Comic Con Delhi 2023 highlights anime's strong popularity among Indians

This weekend, Delhi witnessed the 2023 edition of the biggest comics and pop culture extravaganza, Comic Con Delhi 2023. I reached the venue, NSIC Exhibition Ground in Okhla Phase III, to get a firsthand taste of it, and the experience was indeed beyond reality.

What is Comic Con?

• Comic Con, which stands for Comic Convention, is the biggest event worldwide for fans of comic books, video games, and other aspects of pop culture.

• Comic Con takes place in several countries around the world, giving fans the chance to meet creators, experts, and fellow fans who share their love for comics and other wings of pop culture.

• Comic Con Delhi 2023 took place at the NSIC Exhibition Ground in Okhla Phase III, New Delhi, from December 8 to December 10, 2023, and the atmosphere was ecstatic as ever.

DailyO at Comic Con Delhi 2023

• As soon as one walks into the venue for Comic Con Delhi 2023, one would immediately feel like he or she has walked into a whole different world of fiction.

• The three-day event highlighted the fact that anime and manga are currently massive phenomena in India.

• The gathering exhibited comics on a grand scale, featuring numerous comic book creators and artists.

• Exclusive sessions were set up for visitors to explore the debut of new works from creators like Prasad Bhat's Indusverse, Holy Cow Entertainment, and Shubham Khurana's Corporat comics. This clearly highlighted Comic Con's inclusive approach toward budding Indian artists.

• Over the three days, primarily on December 9, 2023 (Saturday), a fully packed crowd witnessed numerous cosplayers excelling in their jaw-dropping outfits and special anime-inspired makeup.

• A clear example to support the notion of anime and manga being 'ageless' is that the cosplayers at Comic Con Delhi 2023 followed no age barrier.

• From a 7-year-old Ghost from Call of Duty to a 56-year-old Nanami Kento, the dedication of cosplayers went beyond their age.

• Witnessing anime characters come to life through these cosplayers is something that excites every anime fan, and Comic Con Delhi 2023 nailed that effortlessly.

Fan experience centres

• The event for comic and gaming fans was taken to the next level by their fan experience centres, where cameras clicked away all day.

• The three-day event showcased The Arena with racing simulators, virtual reality games, and PlayStation consoles.

• It had daily tournaments, Esports, popular streamers, and diverse gaming experiences for all attendees.

• The event also featured special promotional Godzilla x Kong: A New Empire and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom-themed fan experience centres that attracted a pretty decent queue of fans for a picture with Titan skulls and the Trident of Aquaman.

• However, one could easily spot that these weren’t anywhere near to the main attraction points for any manga or anime lover attending Comic Con Delhi 2023.

• The biggest fan-experience attraction of the event was the Crunchyroll Experience Centre. It drew a mile-long queue, as enthusiasts eagerly waited to partake in anime-inspired activities.

The Manga and merchandise stalls

• Widely considered the main cherry of any Comic Con are the Manga and merchandise stalls, which give anime and comic fans the chance to get their hands on their favourite anime accessories.

• Various official manga stores displayed popular series like Naruto, Death Note, Jujutsu Kaisen, and One Piece. They also featured Indian comics such as Amar Chitra Katha, Raj Comics, and Kunzum Comics, offering a treat for anime and comic enthusiasts.
• The event featured numerous stalls filled with anime action figurines and collectibles. Among them, a blazing Katana replica stood out, being held by nearly every attendee.

• As you would walk out of the event zone, one could spot quite a big number of people coming out with their very own One Piece/Naruto/Jujutsu Kaisen-inspired Katanas.
• Comic Con Delhi 2023 had 46,000 attendees over three days, highlighting the significant love for anime, manga, and comics in India.