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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.
Comic
Convention events are celebrations of imagination, creativity, and fandom. It's a place where
fans can connect with like-minded individuals, explore new worlds, and experience the magic of popular culture.
There is also a link between Japanese inspired animation and live action
films, where successful Hollywood
movies often follow in the footsteps of a well loved Anime.
A
TO Z - TOP 10 COMIC CONVENTIONS
ANGOULEME
- International Comics Festival - France
(entire city) - January 25 – 28 2024
CCXP - Sao Paulo Expo, Brazil - November 30 – December 3 2023
COMIKET - Tokyo
Big Sight, Japan
- August 12 – 13 2023
FAN EXPO CANADA - Metro Toronto Convention Center, Ontario,
Canada
- August 24 – 27 2023
L.A. COMIC CON - Los Angeles Convention Center, California - December 1 – 3 2023
LUCCA COMICS & GAMES -
Italy
(entire city) - November 1 – 5 2023
MCM LONDON COMIC CON - ExCel, London,
England - October 27 – October 29 2023
MEGACON ORLANDO - Florida, Orange County Convention Center - February 1 – 4 2024
NEW YORK COMIC CON - New York,
Manhattan, Javits Center - October 12 – 15 2023
SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON - Convention Center, California - July 20 – 23 2023
ANGOULEME
The Angouleme International Comics Festival is an interesting one. It’s
a comic convention we’d not heard of up until now, and yet you may be
surprised to learn that the event is one of the largest in the world.
Angouleme International Comics Festival is unique. To start, the convention does not take place in a major city like
Paris or Lyon. The event takes place across the entire city of Angouleme, France, which is really cool and similar to Lucca Comic & Games. Because of this it’s kind of hard to accurately put an attendance number for this annual event. But apparently it’s close to 200,000. With that
astonishing number of people, Angouleme International Comics Festival is a valuable contender on this list of the biggest comic conventions in the world.
https://www.bdangouleme.com/
CCXP
CCXP was previously known as
'Comic Con Experience.' Taking place in Sao Paulo, Brazil, CCXP is one of the largest comic conventions in the world! With 262,000 attendees in 2018, this convention has surprised us in how large a con in Latin America can be. Not only that, the event has big-name guests that have attended, including: Keanu Reeves, Jenna Ortega and Jason Momoa!
What’s fascinating is that CCXP only started in 2014; less than 10 years ago. And much like AnimeNYC in New York, CCXP saw a meteoric rise in popularity and attendance.
https://www.ccxp.com.br/
COMIKET
Comiket (formally known as Comic Market) is the granddaddy of them all. Taking place in Tokyo Japan, Comiket has an amazing number of attendees every year. In 2019, the event saw 750,000 attendees. Yes, that is 3/4 of a million people at one event! That would make Comiket by far the largest Anime convention in the entire world. Although Comiket may not be what you envision as a typical convention (the main focus is
manga), we consider the event as an Anime con.
What’s interesting about Comiket are the rules you must follow, at least compared to your typical Anime convention in North America. For instance, you can only cosplay at Comiket when you’re at the event, and you must change out of cosplay when you leave the convention. When you have that many attendees, it does make sense to have specific rules to ensure a smooth annual event.
https://www.comiket.co.jp/
FAN
EXPO CANADA
Knowing event goers from Toronto, we're not surprised that Fan Expo Canada made this list of biggest comic conventions in the world. What can we say; this event is so enormous that it gets insanely crowded.
Fan Expo, even many years ago, was really popular and busy. Now this event is basically the largest fan event in all of Canada.
What’s interesting to note is that while Fan Expo Canada is the biggest and probably the most well-known, this one in Toronto is not the only Fan Expo. There are several others across North America, including Chicago, Denver and Vancouver.
https://fanexpohq.com/fanexpocanada/
L.A.
