Anime Festival Asia sees tens of thousands of fans attend
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Hino from Taiwan, dressed as a character from video game Lollipop Chainsaw, pictured at the Anime Festival Asia held at the Singapore Expo on Nov 10, 2012. -- ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
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The crowd at Anime Festival Asia held at the Singapore Expo on Nov 10, 2012. - ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
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16-year-old student Emma Tay pictured at the Anime Festival Asia held at the Singapore Expo on Nov 10, 2012. -- ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
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A car on display at the Anime Festival Asia held at the Singapore Expo on Nov 10, 2012. -- ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
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15-year-old Elliott Ong, dressed as a horse, pictured at the Anime Festival Asia held at the Singapore Expo on Nov 10, 2012. -- ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
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The Pokemon booth pictured at the Anime Festival Asia held at the Singapore Expo on Nov 10, 2012. -- ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
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A cosplayer from the Gundam series, which has been adapted to anime, movies, manga and video games. -- ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
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From left to right: Cosplayers Mandy Kew, 20, Bernice Lim, 20, Xiuhui, 24, Alison Cooper, 20, and Violet, 28. -- ST PHOTO: LAU FOOK KONG
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16-year-old Bryan Low dressed as Slenderman from the video game Slender, pictured at the Anime Festival Asia held at the Singapore Expo on Nov 10, 2012. -- ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
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The annual Anime Festival Asia features concerts, a cosplay competition and exclusive content and merchandise. -- ST PHOTO: LAU FOOK KONG
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24-year-old student Ken Atreides Lim dressed as a nurse, pictured at the Anime Festival Asia held at the Singapore Expo on Nov 10, 2012. -- ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
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Cosplay enthusiasts dressed as their favourite characters posing for a photograph at the Anime Festival Asia. -- ST PHOTO: LAU FOOK KONG
Hino from Taiwan, dressed as a character from video game Lollipop Chainsaw, pictured at the Anime Festival Asia held at the Singapore Expo on Nov 10, 2012. -- ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
The crowd at Anime Festival Asia held at the Singapore Expo on Nov 10, 2012. - ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
16-year-old student Emma Tay pictured at the Anime Festival Asia held at the Singapore Expo on Nov 10, 2012. -- ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
A car on display at the Anime Festival Asia held at the Singapore Expo on Nov 10, 2012. -- ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
15-year-old Elliott Ong, dressed as a horse, pictured at the Anime Festival Asia held at the Singapore Expo on Nov 10, 2012. -- ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
The Pokemon booth pictured at the Anime Festival Asia held at the Singapore Expo on Nov 10, 2012. -- ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
A cosplayer from the Gundam series, which has been adapted to anime, movies, manga and video games. -- ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
From left to right: Cosplayers Mandy Kew, 20, Bernice Lim, 20, Xiuhui, 24, Alison Cooper, 20, and Violet, 28. -- ST PHOTO: LAU FOOK KONG
16-year-old Bryan Low dressed as Slenderman from the video game Slender, pictured at the Anime Festival Asia held at the Singapore Expo on Nov 10, 2012. -- ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
The annual Anime Festival Asia features concerts, a cosplay competition and exclusive content and merchandise. -- ST PHOTO: LAU FOOK KONG
24-year-old student Ken Atreides Lim dressed as a nurse, pictured at the Anime Festival Asia held at the Singapore Expo on Nov 10, 2012. -- ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
Cosplay enthusiasts dressed as their favourite characters posing for a photograph at the Anime Festival Asia. -- ST PHOTO: LAU FOOK KONG
Tens of thousands of Japanese pop culture fans descended on the Singapore Expo over the weekend for the fifth edition of Anime Festival Asia (AFA). Exact attendance figures were unavailable, but festival director Shawn Chin says the convention is on track to meet its target of 85,000 visitors.
The largest showcase of Japanese pop culture here ran from Friday to yesterday, and featured cosplayers, concerts and exclusive merchandise.
Last year's edition, held at Suntec City, drew some 82,000 visitors, a third of them from countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.
By comparison, other pop culture events in 2012 such as the Singapore Toy Game and Comic convention, drew almost 35,000 vistors.
