Fan Conventions. Why do people go through all that traffic?
Ristelle (dressed as Eiko Tsukimi) and deadpudds (dressed as KongMing), poses for a portrait during the first day of Animangaki at Mines International Exhibition and Convention Center in Seri Kembangan on Saturday, August 28, 2022
Mines Exhibition Centre - On one fine day, you decided to go shopping at a nearby shopping mall for some clothes, then while walking you realized that there is a whole line of brightly dressed people outside standing under the sun in line for something. Some are fully covered, head to toe masked; some are barely covered, legs and arms as far as the sky can see. What are all these crazy people doing? Some party going on?
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You scoff and carry on. “Young kids these days, wasting time attending these parties!”
Yet these people continue to wait. Under the hot sun, for hours to enter this ‘party’.
But they are not just queuing for a party. They are lining up for a convention, and not just any convention like the warehouse sales or study fairs, these - are fan conventions.
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These fan conventions are unlike any other conventions one has ever seen before. There are no franchise opportunities or promotions, it is just a plain bunch of fans coming together to meet people like themselves. People who have the same interest. It’s the only place you can see a Mario walking around with a giant Pikachu.
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Fan conventions in Malaysia have started to pop up again after the two-year Covid event ban. Although slightly controversial with the crowds despite there being a pandemic, it doesn’t stop the fans from crowding themselves into exhibition centres or malls to get a glimpse of merchandise they can never afford.
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But what is it that makes these conventions so unique?
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How it all began
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Fan conventions mostly started in the United States with over 70 years of history under their belt (and no, this is not something we got ‘Americanized’ … kind of), it was a place for fans to gather that largely differs from the random loose café and living-room-at-your-parents-house meetups. Later when Japanese animations (anime) got popular, conventions started to include that as an additional media object as opposed to the usual comic book, superhero content.
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However, the ‘comic’ faze didn’t exactly start these conventions in Malaysia, it was more so the popularization of Japanese popular culture that spurred the craze. Especially when the consumption of Japanese media seems to increase over time, where some Malaysians tend to use it as a bonding tool to connect with their friends.
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This further encouraged the sense of community through these contents. Additionally, when it expanded and included other types of media such as video games, films, or anything, there was no limit to what these communities can represent. It started with small conventions having a few hundred fans in the 2000s which grew into the popularity it is today where more than tens and thousands of fans would gather.
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Specifically, after the pandemic, it seemed like the floodgates for events opened, and more than twenty fan conventions can be seen scheduled in the early parts of the year. Granted, holding that many events amid the pandemic might not be a well-thought idea, but many precautions were made by the event managers to ensure that all attendees are safe during the events.
Predominantly when the king of all fan conventions, Comic Fiesta (which has been one of the longest-running conventions in Malaysia) announced its comeback recently, causing fans to be more and more excited about the upcoming events.
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These conventions remain to be one of the best representations of popular culture within Malaysia. It demonstrates the passion and talent of people in a form of great art.
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So…. what happens inside these things?
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Contrary to popular belief people don’t just go into the giant hall and watch people pose on the stage while standing around spaced out judging other people’s outfits.
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Fan conventions can be one of the highlights of the year for some people. There are vendors, sponsors, live shows, and competitions, it always seems to be a festival within these giant exhibition halls. Whether you are new to the scene or are a convention veteran, there are ways you can still make the most out of your trip. Some conventions have tickets, some don’t, it depends on the venue or the atmosphere the convention organizers want to go for.
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People then dress up in their painstakingly complicated but rewarding cosplays and walk around, enjoying the feeling of being surrounded by the best representation of their hobbies. They shop for merchandise or even fan merchandise, meet new people with the same interests, and enjoy the community’s best.
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Sometimes celebrities, writers, and even manga (or comic) creators get invited for a meet and greet, where panels are made for the audience to ask questions, get autographs and just generally interact with the great people behind the stories. It becomes a celebration of different expressions of art within that few days.
Artist alley
Keekotreecko's art booth in Animangaki at Mines International Exhibition and Convention Center at Seri Kembangan on Saturday, August 28, 2022.
But what separates fan conventions from other conventions is their vendors. It is common for these conventions to open booth applications from various artists within the country. Aspiring artists get to sell their creations to the people attending the convention.
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And this is not just a mere few artists setting up shop, it is one of the largest demonstrations of local artists within Malaysia. Hundreds of artists would rent booths and display their wares.
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The products can range from fan-made merchandise of their favourite shows to original artworks of their own design. Illustrators and designers would normally print their art in physical form and sell those art prints within different mediums, such as tote bags, badges, acrylic charms, and more!
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Additionally, many artists are also master craftsmen and can translate their vision into a variety of products such as stuffed toys, sculptures, and hand-stitched doll clothes. It has always been a wonder to imagine the different wares artists would sell in their booths at every convention.
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Live commissions are also possible in these conventions. This is when artists would sometimes create a sign or inform the customers via social media that they are open to taking orders at the conventions.
All in all, conventions like these bring about a sense of belonging and expression. To be able to be present and engage in a space created by different people with a wide range of different interests in Malaysia.
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Meeting cosplayers
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It’s no question that one of the cooler parts of attending conventions, is the ability to be whomever they want.
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Cosplay, a performance art, is often misunderstood. Many who are not involved in the flourishing global subculture think of it merely as playing dress-up. But for those who participate, it’s much more than that.
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Inspired by characters from comic books, anime, films, and video games, cosplayers not only take on their physical form through the use of clothes, make-up and wigs, but they embody their characteristics too.
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Some create their costumes, paying attention to the smallest details. It can take them weeks or even months to make them. Some learn how to do their make-up with masterful precision, while others simply buy a ready-made costume. Some do a mix of all of the above – and each method is as valid as the other.
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Cosplayers take pride in their work – and many make money from doing it. Like artists, certain cosplayers would set up booths to sell their portfolios. Photoshoots live shots services, and even albums, fans would flock to meet the closest rendition of their favourite characters in real life.
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Moreso when taken to the next level, some cosplayers could become minor celebrities with their work. For example, a Malaysian cosplayer now model - Hakken with over 3.2 million followers on Instagram, can make people line up for hours to an end just to get a glimpse of them.
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Conventions remain to be one of the main places where cosplayers can express themselves in the best way possible. It becomes a place to celebrate artistic expression in many different forms, where cosplayers can interact with many great talents, make friends, and expand their network even further.
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Respect it, as it is high art. It is not easy, whoever has mastered it spent years and years to get to the level they are at.
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Then? Why would someone who has no interest attend these conventions
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Simple enough. Just to experience it.
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Not saying you must go through all the line waiting, and the crowds to experience something which you might have zero interest in. However, joining a small fan convention could be an exciting and fun experience. It is always intriguing to see and observe the passion that goes into every aspect of these conventions; the talent that drives people to make the conventions as it is today.
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These conventions are made by the community for the community. It empowers and motivates people to create what they want to be and be whomever they want to be. Just a simple and secluded space for a group of people to showcase their hobbies for a couple of hours doesn’t sound so bad after all…