COMIC CON
California is known for a lot of things, and one of them is having some of the biggest and most popular comic conventions. From Anime Expo (the largest Anime convention in all of North America), E3, to WonderCon (although large, not as large as the ones on this list). L.A. Comic Con is no exception; with over 126,000 attendees in 2022, the event is one of the largest in North America.
Formerly known as Comikaze, L.A. Comic Con is notable for their connection with the late legend Stan Lee in previous years, where they collaborated together and even had their 2016 event named Stan Lee’s L.A. Comic Con. So not only is L.A. Comic Con one of the biggest comic cons in the country, the annual event is truly something special, with deep roots.
https://www.comicconla.com/
LUCCA
COMICS & GAMES
If you had told us that a mid-sized city in Italy hosts the 2nd largest comic convention in the world, we certainly wouldn’t have taken you seriously. But after doing some research, this event is just simply amazing. Think of a big comic-con but instead of being confined to a convention center, Lucca Comic & Games is held across an entire city with over 300,000 tickets sold in 2022.
Lucca Comic & Games started all the way back in 1966; nearly 60 years ago. This massive event seems to be more of a festival than your typical indoor comic convention. But because the event is still related to comics, we have included it on this list. It’s not just your usual comic convention; it’s an entire festival.
https://www.luccacomicsandgames.com/
MCM
LONDON COMIC CON
Here is a big comic con convenient to our HQ on the south
coast of England. The MCM London Comic Con is huge! The event actually happens twice a year; there’s one in May and another one in October. MCM London Comic-Con is by far the largest fan event in the UK. As you would expect from a comic con, the dealer’s room is massive, their artist alley is just as big and they have tons of big guests and celebrities.
MCM London Comic Con returns 25-27 Oct 2024 at ExCeL London, and this year
they are teaming up with EGX to make it the biggest celebration of Pop Culture in the UK.
What you should appreciate is that despite the 100,000+ attendees that show up to MCM London Comic Con every year, the organizers do a wonderful job managing the crowd. Probably the best on this present list.
https://www.mcmcomiccon.com/london/en-us/home.html
MEGACON
ORLANDO
Could you have guessed that MEGACON Orlando would be making this list of biggest comic cons. We certainly would not have thought so. But in fact, the attendance numbers don’t lie; with over 140,000 attendees, MEGACON Orlando is a massive event by any standards. For sure this comic-con lives up the name of MEGACON.
What surprised us , is that in our view, Florida is not known for having large fan conventions, yet MEGACON is one of the largest in all of North America when it comes to attendance numbers. The event is 4 days long and like many comic cons on this list, you can expect to see a lot of famous celebrities and activities taking place.
https://fanexpohq.com/megaconorlando/
NEW YORK COMIC CON
Not last on our list and certainly not least, we have New York Comic Con; the biggest comic con in the U.S. With over 200,000 attendees every year, the annual event in NYC surpasses anything and everything even close to it.
New York Comic Con is 4-days long and organized by ReedPop, the same team that hosts other fan events across the globe. We have not yet been to NYCC but we are sure the event is an amazing day out, especially since taking place in NYC, America’s largest city; the Big Apple.
https://www.newyorkcomiccon.com/en-us.html
SAN
DIEGO COMIC-CON
Contrary to popular belief, San Diego Comic-Con is not the biggest comic con in the world or in the U.S. But that doesn’t mean the convention is small by any means. In fact, San Diego Comic-Con,
in southern California, is one of the largest comic cons in America by attendance.
San Diego Comic Convention is a California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation dedicated to creating the general public’s awareness of and appreciation for comics and related popular art forms.
And arguably, we’d say the event is the most popular comic con in the world, with attendances from large numbers of A list actors - such as with the Ant-Man launch in 2015. Despite hosting over 100,000 attendees every year (over 135,000+ attendees in 2022), tickets for the convention sell out quickly. Thus, it’s a no-brainer that San Diego Comic-Con made this list.
https://www.comic-con.org/
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
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)
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