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| There are a total of 7 anime events taking place during the June holidays in Singapore this year. |
School holidays are just around the corner! If you are a passionate fan of anime, manga and cosplay, what better way to spend them than to attend the many anime events that will be held in June. With at least 1 ACG event taking place over each weekend, here are
1. MINNACON (6 JUNE)
MinnaCon is a local anime, comics and games (ACG) event organised by students from the local universities who have an interest in Japanese popular culture. Currently in its third year, the event has plenty to offer such as an inter-tertiary cosplay competition, live anisong band performances by NUS Comics and Animation Society's Chaos After School, doujin booths and an elimination game tournament featuring an anime fighting game which I'm guessing and hoping is Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax.
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| Sailor Suit Old Man will be making waves in Singapore at MinnaCon |
In addition, world-renowned cosplayer Hideaki Kobayashi, better known by his nickname "Sailor Suit Old Man" will be sailing to Singapore for MinnaCon. One of Japan's most experienced cosplay photographers, the niche hobby rubbed off on him and inspired him to don Japan's idiomatic schoolgirl sailor uniform, becoming one of the Internet's biggest celebrities overnight. Just like the countless young girls who have sought for photos with him, you can now meet him up close and personal in Singapore and take selfies with him to your heart's content.
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| Anime fighting game Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax |
MinnaCon will be taking place in the first week of June, on 6 June, from 12.30pm to 7pm at the NTU Nanyang Auditorium. Admission is $8.
2. DBS MARINA REGATTA (30-31 MAY, 6-7 JUNE AND 13-14 JUNE)
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| Last year's DBS Marina Regatta Asia Cosplay Meet champions, Team Philippines |
Singapore's biggest water sports festival is back and it's even bigger and better this year. With a myriad of activities for you to take part in such as a flea market, food village, outdoor movie screenings, music extravaganza and a pyrotechnic and laser show, this year's edition is the largest yet. Of course, what you must be really looking forward to are the pop culture experiences at the regatta. The Regatta Cosplay Cup will be back on 7 June and cosplay personalities Dat-Baka and Tessie have been invited as guest judges. They will be on stage and conducting signing sessions on 6 and 7 June.
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Pika Pika Meido Cafe |
Furthermore, Fightsaber Singapore will be performing high-action, kinesthetic re-enactments of lightsaber duels over the same weekend so head on down to feel the Force. In addition, Singapore's very own maid cafe, Pika
Pika Meido Cafe
will be there to brighten up the bay with their dance routines. You may
even get yourself some refreshing ice-cream served by them! There is
even a spacious, air-conditioned recharge zone where you can hang out
with your buddies.DBS Marina Regatta (Cosplay Event) will take place on 6 and 7 June, at the Promontory @ Marina Bay. Admission is free.
3. FUNAN ANIME MATSURI (8-14 JUNE)
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| This year's Funan Anime Matsuri boasts a star-studded line-up |
Funan Anime Matsuri (FAM) is back for its third edition this year and it promises to be even better! Boasting a star-studded line-up of guests including Japanese siblings vocal and dance group bless4, AKINO from bless4 (Kantai Collection, Amagi Brilliant Park openings) , Japan-based Korean-born illustrator Shirahane Nao (aka DMYO) and character designer IKKYUU, FAM is set to bring Japan Pop Culture to Singapore this June!
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| American-born Japanese dance and vocal group bless4 will be performing at FAM |
That's not all. Celebrity cosplayers Angie and Ying Tze from Malaysia, Taiwan cosplay starlets Neneko and Shimo along with cosplay duo Hana & Baozi, Fuyuu-Kaji and DD-Tenka from China will be attending the event so head down and take some pictures with them. There will even be screenings of the latest anime movies, loads of merchandise and original fan-made doujin on sale at FAM. The schedule will be unveiled soon so keep checking for updates.
AKINO from bless4 performing "Miiro", the Kantai Collection OP
Funan Anime Matsuri will be a week-long event, from 8 to 14 June at Funan DigitaLife Mall. Admission is free for all.
4. GARENA CARNIVAL (13-14 JUNE)
South Korean cosplay sensation Aza will be making her third appearance in Singapore, together with fellow countryman Hori at Garena Carnival 2015. A major in fashion design, her cosplays are highly-praised for their immaculate attention to detail. Ever since her debut at STGCC 2013, she has been a staple at many conventions around the region. Which characters will she be cosplaying as this time? Come and find out at Garena Carnival!
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| South-Korean cosplayers Aza and Hori from 2AO Design |
A personalized greeting to all Garena Carnival 2015 participants from our Guest Cosplayers and Judges, Aza Miyuko and Hori!Looking forward to meeting them in person? Remember to come down to the Garena Carnival on 13th and 14th of June!Click here to register for our Cosplay Rumble Arena: http://bit.ly/1b92vdBAza Miyuko's blog: http://blog.naver.com/azadkwkHori's FB page: https://www.facebook.com/2AOHoriTWO gorgeous girls, because #TwiceTheSizeTwiceTheFun#GarenaCarnival2015
Posted by Garena Singapore on Tuesday, 21 April 2015
Aza and Hori's message for Garena Carnival 2015 attendees
Garena Carnival will be held over the weekend of 13 and 14 June, at Suntec Convention and Exhibition Centre Halls 401 and 402. Admission is $10 for 1 day and $18 for both days.
