Yes I'm Kazuma

Tanya's Ace of Aces

                                          Rem & Ram's Twin Slushie

Albedo's Pure White Devil

Premium Giveaways

Isekai Quartet 2 X ANIPLUS presents special premiums which will be released in three waves. In the first wave, fans will receive an exclusive Isekai Quartet Student ID card with every purchase of a collaboration menu item. The Student ID Cards are available in a total of 16 designs, and will be released in two batches. The following waves of special premiums will be revealed at a later date.

Student ID Cards – *Designs distributed randomly.

To commemorate the collaboration, we will be giving a limited edition Isekai Quartet Mask Case to fans who spend a minimum of S$35 on collaboration menu items and Isekai Quartet merchandise at the café. Don’t miss the chance to collect this handy mask case, only available at ANIPLUS café 

Isekai Quartet Mask Case (1 design)

Material: PVC

Exclusive Merchandise

A diverse line-up of collaboration merchandise exclusive to ANIPLUS café are not to be missed! From collectibles such as trading can badges and acrylic keychains, to school and work essentials like jackets and mouse pads – there is something for everyone.

Isekai Quartet 2 X ANIPLUS Song Cover Contest – Another World, Another You!

To celebrate the collaboration, ANIPLUS will be holding a Isekai Quartet Cosplay Contest “Another World, Another You!” as part of the ongoing Anime in MyLife Campaign. The “Another World, Another You!” Cosplay Contest pays tribute to the various characters of Isekai Quartet and aims to reward fans for their love and passion for anime, by giving them the spotlight and opportunity to bring home attractive prizes.

Submit your best Isekai Quartet Cosplay photo or video and stand a chance to be featured in ANIPLUS café! Win a set of Isekai Quartet 2 X ANIPLUS collaboration premiums! Submit your photos and/or videos on the ANIPLUS website from 22 October – 31 December 2020. Fans of all nationalities are welcomed. For more information, please visit the event page: https://www.aniplus-asia.com/anime-in-my-life/.

About Isekai Quartet 2

«Isekai Quartet 2» is a 12-episode fantasy comedy anime produced by KADOKAWA and animated by Studio Puyukai. A sequel to the popular «Isekai Quartet», this is a crossover anime which fuses some of the most popular Isekai ‘another world’ animes – Overlord, KonoSuba, Re:ZERO – Starting Life in Another World, The Saga of Tanya the Evil and The Rising of the Shield Hero – into one whole new series. «Isekai Quartet 2» was voted by viewers as “Short of the Year” in Reddit’s 2020 Anime Awards.

About ANIPLUS café

ANIPLUS café is a concept store that combines the “Collaboration Café” concept from Japan, one of the staples in the otaku culture where a café features a particular anime or game theme, with an official merchandise store.

Integrating anime, comic and games (ACG) with lifestyle and dining, ANIPLUS café is the one-stop destination for ACG enthusiasts to enjoy and experience their favourite works in various forms, all in one place. At ANIPLUS café, we are dedicated to bringing fans together to share the passion for Japanese anime and pop culture.

During each time-limited collaboration, ANIPLUS café will feature a different interior theme and menu specially designed for the collaboration anime or game title, allowing fans to immerse in the world of their favourite works. The store will also feature exclusive collaboration merchandise and a wide range of imported official goods.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anipluscafe.sg/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/anipluscafe.sg/

ANIPLUS café Homepage: https://www.aniplus-asia.com/anipluscafe/

About Anime in MyLife

Anime in MyLife is an initiative by ANIPLUS to spread the love for anime and encourage fans to share their passion and creativity in the forms of fan fiction, fan art, photography and video. Founded in 2015, the Anime in MyLife annual contests have garnered more than 2000 submissions from participants all over South East Asia.

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AFA Station Banner(Source: AFA Station Press Release)

 “Anime Festival Asia” is the biggest Japanese pop culture event in the region, with more than 30 events across nine major cities delivered over the last eleven years, welcoming more than 1.8M visitors, 1060 exhibitors, and 425 performers in total.  With the current situation in Singapore and the region, large scale physical events are not possible.  Moving forward, a new AFA digital platform has been created by the team - “AFA STATION Festival Online”.

“AFA STATION” is a new concept that aims to bring the unique Anime Festival Asia experience online!  “AFA STATION” is a fully-curated “Festival Online” hosted on a dedicated platform employing various functionalities from video streaming, interactive content scheduling and community functions -- combining everything you love about Anime Festival Asia, covering genres such as anime, games, music, lifestyle, culture, cosplay, and more! “AFA STATION” will stream exclusively curated appearances and performances, feature its own e-commerce marketplace, host online community discussions, and will even let you chat with fellow attendees - all in one place!  “The current situation with COVID-19 has impacted us greatly, hindering our company to hold any events. In order for our company to survive in this new normal, we’ve had to pivot ourselves to innovate in these current times. AFA STATION will not replace the physical AFA we all know and love, nor is it a replacement for C3 AFA Singapore.  But with AFA Station, we are pushing the envelope as to what can be done to bring the festival experience our customers have come to love us for online.  

We seek the help of everyone to support our latest initiative, and hope that this will at least help us survive to a time where we can come back, bigger and stronger than ever before.  We hope this platform will be able to help us reach our objectives of bringing the latest and best contents from Japan to South East Asia. Our team will strive to bring you the best festival experience from the comfort of your home. - SOZO’s managing director Shawn Chin.

The first “AFA STATION” will have 3 key days - 29th August 2020 (Saturday) and 5th & 6th September 2020 (Saturday & Sunday) via https://afastation.com/.  More details of the streaming times will be announced later.

[Developing] I will be updating this post as more details come in. 

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Anime Festival Asia is the biggest Japanese pop culture event in the region, with more than 30 events across nine major cities delivered over the last eleven years, welcoming more than 1.8M visitors, 1060 exhibitors, and 425 performers in total. In light of the recent COVID-19 situation, AFA’s ability to organize physical events and cater to its many passionate fans has been severely impacted. However, AFA would still like to connect with them, thus a fresh initiative ‘AFA UNITED’ has been born. Created to represent a new series of online events, ‘AFA UNITED’ hopes to bring together J-Culture fans online, united in their love for Japanese Pop culture. ‘AFA UNITED’ looks forward to recapturing the joy and excitement of fans who regularly attend AFA  events across the region, not just today but also in the near future. The first-ever ‘AFA UNITED’ can be viewed for free on 26th April 2020 (Sunday) from 8:00 PM (GMT +8) via animefestival.asia/afaunited/. Fans can show their support for ‘AFA UNITED’ by sharing the news and inviting friends and family to tune in! They can also support the event by purchasing limited edition souvenir t-shirts or branded digital wallpapers. Both items are available for a limited time exclusively via AFASHOP at afashop.co. Stay home, stay strong, stay tuned!

Date & Time: 26 April (Sun) 8:00 PM (GMT +8) onwards

Official Link: animefestival.asia/afaunited/

Official Merchandise: afashop.co

Official Hashtag: #AFAUNITED

Featured artistes: 

Amaki Sally (22/7) *(CV:Sakura Fujima)

Ayaka Ohashi

Azusa Tadokoro 

bless4

BLUE ENCOUNT

ELISA

Eri Sasaki

Eriko Nakamura

*(CV:Haruka Amami)

EXiNA

fhána

Hisanori Yoshida

JUNNA

Konomi Suzuki

Lotus Juice

Luna Haruna

May’n

Mika Kobayashi

Minori Chihara

nano

ORESAMA 

ReoNa

Riko Sasaki

SCANDAL

Sora Tokui *(CV:Nico Yazawa)

TRUE

YURiKA

Featured Cosplayers:

Punipun

Rithe

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XM studios booth, SGCC 2019 [Speedknight. Com]

Day One Launches With A Bang

The Singapore Comic Con (SGCC) 2019 kicked off on 7 December at the Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre. Queues formed outside Halls A, B and C way before the official opening, with fans of all ages and countries lining up as early as 7.30 am, with some already in costume. Crowds were full of DC superheroes, anime characters, lightsaber-wielding Jedis and even mini Disney princesses. Fans could explore a variety of exciting spaces such as a GGXP Zone, Artist Alley, and the main stage. Gaming tournaments, exclusive launches, panel discussions, exhibitions, and stalls made up the dynamic mix of activities that sprawled across the Expo Halls.

Astarohime[Speedknight.com]

Jin (behindinfinity) [Speedknight.com]

The star-studded guest line-up included comic creators Greg Capullo, Jock, Andy Kubert, and David Mack, toy designers Jason Freeny and Tara McPherson, gamers Alodia Gosiengfiao, Topson and Viva La Dirt League and cosplayers Astarohime and Jin (behindinfinity).

Pokémon Trainers[Speedknight.com]

The day was packed with concurrent events all across the hall. Starting at 11 am, Maxsoft and Project EXT hosted an exclusive Pokémon tournament that saw trainers battle it out in the Pokémon Video and Trading Card games. At 12 noon, LEGO had its global unveiling of the highly-anticipated 2020 Modular Building Set. For the first time at SGCC, Singapore Pro Wrestling had professional wrestlers perform matches throughout the afternoon in the boxing ring to the crowd’s cheers. The 3 pm Cosplay Parade drew numerous dedicated fans, all decked in their best costumes, proud to represent their favourite characters on the wrestling ring. In the gaming zone, PVP Esports @ Singapore Comic Con by Singtel held a Corporate League Final as regional teams battled it out in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and Dota 2. Gamersaurus Rex also held tournaments all day long with games such as Dungeons vs. Dragons, Warhammer, and Song of Ice and Fire.

