Hong Kong's Ani-Com and Games predicts records crowds for 2010 event - Art - Arts & Entertainment - The Independent

A new competition aimed at young designers and the presence of an international gaming giant are being touted as the main draw cards for this year's Ani-Com and Games fair, with organizers predicting that more than 700,000 people will attend the five-day event.

Ani-Com and Games will run from July 30 to August 3 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and has positioned itself in behind the likes of the annual Anime Expo in Los Angeles and the Tokyo International Anime Fair in terms of importance to the industries which revolve around animation.

For fans, that not only means comics, it covers the online and electronic game and collectable industries which have responded in force to this year's event - meaning Hong Kong's Convention and Exhibition Centre has expanded space for the fair to 135,000 square feet (12,540 square meters) from last year's 120,000 square feet (11,150 square meters).

Leading the way this year is the presence of international game-producing giants Nintendo - the first time the company will have attended the Hong Kong event - while organizers are also holding a Hong Kong Figure Competition for local figurine designers.

Of course, any event of this kind these days has to focus on a little dress-up as well, and Ani-Com and Games will again host a Cosplay Competition which allows fans to dress up as their favorite animated characters and an ACG Girl Pageant for all those wannabe models out there.

But for the more serious collector and comic fans, the event is all about seeing what their latest heroes have been up to - and perhaps getting a chance to grab an autograph or two.

To that end, this year's event boasts a line-up of stars from the animation world, including Hong Kong manga legend Wong Yuk-long ( Dragon Tiger Gate), mainland comic author Xia Da and mangaka Naoto Tsushima ( Getter Robo Hien: The Earth Suicide).

12th Ani-Com & Games Hong Kong
July 30-August 3
Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
http://www.ani-com-hk

MS

Most Viewed
Most Shared
Most Commented

SPONSORED FEATURES

Free trial of new Independent iPad app

Get your daily dose of the best of British journalism, sponsored by American Airlines

Posh Nosh Prizes & offers Business videos

Amazing restaurant offers

Three glasses of free champagne and a special menu at 46 top London restaurants.

iPad app Prizes & offers Business videos

Latest Independent competitions

Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.

iPad app Posh Nosh Business videos

Commercial thought leaders

Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.

iPad app Posh Nosh Prizes & offers

Jobseekers
Recruiters

Dawn of the age of wireless medicine

Dawn of the age of wireless medicine

New technology means doctors will soon be able to regulate and monitor drug intake remotely – as long as patients remember to swallow their chips

Pete Doherty: I was a bit unhinged

Pete Doherty: I was a bit unhinged

Former Libertine talks frankly and exclusively about Kate Moss, Amy Winehouse, his baby daughter and why he paints with his own blood

Brown makes £1m since leaving No 10 (but Blair's still the leading earner)

Brown makes £1m since leaving No 10...

... but Blair's still the leading earner

The West Bank's Bobby Sands

The West Bank's Bobby Sands

Khader Adnan's two-month hunger strike has made him a hero among Palestinians outraged by Israel's policy of arbitrary detention

Hey, You've got to hide your drug away

Hey, You've got to hide your drug away

Paul McCartney has given up smoking dope. Simon Usborne charts a career of highs and lows

MI5 helped US in fruitless search for Charlie Chaplin's Communist past

Investigating Charlie Chaplin

MI5 helped US in fruitless search for star's Communist past

Eat, drink, man, woman: Is there such a thing as a gastronomic gender divide?

Is there such a thing as a gastronomic gender divide?

A dainty piece of sushi for the lady? And perhaps a rare steak for the gentleman?

A very good cuppa: Some of our best restaurants are embracing the afternoon tea tradition

A very good cuppa: Restaurants embrace afternoon tea tradition

You don’t have to visit a tourist trap, says Luke Blackall

The 10 Best Juicers

The 10 Best Juicers

From the Bistro drip-stop to Cook's Essentials' retro juicer...

How to make cheese in a matter of minutes

How to make cheese in a matter of minutes

You won't even need to go to the shops for supplies, as Will Dean discovers.

The day I danced for a place in Danny Boyle's Olympics spectacular

The day I danced for a place in Danny Boyle's Olympics spectacular

Tom Peck auditioned for the London 2012 opening ceremony. But was he asked back?

Is Wenger finished at Arsenal?

Is Wenger finished at Arsenal?

Milan debacle shows manager has let Gunners become an average team who are set to fall further

Ronnie Henry: Tale of the two Ronnies shows that it really is a funny old game

Tale of the two Ronnies shows that it really is a funny old game

Ronnie Henry won '61 Double with Spurs. His grandson failed to make it at the Lane but will now captain Stevenage when the clubs meet in the FA Cup

Dereck Chisora: From drugs and weapons to a fight with Dr Ironfist

Dereck Chisora interview

From drugs and weapons to a fight with Dr Ironfist

London Eye: A taste of the high life from the man who found Bleasdale

Simon Turnbull's London Eye

A taste of the high life from the man who found Bleasdale