5. CHARAEXPO (20-21 JUNE)
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| CharaExpo is set to be the major mid-year anime convention in Singapore |
Fans have long yearned for this and finally, a major mid-year anime convention is set to be held in Singapore. Bringing in your favourite anisong singers, illustrators, manga writers and even professional wrestlers direct from Japan, CharaExpo is a new convention that aims to bring anime, manga and cosplay fans closer to the creators of their favourite works.
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| Sin Izumi's top cosplay, CODE OF PRINCESS - Solange on Tokyo Otaku Mode |
With a sensational line-up including anisong singers Ayano Mashiro (Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works, Gunslinger Stratos) and Kurosaki Maon (Highschool of the Dead, Tokyo Ravens), Osaka cosplayer Sin Izumi, well-known for her Sakura Miku cosplay, New Japan Pro-Wrestling top wrestlers such as Hiroshi Tanahashi and Togi Makabe, there is definitely something for everyone at CharaExpo! VisualArt's, publisher of fan-favourite visual novels such as Clannad, Little Busters and Rewrite, will also be making their first convention appearance in Singapore.
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| Japan Anisong Club Event Anicrush will be held in Singapore for the first time too |
CharaExpo will be opening its doors for the first time over the weekend of 20 and 21 June, from 10am to 6am at Singapore Expo Hall 7. Admission is $6 for 1 day (early-bird) and $8 on site.
Check out our full coverage of CharaExpo 2015 here.
What to Buy at CharaExpo Part 1: Love Live! & Cinderella Girls
Wake Up, Girls Coming to CharaExpo? (No, They're Not)
Ayano Mashiro and Kurosaki Maon Have Dinner Together Before CharaExpo
SHAFT, Kantoku, KitaEri & Mimorin's Magical Girls Anime Coming to Singapore
6 New Guests & 13 More Exhibitors Announced at 2nd CharaExpo Press Conference
6. GUNDAM DOCKS (4-28 JUNE, EVENT ON 20 JUNE)
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| Catch the RX-78-2 Gundam and Char's Zaku at Gundam Docks! |
Are you a huge fan of mecha or Gundam? Now you can relive the fight between the Earth Federation and thr Principality of Zeon in your very own backyard as 2 colossal, 6-metre tall 1:3 scaled figures of the RX-78-2 Gundam and Char's Zaku will be docking in Ngee Ann City's Civic Plaza come this June. The gargantuan robots, slightly smaller than DiverCity Tokyo's famous full-scale Gundam, will be roaring to life in the daily light and sound shows in the evening.
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| Yui Makino, Yuma Uchida, Kazumi Togashi and BACK-ON will be at Gundam Docks on 20 June |
On 20 June, you can even get to meet your favourite voice actors and actresses as Yui Makino, who is finally returning to Singapore after her previous concert in 2009, along with Yuma Uchida and Kazumi Togashi, who voice lead characters in the anime Gundam Build Fighters Try, will be making an appearance on stage at Takashimaya Square. In addition, Japanese rock band BACK-ON will be performing the opening themes for the Gundam Build Fighters anime series live on stage.
BACK-ON performing "wimp ft. Lil' Fang (from FAKY)"
Gundam Docks will be taking place from 10am to 9.30pm daily from 4 June to 28 June, with a special event on 20 June, at Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza and Takashimaya Square, B2. Admission is free.
With so many ACG events taking place during the June holidays and even several clashing during the same week, you are spoilt for choice.
UPDATE 1:
7. D'J PARTY 2015 (27-28 JUNE)
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| D'J Party 2014 |
From the organisers of J-Obsession comes D'J Party 2015! An annual event promoting Japanese pop culture since 2003, D'J Party is back to bring you more rocking good J-Rock and J-Pop music over two days this year. Local acts will be performing covers of popular Japanese hits at the Bugis Junction stage over the weekend of 27 and 28 June so grab your friends along and chill out to some good live music. Admission is free.
We still think that you should complete your holiday homework before school reopens though. Manage your time well, spend it productively and have fun during the June holidays!
UPDATE 2: The event schedule for DBS Marina Regatta has been released. Fightsaber Singapore and Pika Pika Meido Cafe will both be having live performances on 31 May, 6 June and 7 June.
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| The event schedule for DBS Marina Regatta has been released. |
Pika Pika Meido Cafe will be performing on stage at the following times:
- 31 May: 3.30pm
- 6 June: 1.30pm
- 7 June: 3.30pm
In addition, the meidos from Pika Pika Meido Cafe will be giving out ice-cream during their roving performances around the event area over the day.
Fightsaber Singapore will be performing on stage at the following times:
- 31 May: 3.00pm
- 6 June: 1.00pm
- 7 June: 1.30pm
