I Had an Amazing Time Anime Festival Asia (AFA) 2023

Hi Huneybees,

The Anime Festival Asia (AFA) has been an annual highlight for anime fans and cosplay lovers since it began in 2008, quickly establishing itself as one of the largest events on the calendar. Celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, AFA 2023 last weekend continues to draw massive crowds, with fans flocking in to experience the festivities.

Walking through the event, I was completely immersed in the vibrant atmosphere as impressive cosplays brought beloved anime characters to life. The dedication was incredible, especially among the pros—fans eagerly lined up at their booths, waiting for a meet-and-greet with their "idols." Watching everyone embody their characters with such confidence made me want to dive in and join the fun myself! The energy was contagious, with fans snapping photos and sharing unforgettable moments together.

These Pokemon terrariums are so adorable! You can see the monster in their "natural habitat"!

AFA also offers fans a chance to snag rare collectibles, from licensed merchandise to unique fan art. Beyond figurines, there were booths filled with keychains, button badges, clothing, and even special "lucky bags" with anime-themed surprises. Some vendors even had Ichiban Kuji—a popular lottery-style game where each pull guarantees a prize.

This year, AFA introduced a new sponsor, Crunchyroll, the leading anime streaming platform, which brought the JUJUTSU KAISEN Experience to the festival. Inside the immersive 360-dome, I enjoyed key scenes from the hit series in a secluded space, away from the crowds. Crunchyroll also shared exclusive news about upcoming anime events and hosted the SACRA Music Festival, featuring iconic artists like FLOW (famous for “GO!!!” and “Sign” from Naruto), ASCA (known for “RESISTER” in Sword Art Online: Alicization), and performances by halca, spira spica, and Nami Tamaki. Here’s hoping for even more artists next year.

HoYo FEST 2023 was another major attraction. This year, instead of being a separate event, HoYo FEST partnered with AFA to bring together all six HoYoverse titles at one booth for the first time. Fans could explore dedicated sections for Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, Honkai Impact 3rd, Tears of Themis, and the upcoming Zenless Zone Zero, with demo gameplay, interactive activities, quizzes, and more. Each area was packed with fans; completing a mission felt like a quest in itself!

The Genshin Impact section recreated the enchanting scenery of Mondstadt, while the Honkai: Star Rail area showcased the Xianzhou Luofu. Fans also got a sneak peek at Zenless Zone Zero’s gameplay and storyline in the demo area.

I also stopped by the much-talked-about TENGA booth, which sparked some debate about whether such products were suitable for a younger crowd. To address these concerns, the booth had tight security, ensuring only those of age could enter. Qualified without question, I walked in confidently, curious to see what the fuss was about. Honestly, there's nothing shameful about exploring and understanding one’s own body, and after seeing the range of products TENGA offers, it’s clear they can bring an extra layer of fun and connection to relationships when used thoughtfully. There’s no need to be shy—if we prioritize healthy sexual education, there’s absolutely no reason why topics like these should be hidden away.

Bushiroad Expo Asia 2023 offered a full roster of trading card tournaments, including the Bushiroad Championship Series 2023 Regional Championship and the Shadowverse: Evolve World Invitational 2023 Regional Qualifier. For casual attendees, there was plenty to explore, from merch and video game demos to learn-to-play sessions and an exhibition photo booth area dedicated to fans.

A major highlight this year was the inclusion of World Wonder Ring Stardom, or STARDOM, Japan’s popular women’s pro wrestling group. Yes, AFA 2023 featured an actual wrestling ring! Unfortunately, I missed the live action while exploring other sections of AFA.

In a special collaboration with Ultraman, I also got to experience the exclusive launch of the Ultraman trading card game by Tsuburaya. While the game is still awaiting release, I scored some exclusive cards for my deck! Live Ultraman appearances brought the characters to life on stage with thrilling fight scenes, giving us a sneak peek of the upcoming game.

What do you think about my new fan? Created with Pentel markers...

Anyone knows what C-anime is this? Seems like it has lots of fans...

AFA 2023 was an unforgettable celebration for fans, and I can’t wait to see what surprises await next year! Here's leaving the most with more of the amazing cosplays I saw around the AFA 2023 grounds.

 

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Get Ready to Play: gamescom asia Unveils Publisher Lineup and Key Entertainment Zone Highlights

Hi Huneybees,

With under a month to gamescom asia 2023 (happening from 20 - 22 October 2023 at Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre), tickets to the first gamescom asia Entertainment Zone are already released for sales together with the unveiling of an expanded publisher lineup.

gamescom asia aims to serve as the premier platform for Asian game developers to explore partnerships globally, and act as a hub for international publishers who are looking for the next big thing in games. The Asia satellite event of gamescom, the world’s largest computer and video games festival, trade visitors and consumers can expect industry-specific insights and reveals, while new releases and gaming-related offerings will be showcased. The event will include a trade and public exhibition, trade conference and several programmes for the public. Online shows PRIMETIME and STUDIO will be held on 19 and 22 October for global fans.

