Anime and Manga fans are a diverse bunch. Some are entranced by comics, others follow film and television adaptations, there’s a whole world of gamers and of course the creative crowd who dedicate hours at the design table to cosplay. But whichever format, flavour or storylines you follow, there’s sure the be an exhibition, panel discussion, screening or interactive display to suit every kind of fan at Sydney's inaugural Madman Anime Festival.
Some of the international stars speaking or performing over the weekend at the affectionately named MadFest include Cherami Leigh, who’s known for her voice acting work in Sword Art Online, Sailor Moon and Soul Eater, and Sumire Morohoshi, who is the voice of Emma in The Promised Neverland. Popular Taiwanese cosplayer Ely will also make an appearance, along with directors and producers of animated series like Devil May Cry and Fate. Japanese singers Eir Aoi and ASCA will both be performing at the festival concert on Saturday night beside DJs and party J-pop groups.
There’s also plenty to do beyond the big names and performances. Get into the action with virtual reality games, dig in for a day of reading at the Manga Library, see screenings of anime films that are yet to be released in Australia, or check out the impressive outfits at multiple cosplay competitions.