The biggest pop culture event is back again this year, with more personalities, events and product showcases to look forward to. Whether you and your kids love superheroes, anime and manga, cosplay, video games or toys, there’s something for everyone. Here’s our guide to what you can expect and the highlights we are excited about this year!
Singapore Toy, Game & Comic Convention (STGCC) 2016 is held on September 10 and 11, 10 am to 8 pm, at Marina Bay Sands, Sands Expo & Convention Center Halls E & F. Tickets from $19. Visit www.singaporetgcc.com for more information.
Text: Sean Tan
Want to meet and take photos with Spiderman, Iron Man or Captain America? You won’t get more chances than at STGCC, where both professional and amateur cosplayers in superhero costumes turn up in droves to wow the crowds.
Whether you are a collector or just a casual fan, you will marvel at the amount of new products on display, from detailed statues, fun action figures and cute soft toys to collectible prints, comics and accessories – kids will love them!
Fans of Tokidoki, the popular cute characters created by Italian artist Simone Legno (right in picture), which has garnered a cult following, will be delighted that it’s back again this year. You can also buy exclusive products like the limited edition lanyard. Don’t miss the chance to meet Simone too as he will be around to sign autographs and take photos.
Last year at STGCC 2015, the queue for Medicom’s Bearbrick exclusive (the “Jiang Shi” Bearbrick pictured here) was insane… stretching over a few hundred people waiting for up to two hours to get their hands on the exclusive. We are guessing this year the booth will just be as crazy, as they will be releasing an exclusive Mystery Bearbrick specially created with well-known Hong Kong toy maker Hot Toys for pre-order. Be there early to queue up if you are a fan!
If you love cute toys, be prepared! STGCC 2016 will be bringing in lots of independent toy companies and designers who will present their quirky and adorable works. We are especially in love with the super cute monsters by Seoul-based Korean creatives Sticky Monster Lab – look at those tumblers!
Pokémon Go is like the biggest thing right now, so of course you can look forward to Pokémon merchandise like custom Pokéballs and hilarious postcards with localised Pokémon humour. Pssst… we also heard that MBS (where STGCC is held) is a hotspot right now for lots of rare Pokémons in Pokémon Go, so take some time out to catch them when you are there!
He’s won many awards for his works in comics and graphic novels, and his latest book, The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye, a tribute to the history of Singapore, has been much lauded. Meet Sonny at his booth and be sure to get an autographed copy of his book if you haven’t already own it – a highly-recommended read for both adults and kids.
Expect to see famous cosplayers at STGCC every year. This year, the brilliant Ukrainian cosplayer Pugoffka (pictured) and the popular Taiwanese cosplayer King are slated to appear.
This is one of the main highlights last year at STGCC. See whether you can guess who will win the competition this year.
Dress your kids up in their favourite superhero, villain or cartoon costumes for a fun parade and they can win prizes if selected for best costumes. Children aged five to 12 years old can take part. The parade is held on Sunday, September 11.
Undoubtedly the events most fans and pop culture geeks look forward to the most – the Walk of Fame is where you will be able to meet artists and creators for autographs and photo taking. This year, look out for famous personalities like comic book writer Nick Spencer, toy artist Jon-Paul Kaiser, and also two very talented female artists – Hwei Lim from Malaysia and Emma Rios from Spain, whose beautiful drawings we saw at the media preview.
What’s a pop culture event without the greatest and most famous pop culture movie of all time? For sure you will see lots of Star Wars cosplayers, toys and comics. The famous 501st Legion, known for their huge cosplay troops, will be there too so don’t miss a photo op!