Mr. Kiasu Meets SpongeBob SquarePants panel [Speedknight.com]

Fans got an exclusive insight into artist processes, live drawings, and unique collaborations through the panel sessions on the main stage. Some highlights included a talk with Batman and X-Men illustrator, Andy Kubert, and a Mr. Kiasu Meets SpongeBob SquarePants panel. The sprawling Artist Alley gave fans a chance to meet their favourite artists, and purchase special merchandise and products.

Singapore Comic Con (SGCC) 2019 - Day Two Left Visitors In Awe!

The second day of Singapore Comic Con (SGCC) 2019 started strong with a star studded line-up including a spotlight on comic book illustrator Jock at the event’s main stage, who detailed insights into his work on blockbuster movies like Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Dredd. Fluorescent Black Panel, headed by acclaimed writer Matt F. Wilson and a trio of producers gave fans valuable insights as well as a sneak peek of the upcoming TV adaptation of cult-favourite bio-punk graphic novel Fluorescent Black. Later in the day, during I Want to Make Toys - How ah?, viewers got a deep-dive into the world of toy making in a lively panel discussion led by Tara McPherson, Jason Freeny, Jonathan Cathey, and Daniel Yu. Fans got the chance to meet famous creators in person, including comic creators Jock, Yasmine Putri, James C Mulligan, and David Mack and many more.

Singapore Pro Wrestling ring  [Speedknight.com]

Tabletop Gaming area [Speedknight.com] 

Singapore Pro Wrestling returned for an afternoon of shows to get everyone’s adrenaline rushing. Comic book writer Donny Cates led an insightful panel for aspiring writers and artists with Words to Pictures at Creative Space. The day was also marked by ongoing tournaments at the Gamesaurus Rex Tabletop Gaming.

Danniel Adi Putra, Champion of this year's Championships of Cosplay [Speedknight.com] 

Fans got hyped up by their favourite characters brought to life by many talented cosplayers decked in intricate, well designed costumes. The Championships of Cosplay final took over the main stage in the late afternoon. Cosplayers competed and won the hearts of the judges such as Bernard Phee, Astarohime and Jin (behindinfinity) who guest judged this year’s competition. After a spectacular display of talent by all competing cosplayers, Danniel Adi Putra emerged on top and was crowned as the overall champion for the Championships of Cosplay 2019. Danniel won himself an all sponsored trip to represent SGCC at the prestigious cosplay competition at Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2) in 2020 as well as a cash prize and tickets to SGCC 2020.

PVP Esports @ Singapore Comic Con [Speedknight.com]

In the gaming zone, PVP Esports @ Singapore Comic Con returned with the Campus League Final, where tertiary teams battled it out in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang for the grand prize of SGD $5,000 and 3,000 Diamonds per player. Unstable Network took the competition by storm and walked away as the Champions of the PVP Campus League Grand Finals 2019.

Tokidoki Booth [Speedknight.com]

Mighty Jaxx Booth [Speedknight.com]

The two-day hit event came to a close after drawing in an estimated 55,000 fans who took home prizes, precious memories and merchandise from various exhibitors such as XM Studios, Tokidoki, Mighty Jaxx and the creators at Artist Alley.

For more Capture Memories head to the Gallery after the break:

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Dear Kiss, AFA 2019 Akiba stage (Speedknight.com)

Over the last weekend of November 2019 on the 29th 30th & 31st, Japanese Pop-culture Enthusiast flocked Suntec City Convention Center for the Biggest Japanese Pop-culture event in Singapore #C3AFASG2019.  These are the memories Captured at #C3AFASG2019.

I love Anisong 

I love Anisong this year saw a total of 12 Artistes performing over 3 nights. Ayaka Ohashi,Azusa Tadokoro, May'n Minori Chihara was the first set of Artistes who performed on the 1st night on Friday, followed by Blue Encount, Junna, Myth & Roid & Reona on Day 2. I love Anisong Day 3 was graced by fhana, Maaya Uchida, Scandal & True. No photos are allowed during the concert so i am leaving you with the official photos above.

Akiba Stage

Amelia Khor ,C3AFA2019 Akiba stage (Speedknight.com) 

Cosplay Singles Competition Participant ,C3AFA2019 Akiba stage (Speedknight.com) 

Enako during Guest cosplayers Hi touch session  ,C3AFA2019 Akiba stage (Speedknight.com) 

Akiba Stage has been a staple of AFA, This year Dear Kiss,DJ Keitan and DJ Ceasar return as the crowd Favourites. Regional Talents such as Ameila Khor, Tokimeki Jump, Reiko Maru just to name a few also made their presence felt on Akiba Stage. Fans were Delighted with the Hi-touch Session with Guest Cosplayers and Cosplay Singles Competition Winners walk away with cash prizes.

AFA Play

Tokimeki Jump Just dance session with Audiences, C3AFA2019 AFA play Stage(Speedknight.com) 

Booths

Creators Hub  ,C3AFA2019 (Speedknight.com) 

Sacra Music booth  ,C3AFA2019 (Speedknight.com) 

Bandai Namco booth ,C3AFA2019 (Speedknight.com)

Cosplayers

Be sure to check out the rest of the memories Captured at the Gallery after the break:

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STGCC 2018(SGCC was formerly Known as STGCC) File photo: speedknight.com

SGCC 2019(Formally STGCC) is happening at the Marina Bay Sands in about a week time. As one of singapore's long running and biggest pop culture event in singapore here is what is to be expected.

DC COMICS ILLUSTRATORS PART OF STELLAR GUEST LINE UP AT SINGAPORE’S LARGEST COMIC, GAMES AND TOYS CONVENTION,THIS DECEMBER Singapore Comic Con returns on 7 - 8 December with anticipation and adventure for the experienced and uninitiated; with exciting activities such as an enhanced gaming experience with GGXP, PVP @ Singapore Comic Con featuring the thrilling finals of PVP esports leagues, industry showcases and celebrity appearances; and meet & greet sessions with notable artists Pop culture fans of comics, games, toys, cosplay and everything else in between can rejoice as the annual Singapore Comic Convention (SGCC) 2019 returns from 7 to 8 December at Marina Bay Sands with tickets going on sale from 1 July 2019. SGCC will join other constituent events as part of the Singapore Media Festival this year (SMF), hosted by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) Fans can look forward to two whole days of living their fandom fantasies with a rich mix of experiential activities and meet-and-greet sessions with pop culture icons. “SGCC will continue to feed fans with their favorite pop culture dishes, just as we have for the last 11 years as STGCC. And this year, we’re upping the game with some jaw dropping headliners,” enthused Mr. Suhaimi Sainy, Senior Manager of Special Projects, Reed Exhibitions. “Come gawk at and geek out over your beloved fandoms and franchises as you take in the moment with many activities we have in store. Fans, you won’t feel far from home.”

Comics Illustrators and Award-Winning Toy Artist Amongst Star-studded Line-up  The two-day extravaganza between 7 – 8 December will see a star-studded line up of illustrators and toy designers. Hailing all the way from UK is three-time New York Times best-selling artist Mark Simpson known by the pen name Jock. Famed for his artwork in graphic novel titles, such as 2000 AD, The Losers, Wolverine and the award-winning Batman: The Black Mirror series, Jock has also produced key art concept designs and promotional imagery for films including Iron Man 3, The Dark Knight Trilogy, Dredd and Star Wars: Episode VII. Fans of DC Comics’ Batman series will also be star struck at a special meet & greet session with American comic book artist and penciller Greg Capullo. A legend in the world of comics, Greg is best known for his work on Quasar, X-Force, Angela, Spawn and Batman. Prior to his current work illustrating for the iconic Batman series, Greg provided art for Blizzard Entertainment’s World of Warcraft and contributed lead character designs for the award-winning HBO animated SPAWN series. Joining this stellar line-up is pop surrealist, Tara McPherson known for creating art pieces that explore the realms of otherworldly characters which| are born from complexities of the human psyche. Tara’s talent places her as a leading female artist for the Designer Toy movement. She has collaborated with brands like kidrobot, ToyQube and most recently Tomenosuke. Recently in 2018 she won a Designer Toy Award in the category Best Licensed Toy for her Wonder Woman Art Figure. You can catch these artists and more in action at SGCC 2019.

