Malaysia’s largest and longest-running ACG convention returned, bringing in an estimated 74,000 attendees this year for another year of cosplays, original art, games, panels, special guests, and all things anime.
As a cornerstone event for ACG culture in Malaysia and Southeast Asia, Comic Fiesta 2025 offered something for every corner of ACG fandom.
The event hosted a strong lineup of international guests from Japan and the region, spanning anime, manga, gaming, and illustration.
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| Joey "The Anime Man" Bizinger |
One of the biggest highlights of the event was Joey Bizinger, better known by the YouTube moniker “The Anime Man,” who made his first-ever appearance in Malaysia to an enthusiastic reception.
Taking to the stage, Joey kept the atmosphere lively by playing 'Jankenpon' (rock-paper-scissors), where he played against the crowd and hosted a trivia session, handing out gifts and interacting directly with fans.
For many attendees, it was a rare chance to see the popular anime YouTuber up close and engage with him beyond a screen.
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| Joey vs the crowd |
“I’ve been to a lot of anime conventions, and CF is pretty out there. You guys are the nicest and most hospitable,” Joey said about the event attendees.
As it was his first time visiting Malaysia, the warmth of the welcome caught him by surprise. He remarked that the reception from fans had been even warmer than he expected.
“I see why Malaysians eat five meals a day,” he quipped, drawing laughter from the audience. “Please gatekeep your food as much as possible.”
A self-proclaimed laksa fan, Joey shared that he had travelled to Penang and Melaka during his stay, where he sampled both Penang Asam Laksa and Melaka Nonya Laksa.
Joey also shared about how he enjoyed touring the event, especially around the Artist Alley, and that Malaysians have a lot of artistic talent.
When questioned about some of his more outspoken opinions about certain anime, he told the audience, “What I say about anime doesn’t matter. I’m just an anime fan like you guys. If you like something, good on you.”
He ended with a promise to revisit Malaysia again, and hinted at bringing a few friends along, like “akidearest”.
Other highlights included Aizawa Daisuke, author of 'The Eminence in Shadow'; Makoto Uezu, scriptwriter for 'Assassination Classroom'; and renowned illustrators Redjuice and Nekojira.
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| yuccahing |
The gaming world was represented by figures such as Naoki Hamaguchi, Director of 'Final Fantasy VII Remake', and Wan Hazmer of Malaysian studio 'Metronomik'.
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| shiro._.who |
Fans of anime voice acting also had the opportunity to meet Aoi Ichikawa, known for voicing Rudo in 'Gachiakuta', and Mai Fuchigami, the voice behind Nagisa Shiota in 'Assassination Classroom'.
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| Aoi Ichikawa |
For the first time in Comic Fiesta’s history, the convention welcomed celebrated anime composers Yuki Hayashi (Haikyuu!!, My Hero Academia) and Yasuharu Takanashi (Naruto Shippuden, Boruto).
Their appearances gave fans rare insight into how iconic anime soundtracks are created.
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| Takanashi & Hayashi |
This year, Japanese artists Machico and the legendary duo ClariS took the stage for the Night Jam to cheers of screaming fans.
「Comic Fiesta 2025」 in Malaysia🇲🇾✨Terima kasih🫶🏻サプライズなステージで最高な時間でした🎨— ClariS☆スタッフ (@ClariS_Staff) December 21, 2025
Sadly, Daoko, the other artist scheduled to perform, was unable to take the stage due to health issues.
As always, the Comic Fiesta’s Creative Market and Artist Alley were highly visited, with over 600 independent artists’ booths showcasing original prints, merchandise, crafts, and comics.
For many attendees, this space continued to be the soul of the event, offering direct support to independent creators.
The event was a stage for many cosplayers to show off their creations and impress with their detailed costumes.
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| Yi Shuai |
"Comic Fiesta is more than just an ACG event; it's a testament to the thriving creative ecosystem in Malaysia," said Hew Shih Chien, Event Director of Comic Fiesta.
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| Fumi Aozora |
“This year, we placed an even greater emphasis on promoting regional content as well as fostering creative collaborations across Southeast Asia."
"And we are committed to bringing the best of Japanese, regional, and local content that fits the tastes of Comic Fiesta’s wide variety of visitors.”
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Regional creators were also well represented.
Indonesian comic artists Nurfadli Mursyid of Tahilalats and Melani Sie, co-creator of MilkMochaBear, appeared at the event, giving fans the chance to meet the artists behind beloved webcomics.
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| Hiroto Kuramasu |
Malaysian voice actors such as Su Ling Chan (also known as Mayday and Bailu), Steven Bones, and Sam Yeow were highlighted for their work across local productions and internationally recognized games and animations.
Sam Yeow’s narration in The Boar Knight, which earned the Richard Nadolny Award for Excellence in Narration, was among the achievements recognized.
Written by JC
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