SMASH! SYDNEY MANGA AND ANIME CONVENTION
It’s the 10th Anniversary of the annual Sydney Manga and Anime Show – best known as the SMASH! Convention – and there’s a lot to celebrate.
Begun in 2007 in an effort to incorporate the art and culture that was missing from other conventions at the time, the first show attracted a modest crowd of 1,435 people. Since then it has seen an exponential growth in popularity, with last years attendance estimated at over 14,000. Susan Ma, a representative from SMASH!, correlates this with an ever increasing interest in all Japanese culture.
“Anime and manga is a first step to getting to know what Japan is all about, because it plays such an important role as part of the culture,” said Ma. She explained that many fans who grew up watching anime classics like Pokemon, Sailor Moon, and Dragon Ball Z, will, once they’re in their twenties, invest time and money into exploring Japanese pop culture more deeply.
SMASH! is the biggest manga and anime convention in Australia. While it doesn’t compare in size to events in the UK and America, it has earned international recognition, affording it the power to pull in some prestigious celebrities.
“We’ve got special guests from Japan that actually voice the characters from anime series…these guests are very hard to get in other conventions,” said Ma.
Cosplay is an integral part of manga and anime culture. The convention will feature a famous Thai cosplayer who will be demonstrating how to do make-up and hair and even how to make armour. There will also be cosplay games and competitions.
Another highlight is the “Maid Cafe” where waitresses dress in cute maid uniforms and give intermittent performances.
The two day show will include guest panels, artworks and competitions, workshops on how to draw anime and make costumes, exhibitor stalls, over 120 artists, food and drink (western and Japanese) and… “There’ll be big plushies walking around as well”.
Worth the price of admission alone. (RB)
Aug 20–21, Sat 8am-6pm (Anniversary Party 7pm-10.30pm), Sun 8am-5pm. Rosehill Gardens, James Ruse Drive, Rosehill. $35-$65 (multi-passes available). Tickets & info: www.smash.org.au
BY RITA BRATOVICH