Changing the Game: Analog vs Digital Sports at GGXP  Gaming geeks of all ages head down to the Good Game Experience (GGXP) area at SGCC 2019 to experience in the world of gaming. PVP @ Singapore Comic Con Celebrate all things esports at PVP @ Singapore Comic Con by Singtel! The stage will be set for gaming fans to rub shoulders with professional gaming influencers and celebrities, experience exclusive industry showcases such as AR and VR in gaming, witness the finals of the PVP Community Leagues featuring Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and DOTA 2, and much more. Aimed at offering amateur gamers the chance to come together for some friendly competition, the PVP Community Leagues comprise a local inter-tertiary Campus League and a regional Corporate League. A combined prize pool of cash and prizes worth more than SGD 30,000 awaits the winners, and an additional SGD 20,000 will be donated to the PVP Corporate League winners’ charities of choice – it’s gaming for good! Mr Arthur Lang, CEO of Singtel’s International Group said, “We’re thrilled to bring a whole new level of gaming action to PVP @ Singapore Comic Con as gaming becomes more intertwined in mainstream culture. We’re excited to offer fans in the region an elevated gaming experience from meeting gaming heroes and influencers to witnessing some of the latest developments in gaming technology. The deep passion for competitive gaming is also amazing to see with the PVP Community leagues drawing some 1,250 participants from schools and companies across the region. With the premier of PVP @ Singapore Comic Con we look forward to bringing more excitement to gamers of all ages and walks of life!” Old school is the new school with the Tabletop experience brought to you by Gamersaurus Rex! Explore miniature tablescapes and battlefields laden with a myriad of terrain features where players enact battles between opposing forces using beautiful hand painted miniature models. Some of the games that will be featured during the convention include tournaments both for Warhammer 40,000 and A Song of Ice and Fire Miniatures Game. Visitors can also try their hand at painting these figurines which they can take home as memorabilia. Role-Playing Adventure Game freshies need not worry as Dungeons & Dragons sessions for beginners will also be hosted, letting them learn as they play. Bring Home an Exclusive T-shirt Designed by Renowned Guests!Uniquely designed T-shirts by artists hailing from all over the world will be specially reated for this year’s event and is available for sale at SGD $29 each from 1 July 2019. These limited-edition T-shirts will be available online and also sold on site at the Merchandise store at SGCC in December. The designers include New York-based award-winning artist Tara McPherson and Japanese artist Peach MoMoKo whose use of watercolours allows her to create vibrant and vintage Japanese styled artwork. Alongside these talented women is Stephanie Raphela Ho, a Singaporean artist better known as Muffinsaurs whose design style focuses on adorable animals and inspired by her daily encounters.

TAKE THE NEXT STEP IN BECOMING A PROFESSIONAL CREATOR AND ’GEEK OUT’ WITH RENOWNED ARTISTS AT SINGAPORE COMIC CON 2019-New initiative to be unveiled at Singapore Comic Con 2019 to connect aspiring creators with publishers Premier pop culture extravaganza, Singapore Comic Con (SGCC) 2019, is proud to introduce a brand-new initiative this year that looks into connecting aspiring creators with publishers through the ‘Work In Progress’ (W.I.P) programme. Alongside this exciting initiative, visitors of SGCC 2019 can also look forward to meeting notable artists from the world of comics such as the creators of the hilariously relatable, ‘Sarah Scribbles’ and ‘My Giant Nerd Boyfriend’. If cosplaying is your passion, it’s time to get started on your outfit as registration for the Championships of Cosplay is now open

GROOMING THE NEXT GENERATION OF CREATORS Telling a compelling sequential narrative with words and pictures is a critical skill when forging a strong creative connection between the comic artist and the reader. Budding artists that have ever dreamed to work in the world of comics can now get their big break. The new W.I.P programme will allow aspiring local & Southeast Asian creators to step forward and showcase their creativity as they look to leverage on the opportunity to get talent spotted and have their work published. “Many of our fans don’t just gobble up comics and pop culture but are also aspiring creators with their own original ideas and unique stories to tell. We hope that with the W.I.P programme, we can unearth new talents, encourage people to explore opportunities to turn their passion into reality and make their dreams come true by turning their passion projects into published works,” said Mr. Suhaimi Sainy, Senior Manager, Reed Exhibitions. Each proposal submitted will be thoroughly vetted by an esteemed group of participating publishers such as Shogakukan Asia, Asiapac Books Pte Ltd and Vividthree Productions Pte Ltd + Darkbox Studio Pte Ltd for unique curated content and fresh ideas. Creators whose entries display their passion and skills in original storytelling will be presented with an opportunity to meet the publishers at SGCC this December and stand a chance of having their works published. Mark your calendars as submissions open on 29 August 2019. “Shogakukan Asia is pleased to work together with SGCC and fellow creators in the W.I.P programme,” commented Mr. Bunsho Kajiya, Managing Director, Shogakukan Asia Pte Ltd. “As the leading publisher of manga titles, Shogakukan Asia's editors possess a treasure trove of experience and knowledge which we would like to impart to a new generation of local and regional talent.” “We are delighted to be working with SGCC on this initiative to encourage aspiring creators in the region. Our company has always been committed to nurturing emerging comic talent, having published early works of many successful and well- loved comic artists such as Wee Tian Beng (Singapore), Chan Kok Sing (Malaysia) and Hu Rong (Japan/China). W.I.P programme is a fantastic opportunity for artists to give their dream career a shot,” said Chong Lingying, Manager of Asiapac Books.

GO SUPER SAIYAN AT THE CHAMPIONSHIPS OF COSPLAY Creativity holds no boundaries at the Championships of Cosplay, back again at SGCC 2019. A true test of talent, grit and a lot of patience, the best of the best of Singapore’s cosplay scene will be showcasing their craftsmanship and artisanal skills at this event. Each submission will undergo a pre-judging session where only up to ten contestants will be shortlisted. The ultimate champion will win an all sponsored trip to represent SGCC in the grand finals at the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2) in 2020 as well as a cash prize and tickets to SGCC 2020. Submissions are open until 6 October 2019.

MORE CREATORS AND MARVEL AND DC ARTISTS PART OF STAR-STUDDED LINE-UP If you’re a huge comic book fan, you’ll be stoked this December with SGCC’s line up of artists this year. In addition to meeting and interacting with legendary comic creators Jock, Greg Capullo and American artist and toy designer Tara McPherson, fans can geek out to four additional renowned artists this December. Hailing from the streets of Brooklyn, New York, is illustrator and cartoonist Sarah Andersen who rose to fame when she started her webcomic, Sarah’s Scribbles in 2011. The amusing and quirky portrayal of “adult life” which made the webcomic relatable to daily life, made it a viral hit on social media. Since then, the talented artist has published several books, such as Herding Cats, Big Mushy Happy Lump and Adulthood Is A Myth. From neighbouring country Malaysia, is rising comic artist, Tay Yen Ee or better known by her pen name, Fishball. As someone who loves drawing, Fishball uses her talent as a way of recording her daily life. Humorous, captivating and all so true, Fishball’s My Giant Nerd Boyfriend comic strip became a household name when it was picked up by Korean-based publishing portal, Webtoon. Comic fanboys and fangirls can look forward to getting up closeand personal with amazing artist, Yasmine Putri. Starting out her career as a freelancer with various stints in both Marvel and DC Comics, Yasmine is known for her gritty artistic flair that blends realism with comic styles. Her latest works include variant covers for DC’s limited series, DCeased which debuted on 1st May where she pays homage to classic horror movie posters. A comic is nothing without a gripping storyline and author Donny Cates’ brilliant writing is testament to that. Joining this year’s SGCC line up, Donny has been making a name for himself on titles such as God Country, Venom and Silver Surfer. His current run on the Absolute Carnage storyline sees the symbiote-empowered serial killer on the hunt for anyone who has ever been attached to a symbiote. It’s not over yet folks! Joining our already stacked guest line-up are comic creators, Livio Ramondelli and Creees as well as illustrators Joey Spiotto and Prema-Ja. Visitors will also be in awe as they gaze upon the jaw-dropping creations of well-known cosplayers, Astarohime and Jin (behindinfinity) who will be making an appearance at SGCC this year. As an avid cosplayer for over ten years, Astarohime has more than 100 costumes in her wardrobe that exudes outstanding precision and intricacy in each design. She has also been chosen as a representative for Russia in foreign cosplay conventions as guest-of-honor and member of the jury for the past three years. For Jin (behindinfinity), her love for cosplay has earned the passionate individual unique opportunities such as being chosen to be the official Kenshin Himura cosplayer on the Asian red-carpet premiere of the live action film for Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno and the international tour of The Lion King musical. Jin’s passion for cosplayhas also given her the opportunity to share knowledge and interact with her fans around the world.

SUNNY DAYS AT SINGAPORE COMIC CON (SGCC) 2019 WITH DESIGNER TOYS Come and play as SGCC 2019 celebrates art toys with Mighty Jaxx and answer the age-old question of how to get to Sesame Street Art toy lovers of all ages and pop culture fans can anticipate a nostalgic weekend with their favourite toy artisans at Singapore Comic Con (SGCC) 2019. Returning for their seventh year at SGCC 2019, award-winning design studio Mighty Jaxx prides itself in developing original content and products. Since its inception in 2012, Mighty Jaxx has delivered over thousands of products to collectors all over the world and this year, fans who grew up watching characters Big Bird, Elmo and Cookie Monster can look forward to Mighty Jaxx’s exciting collaboration with iconic children’s show Sesame Street. “SGCC has allowed us to connect with fans of the local toy, comic and gaming community for the past six years. Through SGCC, we were also able to bring artists to share their passion and amazing works with fans in Singapore,” shared Mr. Jackson Aw, Founder, Mighty Jaxx. In conjunction with Sesame Street’s 50th anniversary this year, fans will get to relive their childhood memories with Mighty Jaxx’s Freeny’s Hidden Dissectibles: Sesame Street! collection. The collection will feature six fan favourite characters and four hidden variants, with each piece randomly packed in a box. Additionally, Mighty Jaxx will also be introducing a special edition 4-inch Elmo, and the latest XXRAY Plus Cookie Monster - debuting at SGCC 2019!

INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED TOY DESIGNERS AT SGCC 2019 Art toy afficionados will be on cloud nine with this year’s exciting line-up of toy artisans! Since he started his career in 2006, talented artist, designer and illustrator, Tik Ka from East has held solo exhibitions in major cities worldwide including Taiwan, Paris, New York and London. Tik Ka’s works reflect a cultural blend of traditional Chinese, European, American and Japanese cultures, as a result of growing up in the Hong Kong colonial era. His “Super Hero meets Chinese Opera” series was highly acclaimed by international media and individuals including, Stan Lee and Robert Downey Jr. Be prepared to gawk at the magnificent Codename Colossus series of Mechanical Dieselpunk Walking Tank Scale Models created by Michael Sng. As the owner of Machination Studio, Michael fulfilled his childhood dream of making a large fictional walking tank model and embarked on a journey to learn about 3D modelling, electronics and programming. This journey led to an invitation for him to speak on the main stage at the TED Conference 2016 in Vancouver.

RENOWNED ILLUSTRATORS AND COMIC CREATORS PART OF LINE-UP Joining the list of toy designers are more renowned illustrators and creators from the world of comics. From our little red dot is award-winning illustrator and comic artist, Koh Hong Teng who in 2012, co-created the graphic novel Ten Sticks and One Rice with writer Oh Yong Hwee. They clinched the bronze award at The 7th International Manga Award in 2013, making them Singapore's first comic creators to win a prized international award from Japan. To mark his tenth year as a comic artist, Hong Teng will also be having a solo exhibition and a talk about his works this December. If you are a fan of the New York Times best-selling, Harvey Award and multi-Eisner Award winning cannibal cop comedy series, Chew, brace yourself for an opportunity to get up close and personal with creator, John Layman this December. John’s other notable works include Cyclops, Godzilla, Scarface, House of Me: Fantastic Four and the Marvel Identity Wars Annuals. As a professional freelance artist of over 20 years, Jim Mahfood or better known as Food One has since garnered an impressive amount of followers globally. From self-publishing his own work,Girl Scouts, this led him to scoring his first big break with Marvel Comics – writing and drawing the X-Men related Generation X Underground Special. Jim’s career then took off into the fields of illustration, advertising, fine art and more. His brand-new project includes the upcoming Grrl Scouts: Stone Ghost mini-series. Based in Austin, Texas, Alexander Iaccarino is a professional illustrator who merges screen printing and the feel of classic movie posters with the influence of classic anime, western comics and video games. Alexander expresses his appreciation towards each genre through his work which is full of intricate details and a large cast of characters. Apart from being granted the opportunity to be a licensed Star Wars and Marvel poster artwork creator, Alexander has also worked with many great clients such as Playstation and the National Broadcasting Company (NBC).

ESTEEMED GUESTS RETURN TO SGCC 20192 Fans are also in for a treat with their favourite artists and illustrators returning once again to SGCC. The lineup includes Japanese illustrator Peach MoMoKo (artist behind Frozen and Moana), James C Mulligan (Emmy nominee and New York Times Best Selling author) artist of KABUKI, David Mack and acclaimed artist and writer of Unnatural, Mirka Andolfo.

STEP INTO A DIMENSION OF FUN, FANTASY AND MAGIC ATSINGAPORE COMIC CONVENTION (SGCC) 2019!-A feast for the senses awaits visitors as SGCC 2019 gears up for another exciting array of activities! The countdown has begun to Singapore’s premier pop culture event, SGCC 2019, happening from 7 to 8 December at Marina Bay Sands across Halls A, B and C. Fans of all ages and fandoms can look forward to two full days of exciting activities that will not disappoint. Be enthralled by a wide range of activities such as meet and greet sessions, limited edition purchases, talent spotting, solving puzzles & games, Championships of Cosplay and more at SGCC 2019 – It’s the perfect opportunity to discover what makes you POP! An event that will have gamers at the edge of their seats over two days, will be the crowning of PVP Esports @ Singapore Comic Con by Singtel’s community league featuring Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and Dota 2. If you’re into dressing up like your favourite superheroes, come down and meet with your favourite cosplayers and even take part in the Cosplay Parade happening on 7 Dec at 3.30pm. Just be sure to not leave your selfie sticks at home as you wouldn't want to miss a photo-opportunity like never before. For the talented creatives who have always wanted to get a chance to work on a TV series, get your portfolios ready. 108 Media will be premiering Fluorescent Black, a dark sci-fi TV series based on the cult favourite graphic novel published by Heavy Metal Magazine. On top of sharing juicy details about the series in their panel, 108 Media will also be holding talent spotting reviews for artists and writers to work on the series. According to the creator of the series, Mr Matthew Wilson, “It’s a very distinctive setting, made more distinctive by the central characters, who are dealing with issues you don’t commonly see in a sci-fi context. This TV series tells a crime story, like Breaking Bad, but set in the world of gene-tech-gone-wrong.” For those who love to solve puzzles and mysteries, good news, you are going to love the Heist! Head down to Curious Chimeras booth and be prepared to create a mystery story right at the convention hall - it’s time to put your thinking hat on!

Larger Star-Studded Line Up Joining this year’s stellar line-up is artist extraordinaire Mico Suayan, Jonathan Cathey from The Loyal Subjects, and tokidoki’s Simone Legno. Oh but that’s not all! We also have the co-creator of Kinnikuman, Takashi Shimada and last but not least, the duo behind the Sword Art Online light novels, Reki Kawahara and abec!

Star-studded Line-up From Across the Globe

Mr Kiasu Autograph Session STGCC2018  File photo: speedknight.com

Pop culture fans, you’re in for a treat! Don’t miss this chance to meet and greet with renownedcomic book artists, toy creators, entertainers, cosplayers and pop culture icons! Featuring guests such as Michael Sng, Koh Hong Teng, Astarohime, Andy Kubert, Peach MoMoKo, Fishball, Jason Freeny, Mufizal Mokhtar, Tara McPherson, Yasmine Putri and many more!

Good Game Experience (GGXP)

STGCC 2017 (File photo: speedknight.com)

Calling all gamers – both hardcore and casual, be sure to head down to GGXP and experience the world of gaming in a whole new level. From tabletop to console, SGCC promises that there’s something for everyone! Gaming fans rejoice and celebrate all things esports at PVP Esports @ Singapore Comic Con by Singtel and witness the finals of the PVP Community Leagues featuring Mobile Legends:Bang Bang and Dota 2. Get up close with your favourite celebrity streamer Alodia Gosiengfiao and grab the chance to battle with OG Dota 2’s Topson. Try your hand at Hearthstone®: Battlegrounds, a brand-new auto-battling game mode that introduces a fresh, strategic and 8-playerexperience. While you’re there catch Resurgence members Samuel ‘Sequinox’ Chan, Wesley ‘Lambyseries’ Seek and Deborah ‘Wolfsbanee’ Sim in a showcase segment on 7 Dec at 3:30pm. Pop by the Gaming Lounge, sit back and relax as you work your thumbs on Dota Underlords and bring home exclusive prizes! Not to mention there are over $1,000 of Dash credits are up for grabs too!

Alternatively, visitors of SGCC 2019 can also snap photos of themselves within the PVP arena, publish it on Instagram with the #PVPComicCon and stand a chance to bring home a SecretLab Omega Stealth at the end of the day. Card collectors you’re in for a surprise! Singapore’s very own Bushiroad joins SGCC’s stellar line up of tournaments as they bring to you Cardfight!! Vanguard and Future Card Buddyfight. Battle it out with your fellow competitors on the Tabletop and stand a chance to win exclusive prizes.

Additionally, fans can look forward to previews of upcoming Bushiroad cards.Explore Tabletop experience brought to you by Gamersaurus Rex! Delve into the miniature tablescapes and battlefields where players enact battles between opposing forces using hand painted miniature models. Tournaments include games like Warhammer 40,000 and A Song of Ice and Fire.

Making its debut at SGCC 2019, Pokémon fans can look forward to the #PlayPokémon Trading Card Game and Video Game Tournament from the official Pokémon Championship series. Featuring the standard format Pokémon Trading Card Game and Pokémon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon on Nintendo 3DS. Participants can also fast track their invitation to the prestigious Pokémon World Championships by earning up to 200 Championship Points!

Main Stage Programmes, SPW Wrestling Ring and The Creative Space

Main Stage programme,STGCC 2018(File photo: speedknight.com)

Join SGCC’s guests on the main stage for live demos, exclusive panels and Q&A sessions. For a

full programme line up, visit https://ift.tt/2OV7OCC. Additionally, for the first time ever, catch wrestlers from Singapore Pro Wrestling (SPW), showcasing live dramatic battles between good and evil with a unique local twist - don’t blink, you won’t want to miss out! Ignite your creativity at The Creative Space and learn how to turn your hobby into a business. Join us for talks and knowledge sharing sessions by SGCC guests and industry professionals. Limited seats are available, so be sure to register your spot now.

Championships of Cosplay (CoC)- 8 Dec 2019, Sunday 4.30pm – 6.30pm

CoC,STGCC 2018  File photo: speedknight.com

Catch your favourite cosplayers showcasing their craftsmanship and artisanal skills as they battle out

to win an all sponsored trip to represent SGCC in the grand finals at the Chicago Comic &

Entertainment Expo (C2E2) next year! CoC Judges: Jin (behindinfinity), Astarohime & Bernard Phee (General Manager of Caesars)

Exclusive Merchandise & Limited Edition Collectible

Masterpeice Collectible STGCC 2018 File photo: speedknight.com

From comics to toys and collectibles – visitors of SGCC 2019 can look forward to all the limitededition offerings that is not to be missed! Get first dibs on Mighty Jaxx’s Freeny’s Hidden Dissectibles: Sesame Street collection; Royal Selangor’s Limited Edition 80th Classic Batmobile Replica as well as SaberMach’s limited edition in-universe sabers. Other exhibitors’ merchandise that you can look out for are from the MINT Museum of Toys where you can learn about the history of toy collections and participate in crafting activities. Singapore’s favourite Mr Kiasu is back and this time in celebration of Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants’ 20th anniversary. Bikini Bottom meets Singapore in this clash of worlds in a coffee table book format, everyone’s favourite yellow SpongeBob SquarePants runs into the Singaporean icon and hero, Mr. Kiasu. SGCC 2019 is proud to have this new coffee table book launched during the two-day fanfare and will be signed by Mr. Johnny Lau himself. Get your hands on the limited edition SPAWN #303 selling only at SGCC 2019. Rumour has it that there will only be 250 copies available. Be sure to make this your first pit stop as soon as you enter the pop culture realm.

