C3 Anime Festival Asia Singapore 2018 (#C3AFASG18), South East Asia’s biggest and most prestigious Japanese Pop Culture event, returns 30 November to 2 December 2018 at Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre. Organisers, SOZO, shared a preview of the 10-year anniversary exclusive line-up of activities, contents and guests today.
“10 years ago, Anime Festival started as a dream among my team to create a professionally-run Anime and Japanese Popular Culture event that fans, including myself, will truly enjoy and love. The festival has grown from having 25,000 attendees in year one in 2 halls in Singapore, to 100,000 attendees last year in Singapore alone. Today, we continue to be customer-focused. We are proud to be the definitive J-pop event that connects our customers with the latest most sought-after contents direct from Japan, and we’ve been delivering this for the last 10 years across Asia,” said Shawn Chin, C3 AFA’s Organiser and SOZO’s Managing Director.
Local and overseas fans of Japanese popular culture can immerse themselves in a weekend of heart-pumping, non-stop premium content and entertainment across two levels of Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre. The specially curated anniversary #C3AFASG18 festival line-up will cross both online and physical platforms, including Singapore-exclusive activities such as a celebrity red carpet event, and an online star-studded charity auction. The festival grounds will host both new activities and mainstay favourites - from anime showcases, special guests, a stellar lineup for the I Love Anisong Concerts, and the World Cosplay Summit Singapore Preliminaries.
A world-class Experiential Festival that stays grounded to fans at home
For the first time, #C3AFASG18 will hold a dazzling star-studded red carpet event in front of Suntec Singapore. To celebrate 10 Years of Anime Festival Asia, the event will be broadcasted online on Sunday, the last day of C3AFA Singapore 2018. Full details of confirmed stars will be announced later.
The celebration transcends the convention grounds to share the joy and rally the online community as #C3AFASG18 gives back to society with its inaugural initiative,
Anime for a Cause. An online portal will be launched for fans to participate in a lucky draw to purchase special items donated by celebrities and partners that C3AFA has collaborated with previously. Full details will be announced shortly.
Other celebratory initiatives include a stamp rally to collect commemorative stamps and claim fantastic prizes on-site during the festival weekend. Fans can also reminisce their favourite festival moments at
#myAFAMoment, a collection of photos and anecdotes contributed by fans who have attended and grown with C3AFA SG since its inception. Fans can contribute photo moments with the hashtag #myAFAmoment on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Promotional trailer for the second season of 'Mob Psycho 100 II'
The latest and hottest anime titles and talent
Bringing the latest and hottest anime titles yearly, fans can look forward to a series of exclusive premieres. The festival will screen the Asian premiere of the first episode of the highly-anticipated 'Mob Psycho 100 II', ahead of its official debut in January 2019.
The star-studded festival grounds will welcome special guests including voice actors Rika Abe and Erii Yamazaki (who voice Hresvelgr and the Materia Sisters respectively from 'Frame Arms Girl'), Minami Tanaka (who voices Mary Saotome from 'Kakegurui XX'), Haruka Terui (who voices Sarah from 'Gundam Build Divers'), Atsushi Abe (who voices Toma Kamijo from 'A Certain Magical Index III'), Ai Furihata and Shuka Saito (who voice Ruby Kurosawa and You Watanabe from 'Love Live! Sunshine!!'), Ai Kayano (who voices Alice from 'Sword Art Online Alicization'), Mimori Suzuko and Momoyo Koyama (who voice Hikari Kagura and Karen Aijo from 'Revue Starlight') and Sumire Morohoshi (who voices Emma from 'The Promised Neverland').
Other guests include Eri Sasaki, a rising anisong singer who wrote, created and arranged the music for the song 'Fuyubiyori', the ending theme to the popular anime, 'Laid-Back Camp', and nob-c, the lead character designer for 'The Price of Smiles' - a project celebrating Tatsunoko Production's 55th Anniversary, that will air in January 2019.
Voice actress Erii Yamazaki
Gear up for themed booths and exclusive merchandise
Highlights of exhibition booths include Fate Grand Order, a free-to-play role-playing game developed by the FGO Project, consisting of DELiGHTWORKS, Aniplex, and Notes, based on the immensely popular Fate franchise by TYPE-MOON. Fans can also look forward to giveaways and photo-taking opportunities with the Gudako mascot.
A myriad of exclusive merchandise including a T-shirt capsule collection from Pop Team Epic, a Hatsune Miku Nendoroid exclusive from Good Smile Company, Honkai Impact exclusives from miHoYo, and merchandise from MUSE await fans and collectors.
The Best of Cosplay to Gather at the Festival
Organisers revealed the line-up of international celebrity cosplay guests at the festival. They include Angie (Malaysia), Baozi & Hana (China), Hakken (Malaysia), Kaname☆ (Japan), Siutao (Hong Kong) and Ying Tze (Malaysia). Also announced today was a new addition - HedY (Taiwan).
On 2 December 2018, four competing teams - Rithe & Kai, Melanie Joanne & Gearchi, Knife & Saiko, and Disco Dandy & Jesmond, will battle for the chance to represent Singapore in the Grand Finals taking place in Japan, Nagoya from 27 July to 4 Aug 2019.
Popular Japanese cosplayer Kaname☆
Japanese Popular Culture at its Finest, with Something for Everyone
With less than a month to the festival, fans can look forward to an experiential festival of epic proportions, with the exhibition hall, the 'I Love Anisong' concerts, stage activities, meet and greet sessions and more. More updates will be shared closer to date.
“The support from Singapore, and all over the world, over the years have exceeded our expectations and we would not be here today without them. This year’s line-up is a special nod to our customers, partners and artistes who have stood by the Anime Festival family, as well as new ones who have joined us in our journey. We look forward to welcoming everyone, whether it’s your first time here or an avid Japanese Popular Culture fan, to experience the fun and excitement of C3AFASG,” said Shawn.
Prior to #C3AFASG18 event days, VIP and General Admission I Love Anisong tickets can be purchased through the APACTix website at
https://animefestival.asia/singapore18/tickets.
During event days, tickets can be bought on site at Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre’s 3rd floor concourse for the “EXHIBITION ONLY” and “EXHIBITION + STAGE” tickets.
Tickets for the “I LOVE ANISONG” (EXHIBITION + STAGE + CONCERT) can be purchased outside Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre’s Hall 404 on the 4th floor.
For more information on the festival, please check out
www.c3afa.com/sg18 and
www.facebook.com/animefestivalasia.