The convention circuit has seen a great upheaval over the past couple of years. Bigger conventions like AsiaPop Comicon, ToyCon PopLife Fan X, and Cosplay Mania have become the annual convention triumvirate that pop-culture fans are waiting for; drawing some attention away from the smaller conventions that have been happening since the early 2000s. However,…
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Fandom isn't something people typically associate with the phrase "serious business". But should we really be surprised? Especially given the amount of personal, emotional, and – let's be frank – financial investment that often go into fan hobbies. Fan gatherings are a great example of fans taking all of those things and building spaces for…
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In general, romance is a genre of hopefulness. In certain ways, it’s full of very idealized stories where readers and viewers place their hopes and dreams on the shoulders of characters and their happiness. There are struggles and there is conflict, but fans are generally assured of their “happy endings.” Romance isn’t everyone’s cup of…
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It only makes perfect sense for a basketball anime to make landfall in the Pearl of the Orient. Barangay 143 will be a gritty Manila-based basketball anime to air in the Philippines next year. Who'd have thought? Barangay 143 will be produced by the partnership of Singapore-based media company August Media Holdings, Japanese national broadcaster TV Asahi, and of…
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Cosmania 2016 is a few days away and one of the most-awaited acts coming is Iida Riho (飯田里穂)! Iida Riho, also known as Rippi in the voice-acting industry, has led a storied career in the entertainment industry. At the age of 11, she appeared on Tensai Terebi Kun Max and many other TV shows. Rippi also has…
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Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV begins with a packed montage of heavy exposition, detailing the world of Eos and the conflict between the empire of Niflheim and the kingdom of Lucis. The scenes are beautifully rendered, but are so fast-paced that the audience ends up confused. This pretty much sets up the tone for the rest…
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