Discover Amazing Creations at the Artist Alley

If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind commissioned art pieces, then this is the place to be! Explore hidden gems from an eclectic collection of sketches, toys at the Artist Alley booths. Each booth promises a showcase of unique trinkets that like-minded fans can get their hands on. Be prepared to be inspired by the creations of mixed artists, illustrators and even toy-makers such as Drawmonsterdraw, FRUS, Laugh and Belly,and many more.

Other fringe activities not to be missed!

Doodle Wall STGCC2017 File photo: speedknight.com

Doodle Wall: Visitors of all ages can join in the fun doodling on the doodle wall with the Band of Doodlers. Who knows, you might be channelling your inner Picasso.

Talent Spotting Program: 108 Media will be on the lookout for artists and writers to work on Fluorescent Black through portfolio reviews done at their booths. Taipan Films, the studio behind Singapore’s first monster film, Circle Line, will also be conducting portfolio reviews to spot talented creatives for the chance to work as concept artists and more on the movie.

Photo booth: Bring home a momento at our photo booth. Snap a picture or two for keepsakes and to remember your experience at SGCC 2019!

Official Tea Sponsor

Feeling parched? Don’t worry we got you covered! Get your hands on the SGCC-exclusive R&B Tea drinks such as Ivy’s Poison Potion, The Dark Night and Mad Love only at SGCC 2019.

How to get there?

[speedknight]

Rithe, Shawn Chin, & Enako during the Press conference  

[This a a developing story,Check back for more]: Last updated- 3/11/2019 C3 AFA Singapore 2019   will be happening at Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre in about 3 weeks time on the 29th of November to 1st of December 2019. Last week the media and members of the public were invited to Jewel Changi Airport for a sneak peek into what's to be expected at the event.

From the latest Anime titles to Japan’s most popular cosplayer, expect only the best J-Culture experience and brace yourself for new surprises at C3 Anime Festival Asia Singapore 2019 (#C3AFASG19). Organisers of South East Asia’s biggest and most prestigious Japanese Pop Culture event shared extensive updates on festival and concert elements today, as well as a line-up of the anime industry’s behind-the- scenes talent who will grace the festival as guests. With premiere screenings, day stage programmes, competitions and dedicated experiential zones, the three-day festival from 29 November to 1 December 2019 will be a celebration of the latest and best curated content and experiences for anime fans and Japanese pop culture enthusiasts. Music lovers looking to attend the highly-popular I LOVE ANISONG Anime Music Festival can look forward to a special collaboration performance between four artistes – Ayaka Ohashi, Azusa Tadokoro, May’n and Minori Chihara on 1 December 2019. Organisers announced its latest cosplay guest, Enako. Japan’s top cosplayer with a fan base worldwide, the multi-talented cosplayer is a voice actress as well and is frequently seen on TV and magazines. She will be the official Seika cosplayer for #C3AFASG19. Fans of Enako can also have a separate meet & greet session with her during the event. The guest cosplayer line-up includes Baozi & Hana, Hakken, Hikarin, Hiko, Hiroto, Mon, and Singaporean cosplayer Rithe. The AFA Film Festival, held for the first time in conjunction with #C3AFASG19, will host a curated line-up of anime movie screenings and concert films. Titles include the first in Southeast Asia screening of the Frame Arms Girl Movie: Kyakkya Ufufu na Wonderland, a story of a school girl’s adventures with a petite autonomous robot. A special screening of CENCOROLL CONNECT, directed and animated by Atsuya Uki, will also be held. Concert films include popular supernatural idol girl group Zombie Land Saga LIVE: Franchouchou Minna de Orabou IN SAGA and ONE PIECE STAMPEDE. More details and more titles for the Film Festival will be shared closer to date.

AFA Day Stage: Spotlight on top Seiyuus and Industry Experts

Fans who are keen to glean insights from behind-the-scenes experts, from voice actors (seiyuu) to composers, will have a chance to hear directly from them at the Day Stage. More than 10 seiyuus will take the stage including: Eriko Nakamura,Saki Fujita (from YuruYuri), Satomi Arai(from A Certain Scientific Railgun T), Asami Tano (from Zombie Land Saga), Satoshi Tsuruoka (from Fate/Grand Order), Reina Ueda and Azumi Waki (from Null & Peta), Miho Okazaki and Chikahiro Kobayashi (from That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime), Ai Kayano and Yoshitsugu Matsuoka (from Saekano the Movie: Finale and Sword Art Online Alicization: War of Underworld). Producers from MAPPA Manabu Otsuka and from CyGames Nobuhiro Takenaka, who worked on Zombie Land Saga franchise will also be at the event to share their experience. Composer Hige Driver, who created songs for many popular games and anime from THE iDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS, Tokyo 7th Sisters, Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme Vs. Full Boost, Azur Lane to hit Japanese animation like Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World, NEW GAME! will also be at #C3AFASG19’s Day Stage. Fans of the popular humanoid cats game NEKOPARA will also get the chance to see the premiere of the first anime episode in C3AFASG19. Producers from the anime will also share insights on the upcoming TV anime. Besides that, fans will also be able to purchase official NEKOPARA merchandise, exclusively available in the exhibition area.

Exhibition Hall: Games, Experiences, Merchandise and more

with dedicated zones in the area, a multitude of experiences from gaming to competitions and exclusive merchandise await every festival-goers. Enjoy a delicious treat at the Food Street before diving back into the action. Updates on the key zones include: ● AFA PLAY Zone: The new dedicated zone will include a Naruto x Boruto: Ninja Selection Exam, an escape room concept revolving around their iconic ninja exam featured in the anime. Players of all levels can take part in the Auto Chess tournament, a brand new, highly competitive multiplayer online strategy game by Drodo and Dragonest Co.Ltd. This is in addition to Art Duel, a regional competition where aspiring illustrators from different countries battle against one another. Finalists from each country are then invited to #C3AFASG19 for a one-on-one knockout competition, to decide the one true Art Duel Champion. Prizes are sponsored by XP Pen. More contents and activities to be announced soon! ● Akiba Stage: Aside from the much-anticipated annual Ikemen Series Standee Raffle, fans can also enjoy I’m Sora Project’s very first live stage performance at the Akiba Stage. Other programmes include a special autograph and photo session with Cosplayer Hiroto, the official Cosplayer for Ikemen Series. ● AFA Shop: For the first time, AFA Shop will release three capsule collections that can be pre-ordered prior to the event, through afashop.co. They include I Love Anisong 2019 Official Merchandise, C3AFA Singapore 2019 Official Merchandise: Fun Texts (3 t-shirt designs utilizing quirky Japanese-English fusion lingos), and AFA Airways merchandise. In addition, fans can expect an array of official anime and artiste merchandise, to be shared closer to date. ● Food Street: Expanded with more than 10 stores, the Food Street will take on a Japanese Matsuri theme. Festival-goers can look forward to a curated selection of food and drinks, ranging from Japanese cuisines by IPPUDO EXPRESS, Renga-ya and Sinful Cold Soba, to satisfying your trendy bubble tea needs with Tiger Sugar. Keep an eye out for the adorable Captain AFA-kun at all Tiger Sugar outlets! ● Muse X Hakken! Inaugural Themed Experiential Booths: Enter the digital world of Sword Art Online Alicization or take a step into the fantasy world of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime. Strike a pose with your favourite characters from this two featured anime. In addition, the first 1,500 visitors who visit the theme booth and like Hakken!’s Facebook page will receive a $2 off voucher for the Muse X Hakken! Retail Booth. ● For the first time outside Japan, MAPPA - Japan's renowned animation studio - is bringing "MAPPA SHOW CASE" to C3AFA Singapore this year! Check out some of the exclusive behind-the-scenes gallery showcase featuring hit anime. Exhibitors include CYBIRD, which has just released the English version of the hit Japanese smartphone game A3!. Manga fans can try JUMP’s free Manga App – MangaPlus By SHUEISHA, and check out exclusive anime goods and merchandise from Muse X Hakken! retail booth. BANDAI SPIRITS will present their latest Gunpla and plastic model kits from various anime titles and BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment will exhibit a series of demos for their upcoming video game releases. Featured titles will be announced closer to the event date. miHoYo will once again grace #C3AFASG19 with its ever-popular RPG game, Honkai Impact 3, bringing with them exclusive merchandise and official character cosplayers. If you are feeling lucky, try your luck at the Ichiban Kuji booth, a product by Bandai Spirits with sure-win tickets. The asobi! booth by Genesis Frontier will bring extraordinary experiences to visitors with various game demonstrations. Fans of Fate/Grand Order can check out the Aniplex booth to try out Fate/Grand Order Duel and purchase official merchandise. Kotobukiya will bring in prototype figurines that are slated for release in 2020, such as Ikemen Joker, Kimetsu no Yaiba, and Bishounen DC models. XP Pen, the official prize sponsor of Art Duel, will present their latest range of digital art tools for aspiring artists to try out. Royale Ergonomics will showcase its customisable range of gaming chairs, and has designed the Official Gaming Chair for #C3AFASG19 in conjunction with SOZO.

