Comic Fiesta 2023 - 20 years of celebrating Anime, Comics, and Games

Two decades in the making  

Comic Fiesta returned over the weekend, making it the 20th event of Malaysia’s largest ACG event, where an estimated 60,000-strong crowd visited throughout the two days of the event. 

From its humble beginnings in the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall with an attendance of only 500 back in 2002, to now being one of the largest and longest-running ACG events in Southeast Asia. 

This year’s event featured an additional stage for events, more space for artist booths, and bigger walking areas for attendees.

Opening Ceremony "Assembly" performance 

Comic Fiesta 2023 is proud to host the ASCA x SPIRA SPICA from SACRA MUSIC Live Stage in Malaysia. 

Organized in collaboration between the Japan Foundation, the Embassy of Japan, and the Comic Fiesta team, the concert featured artists ASCA and spira spica first ever live performance in Malaysia.

ASCA & spira spica performing

“We are truly honored to organize a live performance in celebration of the 50th Year of ASEAN - Japan Friendship and Cooperation.

"It is important to continue building bridges and promote meaningful friendships based on mutual respect and understanding.” 

- Tsukamoto Norihisa, Japan Foundation Director

ASCA performing

ASCA is best known for her fourth single ”RESISTER” which served as the season 2 opening theme for the anime “Sword Art Online: Alicization”. 

With an enchanting singing voice and captivating live performances, ASCA has garnered global attention, solidifying her position as a standout artist in the anime music realm.

spira spica performing

spira spica, also known as Mikiha, sang "Sun Sun Days," the opening theme for the anime “My Dress-Up Darling”, and has seemingly quickly become synonymous with uplifting and encouraging anime songs. 

She is also known for her debut single "Start Dash," which is the ending theme for "Gundam Build Divers" in 2018. 

High energy performance

ASCA and spira spica shared the stage on the second day of the two-day event, to a fully filled-up concert hall packed with cheering fans and anime enthusiasts.  

For ASCA, this concert landed almost on the 6th anniversary of when she started performing. 

In honor of that, she intended to make her performance very memorable and to go all out on stage. 

The loudest cheer for the night went for ASCA’s "RESISTER" where her high and powerful voice left many in the audience with chills and in awe.  

ASCA performing "RESISTER"

Other highlights of the Comic Fiesta 2023 included a special “Little Witch Academia” 10th Anniversary panel with a live draw and Q&A session presented by Studio TRIGGER’s animation director and character designer Yoshinari Yoh, and animation producer and supervisor Naoko Tsutsumi. 

Other notable works by Studio TRIGGER include BNA, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, and STAR WARS: VISIONS.

Live drawing session by Studio TRIGGER

Kawahara Kenta (left) Naoko Tsutsumi (middle) Yoshinari Yoh (right)

Hololive fans were treated to opportunities to interact with the V-tubers characters during the viv:ID CRUISE hololive event Meet Asia Tour, as Comic Fiesta 2023 hosted the Kuala Lumpur leg of the tour. 

It featured Ayunda Risu, Moona Hoshinova, Pavolia Reine, and Kobo Kanaeru of hololive Indonesia. Sakura Miko and Hoshimachi Suisei from hololive also joined, marking their first time appearance in Malaysia.

Cheering on viv:ID CRUISE hololive Meet Asia Tour

Attendees also got to see Malaysian voice actress Chan Su Ling, who voices Bailu from “Honkai: Star Rail”. 

She's also the first Malaysian to dub anime for Crunchyroll, has done background voices for the Simpsons, and voice-matched Michelle Yeoh in Hollywood films. Su Ling also happens to be the voice of KLIA elevators. 

Chan Su Ling (middle)

The Creative Art Market returns with over 450 unique booths with many artists and creators showcasing their talent and skill. It remains one of the largest creative art markets in the region. 

Creative Art Market

This year’s Comic Fiesta featured a school theme, changing their entrance passes from the usual wristbands to name tags, offering a new concept of ticketing by combining a physical pass and QR registration to better manage the flow of attendees. 

Celebrating 20 years

As it is their 20th event, a Comic Fiesta Event Gallery was included for this year’s event, a museum showing off memorabilia and trophies from previous Comic Fiestas.   

Comic Fiesta memorabilia

“Words can only express how much we treasure this community that we have nurtured and contributed together, from our humble beginnings in a school hall to an annual expo celebration, shared with thousands of fans across Malaysia and the world.” 

– Lim Chin Hwa, Comic Fiesta Director 

Written by JC