Fans and gamers flock to CCG Expo
- Source: Global Times
- [13:57 July 08 2010]
- Comments
Two cosplay performers pose with characters from the Japanese cartoon series Doraemon at the previous fair. Photo: Courtesy of Zeng Yi
By Huang Xi
The long-awaited 6th China International Cartoon and Games Fair (also known as CCG Expo) opened today, a boon for students who are now enjoying their summer vacations, as well as gamers and cartoon lovers of all ages.
The fair is being held at the Shanghai Exhibition Center and will run until July 12. This year's events promise to make this fair the largest yet.
The events are mainly targeted toward younger cartoon and game lovers with cosplay (costume play) performances, dramas, game releases as well as product displays.
Silk Boy, an Expo-related animated film which is adapted from the story of Xu Rongcun, a Chinese merchant who won gold and silver awards at the London Expo in 1851 with his silk products, will have its premiere at the event.
With 3-D effects designed by Liu Yuchu, who participated in the 3-D creation of Transformers and the animated design for Reboot, the film showcases the charms of the Bund, the Peace Hotel and Nanxun ancient town in Zhejiang Province.
With the classic story and the 3-D effects, some big names will be heard in the cartoon. Jackie Chan will voice Xu Rongcun, Li Bingbing will voice the heroine Bingbing, Li Yang, who is famous for his voicing of Donald Duck in Chinese, will play Filthington the First, and Zhou Libo, the local comedian, will play Puffball.
A cosplay show will accompany the screening.
Originally from Japan, cosplay shows feature performers who dress in costumes from various animated films and cartoons and act like the characters.
Every morning during the five-day fair, there will be at least one cosplay competition.
Shanghai has long been the cradle of animated films in China, creating many popular cartoon characters, such as Black Cat and Shuke and Beita. The city has also made popular animated films and series like Tadpoles' Mother, The Lotus Lamp and Calabash Brothers.
And in recent years, animated films have been entering a new era with features like Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf, McDull, Kung Fu Kindergarten and Storm Rider-Clash of Evils which was produced by Toonmax Media, a subsidiary of the Shanghai Media Group (SMG) and the organizer of the fair.
The action figures and costume products that these cartoons create have been a huge source of revenue for the budding animation scene in China.
Yang Wenyan, the general manager of Toonmax Media, told the Global Times that McDull, the famous kung fu pig, will continue its reign on the Chinese mainland and that the company is considering a whole new future for the popular pig.
Leading gaming companies also have booths at the event and are presenting the latest games for fans anxious to see what's new.
Date: Until July 12, 9 am to 4 pm, (cosplay shows begin at 10:30 am)
Venue: Shanghai Exhibition Center
上海展览中心
Address: 1000 Yan'an Road Middle
延安中路1000号
Admission: 50 to 70 yuan
Call 2216-2216 for details