4Divinity, Arc System Works, Epicsoft Asia, Make Waves, Neopets, PlayStation, and Ubisoft are among the latest publishers and companies to confirm their participation. Organisers also shared highlights of what to expect at the physical B2C Entertainment Zone exhibition area, from Main Stage performances to new zones within the Entertainment Zone.

 

Expect an electrifying line-up on the Entertainment Zone Main Stage with concerts, behind-the-scenes talks with acclaimed game producers, dedicated Meet & Greet with special guests, Cosplay Fashion Show and more. Visitors interested in the classics can check out the Retro Games Zone, try out the latest games library at the Board Games Zone, and demo quirky and unique indie games from around the world within the Indie Zone.

Gaming heavyweights to anchor gamescom asia

The event will see a - line-up of the world’s most influential gaming publishers. From trying out game demos to battling it out with the latest gaming hardware and the hottest games, industry professionals and public alike can look forward to being among the first to experience widely-anticipated games firsthand and immerse in the thrill and excellence in esports tournaments.

4Divinity and Epicsoft Asia will present a series of exciting action-packed titles, including the much-anticipated S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl which will be released in Q1 2024. gamescom asia attendees will get to trial a timed demo and stand to win a full copy of ENDLESS™ Dungeon, a new tactical action game set to launch on 19 October 2023. Fans can also try out Atomic Heart and the Annihilation Instinct DLC, all while playing in comfort in Martiangear gaming chairs.

Ubisoft celebrates its 15th anniversary in Singapore this year, and will showcase 2 titles: Assassin’s Creed® Mirage as well as Skull and BonesTM. gamescom asia attendees can speak with studio representatives and recruitment teams, and immerse themselves in an art exhibition featuring both games.

Make Waves, developer and publisher of VR games and educational apps, will showcase 3 exciting VR titles in development – Sky Strikers, Slam City, and Star Legacy, and a mobile puzzle-solver Other Side of Mist and Mountain. All games showcased will be playable in early access, at the event grounds. This is the first time these titles have been showcased at a convention.

More game titles available for play from Capcom, PlayStation, Arc System Works, and more will be announced closer to date.

Exciting Main Stage Shows and Meet & Greets

From guest appearances to performances and entertainment, an exciting programme line-up awaits at the Entertainment Zone Main Stage. Attendees can revel in the music of Gerard Marino’s electrifying live performance, get up close with the voice actors of ‘Honkai: Star Rail’ characters and get a chance to snag some official Honkai freebies, and discover the behind-the-scenes technical magic of Ubisoft’s ‘Skull and Bones’. 

Check out the craft of cosplay in the gamescom asia Cosplay Fashion Show – Walk of Valor and Might, held in collaboration with Singapore Cosplay Club. SuperFans ticket holders will be treated to a performance by PLAYERTWO in partnership with Warner Music on 20 October 2023.

Get up close with star cosplayers and voice actors in Meet and Greet sessions on 21 and 22 October at the Meet & Greet Zone. Say hi to cosplayers and content creators Kitz Cua (@kitzcua) and Charess Mabia (@charechii), as well as voice actors from Honkai: Star Rail (Su Ling Chan, Craig Lee Thomas, Molly Zhang and Emily Sun) and Street Fighter 6 (Faye Mata).

Something for everyone, including the family

New zones will be available to entertain and offer hands-on sessions for both online and tabletop games alike – the Retro Games Zone by Retro City, the Board Games Zone by Origame and the Indie Zone by Indie Wavemakers.

Get a chance to play more than 30 games from indie studios from across the world at the Indie Zone by Indie Wavemakers, sponsored by Xbox. Check out the creative work of independent game developers with their own perspectives on games. 

Attendees can embrace the golden era of video games with Retro City’s exciting pop-up experience. The Retro Games Zone will showcase custom arcade and pinball machines featuring a myriad of iconic games, as well as activities such as learning how to craft your very own home arcade machine with the help of Retrocade. For a lucky SuperFan, there’ll be a chance to bring home a custom gamescom asia x Retro City Arcade Console, as well as other exciting prizes.

Roll a dice across the table and embark on an unforgettable journey into the world of board gaming with Origame at gamescom asia’s Board Games Zone. Highlights include The Asian Board Game Festival board game library, with over 100 titles of curated board games from all over Asia, as well as game demos from Origame and other popular games from independent Asian board game studios.

For the online audience, tune in to the annual streams for PRIMETIME on 19 October in the evening and STUDIO on 22 October for a half day of extended content, games showcase, and features.

Tickets start from SGD 19 for a single day entry, and can be purchased online via this link. Click here for an overview of the happenings within the Entertainment Zone. Programme schedule will also be released closer to the event.

 

Limited SuperFan tickets are available to purchase till 19 October or until sold out. Access to the Zone on 20 October is available only to SuperFan ticketholders. All other public ticket categories can access the event on Saturday 21 October and/or Sunday 22 October.

 

Registration for trade and industry members is open at this link.

For more information and the latest updates, visit gamescom.asia or follow gamescom asia on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Discord, TikTok, and LinkedIn. 

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