This huge Japanese pop-culture convention returns to Sydney.

Whether you’re mad for cosplay, a gaming wizard or in love with the artistry of anime and manga, the return of SMASH! is sure to excite Japanese pop-culture fans. The weekend program includes panel discussions, film screenings, music and dance performances, art demonstrations and creative workshops.

They’ve invited a host of industry pros who’ll be talking shop and answering audience questions. Meet prolific singers and voice actors like Minori Chihara, well-known cosplayers like Taiwanese star King, and the creators behind your favourite animations and anime stories, such as producer Tamura Junichiro and director Mizushima Seiji.

After you’ve watched an anime screening, seen gamers battle it out and faced your stage fright in a karaoke competition, there’s more creative genius to explore. Head to one of the panels or workshops and learn more about Japanese culture, harajuku fashion and gaming, then get creative making origami, doing cosplay life drawing or whipping up your own stories in the fan fiction corner. In between activities, peruse the many stalls in the anime and manga exhibitors hall.

The weekend wouldn’t be complete without a cosplay competition. You can rock your outfit in the background or show off your stuff on the Cosplay Catwalk. If you want to take it to the next level, enter into the World Cosplay Summit (WCS) and your costume could score you a trip to Japan as Australia’s representative in the WCS finals.

Dates: Saturday July 13 2019 – Sunday July 14 2019