Anime mania is taking over Manarat Al Saadiyat for five days with the inaugural Animenia Abu Dhabi festival, set to take place from 23 to 27 October. Organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and leading event agency BRAG, the festival will celebrate the whimsical world of anime, transporting fans and gamers into the vibrant world of Neo-Tokyo without ever leaving Abu Dhabi.
Taking place against the stunning beachfront backdrop of Saadiyat Island, Animenia will celebrate the thriving anime fandom in the region. This exciting event offers travellers and residents the chance to meet some of the biggest names in anime and video gaming, along with a stellar lineup of concerts, J-Pop performances, and appearances from popular shows.
Setting a new standard for anime festivals, Animenia will host an international cosplay competition, where fans dress up as their favourite characters from anime, video games, or comics to compete in costume contests. With more than AED 400,000 in prizes, the most ever offered in an anime festival anywhere in the world, this competition is expected to draw top cosplayers from around the world.
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 will step into themed exhibits, meet their favourite characters, snack on Japanese street food, and collect exclusive anime and manga merchandise.
While some thrilling surprises remain top-secret, here’s a taste of what’s in store for fans:
The Best of Anime
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.
Live Entertainment
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, including headliners Rasha Rizk, Syrian singer-songwriter and cartoon voice actress, who will take to the stage on 25 October and legendary J-Pop band Flow on the following day. They will be accompanied by Anime singer Mojo and iconic band Angela respectively.
Kicking off the festival on Wednesday 23 October, attendees can look to a performance from the legend herself, Yoko Takahashi, known for her hit song in Neon Genesis Evangelion. Additionally, Japanese songstress Junna will captivate audiences up until 25 October, while b-boy dance unit Real Akiba Boyz will energise the crowd with performances from Thursday 24th to Saturday 26th. Joining the exciting lineup for the first time ever in the region are Powerglove, an American instrumental video game cover band, performing on Saturday and opening up the Cosplay competition. All this will lead up to the festival’s grand finale on Sunday 27th, when anime-inspired rock bands Blinding Sunrise, Koyomi, Catch me Yesterday and Snowkel will give an unforgettable closing show.
Gaming and Workshops
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.
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.
Retail and Street Food
Animenia will showcase delicious and authentic Tokyo street food with a selection of tantalising dining options, featuring everything from mouthwatering ramen to sweet 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 an eclectic mix of anime accessories, collectable merchandise, and trendy anime streetwear.
Anime Directors, Manga Artists, and Voice Actors
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 incredible 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.
Cosplay Competition
Animenia is hosting the ultimate cosplay competition with a prize pool of over AED 400,000, the biggest prize ever offered in an anime festival. With solo and group categories and special awards for Best in Craftsmanship, Best in Performance, and Best in Anime Adaptation, the competition offers numerous opportunities to win big.
Judging this epic competition will be cosplay legends Yuegene Fay from Thailand, Rian CYD from Indonesia, Naythero from France, and SayoChuu and SabCosplay from Latvia, with special guests including Reika from Japan and VEGA Cosplay from Saudi Arabia also scheduled to be in attendance. Register by 20 October at www.animeniaabudhabi.com for the chance to showcase your talent and take home the cash prize.
Ticket Pricing
Tickets are now on sale at animeniaabudhabi.com and www.ticketmaster.ae. Visitors can buy a Festival Day Pass starting from AED 65 and a limited number of 5-Day Festival Passes at AED 425. Concert tickets, meet and greet tickets, and other passes will be announced soon.
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