|
Truly excellent
AI art begging for animation. Jimmy Watson dreams of having an
intelligent robot friend come true. We imagine this story would do well as
a Japanese Anime, and/or Manga comics. We may adapt this original story to
a location in Japan, local names and government officials, etc. The same
might apply in the US, or Europe, as an animation to appeal to a wider
audience. Please contact Cleaner Ocean Foundation or Jameson Hunter
Limited, with your interest: Short film entries, College or University
projects. All enquiries welcome.
WHAT
IS A COMIC-CON CONVENTION ?
Comic-Con is a convention as a well organized event dedicated to popular culture, primarily comics, but also including movies, television, anime, manga, video games, toys, and more. These events bring together fans, creators, and industry professionals to celebrate the worlds of imagination.
WHY IS COMIC-CON SO POPULAR ?
Community and Belonging: Comic-Con provides a space for fans to connect with like-minded individuals. It's a place to share passions, discuss theories, and celebrate shared interests.
Celebrity Encounters: Many Comic-Cons feature appearances by actors, writers, and other industry professionals. Fans have the opportunity to meet their idols, get autographs, and even attend panels and Q&A sessions.
Exclusive Content: Comic-Con is often the place where studios announce new projects, release trailers, and unveil exclusive merchandise. This makes it a must-attend event for fans who want to be among the first to know about the latest developments in their favorite fandoms.
Cosplay: One of the most iconic aspects of Comic-Con is cosplay, where fans dress up as their favorite characters. This allows participants to express their creativity, immerse themselves in the fictional worlds they love, and connect with other fans on a deeper level.
Creative Inspiration: Comic-Con is a hub for creativity and innovation. Artists, writers, and other creators can showcase their work, network with industry professionals, and find inspiration for their projects.
Meet and Greets: Fans have the opportunity to meet and interact with their favorite actors, writers, and artists.
In essence, Comic-Con is a celebration of imagination, community, and the power of storytelling. It's a place where fans can escape the everyday world and immerse themselves in the fantastical realms of their favorite comics, movies, and more.
Comic-Con has had a significant impact on popular culture. It has helped to popularize comic book characters and franchises, and has influenced fashion, music, and other aspects of society. The success of Comic-Con has also led to the creation of
hundreds of similar conventions around the world.
Ghost
in the Shell - Official IMAX trailer 1995
Ghost
in the Shell - Official movie trailer 2017
A
TO Z - TOP 10 ANIME CONVENTIONS
ANIME
EXPO
- Los Angeles Convention Center, California - July 1 – 4 2023
ANIME
FESTIVAL ASIA - Suntec Singapore, Singapore - November 24 – 26 2023
ANIME
NORTH
- Toronto Congress Centre, Toronto, Ontario - May 26 - 28 2024
ANIME
NYC
- New York,
New York City, Manhattan, Javits Center - November 17 – 19 2023
COMIC FIESTA - Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - December 23 – 24 2023
COMIKET -
Tokyo Big Sight,
Japan - August 12 – 13 2023
JAPAN EXPO - Paris-Nord Villepinte Exhibition Center, Paris, France - July 13 – 15 2023
JUMP
FESTA
- Makuhari Messe, Chiba, Japan - Dates not known
MANGA BARCELONA - Fira Barcelona Gran Via, Barcelona, Spain - December 7 – 10 2023
OTAKON - Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington D.C. - July 28 – 30 2023
ANIME
EXPO
The almost legendary Anime Expo in LA, is by far the biggest Anime convention in all of North America. When you have the top vendors showing up, along with 100,000+ attendees every year, you’re bound to be one of the biggest Anime-cons in the U.S.
The convention usually happens on the 4th of July weekend. Offering everything you could ever want in an Anime convention.
https://www.anime-expo.org/
ANIME
FESTIVAL ASIA
This annual event in Singapore played host to over 145,000 attendees in
Southeast Asia.
Anime Festival Asia has been around in different cities. The event was held in other places such as
Jakarta,
Indonesia and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. But the convention has mainly been held in Singapore. Anime Festival Asia is one of the biggest Anime conventions in the world, by attendance.
After Anime Festival Asia’s success comeback in Jakarta, Indonesia from 3rd to 5th May 2024, AFA Indonesia will return again from 6th to 8th June 2025 at Jakarta Convention Center!
https://animefestival.asia/
ANIME
NORTH
With over 30,000 attendees showing up to
Anime North in Toronto every year, the annual event is easily the largest one in Canada. It started way back in 1997, since when Anime North has grown immensely. The event is so big that the organizers usually implement an attendance cap for the 3-day weekend. This means that Anime North is probably larger than the 30,000 than is allowed.
AN is unique. To start with, the various convention activities are happening in 3 main separate buildings, one of which is far away. And the heart and soul of the convention hangs out around the parking lot of the Toronto Congress Center, giving the con an outdoor festival vibe.