AFA PLAY Zone

Akiba Stage

Akiba Stage C3AFASG18  (File photo:Speedknight.com) 

AFA Shop

Food Street

MAPPA

Guest Cosplayers

I Love Anisong

Where and When?

C3 Anime Festival Asia Singapore 2019

Dates: 29 November – 1 December 2019

Location: Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre (Levels 3 & 4)

Exhibition Timing: 10 am ~ 8pm

[speedknight]

Ryutaro Sasaki,Elicia Lee,Tokita Takashi

Over the weekends on the 12-13 of October 2019 saw the return of Gamestart to the event grounds at Suntec Convention Center.  With the announcement that Gamestart will be partnering Gamescom next year to bring us Gamescom Asia  in Singapore.  These are the captured memories of the final edition of Gamestart in singapore.

International Guest         

Beside Square Enix/Tokyo RPG Factory producers Tokita Takashi, Ryutaro Sasaki gracing the event this year giving the crowd insights about games such as ONINAKI, musical talents V.K from Taiwan & Luna Lorrain from Malaysia entertain the crowd with performance.

SEA Major 2019  

   SEA Major have been a staple of Gamestart this year, players compete for the top spot in Street Fighter V Arcade Edition, SOULCALIBUR VI, TEKKEN 7, DRAGON BALL FighterZ, UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH Exe:Late[st], Samurai Shodown, BlazBlue Crosstag Battle,Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Guilty Gear Xrd REV 2 & Brawlhalla.

Founders Base

Founders Base have been a great way of showcasing indie games to the crowd, continuing the trend of past year's Gamestart both international and local indie games studio have their games showcased and playable by the visitors this year. 

Gamestart Tabletop

Another hot favourite of Gamestart have to be it's Tabletop Gaming Section, each year the area expanded itself taking up more of the event ground & highly popular mobile game Fate Grand Order coming out with a tabletop spinoff are certainly a testimony of the resurgence of tabletop gaming in today's digital world. Just be wary of the random burrito thrown in your direction and make sure you dodge it in time.   

Final Fantasy VII Remake & Other Games Playable Demo  

The biggest draw for this year's Gamestart has to be the playable demo of Final Fantasy VII Remake playable for the first time in South East Asian region, it's so exclusive that we weren't allowed to take any part of the screen. There were other playable demos around the event ground.

Doujima x Gamestart

    Doujima x Gamestart sees a total of 44 creators participating this year, with so many creators visitors are bound to find their favorite fan art and merchandise of their favourite series.

   Cosplay, Retro Fever & Other memories captured  

No ACG event is completed without the attendance of Cosplayers. Also evident in the recent years with the comeback of Classic and miniature version of consoles and remastering of classic games the retro gaming fever has certainly caught us. with that i shall leave you with the full album of memories captured after the break.

Final Thoughts Goodbye Gamestart, Hello Gamescom 

View this post on Instagram

#gamestart2014➡️#gamestart2015➡️#gamestart2016➡️#gamestart2017➡️#gamestartasia2018➡️#gamestart2019 the complete collection of 6 years of #gamestart media passes. Congrats on unlocking a 🆕 level #gamescomasia next year @gamestartasia!

A post shared by wong han siang (@speedknight) on Oct 15, 2019 at 8:27am PDT

It have been a pleasure covering Gamestart since its inception. I am certainly looking forward to Gamescom Asia next year. All the best and congrats on the new chapter, Eliphant 

[speedknight]

        Gamestart 2019 Banner (Source: https://www.facebook.com/events/2232904873631289/)

We are 2 Weeks away from the Final Edition of Gamestart. After 6 Years of Gamestart, next year in 2020 gamestart will partner Gamescom to bring us Gamescom Asia.   Here is what is to be expected for the final Edition of Gamestart locally(They did mention that Gamestart is heading to a new home). [This is a Developing Article. Do check back Periodically for updates...]

SEA Major

SEA Major @ Gamestart 2018 (File photo:Speedknight.com)

Tabletop Gaming

Tabletop Gaming @ Gamestart 2018(File photo:Speedknight.com)

Founder's Base

Founder's Base @ Gamestart 2018 (File photo:Speedknight.com)

Doujinma X GameStart

Doujinma @ Gamestart 2018  (File photo:Speedknight.com)

Guest Lineup

   Exhibitors Lineup

When & Where?

12-13 October 2019

Suntec Convention Center Halls 401-403

Ticket price:

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Source: Doujima official facebook page

Doujin Market - Doujima 2019 is set to return on the 1st weekend of May on the 4 & 5 of may 2019 at Suntec Convention Center Halls 401 & 402. This Year, there are over 300 creators and here is what is to Expected!

Floor Plans 

Source:Doujima Dropbox

Booth Activities 

Merchandise

[Developing........] 

How to get There?

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Sakura Matsuri: Anime Garden  is back for it's 2019 edition  on the 30-31 March 2019 The Meadow, Gardens by the Bay Singapore at and here is what is to be expected at the event:

Celebrity Cosplayers:

Celebrity Cosplayers & Singapore's WCS2019 Representatives: 

  Cosplay competition 

Local J-Pop Idol Groups: 

Anime Movie Screening: 

Anisong Concert: 

Schedule: 

Other Japanese Culture Activities 

*Sakura Matsuri at Flower Dome

Where and When?

Sakura Matsuri: Anime Garden 2019 Organised by Gardens by the Bay The Meadow, Gardens by the Bay Singapore 30-31 March 2019 ADMISSION IS FREE!(*Excluding flower dome)

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Aini and Mochi of Niji Universe Inc.

As the year 2018 came to a close, EOY 2018 was held at Suntec Hall 401 on the 29th and the 30th of December 2018.  The event was held at Suntec Convention Center for the 1st time, moving from National Library after it was taken over by a new organizer to Republic Poly to Marina Barrage and finally to Suntec. Here are the capture memories of the event.

Interview with Tim Wong by Sucesspedia Asia 

Stage Performance by Local & Overseas Artistes

Riona Hamatsu

Ola Aphordite 

Aini and Mochi of Niji Universe Inc.

Reina Kathy

EuroBeat Intensify or EBI

Mechapen

Natsuiro Party

Tokimeki Jump

Overseas guests like Riona Hamatsu a former AKB48 member from Japan, Ola Aphordite a Cosplayer , Dancer, Model & Singer from Indonesia, Aini and Mochi of Niji Universe Inc. Jpop style idol group from Vietnam along with local guests like EuroBeat Intensify,Mechapen,Natsuiro Party Tokimeki Jump & Reina Kathy were all part of a strong team of more than 150 performers at EOY 2018.

Artist and Game booths

One of the game booth at EOY2018

Visitors viewing merchandises at an artist booth

Artist booth has always been a staple of J-Culture events, with no exception to EOY at total of 75 Artist booth were present at EOY 2018. There were several game booths as well where vistors getb a chance to win prizes. 

Cosplayers

No J-Culture Events will be complete without cosplayers. Above are just some of the cosplayers at the event. For more the captured memories head down to the album after break! 

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Source: EOY Facebook  Page. 

We are fast approaching the end of the year, EOY J-Culture Festival is back at a different location. On the 29th to 30th of December EOY J-Culture Festival will be held at Suntec Convention Center Hall 403. Here is what is to be expected at the event.

Programme Lineup and Artistes

    Floorplan

Schedule

Artistes Merchandise

Ticket Pricing 

How to Get there

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Real Akiba Boys at  C3AFASG18 Akiba Stage

A decade ago, Anime Festival Asia was held for 2 days at 2 halls of the Suntec Convention Center for the 1st time, back then no one knew that AFA would have grown to what it is today. In a span of 10 years, AFA have not only manage to grow locally, they have expanded regionally as well. Let's take a look at the memories captured during the weekend of C3AFASG2018 !

Akiba Stage  

DJ Soba

Dear Kiss

Usagi

Tokimeki Jump

ReikoMaru

Akiba Stage has certainly grown together with AFA, from a small stage back then to the size it is today. This year, the akiba stage had performance with returning favorites like the Real Akiba Boys & Dearkiss who is here for the 1st time. Also not forgetting our local talent like Tokimeiki Jump, ReikoMaru & Usagi just to name a few.

Creators Hub & Commercial booth

Clarissa Punipun at Nissin booth 

The public creations at the Pop Team Epic Booth

Fate grand order booth

Lumica booth

The massive crowd at creators hub 

 Content Wise, for the past 10 years AFA have certainly offered more and more every year. This       year the biggest draw would probably be the Fate Grand Order and the Pop Team Epic booths. Meanwhile I hard a hard time to find a proper space to take a photo at this year's Creators Hub as the crowd was just massive.

Cosplay Guest,World Cosplay Summit & Cosplayers

Siutao

Hedy

Ying Tze 

Series(Anime): Cells at Work!

