The anime craze appears to be far from over on our side of the world as a brand new themed festival has just been announced for next month in Abu Dhabi. Dubbed Animenia, the dedicated gathering is expected to run from Oct. 23-27 in Manarat al Saadiyat, with a slew of activities and exciting attractions lined up for fans and prospective visitors.
Based on the information shared so far, we know that an epic cosplay competition will be held, with a whopping prize pool of AED 400,000 ($100K) up for grabs. Judges for the event include Naythero, a renowned art director and martial artist; Rian CYD, who’s also a popular cosplayer as well as a costume maker; Sabcosplay, SayoChuu, and Yuegene Fay, who are all also recognized names in the anime community. Interested participants have until Oct. 20 to sign up.
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It has also been revealed that future attendees will be able to explore “full-scale recreations of their favorite anime scenes, classic Japanese-inspired Arabic cartoons, daring Harajuku streetwear, Tokyo street food, and J-Pop performances” across five days of cultural festivities. From catering kiosks to pop-up shops and immersive exhibits, guests will have an array of experiences at their fingertips to choose from.
Tickets are now available for purchase, priced at AED 65 ($17) for single weekday passes, AED 125 ($34) for single weekend entries, and AED 425 ($115) for full access to the entire event. However, please note that these tickets do not cover entry to the concerts and meet-and-greet sessions, which will need to be purchased separately.