There are many things to do at Anime North, such as taking part in the Masquerade - enjoying yourself at the Maid Cafe and attending the numerous panels available during the convention weekend. There’s a reason why people keep coming back to Anime North; it’s a yearly tradition that locals should not miss.
https://www.animenorth.com/
ANIME NYC
Anime NYC is not only one of the largest Anime conventions in America, but it’s been one of the fastest growing cons as well. And that is because unlike many other conventions on this list, Anime NYC only started in 2017. You could say that Anime NYC branched off from New York Comic Con. Since, there was no large Anime convention in New York City at the time. And with New York being the most populated city in America, it makes sense that Anime NYC has filled that need for a big Anime-con event in the Big
Apple. Attendances in the region of 55,000 in 2022,
We've not been ourselves, but have heard great things about this con. If you love Anime and want to see big guests, see the best cosplays and be in the great city of New York, then it's a must to attend Anime NYC.
It's a showcase of the best of Japanese pop culture in the biggest city in America, Anime NYC brings anime fans together for three days of unique exhibits, exclusive screenings, and appearances by some of the biggest creators in Japan!
https://animenyc.com/
COMIC FIESTA
Another big Anime convention that takes place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Comic Fiesta is one of the biggest in Southeast Asia. With 65,000 attendees in 2019, this event is not small. What’s interesting about Comic Fiesta is how long the annual event has been around. Starting in 2002 with only 500 attendees, Comic Fiesta has grown to be a big event in
Malaysia, Southeast Asia. If this is convenient to you, you wouldn’t want to miss it.
https://www.comicfiesta.org/
COMIKET
Comiket
(formally known as Comic Market) is the granddaddy of them all. Taking place in Tokyo Japan, Comiket has an insane amount of attendees every year. In 2019, the event saw 750,000
attendees. You read that right; a 3/4 of a million people at one event.
And that makes Comiket by far the largest Anime convention in the world. Although Comiket may not be what you envision as a typical convention (the main focus is
manga), we still consider the event as an Anime-con.
https://www.comiket.co.jp/
JAPAN EXPO
Despite the venue, Japan Expo in Paris is the biggest and most popular Anime convention in France. And most people have heard about Japan Expo, and probably for good reason. The annual event in the City of Lights and the
Eiffel
Tower, features a ton of programming, activities and big-name guests. The convention is usually 4-days long and with over 250,000 attendees in recent years, Japan Expo is by far the largest Anime convention in Europe.
https://www.japan-expo-paris.com/en/
JUMP
FESTA
Just like the name implies, if you are into Jump series then you gotta check out Jump Festa. This convention has been around since 1999 and has brought together Anime and convention goers together every year since. Jump Festa takes place at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba (a suburb of Tokyo), Japan. With 145,000 attendees even back in 2013, and that makes Jump Festa is one of the biggest Anime conventions in the world, by attendance.
https://www.jumpfesta.com/
MANGA BARCELONA
Here is another big Anime convention that
we were surprised to learn about. Manga Barcelona in Spain just happens to be the 2nd largest Anime convention in
all of Europe. That is crazy to think, considering that we'd not heard of this convention until now. The annual event has a ton of guests and a lot of activities going on. With 163,000 attendees in 2022, Manga Barcelona is
large by attendance.
https://www.manga-barcelona.com/es/inicio.cfm
OTAKON
Otakon is one of the largest Anime conventions in the world by attendance. The convention has been around for a very long time.
In the past, Otakon took place in Baltimore, Maryland. But in 2017, the organizers decided to move the convention to Washington DC. They lost some attendance during the transition and because of the Covid pandemic, things were a bit rocky.
But that’s no longer the case, as 40,000+ attendees showed up for Otakon in 2022. That should tell you how well-run and established this Anime convention is. So if you happen to be in the Washington area, why not consider attending Otakon.
https://www.otakon.com/
THE INTERCONNECTED WORLD OF COMIC-CON, ANIME AND MANGA
Anime, and Manga are deeply intertwined with Comic Conventions, forming a vibrant and interconnected subculture. Here's a breakdown of their relationship:
SHARED ROOTS
Comic Books: Both anime and manga originated from comic books. The storytelling techniques, character designs, and panel layouts used in comics have influenced the development of anime and manga.
Western Influence: Western comic books, particularly those from the United States, have also had a significant impact on anime and manga. Many popular anime and manga series draw inspiration from Western superhero comics and other genres.
MUTUAL INFLUENCE
Anime to Manga: Successful anime series often lead to the creation of manga adaptations, expanding the reach of the franchise and providing more detailed storytelling. For example, "Attack on Titan" and "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba" both started as manga and later received popular anime adaptations.
Manga to Anime: Conversely, popular manga series are frequently adapted into anime to introduce them to a wider audience and explore the visual potential of the story. "One Piece" and "Naruto" are prime examples of manga that have been adapted into long-running anime series.
