.: Otaku Expo 2018

February 3 and 4, 2018 marks the date where Otaku Expo 2018 was held. Much like Otaku Expo last year it is once again held at SM Megamall. I've been attending this event both as a cosplayer and a convention attendee for a few years now and I guess its only fitting that I attend this again. This time covering it with my Blog.

Otaku Expo is a cosplay/otaku event thats been held annually since as far back as 2011 with every event loyally being held at SM Megamall.

Much like last year early bird folks are given special prices. The first five being given a Funko Pop, an Otaku Expo souvenir mug, an otaku expo bag tag and an otaku expo keychain. The others are given an Otaku Expo shirt, bag tag and keychain and so forth. Sadly due to my schedule I was only able to go on the second day and came around pass two in the afternoon so no freebies and what not for me.

The event was held at the fifth floor of SM Megamall at the Megatrade Hall 2 and is pretty much packed with merchandise for every otaku fan out there. From t-shirt, caps, anime wigs, costumes, jackets, anime keychain, anime figures, anime body pillows, mugs and even gundams. There are really a ton load of anime stuff to check out. There is even an artist booth and art cafe.

Big name brands are also present among the booths with Perry in Disguise one of the first booths you will notice going in which is almost always present to these kind of anime events. Other big names like TEE TEES, PSICOM and TOY BUCKS Toys and Collectables, Micari, Drool Wear and Vogue Royal Cosplay, which sells anime accessories like necklaces, cat ears and wigs, just to name a few.

This year Otaku Expo 2018 is also adequately named as Otaku x Sketch as there was also an On the Spot Drawing Contest with an both an Individual and Pair Category with an HMT Package, Uni Pen sets and Kuru Toga pencils as prices for the lucky winners courtesy of Art Antz, HMT Comic Board and PSICOM.

There was also a Battle of the bands and an Anime Singing Contest at the Stage located at the left side of the Event Hall which is a favorite of mine since I am a fan of anime songs. Winners gets to go home with an Ozine Gift bag and a gift certificate courtesy of Perry in Disguise and Vogue Royal respectively.

On the opposite area on the far right is the Meet and Greet area with this years guest being the wonderful Miu from Vietnam who is also a doujin illustrator aside from being a cosplayer and cute Shimo from Taiwan, which folks can take a picture and sign autographs with if you are willing to pay the 400 pesos extra for the Meet and Greet for each of them or 700 for both of them. Very cheap if you ask me.

What would an otaku cosplay event without cosplayers and a cosplay contest. And this year is packed with cosplayers as usual. In fact there is too much of them that most of the cosplayers are already out in the hallways outside since the event hall is crowded already. I'm so glad they rented another hall to accommodate them later that day.

Well that concludes my cover of the Otaku x Sketch Expo 2018. But I did managed to get a keneki mask for a friend later that day before closing since I can easily go booth hopping easier when there are less people to bump into. Not much photos though since I spent most of the time checking out the booths, chatting with cosplayer friends and photographers