From left: Jamaica Cosplay Club’s Ricardo Carter is with the top three contestants in the Jamaica Cosplay Championship – Jerome Wilson, second; Sebastian Thomas, first place; and Steffi Singh, third place. The competition was held on the final day of AnimeCom Fest 2022 at the Chinese Benevolent Association in St Andrew on July 31. (Photos: Rory Daley)
FOR two days, guests attending AnimeCom Fest 2022 (ACF2022) were immersed in Asian pop culture at the Chinese Benevolent Association on Old Hope Road in St Andrew.
The event was held from Saturday, July 30 to Sunday, July 31, 2022.
The organizers of the event were pleased with the turnout.
“What can I say? This is far beyond a success. This year we have seen a turnout that rivals a combination of all four previous years,” said Ricardo Carter of the Jamaica Cosplay Club (JCC), organizer of the event.
The post-COVID-19 restrictions resulted in not only releasing pent-up demand, but also mixing old and new fans of the genre. Guests had plenty to keep them busy over the two days as the event’s new location, their largest ever, allowed for a massive line-up of vendors and activity spots featuring everything from Asian pop culture themed comics, cartoons , movies, video games, clothing and jewelry for dance competitions, dance exhibitions and a wide variety of competitions. The more artistically inclined can listen to panel discussions on topics affecting the industry and even visit education-focused booths.
“We’re here trying to build something for the creative community. We had Carimac [Caribbean School of Media and Communication]Jamaica Animation Nation Network, Game Developers Society of Jamaica, Anime Nerds of Jamaica and Valkyries of Arcadia, and even more,” Carter told The Jamaica Observer.
Attendees were encouraged to come in costume and participate in the main event, the cosplay contest, which had a great array of prizes. Sunday, July 31 saw the impressive finals.
“I’m very pleased with the entries. As everyone can see, this is like nothing ever done in Jamaica. I thought in 2019, when he had our last outdoor event, I didn’t know how we were going to top it .but this year we took the covers off,” Carter said.
The final had nearly 30 entrants, but many, when they saw the level of competition they faced, withdrew from the event – and rightly so, as the top nine players made it difficult for the judges. It was a tense moment as they made their decisions known to the anxiously awaiting crowd.
Sebastian Thomas, who finished third in 2019, rose to the top spot with a brilliant performance, wearing his detailed replica of the Wing Exia robot from the Japanese anime Gundam 00.
“I am beyond words, I am very excited to have won such a prestigious event,” said Thomas.
The suit took three months to make, with active lighting elements and moving weapons. It was his performance that brought him over the top with the judges and the crowd as he battled with his young daughter Mia, also in costume, through a miniature city. Behind Thomas, Jerome Wilson and Steffi Singh were equally impressive. It was a tearful moment for Wilson as the hard work put into his costume, Dreadking Rathalos from the video game Monster hunter, it paid off. Singh, also known for her spectacular costumes, presented her most elaborate yet, a handmade version of Seth Knightroad.
In addition to their cash prizes, all three will travel to Trinidad to represent Jamaica at the Caribbean Cosplay Championship in Trinidad & Tobago.
Fans of Asian pop culture fill the Chinese Benevolent Association, St Andrew, for two days of AnimeCom Fest recently.
JaK’D (Jamaica Cosplay Dancers) in action at AnimeCom Fest 2022.
Cosplayers (from left) Tianna Powell, Shauna-Kay Campbell and Trisean Anderson are out in full force for AnimeCom Fest 2022 held at the Chinese Benevolent Society on Old Hope Road in St Andrew recently.