COMIC-CON AS A HUB
Showcase of Anime and Manga: Comic-Con conventions are major platforms for showcasing anime and manga to a global audience. Exhibitors, panels, and screenings dedicated to these mediums are common features of such events.
Cosplay: Cosplay, a popular activity at Comic-Con, often includes characters from anime and manga, further highlighting their influence on popular culture.
FAN COMMUNITIES
Shared Fandoms: Fans of anime and manga often overlap with fans of other forms of popular culture, such as comics and video games. Comic-Con conventions provide a space for these communities to connect and celebrate their shared interests.
In conclusion, Comic-Con, anime, and manga are interconnected elements of a larger subculture. Their shared origins, mutual influence, and presence at Comic-Con conventions contribute to their ongoing popularity and global reach.
COSPLAYERS
Anime conventions are what cosplayers prepare for days and months for. It’s where they go to have fun and dress up. The big convention is where enthusiasts spend their time and hard-earned money on, for a lot of reasons. But most importantly, Anime conventions are where cosplayers show their costumes that they put their blood, sweat and tears into.
In short, an Anime convention is the heart and soul of the cosplay community. Put simply, without them you would have no place to show off your costumes in person. You wouldn’t be able to take photos of your cosplay so easily, because conventions are the easiest place to do photoshoots. And you wouldn’t be able to meet other people in the cosplay community, which is completely important for social interactions. In short, cosplay conventions need cosplayers, and cosplayers need cosplay conventions!
There is a lot happening at Anime conventions. Some of the things happening at conventions include: Cosplay contests (ie Masquerade), dealer’s room, video game tournaments, celebrity guests Q&A and autograph lines, panels, photoshoots, Anime premieres and more. The list goes on. In short, you’ll never run out of things to do at a cosplay or Anime convention!
Let’s delve into more detail about each activity available at Anime conventions:
The Vendor/Dealer’s rooms are the heart and soul of a convention, this is where you spend all your money. Here you can find all the goodies you love, including T-shirts, Anime DVDs and manga, video games, artwork, posters and more. You’ll also find sponsors and vendors promoting their brand here. Most conventions also put their celebrity autograph line in the dealer’s room as well.
Masquerade
Also known as the cosplay contest, the Masquerade takes place on the biggest stage at the convention. Here you get to see some amazing cosplay craftsmanship. You can sit and watch all the cosplayers on stage, or take part in it yourself. (4 divisions). The rules can vary but for the most part, you’ll have to make the costume yourself. No store-bought costumes allowed!
Artist Alley. This is also in the dealer’s room, but at Anime conventions, there’s a separate section called the Artist Alley. This is where you can buy some prints from great artists.
Panel rooms
Many conventions use the smaller rooms inside the convention center or hotel to host various activities, including: Q&A with voicr actors and celebrities, fandom discussion, video showings, games, activities and more. What’s nice is that a lot of these panels are run by volunteers, so you’ll get some quality discussion by the hardcore fans! These panels take place throughout the day, and often there are so many good panels, you’ll end up having to skip one to attend another.
Video game room
Pretty self-explanatory, this is where you can hangout in a room full of video games to play! Some conventions like MAGFest, the video game room is the size of a dealer’s room. Other times, it’s just an afterthought. This is also where the video game tournaments take place, and you can win some great prizes if you’re best!
Tabletop gaming
If you’re into board and card games, you should check out the tabletop gaming room. It’s a great place to wind down and relax with your friends and play Settlers of Catan. Or President.
Dance party rave. If you want to have some fun in the evening, this is the place to be. Lots of conventions have the dance party on both Friday and Saturday night. Sometimes it takes place at the convention hotel, but other times it can take place off-site.
Maid Cafe
The maid cafe usually only happens at Anime conventions. This is a renactment of the maid cafes in Japan, where cute-looking maid serve you drinks and food!
Group cosplay photoshoots. Conventions these days are scheduling photoshoot times in their programming for specific fandoms. This is where cosplayers from the same series get together at a certain spot to take some photos with each other! So if you’re cosplaying Iron Man and want to take photos with your fellow Avengers, this is the place to do it.
These are the main activities, but all conventions might have their own unique attractions.
THE
TOP 10 COSPLAY CONVENTIONS WORLDWIDE
New York Comic Con (260,000 attendees in 2019)
Japan Expo (over 250,000)
San Diego Comic-con (130,000 attendees in 2018)
Anime Expo (over 100,000 in 2016)
MCM London Comic Con (over 100,000 in 2014)
Megacon (more than 100,000)
Fan Expo Canada (100,000+)
Emerald City Comic Con (98,000 in 2019)
Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (95,000 in 2020) C2E2 took place in March 2020, just before
Covid
Dragon Con (over 85,000 in 2019)
|
