Comic Fiesta

Last updated

Comic Fiesta
Comic Fiesta 2015.jpg
Comic Fiesta in 2015
StatusActive
Genre Anime convention
ACG event
FrequencyAnnually
Venue KL Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur
Country Malaysia
Years active20
Inaugurated14 December 2002;20 years ago (2002-12-14)
Most recent17-18 December 2022
Next event23-24 December 2023
Attendance65,000 (2019)
Major eventsAnime Fest, Comic Fiesta Mini
Organised bySAYS Youth Society
People Danny Choo, Hajime Tabata, Mariko Honda
Website www.comicfiesta.org

Comic Fiesta, abbreviated as CF, is Malaysia's longest-running convention that focuses on animation, comics and games (ACG). Its focus is to celebrate all aspects of art and creativity (and the ever popular ACG culture). Comic Fiesta is usually held in December at various locations, including Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre at KLCC. It is an event held with the motto of "event by fans for fans", and is also currently the first and the biggest non-profit ACG convention in Malaysia, organised by a group of volunteers to bring the comic convention experience to the Malaysian audience.

Contents

History

Comic Fiesta started as a small exhibition at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall in Kuala Lumpur in 2002. Comic Fiesta 2003 fared better with the venue being changed to the Impiana Hotel also in Kuala Lumpur (now known as Ancasa Hotel and Spa). With the larger space, the standing capacity was bumped to 300; double the amount of its predecessor. Comic Fiesta 2004 was held at the Malaysian National Visual Art Gallery. The next two years saw Comic Fiesta setting up shop at the prestigious Sekolah Sri Sedaya. Due to its strategic location (close proximity to Sunway Pyramid and easy access by public transportation), many believed that the event had finally found its home. It did not, but it did become the birthplace of Cosplay Chess in 2006 (now a common fixture at many local ACG events). Comic Fiesta was then moved to Berjaya Times Square located in Bukit Bintang.

The seventh iteration of Comic Fiesta was held at the Sunway Convention Centre. Over 3,000 square metres of unobstructed function space certainly played a major role in the record number of attendees for the event. 2008 also saw the debut of the Live Art Demonstrations and the Portfolio Review Pavilion, proving to be big hits with aspiring artists looking to break into the competitive Malaysian comics industry.

The decision to keep and expand the Live Art Demonstrations and Portfolio Review Pavilion certainly played a part in pushing the number of visitors for CF 2009 (also at the Sunway Convention Centre) past the 7,000 mark. Representatives from Imaginary Friends Studios, Pekomik, Big Beak Productions, The One Academy, Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, Clazroom and MDeC participated in the industry seminars. Comic Fiesta 2010, held at Berjaya Times Square's Manhattan Ballroom, continued the trend and attracted over 11,000 people.

In 2011, Comic Fiesta was moved to Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Comic Fiesta 2011 attracted 15,293 visitors over 2 days and Comic Fiesta 2012, also held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre drew over 30,000 visitors across two days (22 & 23 December 2012), and was attended by renowned Japanese artists such as Redjuice, Kurata Yoshimi and bless4.

In 2015, Comic Fiesta was moved to Malaysia International Exhibition & Convention Centre located in Mines Wellness City. Comic Fiesta 2015 attracted 45,000 visitors for over 2 days. Performing guests consist of Flow, Majiko from Exit Tunes, Inc., guest cosplayers Reika, Jin (behindinfinity) and also special guests Danny Choo, Hajime Tabata and Wan Hazmer from Square Enix.

In 2016, Comic Fiesta was then moved to Putra World Trade Centre. Although transportation was significantly easier, the venue was also deemed inadequate for the large number of attendees. Starting from Comic Fiesta 2017, the location reverted to KLCC to accommodate the increasing number of visitors.

Comic Fiesta 2018, which was held at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on 22–23 December 2018, attracted approximately 60,000 visitors. [1] Comic Fiesta 2019 was held again on 21–22 December at KLCC.

