Marina Bay Sands Expo will have fans of games, comics and toys in Singapore Media Festival 2019

July 13, 2019October 4, 2021 Kamal Kaur

About 55,000 fans of games, comics and toys are expected to converge on a 15,000 sq m space at Marina Bay Sands Expo for Singapore Comic Con on Dec 7 and 8, 2019. One of this region’s longest-running and largest pop culture conventions is now part of the Singapore Media Festival.

The inclusion of Singapore Comic Con, formerly known as the Singapore Toy, Game and Comic Convention (STGCC) into the Singapore Media Festival will “offer more opportunities for Asian storytellers, drawing on inspiration across multiple genres and formats.

On Dec 7 and 8, about 55,000 fans of games, comics and toys are expected to converge on a 15,000 sq m space at Marina Bay Sands Expo where they can dress up as characters, meet creators, buy collectibles or take part in panels and other events.

Singapore Comic Con 2019 will also host local and regional esports tournaments for PC and mobile games.

To support the pop culture industry, a new Route to Market programme will be launched. It provides content creators from around the region a platform to submit ideas across all genres. The submissions will then be matched to publishers and studios. The pop culture convention joins other events held under the Singapore Media Festival umbrella. These include the Asian Academy Creative Awards (AAA), Asia TV Forum and Market and Screen Singapore, Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF) and the Festival’s digital event SMF Ignite.

Toys and Game Brands

Last year in 2018 Singapore Toy Game & Comic Convention was a two day event held at the in Sands Expo and Convention Centre Singapore. In 2017 Singapore Toy, Game & Comic Convention featured a total of 406 brands, compared with 263 in 2016. This event is like a family reunion for fans of pop culture, whether Western comics, Japanese anime or famous franchises such as Star Wars and the X-Men.

The convention celebrates a wide range of entertainment and is organised by ReedPOP, who are behind similar events in New York and Chicago.

With over 50,000, visitors to the event many are interested in dressing up in characters from their favourite games.

Last year there were crowds packed panel discussions featuring Marvel Comics editor and talent scout C.B. Cebulski and DC Comics artist Mirka Andolfo. Fans swarm booths to stock up on collectible toys, books and art prints from their favourite illustrators. Lines of patient fans snaked towards tables manned by American comics creator David Mack, Disney artist James Mulligan and Singapore’s Eisner Award-winning Sonny Liew.

WE ARE NOW SINGAPORE COMIC CON (SGCC)!🇸🇬
SGCC continues to curate the best of toys, comic & gaming content from across the globe to keep things fresh for our fans–you. We hope that you will continue to extend your love & support towards us, as we enter a new phase of our journey. pic.twitter.com/a9zRqC2ssa
— Singapore Comic Con (@SGComicCon) April 1, 2019

Artists and creators who have worked on some of your favourite comics and animations will be heading down. Last year show had Ryan Meinerding, Head of the Visual Department over at Marvel Studios, who has illustrated Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Avengers: Infinity War, and many more.

Also was seen David Finch, the Canadian comic artist known as the one who officiated Batman’s wedding, and his work on notable Marvel and DC comics including Wonder Woman, Batman, New Avengers, and Moon Knight. Mark Brooks, Eisner-nominated illustrator for Marvel and DC, is another superhero comic veteran who was at the event. Gamers throng the GGX Good Game Experience area, where epic battles were fought on giant screens for the ROG Masters gaming tournaments.

There were smaller consoles for individual gamers to enjoy, bean bags for those who preferred handheld games and even an area for table-top games. At one, a player dressed in a homemade Iron Man armour frowned over his cards, facing an opponent in a Star Wars T-shirt.

Western Pop Culture

There’s also Western pop culture, different kinds of cosplay and toys and feature a cosplay competition and parade for adults and kids. For fans of cosplay and anime, character designer Range Murata was present last year, known for his anime series including Blue Submarine No. 6, LASTEXILE, and Shangri-La.

The pop culture convention is nothing without the cosplay, and attendees can lavish in the over-the-top costumes at the gaming Championships of Cosplay was presented by SINGER in 2018 show.

Cosplay isn’t just for adults either as the event will be holding a Kids Cosplay Parade for aspiring cosplayers to dress up as their favourite characters. Note that Kids under 12 get into the convention for free! You can get the tickets to attend this event by clicking here. Call at +65 6789 8800 for more information.