Comic Con Africa, the continent’s premier pop culture event, is gearing up for an unforgettable experience this year, with a special focus on anime and Japanese pop culture. Scheduled from September 22 to 25, 2023, at the Johannesburg Expo Centre (Nasrec), this year’s event promises to be a haven for us anime enthusiasts.

Here’s a sneak peek at what you can expect at the convention that we anime fans would enjoy: 

• Special Guests 
• OTAKU TOWN
• Tabletop Gaming
• Cosplay Extravaganza
• Artist Alley and Shopping

Special Guests: 

Special guests are invited to the event to interact with the fans, share their experiences, and participate in various activities. Some of the special guests at Comic Con Africa are:

Veronica Taylor

Veronica Taylor, is an American voice actress who has voiced Ash Ketchum from 1998 to 2006, as well as his mother, Delia Ketchum, his companion, May, and various other characters in the main series and its associated movies. She is also known for her roles in other popular anime shows, such as Amelia Wil Tesla Seyruun in The Slayers, Nico Robin in the first dub of One Piece, and April O’Neil in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This is a rare opportunity to see and learn from one of the most influential voices in the anime industry.

• Facebook: Veronica Taylor
• Twitter: @TheVeronicaT
• Instagram: @theveronicataylor

The Anime Man

One of the most influential voices in the anime and manga community, The Anime Man, will be attending Comic Con Africa as a special guest. Known for his YouTube channel’s entertaining and insightful content, he has a dedicated fanbase of millions. His passion for Japanese animation and extensive knowledge of anime, manga, and Japanese culture make him a highly anticipated guest at the event.

• YouTube: TheAnimeMan
• Twitter: @TheAn1meMan
• Instagram: @joey.the.anime.man
• Patreon: The Anime Man
• Twitch: TheAn1meMan

Akidearest 

Joining The Anime Man is another prominent anime YouTuber, Akidearest. With her engaging content that delves into various aspects of anime, manga, and Japanese pop culture, Akidearest has captured the hearts of anime enthusiasts worldwide. Her presence adds an extra layer of excitement for fans.

• YouTube: akidearest
• Twitter: @akidearest
• Instagram: akidearest
• TikTok: itsakidearest
• Patreon: Akidearest

Jack Liang

Jack Liang is the Executive Producer and Vice President of International Business Development and Licencing at Polygon Pictures, a Japanese 3DCG animation studio that has produced many acclaimed anime series and films. He is passionate about creating and sharing stories that resonate with audiences around the world. He believes that animation is a universal language that can transcend cultural barriers and connect people through emotions and imagination. He is also committed to nurturing and empowering the next generation of animators and storytellers in Asia and beyond.

Here are some of the projects he has worked on:

• Ajin: International Business Development, International Sales
• Ajin: International Business Development, International Sales
• Blame!: Executive producer
• Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters: Supervising Staff
• Knights of Sidonia: Battle for Planet Nine: International Business Development, International Sales
• Transformers: Robots in Disguise: Producer
• Mech Cadets: Executive producer

OTAKU TOWN

This is a first for anime fans attending Comic Con Africa. Otaku Town is a dream come true. This immersive zone celebrates all things anime and Japanese culture, offering exhibits, authentic Japanese cuisine (There will be a food stall and sushi making demonstrations), and a chance to meet popular YouTubers like Akidearest and The Anime Man.

Comic Con Africa recognises the rising popularity of anime in South Africa and is dedicating a portion of the event to anime culture. From Japanese music openings to cosplay workshops, the event will immerse attendees in the world of anime. There will also be watch parties for popular anime series.

This area will also include activities like talks around Japanese pop culture, mech painting with Gunpla SA, drawing guides for shounen characters, learning Japanese, Karate classes (probably demonstrations), and more.

On Sunday and Monday, “Boruto: Naruto the Movie” will be shown. We will know closer to the time what other anime streaming there will be.

Tabletop Gaming

Anime gamers will have a blast with a wide range of gaming options, including tournaments, free-to-play zones, and accessories. Like card game tournaments such as Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh! This year, Comic Con Africa managed to get the Yu-Gi-Oh World Championship Qualifier in South Africa to be hosted at the convention.