Comic Fiesta-associated events, such as the Comic Art Festival Kuala Lumpur 7 (CAFKL7), Comic Fiesta Mini Johor 2020, Comic Fiesta Mini Penang 2020 and the Toys Anime Game Comic Con 2020 (TAGCC 2020) was announced to be postponed to 2021, citing the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia. [2]

Showcase

Creative Art Market

Comic Fiesta plays host to the largest amateur creative art market in Malaysia similar to Comiket of Japan, which consists over 100 booths showcasing talents in the field of visual arts and illustration. Comic Fiesta also contains an incredible variety of self-published comics, artbooks, posters and other merchandises available for sale.

Cosplay

Comic Fiesta hosts both solo and group cosplay competitions and is considered to be the second main focus of the event. Participants use the chance to showcase their skills in cosplay, attracting many to attend the event aside from buying self-published comics and artbooks.[ citation needed ]

Comic Fiesta Mini

Comic Fiesta Mini Johor 2018 Comic Fiesta Mini Johor 2018.jpg
Comic Fiesta Mini Johor 2018

Comic Fiesta also organises two small CF-like events specialized for ACG enthusiasts in the north and south of Peninsular Malaysia, namely Comic Fiesta Mini Penang (stylized as CF Mini Penang) and Comic Fiesta Mini Johor (stylized as CF Mini JB, since 2018).

List of past Comic Fiesta events

#YearDateLocationAttendance [3]
1200214–15 DecemberSelangor Chinese Assembly Hall, Kuala Lumpur

(now known as The Kuala Lumpur And Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall)

500
220036 DecemberImpiana Hotel, Kuala Lumpur (now known as Ancasa Hotel)1,000
3200411–12 December Malaysian National Visual Art Gallery (Balai Seni Visual Negara)3,000
4200517–18 DecemberSekolah Sri Sendaya, Subang Jaya (now Sekolah Sri UCSI Subang Jaya)3,000
5200616–17 DecemberSekolah Sri Sendaya, Subang Jaya (now Sekolah Sri UCSI Subang Jaya)3,000
6200715–16 December Berjaya Times Square, Kuala Lumpur 5,000
7200820–21 DecemberSunway Convention Centre7,000
8200919–20 DecemberSunway Convention Centre8,000
9201018–19 DecemberBerjaya Times Square, Kuala Lumpur10,000
10201117–18 December Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, KLCC 15,000
11201222–23 DecemberKuala Lumpur Convention Centre, KLCC25,000
12201321–22 DecemberKuala Lumpur Convention Centre, KLCC40,000
13201427–28 DecemberKuala Lumpur Convention Centre, KLCC49,000
14201519–20 December Mines International Exhibition & Convention Centre, Seri Kembangan (MIECC) 45,000
15201617–18 December Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur (PWTC) 45,000
16201716–17 DecemberKuala Lumpur Convention Centre, KLCC55,000
17201822–23 DecemberKuala Lumpur Convention Centre, KLCC60,000
18201921–22 DecemberKuala Lumpur Convention Centre, KLCC65,000
#2020Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021
19202217–18 DecemberKuala Lumpur Convention Centre, KLCCN/A
20202323–24 DecemberKuala Lumpur Convention Centre, KLCCN/A

