Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
Abu Dhabi is set to become a haven for anime enthusiasts as the inaugural Animenia Abu Dhabi festival takes over Manarat Al Saadiyat from October 23-27.
Organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and event agency BRAG, this five-day extravaganza celebrates the vibrant anime fandom in the region, transforming the venue into a slice of Neo-Tokyo.
Animenia will host an international cosplay competition, with more than Dh400,000 in prizes, the most ever offered in an anime festival anywhere in the world, expected to draw top cosplayers from around the world. Fans dress up as their favourite characters from anime, video games, or comics to compete in costume contests.
Complete with meet-and-greets from anime directors, voice actors, manga artists and video game creators, a gaming hub, and engaging workshops, the festival will allow guests to immerse themselves in the boundless creativity of anime. Fans can step into themed exhibits, meet their favourite characters, snack on Japanese street food, and collect exclusive anime and manga merchandise. Organisers say that there are also many top-secret surprises.
Festival goers will be fully immersed in their favourite shows, with interactive themed exhibits bringing them to life. Anime lovers will meet fan-favourite characters like Naruto, Eren Jaeger from Attack on Titan and Yuji Itadori from Jujutsu Kaisen. Additionally, fans of Sanrio will delight in seeing Hello Kitty.
Iconic scenes and full-scale anime recreations will add to the excitement of the festival, providing endless photo opportunities for all.
Animenia will feature an array of non-stop entertainment, including Japanese shows, J-Pop concerts, jaw-dropping acrobatic displays, and talk sessions. Fans can expect a stellar lineup of musical acts.
Yoko Takahashi, known for her hit song in Neon Genesis Evangelion, will kicking off the festival. Headliners Rasha Rizk, Syrian singer-songwriter and cartoon voice actress, who will take to the stage on October 25 and J-Pop band Flow on the following day. They will be accompanied by Anime singer Mojo and iconic band Angela respectively.
Additionally, Japanese songstress Junna will captivate audiences up until October 25, while b-boy dance unit Real Akiba Boyz will energise the crowd with performances from October 24t to 26. Powerglove, an American instrumental video game cover band, performing on October 26 and opening up the Cosplay competition. For the festival’s grand finale will see anime-inspired rock bands Blinding Sunrise, Koyomi, Catch Me Yesterday and Snowkel.
Throughout the festival, Japanese brand Tamiya will have a dedicated station where fans can design and create their own car models for race tournaments. Gunpla will also offer creative sessions, allowing enthusiasts to build intricate model kits of mecha machinery from Bandai’s Gundam multiverse.
A series of manga artists, voice actors, and video game creators will be hosting interactive meet-and-greets for fans, the perfect opportunity to get autographs, take photos, or simply have a memorable conversation with the creative minds behind these shows. Animenia will further feature informative Q&A sessions, allowing fans to delve deeper into the ingenuity behind beloved manga and video games.
Among the familiar faces will be Yutaka Abe, who worked on the world-famous anime and manga series Detective Conan, while a session with Ryo Horikawa, the iconic voice of Vegeta from Dragon Ball and Captain Falcon from Super Smash Bros, will offer the chance to meet one of the most legendary voice actors in anime.
Kenji Watanabe, the creative mind behind the Digimon Digital World series, Naoto Ohshima, the artist responsible for designing Sonic the Hedgehog, Kikuko Inoue, the famed voice actress, singer, and narrator, and Yoko Shimomura, legendary music composer of Kingdom Hearts and Super Mario RPG, will also make appearances, rounding out a star-studded list of guests with many more to be announced soon.
Animenia will showcase authentic Tokyo street food with a selection of dining options, featuring everything from ramen to mochi, bringing the vibrant flavours of Japan right to Abu Dhabi. The festival will also boast an impressive lineup of regional and international brands, with a mix of anime accessories, collectable merchandise, and trendy anime streetwear.
Find themed installations in a designated gaming hub featuring a VR zone, Esports zone, Japanese-style arcade games, a central stage with Anime-inspired competitions and a publisher’s zone, all in partnership with AD Gaming. Fans can also unleash their creativity with an exciting lineup of Japanese and anime-themed workshops, offering entertainment for visitors of all ages.