Series(Anime)-Goblin Slayer 

Series(Game)-Detroit: Become Human  

Series(Game)-Girls Frontline 

WCS Contestant Rithe & Kai, Series(Anime/Game)-Fate Series 

WCS  Contestant Disco Dandy & Jesmond Series(Game)-Splatoon 2

Cosplay Singles Contestants and Judges 

No Anime Convention would be complete without cosplay, This year the World Cosplay Summit 2019 Singapore Preliminaries was held at AFASG 2018 where Rithe & Kai won the competition and will be representing Singapore for next year's WCS. Cosplayers from various series were flooding the convention area. While Fans of  Angie (Malaysia), Baozi & Hana (China), Hakken (Malaysia), Kaname☆ (Japan), Siutao (Hong Kong),Ying Tze (Malaysia),HedY (Taiwan) were delighted.

10 years of AFA- Special Red Carpet Event 

May'N and SOZO’s Managing Director Shawn Chin

Add caption

angela 

 Suzuko Mimori and Momoyo Koyama

AFA celebrated it's 10 anniversary in style. This year There was a Special red carpet event held at level 1 of the Suntec Convention & Exhibition Center. Day stage guest,I love Anisong artist graced the red carpet for the very first time in AFA history.

I shall end this post with more memories captured at #C3AFASG18 in the image Gallery below:

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Crowds at C3AFASG17 Akiba Stage (File Photo: Speedknight.com) 

C3 Anime Festival Asia Singapore 2018 (#C3AFASG18), South East Asia’s biggest and most prestigious Japanese Pop Culture event, returns 30 November to 2 December 2018 at Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre. Organisers, SOZO, shared a preview of the 10-year anniversary exclusive line-up of activities, contents and guests. PS: [This is a developing Article do come back for more updates as the event approaches!]

Shawn Chin, C3AFASG18 Press conference (Photo: Speedknight.com) 

“10 years ago, Anime Festival started as a dream among my team to create a professionally-run Anime and Japanese Popular Culture event that fans, including myself, will truly enjoy and love. The festival has grown from having 25,000 attendees in year one in 2 halls in Singapore, to 100,000 attendees last year in Singapore alone. Today, we continue to be customer-focused. We are proud to be the definitive J-pop event that connects our customers with the latest most sought-after contents direct from Japan, and we’ve been delivering this for the last 10 years across Asia,” -Shawn Chin, C3 AFA’s Organiser and SOZO’s Managing Director.

Local and overseas fans of Japanese popular culture can immerse themselves in a weekend of heart-pumping, non-stop premium content and entertainment across two levels of Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre. The specially curated anniversary #C3AFASG18 festival line-up will cross both online and physical platforms, including Singapore-exclusive activities such as a celebrity red carpet event, and an online star-studded charity auction. The festival grounds will host both new activities and mainstay favourites - from anime showcases, special guests, a stellar lineup for the I Love Anisong Concerts, and the World Cosplay Summit Singapore Preliminaries.

A world-class Experiential Festival that stays grounded to fans at home

For the first time, #C3AFASG18 will hold a dazzling star-studded red carpet event in front of Suntec Singapore. To celebrate 10 Years of Anime Festival Asia, the event will be broadcasted online on Sunday, the last day of C3AFA Singapore 2018.  Full details of confirmed stars will be announced later. The celebration transcends the convention grounds to share the joy and rally the online community as #C3AFASG18  gives back to society with its inaugural initiative, Anime for a Cause. An online portal will be launched for fans to participate in a lucky draw to purchase special items donated by celebrities and partners that C3AFA has collaborated with previously.  Full details will be announced shortly.

Other celebratory initiatives include a stamp rally to collect commemorative stamps and claim fantastic prizes on-site during the festival weekend. Fans can also reminisce their favourite festival moments at #myAFAMoment, a collection of photos and anecdotes contributed by fans who have attended and grown with C3AFA SG since its inception. Fans can contribute photo moments with the hashtag #myAFAmoment on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

The latest and hottest anime titles and talent

Bringing the latest and hottest anime titles yearly, fans can look forward to a series of exclusive premieres. Organisers announced that the festival will screen the first episode of the highly-anticipated Mob Psycho 100 II, ahead of its premiere in January 2019. The series features an eighth grader with psychic abilities, and is an action-packed comedy series from the author of One Punch Man.

The star-studded festival grounds will welcome special guests including voice actors Rika Abe and Erii Yamazaki (who voice Hresvelgr and the Materia Sisters respectively from Frame Arms Girl), Minami Tanaka (who voices Mary Saotome from Kakegurui XX), Haruka Terui (who voices Sarah from Gundam Build Divers), Atsushi Abe (who voices Toma Kamijo from A Certain Magical Index III), Ai Furihata and Shuka Saito (who voice Ruby Kurosawa and You Watanabe from Love Live! Sunshine!!), Ai Kayano (who voices Alice from Sword Art Online Alicization), Mimori Suzuko and Momoyo Koyama (who voice Hikari Kagura and Karen Aijo from Revue Starlight) and Sumire Morohoshi (who voices Emma from The Promised Neverland).

Other guests include Eri Sasaki, a rising anisong singer who wrote, created and arranged the music for the song “Fuyubiyori”, the ending theme to the popular anime, Laid-Back Camp, and nob-c, the lead character designer for The Price of Smiles - a project celebrating Tatsunoko Production's 55th Anniversary, that will air in January 2019.

Gear up for themed booths and exclusive merchandise

Highlights of exhibition booths include Fate Grand Order, a free-to-play role-playing game developed by the FGO Project, consisting of DELiGHTWORKS, Aniplex, and Notes, based on the immensely popular Fate franchise by TYPE-MOON. Fans can also look forward to giveaways and photo-taking opportunities with the Gudako mascot.

A myriad of exclusive merchandise including a T-shirt capsule collection from Pop Team Epic, a Hatsune Miku Nendoroid exclusive from Good Smile Company, Honkai Impact exclusives from miHoYo, and merchandise from MUSE await fans and collectors.

The Best of Cosplay to Gather at the Festival

Angie,C3AFASG18 Press conference (Photo: Speedknight.com) 

Organisers revealed the line-up of international celebrity cosplay guests at the festival. They include Angie (Malaysia), Baozi & Hana (China), Hakken (Malaysia), Kaname☆ (Japan), Siutao (Hong Kong) and Ying Tze (Malaysia). Also announced was a new addition - HedY (Taiwan).

On 2 December 2018, four competing teams - Rithe & Kai, Melanie Joanne & Gearchi, Knife & Saiko, and Disco Dandy & Jesmond, will battle for the chance to represent Singapore in the Grand Finals taking place in Japan, Nagoya from 27 July to 4 Aug 2019.

I Love Anisong Concert 

Friday 30 Nov 

Erii Yamazaki 

Shiena Nishizawa 

SPYAIR 

Tielle&Gemie from SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]

YURiKA

Saturday 1 Dec 

EARPHONES

KISIDAKYODAN AND THE AKEBOSIROCKETS

Real Akiba Boyz 

Suzuko Mimori

TrySail

Sunday, 2 Dec

angela 

GARNiDELiA 

May’n

nano

Japanese Popular Culture at its Finest, with Something for Everyone

With less than a month to the festival, fans can look forward to an experiential festival of epic proportions, with the exhibition hall, the I Love Anisong concerts, stage activities, meet and greet sessions and more. More updates will be shared closer to date.

“The support from Singapore, and all over the world, over the years have exceeded our expectations and we would not be here today without them. This year’s line-up is a special nod to our customers, partners and artistes who have stood by the Anime Festival family, as well as new ones who have joined us in our journey. We look forward to welcoming everyone, whether it’s your first time here or an avid Japanese Popular Culture fan, to experience the fun and excitement of C3AFASG,” - said Shawn.

Prior to #C3AFASG18 event days, VIP and General Admission I Love Anisong tickets can be purchased through the APACTix website at https://animefestival.asia/singapore18/tickets. During event days, tickets can be bought on site at Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre’s 3rd floor concourse for the “EXHIBITION ONLY” and “EXHIBITION + STAGE” tickets. Tickets for the “I LOVE ANISONG” (EXHIBITION + STAGE + CONCERT) can be purchased outside Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre’s Hall 404 on the 4th floor. For more information on the festival, please check out www.c3afa.com/sg18 and www.facebook.com/animefestivalasia.

Floor Plan

[Developing.....To be updated]

Booth Merchandises and Activities 

[Booth no. to be updated]-Otakutachi

[Developing.....To be updated]

C3 Anime Festival Asia Singapore 2018

Dates: 30 November – 2 December 2018

Location: Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre (Levels 3 & 4)

Exhibition Timing: 10am ~ 8pm

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GameStart 2018  before the doors open on Day 1. 

Last weekend on the 12th-13th of October 2018, GameStart 2018 returned for it's 5th year. bringing  like minded gaming enthusiast to the halls 401-403 of Suntec Convention Center. Here are the captured memories last weekend. 

Kaname Fujioka & Yuya Tokuda Monster Hunter World Directors

Kaname Fujioka-Executive Director /Art Director & Yuya Tokuda-Director of Monster Hunter World 

Yuya Tokuda playing Jan-Ken-Pon with the crowd.

2 Lucky winners eventually walk away with Monster hunter sweaters like these. 

Fans of the Monster Hunter Franchise was delighted at the appearance of Kaname Fujioka & Yuya Tokuda appearance at GameStart 2018 The Q&A Session where a Pre-selected questions were being asked and answered. There was even a Jan-Ken-Pon session where 2 lucky winners walk away with Monster hunter sweaters.

