Previously, on CF // 01: How We Kicked A** Last Year

Believe it or not (and sometimes we can’t believe it either), Comic Fiesta will be turning 10 this year! We have come a long, long way from that small exhibition over at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, way back in 2002. Through your undying support and constant feedback, Comic Fiesta has exploded in size and scope to become the biggest ACG event in Malaysia!

As we prepare for what is sure to become the biggest Comic Fiesta ever organized, we wanted to go back in time to last year, when we set up shop at the Manhattan Ballroom of Berjaya Times Square Kuala Lumpur. This is just a small taste of what we’re bringing this year, so read on!

Imagine this for a second. Comic Fiesta 2010 brought in 11,000 fans of all shapes and sizes under one roof for one common goal: our love of Anime, Comics and Games.

Eleven thousand people.

In Internet-speak, OVER 9000 refers to anything that goes past the limit, whatever the context may be. Having a Comic Fiesta go OVER 9000 meant that we wanted to take CF past what was normal in an ACG event. We wanted to kick ass.

If you look at it, it was an inevitable natural progression. Malaysian artists are constantly coming out with amazing masterpieces, and we wanted to create an avenue where they would be motivated to bring their very best to viewed by the Malaysian ACG community. That was always the goal of Comic Fiesta: to be the place where creativity is nurtured and set free. Don’t believe us? Check out our annual 100 Days project.

And our Malaysian artists delivered in spades, joining in to set up the biggest amateur comic market Comic Fiesta had ever seen. Space was limited, but that didn’t stop the artists from actively showcasing their work to the eager crowd jostling and battling the crowd to make purchases with their hard-earned savings.

You had custom-made artworks, artbooks, comic books, hand-made plushies, bookmarks… the list just goes on. If you want to see true creativity from Malaysian artists, you should make it a point to visit Comic Fiesta and see what we’ve got going on.

Nips decided to join in the ACG fun by becoming our major sponsor. They also came up with some truly unique ideas, such as the Life-Size Figurine Box (where you were photographed as the figurine in the box, obviously) and the Nips Copic Challenge.

This was interesting, because it directly tested the creativity and imagination of the contestants. They were given a bunch of Copic marker pens, and a Nips logo printed on a A4-size paper. Their task was to go completely nuts on it and create the most elaborate/fabulous/colourful Nips logo using those markers, and get enough votes to win up to RM1,000 in cash.

Our local cosplayers also brought their A-game to the mix. If you attended last year’s CF, you would have known how amazing the quality of their costumes were. Some cosplayers told us that their costumes took the better part of 2010 to complete, with the ultimate goal of a debut at Comic Fiesta. Dedication like that brings tears to our eyes.

Some people will look at an event as big as Comic Fiesta, scoff at it and dismiss it as a marketing exercise by an event management company. We’re glad to say that they’re a million miles away from the truth. Comic Fiesta was started by a group of people who wanted to bring the Malaysian ACG fans together to share and showcase their interests and skills.

The event may have grown in size, but that core belief has never changed. Comic Fiesta has, is, and always will be a non-profit event created by fans, for fans. We’re as passionate about Comic Fiesta as you are, and only passion can keep us running this long. We’re nowhere near done, and you should definitely be keeping an eye out for what we have in store!

Comic Fiesta 2011 will be held on 17 & 18 December 2011 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Tickets are already available for pre-ordering. Click here for more info and to book your tickets at a special early-bird price.