The Yu-Gi-Oh World Championship is an international, invitational tournament that determines the world’s No.1 Duelist in three categories: Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game (TCG), Yu-Gi-Oh! Official Card Game (OCG), and Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links. The tournament is held annually, most commonly in Japan, between the top-ranked Duelists of various countries. In order to receive an invitation to the World Championship, a player has to earn an invite at their respective region’s World Championship Qualifiers tournament. Which is exciting news and helps to boost our country regarding gaming and anime.

Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh are two of the most popular trading card games in the world, based on the franchises of the same name. Both games involve collecting cards that feature different characters, creatures, and items from their respective universes, and using them to battle against other players in strategic and competitive matches.

Cosplay Extravaganza

Whether casual or competitive, cosplayers and dress-upers will find plenty to enjoy at Comic Con Africa. There will be casual cosplay competitions, the Nintendo Cosplay Competition, and the Championships of Cosplay. International guest cosplayers will also be in attendance.

The International Guest Cosplayers

PRINCESS SACHIKO

Princess Sachiko, is an international cosplayer and content creator from South Africa who has a passion for all things cute and geeky. Princess Sachiko, or Sachi for short, is a professional cosplayer who has been cosplaying since 2012. She has cosplayed characters from various anime, games, and movies, such as Sailor Moon, Pokemon, Disney, and more. She also likes to create original characters and designs, such as her signature Princess Sachiko persona. She is not only a cosplayer, but also a streamer, a gamer, a kawaii content creator, and a social media personality.

If you want to follow Princess Sachiko and see her amazing cosplay and content creations, you can find her on various social media platforms:

• TikTok: @sachi_hime96
• Instagram: @princess___sachiko
• YouTube: Princess Sachiko
• Twitter: @princess_sachiko
• Twitch: @Princess_Sachiko

Har Fie

Har Fie, is an international cosplayer and content creator from the UK who has a talent for bringing anime characters to life. He is a social media star and content creator who is best known for his har_fie TikTok account, where he posts anime cosplay videos. He often cosplays characters from My Hero Academia, such as Bakugo, Todoroki, and Deku. He has gained over 1.4 million followers on the video platform with his impressive cosplay skills and entertaining personality.

If you want to follow Har Fie and see his amazing cosplay and content creations, you can find him on various social media platforms:

• YouTube: Har Fie,
• Instagram: @har_fie,
• Twitter: @Har_FieCreative
• TikTok: @har_fie

SAKURA FLOR

Sakuraflor, is an international cosplayer from the Netherlands who makes amazing costumes and shares her passion with the world. Sakuraflor, or Saku for short, is a full-time cosplayer who loves to make costumes and vibe with everyone. She has cosplayed characters from various anime, games, movies, and comics, such as Naruto, Final Fantasy, Harry Potter, Marvel, and more. She also likes to experiment with different styles and materials, such as foam, fabric, leather, and resin.

If you want to follow Sakuraflor and see her amazing cosplay creations, you can find her on various social media platforms:

• Facebook: @Sakuraflor.Art
• TikTok: @mugiwa3az
• Instagram: @sakuraflorr
• YouTube: Positivity Twins
• Twitter: @Sakuraflor_

Artist Alley and Shopping

Explore over 150 artist stands in the Artist Alley (which will be taking up an entire hall of the con), where you can discover unique artwork, fan fiction, and more. The event also offers a shopping paradise with exclusive merchandise, collectibles, comics, apparel, and memorabilia. There is an abundance of amazing and innovative anime fan art in the Artist Alley.

There are plenty of stores that will be there that will also be selling anime merchandise. This ranges from figurines, manga, clothing, swords, DVD’s, shoes, stickers, posters, mousepads, and so much more. There will be something for nearly every fandom.

Comic Con Africa 2023 promises an unforgettable experience for anime and pop culture enthusiasts. Secure your tickets with Howler and get ready to dive into the world of anime, gaming, cosplay, and more. Saturday is already sold out! Don’t miss out on the ultimate pop culture and gaming festival!