AnimeNext - Hennessy Park Hotel
Started in 2009. AnimeNext is an annual platform where everybody display their creativity or performances to honour their favourite characters. Each year, the event grows bigger than the last one.
It was my second time attending this event on 9 December 2019. While helping my friend with his Spectre Cosplay, I told him that I wish I could do something this year but I don’t really know who I wanna cosplay. He told me that it doesn’t matter and that I can even invent my own character. So I got this weird eye makeup and headed with my skull.
Reaching there, I met with some friends. It was an amazing work done by the cosplayers. Great effort and amazing costumes. I got hyped up seeing them cosplay my favourite characters from anime and comics.
A friend of mine cosplayed a Goddess. A character that she created on her own. She was resplendent. Upon further asking about her a character, she told me that she has future projects with the Goddess (let’s keep it secret secret.) And of course how can you miss Higgs from the videogame Deathstranding. It looked so reaaaaaaal!!!!! It sure was hard to make a connection when you can’t shake hands but we do have connection to the other side xD. There was a stall set up to help cosplayers or whoever had queries upon the cosplaying world. It is an initiative by the 2 cosplayers; Fred who’s the Winner of Comiccon Africa 2019 for best prop (Spawn Gun) and the runner up Akasha for armour category (Angela Spawn) and with the amazing Spawn by its side. There was also loads of Weeaboos goodies and DIYs figurines. I got myself a faceless (Spirited Away) and Migi (Parasyte).
There was also staged performances of some cosplayers. Not missing the baby shark dance by Mera (Aquaman) and the staged fight by the streetfighters. It was so grand that some participants also learnt Japanese songs. It was mind blowing.
The event was full of activities; the Tekken Tournament, Drawing Competition, Lego Contest and the Choreographer. I really enjoyed dancing with my friends. Oh hell, we kicked ass, we’re pros… Who am I kidding, we sucked. But who cares we had fun.
To conclude, we had this group photo which actually made me part of this family. Now I can’t wait to actually build up my own costume and participate. You really need to check this event out if you are into anime and comics or just curious.
