Nintendo was among the largest exhibitors at the combined Comic Exhibition, Taiwan Gamers-Con International and Taipei Movie & Toys Convention at Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Hall that ended on July 27.
Russell Flannery
The popular Comic-Con gathering for pop culture fans in San Diego grabbed U.S. headlines over the weekend with big-name celebrity attendees including Ryan Gosling. Yet across the Pacific, Taiwan’s annual Comic Exhibition humbled the American event in overall turnout with roughly 600,000 visitors amid the global tech hub’s current economic boom and continuing local popularity of animated products from nearby Japan.
The 25th Comic Exhibition and two simultaneous entertainment shows brought together about 120 exhibitors and more than 1,200 booths over five days that ended yesterday. The exhibition was held with the Taiwan Gamers-Con International and the 10th Taipei Movie & Toys Convention at Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Hall.
Fans of comics, animation, gaming and other pop culture were treated to more than 100 events featuring a variety of Japanese voice actors, creators from Taiwan, Japan and South Korea, and idol groups from Taiwan and Japan, said Roger Kao, secretary general of the Chinese Animation & Comic Publishers Association, one of the event’s main organizers. The exhibition is held during the summer to make it more convenient for students to attend, Kao said in an interview at the show. Ticket buyers aged 19 through 39 account for about 85% of visitors, according to association figures.
Japan dominates the Taiwan market for animated products, and speakers gaining the most attention included Japanese manga artists Yoshiaki, creator of “Rai Rai Rai,” and Kouji Miura, creator of “Blue Box,” who held signing events. Mia Sorahana, author of “A Love Too Captivating,” also joined, as did Teki Yatsuda, the creator of “Myther.” Japan’s success comes in part from its early entry into the animation entertainment field, Kao said.
Nintendo had one of the largest booth areas and showed demonstrations of its “Pikmin” series among other attractions. Among other international companies, Marvel was on hand, as well as Lego, which promoted its One Piece series with Netflix. Hong Kong’s Medialink Group was among of exhibitors showing off bags and accessories. Mainland China didn’t have a high-profile presence, but video game Identify V from NetEase was promoted. Total revenue generated at the exhibition was expected to exceed NT$300 million, or about $9 million.
Crowds packed the Taiwan World Trade Center event that ended on Monday.
Russell Flannery
VTubers (Virtual YouTubers) — digital creators who appear onscreen as an atavar rather than with their real face — made up a growing presence at the event. “VTubers are very fresh and will be growing more than expected over the next three years,” Kao said. Overseas attendees notably came from Japan, South Korea and Thailand, he said.
The event was held against a backdrop of Taiwan’s latest economic boom. GDP growth this year will top 10%, according to a forecast by the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research last week. The tech-heavy benchmark stock index of the Taiwan Stock Exchange has gained more than three quarters in the past year.
Upcoming ACG events in Taiwan include the International ACG Expo in Kaohsiung on Oct. 9-12.
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