It’s official. People can’t get enough of
superheroes. Just looking at how much money the Avengers movie has
raked in at the box-office, you know without a doubt that we are in a
new age of superhero love. All the caped crusaders, cosmic characters
and crime fighters we grew up with have taken on new faces and forms,
and they are everywhere! In movies, on TV, in video games, theme parks
and countless merchandising; the best and the brightest of our childhood
memories have been ushered into a new age of Hollywood, and, baby,
nothings ever going to be the same again!
And as usual it’s the fans that generate the
excitement and the hype that make all this greatness possible. You see
them, gleeful in the movie theaters, staying after the closing credits,
knowing that the wonders of a secret extra scene come soon after. You
see them converging at comic book stores talking about who would be
best cast as General Zod in the new Superman movie. You bump into them
at mall hallways dressed in full regalia as their favorite superhero
character not in just run-of-the-mill store bought costumes, but in
fully functional Iron man armor. Yes, you know them --- because you are
one of them!
And they all know that the one event to look forward to, the one
they anticipate the whole year round is just around the corner. It is
the Philippines own mecca of all things pop culture and awesome. And
this year, on its 11th year, it promises to be the biggest pop-culture
event of all time! It’s June once again, and the Philippine TOYCON 2012
is ready to rumble!!
The Philippine TOYCON has been the benchmark of all
fan gatherings for the past 10 years, exceeding attendance records each
year and highlighting the best of all things pop-culture including
movies, anime, comics, gaming and of course pop-culture collectibles and
memorabilia.
Waiting in the wings of greatness is the final installment of the
Batman saga, with Christopher Nolan’s ultimate chapter in the Dark
Knight trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises. Warner Brothers launches
excitement for the movie with an exhibit of original movie props and
costumes and DC Comics launches its new line of Dark Knight-related
merchandise, apparel and toys. Other movies like The Bourne Legacy,
Flight of the Guardians and The Hobbit will also be featured. Also in
anticipation of the upcoming GI Joe: Retaliation movie and the 30th
anniversary of GI Joe action figures, members of the Philippine Toy
Soldiers 118 will put together the biggest GI Joe action figure diorama
playset in the Megatrade hall 2.
ABS CBN Interactive also brings on the biggest
gaming event of the year, Amped Fest 2012. Amped Fest in ToyCon 2012
will serve as the venue for the launch of the most awaited Relic of
Mystra and Version 4 releases of online gaming flagship brands, Shaiya
and WarRock. The new gaming roster for 2012 as well as an Android and
java mobile gaming portal will also be unveiled. GM Barbie Lee and a
host of other models will also cosplay favourite Amped characters.
Kapamilya (ABS-CBN Channel 2) celebrities will also make special
appearances for the Kapamilya gamers. Amped Fest will also serve both
the culmination of Netopia Cafe Wars and the opening of JBlaze Cup 2012,
where winners are sent to Korea to compete with other international
online gaming champions.
The convention also brings together the best
assembly of local and international artists to exhibit much anticipated
work. Seattle-based Hawaiian designer Arron “Angry Woebots” Martin
shows off his brand of pop graffiti and design in an exhibit of his
world famous panda art which has graced museum walls, skateboards, vinyl
figures and books. Friends from Komikon will also bring in the best of
our very own roster of artists: Heubert Khan Michael, Lui Antonio,
Gilbert Monsanto, Lyndon Gregorio, Ariel Atienza, Lei Muncal, Jon Zamar
& Sherry Zamar. The artist panel will be on hand to sign comics, do
sketches and fan art and sample the best local indie and mainstream
titles.
The biggest crowd drawer for the convention is
cosplay, and this year all costumed heroes revolve around the Cosplay
Universe. The Philippine Toycon features a huge space where cosplay
fans can enjoy photo-ops in six huge themed exhibit spaces: The Anime
Planet, Superhero Stars, Movie Nebula, Toy Supernova, Gaming Galaxy and
Kids Constellation, all of which make up the Cosplay Universe. Aside
from being photo backdrops, the Cosplay Universe will also be the
biggest Cosplay competition in the country which will feature celebrity
guest judges from the international Cosplay circuit and where
contestants vie for big prizes in six cosplay categories.
The TOYCON would not be complete without the biggest gallery of toy
collections from all over the Philippines which will highlight the best
and latest action figure releases and the most amazing customized toys,
statues, dolls and high end collectibles. The TOYCON Gallery will be
held inside the Megatrade function rooms which will serve as the museum
of the event.
The event’s main draw is the huge dealers’ floor
where anything and everything pop-culture can be found and purchased at
bargain prices. Almost 180 booths will be open to sell pop apparel,
cosplay accessories, superhero merchandise, fantasy and sci-fi
collectibles, comics, cards, and of course, all sorts of toys
overflowing from action figures, transformers, diecast cars, robots and
high-end statues and 1/6 scale Hot Toys.
Get ready for loads of prizes to be given away on
various competitions, games and contests. There will also be hourly
raffles and exclusive giveaways for lucky TOYCON attendees. Aside from
those, the convention will feature surprise guest celebrities from
ABS-CBN, band performances, live auctions, film-showings and panel
discussions from the best toy collectors from the local toy groups and
customizers.
The 11th Philippine TOYCON 2012 opens its gate on
Friday, June 15, with a special Retailers Day were collectors can
already start buying their favorite toy collection pieces, and continues
on through Father’s Day weekend on June 16 and 17 from 10:00 am to 9:00
pm at the Megatrade Halls 1 to 3, 5th level of the SM Megamall,
Mandaluyong City. The 11th Philippine TOYCON is presented by
Collectibles Unlimited and co-presented by the Megatrade Hall, SMART, DC
Comics, HERO and AMPed. Major sponsors are Maxi Collector, Toy
Kingdom, ABS-CBN Licensing and Publishing, Warner Brothers, and
Solar-UIP. Minor sponsors are Comic Odyssey, Sugar Free and Blue, CIIT,
Buhawi Studios, Big Boys Toystore, Great Toys, Psicom and Freshgear.
Media partners are ABS-CBN, Studio 23, 99.5 RT, Magic 89.9, 88db.com and Flipgeeks. Event partners are Anime Alliance, Komikon and Larc En Ciel Fan Club Philippines.
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