Flooded inauguration of the event, which will bring together thousands of Japanese culture enthusiasts at the Víctor Villegas Auditorium this weekend
The Murcia Manga Fair this Friday lifted the curtain in the midst of a downpour that left early risers wishing they had come dressed as Kasa-obake, an umbrella-shaped ghost that is part of Japanese popular folklore. Still, the storm didn’t deter the several hundred “otakus” who attended their annual early-morning rendezvous with Japanese culture, a venue that expects some 35,000 people this weekend. The initial rain was fleeting and respite the attendees for the rest of the day, a good thing for the attendees who were featured as their favorite characters, in many cases synonymous with elaborate make-up incompatible with water.
It should be emphasized that he is more than just a costume. The word falls short to describe an art that goes beyond putting on a suit: its design and preparation, usually by hand, can take several weeks or months, and even when worn it is a element of dramatic interpretation in the form of poses or small choreographies. That is why the term ‘cosplay’ was coined, a practice that over the years has become the most visible face of the event, something that is promoted by the organization itself. It’s not for nothing that the first day of the event is free for those who attend in costume, some of the guests of the edition are nationally known cosplayers, such as Eothen, Jackwise, Darka and Alisyuon, and there are also competitions and activities related to this practice.
The creations of the assistants, admirable for the work they entail, are also an x-ray of the latest trends in the world. The characters from ‘Pokémon’, ‘Naruto’ and ‘One Piece’ return, but it is striking how new trends are emerging, such as ‘Chainsaw Man’ and the video game ‘Genshin Impact’, two universes that, with barely two years of experience They have become crowd favorites.
“There are many who are much like me,” says a Murcian dressed as Tartaglia, one of the “Genshin Impact” characters with the most followers. He even acknowledges that “it’s the second consecutive year” that he chooses to interpret it. Another fan of that video game, who is her first time coming to the show in Murcia, has chosen to embody Hu Tao. “I chose it because it was the simplest character, they all have a lot of detail, and yet it took me a long time to do it,” he confesses, posing to show off his creation. “I’m glad I did it instead of buying it outright, there’s a sense of accomplishment,” he clearly explains proudly.
It is also remarkable how the premiere of the series “Rings of Power” has revived interest in Tolkien’s work. Through Víctor Villegas’ spaces it was possible to see more than one Gandalf this Friday and also a few stalls where you can buy books and other items related to the work of the father of Middle-earth. Tolkenian is also the name of Narsil, who was used to baptize the sword of Elendil, but also a young woman from Murcia who, laughing, swore it is written on her ID. It’s her fifth year attending, this time dressed as Kurapika, from ‘Hunter x Hunter’, and she believes the greatest value of the event is that it allows her to meet other people with similar tastes: “You’re always meeting new people, they ask you for photos and eventually you ask them for Instagram.” Her friend Marina, another veteran with six salons in her history, shares her thoughts and is also grateful for the chance to broaden her horizons. broadening with new concerns, “such as K-pop and video games”, which are becoming increasingly important in programming with the Over the years, his ‘cosplay’ is a female reinterpretation of Roronoa Zoro, one of the pirates of ‘One Piece’.
A Lucy fresh out of the ‘Cyberpunk: Edgerunners’ series, especially appreciates the close and personal treatment she finds at the Murcia Manga Show, a sensation that puts her above other similar events hosted in other cities. “I’ve been coming here for several years. I’ve gone to other salons and the ones in Murcia are nicer,” he says.
Although it is the most colorful side, the Murcia Manga Fair is more than a space to show off ‘cosplays’. The program, which runs throughout the weekend, includes more than 350 activities, such as workshops, conferences, exhibitions and concerts. One of the big novelties this year is the premiere of ‘Rescue of Minds’, a video game set in a virtual recreation of the event itself, where players can complete a series of missions that blur the line between reality and fantasy.
In the ‘Game Freeplay’ area, the Arcade Vintage association, responsible for the Ibi Video Game Museum, has offered visitors a journey through the history of interactive leisure, from the classic Sega Mega Drive to the latest installment of ‘God of War’, this launched for PlayStation 5 this week, goes through some mythical arcade games like ‘Street Fighter’. On the ground floor, dance games have shown that while they’re not quite as fashionable as they were at the turn of the century, they’re still a safe bet for loosening your inhibitions and releasing endorphins.
Another year, artist support is essential and at the Murcia Manga Fair you can buy works directly from renowned illustrators such as Jennifer Giner or Sonia Matas, and meet them in person. Inside the exhibition area is a space dedicated to the work of Madrid cartoonist Fernando Dagnino, who is part of the creative team of the comic ‘Blade Runner: Origins’ and has worked on several DC headliners, such as ‘Supergirl’, ‘Teen Titans’ and ‘The Suicide Squad’, as well as a section devoted to a collection of figures from ‘Dragon Ball’, classic board games and ‘gunplas’.
As far as the shopping area is concerned, the range of t-shirts, posters, figures and other objects of pleasure for ‘nerds’ is overwhelming. “There’s so much I don’t know what to spend my money on,” lamented an assistant next to a clothing stall inspired by the world’s most popular characters. In any case, you can pay by card.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
