AMEINAH ALZEYOUDI (ABU DHABI)
Animenia Abu Dhabi, which is under way at Manarat Al Saadiyat from February 11 to 15, brings with it five days of anime, cosplay, music, food and other vibrant experiences.
In what organisers refer to as a “Neo-Tokyo” experience in the UAE capital, the eagerly awaited festival immerses visitors in the heart of Japanese pop culture by fusing innovation, nostalgia and camaraderie.
This year’s event encourages attendees to venture beyond the main stages and discover the hidden treasures of anime culture, with its colourful characters roaming the festival grounds and oddball stores with neon signage. Bold Harajuku-inspired fashion exhibits and nostalgic cartoon zones invite guests to enter the worlds of their favourite series through full-scale anime scene recreations.
The jam-packed five-day itinerary includes street cuisine straight from Tokyo, lively J-Pop performances, and colourful cosplay competitions.
The event has grown to be a must-see attraction for anime aficionados around the region, offering a space for fans to freely and imaginatively showcase their passion.
The annual event is a highlight on Adnan Alajami’s calendar.
“I’m here because I’m a huge anime fan and I love events that feature my favourite characters and let us cosplay,” he remarked.
He added: “I’ve done this twice. My friends and I had a great first experience at Animenia, so we will definitely be returning.”
Alajami comes especially to meet well-known characters and to shop for collectibles. “I’m looking forward to shopping and seeing some of my favourite personalities. I can get original manga here, which I normally collect, so it’s a terrific place for me to shop.”
He describes the experience as a “live-action anime”. “We all agree on cosplaying our favourite characters and discovering new ones here, where culture and community development collide,” he added.
Other highlights include meeting the voice actors and sampling new foods, said the die-hard Naruto fan.
He shared: “I’ve viewed every episode from every season on repeat. I became interested in anime culture because of the anime, which truly delights me. Meeting the Naruto voice actor or an authentic cosplayer is a dream come true and could brighten my entire year.”
Maryam Albloushi, a tourist attending Animenia for the first time, expressed her enthusiasm for the immersive experiences. “Even though I’ve always enjoyed Japanese culture, it’s amazing to see it so vibrantly shown in Abu Dhabi. You feel as though you’ve entered a different universe because of the meticulous attention to detail in the costumes and set designs."
“The festival provides more than just entertainment,” Albloushi continued. “Finding your community is more important than simply enjoying anime. The atmosphere here is so friendly and upbeat since everyone has the same desire.”