SAYS Youth Society

Sequential Arts Youth Society (SAYS Youth Society) is a volunteer-run, non-profit organisation that aims to educate the public about the ever-expanding ACG community in Malaysia. Established in 2009, its ultimate goal is to create a dynamic avenue where local and international creative talents can come together and push the Malaysian creative industry forward through innovative new ideas.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kuala Lumpur</span> Federal territory and capital city of Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur, officially the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur and colloquially referred to as KL, is a federal territory and the ceremonial, legislative and judicial capital city of Malaysia. It is one of the fastest growing cities in Asia and the largest city in Malaysia, covering an area of 243 km2 (94 sq mi) with a census population of 1,982,112 as of 2020. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.564 million people as of 2018. It is among the fastest growing metropolitan regions in Southeast Asia, both in population and economic development.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Petronas Towers</span> Commercial offices and tourist attraction in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The Petronas Towers, also known as the Petronas Twin Towers and colloquially the KLCC Twin Towers, are a pair of 88-storey supertall skyscrapers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, standing at 451.9 metres. From 1998 to 2004, they were officially designated as the tallest buildings in the world until they were surpassed by the completion of the Taipei 101 in 2004. The Petronas Towers are the world's tallest twin skyscrapers and remained the tallest buildings in Malaysia until 2019, when they were surpassed by The Exchange 106. The Petronas Towers are a major landmark of Kuala Lumpur, along with the nearby Kuala Lumpur Tower and Merdeka 118, and are visible in many places across the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suria KLCC</span> Shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Suria KLCC is a 6-story shopping mall located at the foot of the Petronas Twin Towers. Suria KLCC is a premier shopping destination with over 300 flagship stores. The shopping mall is situated in Kuala Lumpur City Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bukit Bintang</span> Shopping district in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Bukit Bintang is the shopping and entertainment district of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It encompasses Jalan Bukit Bintang and its immediate surrounding areas. The area has long been Kuala Lumpur's most prominent retail belt that is home to many landmark shopping centres, al-fresco cafés, bars, night markets, food street, mamak stalls as well as hawker-type eateries. This area is popular among tourists and locals, especially among the youths.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ampang, Kuala Lumpur</span> Place in Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Ampang, or Ampang Hilir, is a ward and city district, in the eastern part of Kuala Lumpur (KL) in the Titiwangsa constituency. Its area in Kuala Lumpur can be identified as being along the Ampang Road and Ampang Hilir.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre</span> Conference and Exhibition Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aquaria KLCC</span> Zoo in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The Aquaria KLCC is an oceanarium located beneath Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre within Kuala Lumpur City Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kuala Lumpur City Centre</span> Central business district in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) is a multipurpose development area in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. KLCC refers to the area within and surrounding the KLCC Park but the term has also been widely used by buildings nearby to the vicinity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1998 in Malaysia</span> List of events

This article lists important figures and events in Malaysian public affairs during the year 1998, together with births and deaths of notable Malaysians. Malaysia hosted the XVI Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur between 11 and 21 September.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tourism in Malaysia</span>

Tourism in Malaysia is a major industry and contributor to the Malaysian economy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pavilion Kuala Lumpur</span> Shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, also known as Pavilion KL, is a shopping centre situated in the Bukit Bintang district in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muid Latif</span> Malaysian artist (1979–2020)

Abdul Muid bin Abdul Latif was a Malaysian-based web designer, graphic designer and digital artist who is known for promoting the cultural elements of the Southeast Asia from Batik and Songket into his commercial works and artworks.

The One Academy of Communication Design is a private arts and design institute. Its headquarters is located in Bandar Sunway, Selangor, with a northern campus in George Town, Penang.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Petronas Tower 3</span> Skyscraper in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Petronas Tower 3, also known as Carigali Tower, is a 60-story, 267-meter-tall skyscraper in KLCC, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is Malaysia's eighth tallest building and it is also part of the Petronas Towers complex. The 246-meter high building also features a 21-meter high crown-like structure on the top of the tower, making it 267-meter high. The building features a 6-level extension to the Suria KLCC shopping mall, while the rest of the floors above are solely made up of office spaces. It is the headquarters of Petronas Carigali, the E&P subsidiary of Petronas and some of the local subsidiaries of Multinational Corporations such as Microsoft Malaysia. Along with the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre and the Binjai On The Park condominiums, the development of Lot C falls under Phase 2 of the KLCC project. Its development cost is reported at RM1 billion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shopping in Kuala Lumpur</span>

Kuala Lumpur is reputable for its vibrant shopping scene. Tourism is a big industry in Malaysia, raking in billions in tourist revenue annually, hence many malls have sprouted over the years. There are also a number of markets in Petaling Street, Kuala Lumpur's historic Chinatown that draw both locals and international tourists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Middle East Film and Comic Con</span> Multigenre conventions in Dubai

The Middle East Film & Comic Con is a speculative fiction convention held annually in the United Arab Emirates.

References

  1. "Comic Fiesta 2019 | 21–22 Dec, KLCC". COMIC FIESTA. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  2. "Events 2020". Comic Fiesta. Archived from the original on 21 August 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  3. "Comic Fiesta" . Retrieved 5 January 2020.