Fans of Japanese anime can look forward a five-day celebration of the art form when the Animenia Festival Abu Dhabi takes place later this month.
The inaugural event at Manarat Al Saadiyat begins on October 23 and will include concerts, celebrity meet-and-greets and a costume competition which has a prize pool of Dh400,000.
The festival is being organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi. This is what to expect:
Live entertainment
Performances and talks including J-Pop concerts, acrobatic displays and Japanese shows will take place on stage. Musical headliners include Syrian singer-songwriter and cartoon voice actress Rasha Rizk, who is most well known for singing the title song for the Arabic dubbed version of Detective Conan. J-Pop band Flow will also be performing and will be accompanied by Anime singer Mojo and the band Angela.
Japanese singer Yoko Takahashi, who sang the hit song in the classic anime Neon Genesis Evangelion, is expected to be one of the musical highlights. Her song, A Cruel Angel's Thesis, has received gold and platinum certifications since its release in 1995.
Other live planned performances include breakdancing unit Real Akiba Boyz, American instrumental video game cover band Powerglove and anime-inspired rock bands Blinding Sunrise, Koyomi, Catch Me Yesterday and Snowkel.
Interactive exhibits
Attendees will have the chance to be part of their favourite shows in interactive exhibits. Fans will also be able to meet characters like Eren Jaeger from Attack on Titan, Yuji Itadori from Jujutsu Kaisen and Hello Kitty. Memorable scenes from famous shows will also be recreated for photo opportunities.
Gaming and workshops
A dedicated gaming zone, supported by AD Gaming, will include virtual reality experiences and a Japanese-style arcade of retro games. Fans of small racing cars called Tamiya will also be able to race against each other for prizes. Gundam fans, meanwhile, will be able to build intricate mecha models to take home.
Meet and greets
Some of the anime's biggest names will appear in Q&A sessions, with others available for photographs and autographs. Naoto Ohshima, the artist responsible for designing Sonic the Hedgehog, will be there. Others include Yoko Shimomura, the music composer of Kingdom Hearts and Super Mario RPG; Yutaka Abe, who worked on the Detective Conan show and manga series; and Ryo Horikawa, the voice behind popular character Vegeta from Dragon Ball.
Costume competition
No anime convention is complete without a sea of people dressed as their favourite characters. The cosplay competitions will be judged in different categories by the likes of Yuegene Fay from Thailand; Rian CYD from Indonesia; Naythero from France; and SayoChuu and SabCosplay from Latvia.
Animenia Abu Dhabi will run at Manarat Al Saadiyat from October 23 to 27. Tickets from Dh65 for one day or Dh425 for five
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The biog
Name: Dhabia Khalifa AlQubaisi
Age: 23
How she spends spare time: Playing with cats at the clinic and feeding them
Inspiration: My father. He’s a hard working man who has been through a lot to provide us with everything we need
Favourite book: Attitude, emotions and the psychology of cats by Dr Nicholes Dodman
Favourit film: 101 Dalmatians - it remind me of my childhood and began my love of dogs
Word of advice: By being patient, good things will come and by staying positive you’ll have the will to continue to love what you're doing
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
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Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
The biog
Hobbies: Salsa dancing “It's in my blood” and listening to music in different languages
Favourite place to travel to: “Thailand, as it's gorgeous, food is delicious, their massages are to die for!”
Favourite food: “I'm a vegetarian, so I can't get enough of salad.”
Favourite film: “I love watching documentaries, and am fascinated by nature, animals, human anatomy. I love watching to learn!”
Best spot in the UAE: “I fell in love with Fujairah and anywhere outside the big cities, where I can get some peace and get a break from the busy lifestyle”
White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen
Chromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxide
Ultramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica content
Ophiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on land
Olivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour
Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199
Suggested picnic spots
Abu Dhabi
Umm Al Emarat Park
Yas Gateway Park
Delma Park
Al Bateen beach
Saadiyaat beach
The Corniche
Zayed Sports City
Dubai
Kite Beach
Zabeel Park
Al Nahda Pond Park
Mushrif Park
Safa Park
Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Qudrah Lakes
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
