Here's what to expect at the TOYCON 2023 this July
Prepare to let your inner child run free as TOYCON 2023 is set to return this July for its 20th anniversary!
The much-awaited event serves as a grand celebration of pop culture where you can immerse yourself in a wide variety of toys, games, movies, anime, cosplay, and collectibles.
This year's TOYCON will be held at the SMX Convention Center and will last from July 7 to 9. Here are some of the exciting activities that will put a smile on your inner child:
Meet and greet some of your favorite comic artists
Comic book lovers will get a chance to meet and greet some of their favorite comic book artists and bring home new Filipino comics to add to their collections.
Some of the notable cartoonists that will grace the event include Pol Medina Jr., Samahang Kartunista ng Pilipinas, Tarantadong Kalbo, Penlab, SSKAIT, Little Things, Kapitan Tambay, and Novice.
You can also meet renowned artists such as Harvey Tolibao, Frany, Miguel Mercado, and Roi Mercado at the Comics Zone powered by Komiket, a non-profit organization that organizes comics art markets.
Cosplay as your favorite characters
It's not every day that you can have the opportunity to dress up as your favorite fictional character, and what better venue to fulfill this desire than Asia’s biggest and longest-running convention for all things pop culture?
The event boasts several cosplay competitions where you can show off your best in-character performance abilities. Cosplay K.O., which is open to all individual cosplayers and chibi cosplayers, will reward the grand winner with a P20,000 cash prize.
If you have some musical talent in you, then you can also sign up for the Cosplay Pop Duo, where you and your partner can perform anime skits and Japanese music.
But what if you have your furbaby with you? Not to worry as TOYCON 2023 ensures that your adorable companion will not be left behind with their Pet Cosplay Contest, which is open for all dogs and cats that are at least six months old, are neither pregnant nor in heat, and do not have any contagious diseases.
Showcase your talent
Cosplaying isn't the only thing that you can show off in the event as there are also loads of other contests that you can join, such as the Art Toy Design contest where you'll be tasked to submit your own toy character made out of vinyl, resin, plastic, plush, cardboard, or recycled materials.
Toy designers can also take their pick from a Doll Dress-Up Contest as well as a Customized Action Figure and a Customized Mecha Figure competition.
Those with a passion for photography will also get to showcase their talent in the Toy Clicks Contest, in which you must make a toy click photo that conveys a tale in only one picture, and the Cosplay Clicks Contest, where you can show your best and most creative cosplay portraits.
Get exclusive toys
Toy collectors are in for a treat at the event as they can get a chance to bring home exclusive Funko Pop figures.
One of them is the TOYCON mascot, TC-02, which will be made available at the MINDstyle store at the convention in very limited quantities. However, you can guarantee it with the Globe MINDstyle VIP Pass.
Another Funko Pop figure that you can get your hands on is Freddy Funko, the official mascot of Funko, all geared up in a boxing outfit. This will be available for 3,000 pieces only.