Elise Zhang- The Voice Behind Overwatch Mei

Elise Zhang (Center) on stage during an Q& A Session

Elise Zhang During the Meet & Greet Session

Overwatch fans should not unfamiliar with the name Elise Zhang, the voice actor of Mei. Fans Flock the stage and the meet & greet sessions during the event to catch a glimpse of her during GameStart 2018. Her bubbly nature certainly click well with her fans.

 Kenny Omega-IWGP Heavyweight Champion,avid Fighting Game player,Street Fighter matches commentator 

Kenny Omega and his Fans during the meet and greet session  

Kenny Omega (Right) during an exhibition match with the public 

Pro Wresting Fans got their treat as Kenny Omega came down to GameStart 2018. The Fans had a chance to play against Kenny and the winner gets  to walk away with a Razer Panthera Arcade Stick PS4 controller.

SEA Major 2018/SEA Mobile Major 2018

SEA Major 2018

SEA Mobile Major 2018

Players battle for top spot at this year's SEA Major of which GameStart 2018 played host key pitstops for these four major events the CAPCOM Pro Tour, Tekken World Tour, the Dragon Ball FighterZ World Tour, and the ArcRevo World Tour. 

The following are the list of games at this year's Competition :

Dragon Ball FighterZ SAGA

Street Fighter V Arcade Edition

Tekken 7

Guilty Ger Xrd Revelator 2

Blazblue Cross Tag Battle

Blazblue Central Fiction 2

Marvel vs Capcom Infinite

Them’s Fightin’ Herds

As for this year's Sea Major Mobile it played host to Shadowverse Contender’s Cup which was final stop for the best competitors in the Southeast Asia Oceania Region. Players compete for a seat at the Shadowverse World Grand Prix in Japan. Shadowverse was just one of the many games at this year's Sea Major Mobile. 

Gamestart Tabletop 

The Singaporean Dream by SGAG

GameStart 2018 Tabletop Gaming

Besides the ever popular dungeon and dragons tabletop RPG, the table table top section of  GameStart 2018 also saw other table top game where the public can get their hands on on the table top games and try out for themselves. SGAG soft launch thier brand new card game the singaporean dream.  

GameStart Cosplay Runway & Doujima with Neo Tokyo Project

One of Doujima booth this year

Participants of this Year's Cosplay Runway.

Neo Toyko Project Partner Gamestart yet again to bring back the crowd favorite Doujima,as well as the cosplay Runway. 

Other Sightings- Booths & Cosplayers 

The Battle Cats Mascot

Winners of a Public PUBG competition at My republic booth

Honkai impact booth

Battlebrew Production booth showcasing their new spinoff game from the Battlesky Brigade Series

Giveaway at the HyperX Booth

Mai Shiranui cosplayer at kinetiquettes booth

Shadowverse cosplayer

Lords Mania Cosplayers

With this is shall leave you with more captured memories in the Gallery after the break! 

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Gamestart 2017 (File photo: Speedknight.com)

[This is a developing Article do check back for more!] GameStart 2018 (#GameStart2018), Southeast Asia’s Premier Game Convention, celebrates its 5th year on 13 & 14 October 2018 with the ultimate gaming content at Suntec Convention Centre. Organisers Eliphant announced a series of returning favourites as well as new and exciting content for everyone, including game showcases and previews, tabletop gaming, esports, indie games, retro gaming, and cosplay. Esports fans can gear up for exciting competition as SEA Major (SEAM) 2018 plays host to more international tournaments. Mobile esports also takes centerstage as SEA Mobile Major (SEAMM) plays host to the very first Shadowverse Contenders Cup for the Southeast Asia & Oceania region.

An exciting guest lineup awaits visitors at GameStart 2018. Organisers revealed a guest appearance by voice actress Elise Zhang, who is best known as the voice of Mei, a character from one of the world’s most popular games, Overwatch. New additions to GameStart include the debut of GameStart Masterclasses, where well-known creatives and personalities from the international games industry are invited to run specialised masterclasses. GameStart Workshops, developed in collaboration with No Average Joe, is a series of workshops and talks that focus on a range of general gaming-related topics. GameStart MasterClasses will be held on 10 and 12 October while GameStart Workshops will be held during the convention.

Crowd Favourites to Delight All

In addition to previewing new games, visitors can immerse themselves in the action-packed halls with a slew of game-related returning favourites, including: ●        Gather round and immerse yourselves in fantastic worlds of board games, old and new, as the GameStart Tabletop returns to bring gamers the discovery of new analog worlds. ●        Doujin Market, Singapore's largest community curated youth arts and illustration fair, is back for the third year with 43 artist tables. It is curated in partnership with Neo Tokyo Project, Singapore's first dedicated pop-culture marketing collective. ●        The 3rd Secretlab Grand Prix will be held for 2 sessions on 13 and 14 October, and the competitor with the fastest timing EACH DAY gets to bring home their own Secretlab Chair! ●        Cosplayers can put their best game cosplay forward at the GameStart Cosplay Runway on 14 October. Pre-registration is now open at http://bit.ly/gscosplay18 ●        Unwind, chill out and grab a bite in the fantasy-themed Sanctuary - A selection of awesome vendors, with great food and tasty beverages including specially selected craft beers, welcomes all within the convention grounds.

Celebrating Indie Talent

GameStart visitors will get to vote for their favourite indie game for the GameStart Indie Award, and play a part in helping the winners take their first steps to prominence. The winning game developer will win a sponsored trip to exhibit in Taipei Game Show 2019 in January 2019, as well as a high-end creative pen tablet sponsored by WACOM. Both 2017 GameStart Indie Award winners went on to clinch international awards in Taipei Game Show and beyond.

See what the future of gaming can offer at The Founders Base, GameStart’s special indie area, with subsidized booths to individuals, start-ups and small companies that create or work with games. Limited booths are still available on a first come first served basis, and interested applicants can find out more at https://ift.tt/2QiI569.

World Class Tournament Action at Our Doorstep

SEA Major (SEAM) 2018, one of the largest fighting game tournaments in Asia, returns to GameStart 2018 bigger and better! Expect to see high-level tournament action, as top players from around the world convene to fight for over USD 60,000 in prizes! This year is extra special, as SEA Major will play host pitstops for four major events - the Capcom Pro Tour Asia Finals, Tekken World Tour Master event, one of only 7 Dragon Ball FighterZ World Tour SAGA events, and the only ArcRevo World Tour event announced for Southeast Asia. The inaugural Shadowverse SEAO Contenders Cup, where the top 4 players in the South East Asia Oceania (SEAO) Region fight for the right to represent the region at the Shadowverse World Grand Prix in Japan, for a top prize of USD 1,000,000, will also be held during GameStart 2018. To join the tournaments, check out BeastAPAC.com.

Once-in-a-lifetime Opportunity to Learn from Legendary Game Artist

Take your Game Art to a whole new level with the GameStart Masterclasses on 10 and 12 October. For the first time, two acclaimed international game artists, will be in town to conduct exclusive intensive sessions for budding and professional game artists in Singapore.

Jacqueline A.X Jocson, Art Director, Concept Artist & Instructor at the Academy of Art University, San Francisco will share insights on visual storytelling and the concept behind creating iconic and memorable characters on 10 October. Carlo Arellano, Art Director at  Super  Evil  Megacorp, will focus on Advanced Character Design on 12 October. The Masterclasses are organized by GameStart Asia and held at *SCAPE, the venue sponsor. Seats are priced at SGD120. Registration will open on the official GameStart site closer to date. GameStart Workshops, powered by No Average Joe, will be held on 13 and 14 October within the GameStart halls. Sessions range from a hands-on workshop by Retrocade for those who are interested in building their very own mini arcade machine, as well as learning basic game animation.  The full schedule will be available from 24 September onwards when pre-registration opens.

A Weekend of Fun, Games and More

GameStart 2018 will see its most diverse offerings to date, with mobile and PC games having a bigger presence at the convention. The first batch of exhibitors and sponsors announced for GameStart 2018 include The Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia, who will be exhibiting at GameStart for the first time, Japanese mobile giant Cygames; Mihoyo, publisher of popular mobile game Honkai Impact 3; WB Games, Taipei Game Show, Battlebrew Productions, 3DSense and gaming apparel brand Xmashed Gear. HyperX leads this year’s sponsor list as Official Gaming Headset, Armaggeddon as Official Quest Sponsor, Wacom will sponsor the GameStart Indie Awards, and MyRepublic returns as Fibre Broadband Sponsor. Sponsors also include Monster (Official Energy Drink), Central City Brewers & Distillers (Official Alcohol Beverage Sponsor), Razer, Twitch and Xsplit, the official streaming software of the event. Tickets and official merchandise are available for sale at gamestart.asia/ticketing  

“Esports has been garnering huge interest and publicity in recent years. Coupled with the popularity of mobile gaming and as celebrities openly play games such as Fortnite, gaming is now more mainstream than ever. In GameStart, we have seen a gradual shift in the demographics of GameStart attendees - from hardcore gamers when we first started to a wider variety of visitors, from esports fans, competitive gamers, to families with young children. Our content has also evolved to be more inclusive of different interest groups, such as our partnership with Doujin Market and the introduction of our Tabletop area, which was very well received last year,” said Elicia Lee, Founder of GameStart Asia.

Gamestart 2018

Venue: Suntec Convention Centre Halls 401 – 403 Singapore Event Dates: 13 & 14 October 2018 Opening Hours: ●        VIP Ticket Holders: 10am – 9pm ●        General Public: 11am – 9pm

GameStart 2018 Master Classes

Dates: 10 & 12 October 2018 Venue: *SCAPE