The Philippine TOYCON, Asia’s longest-running culture convention for toys, collectibles, and various pop culture fandoms, announced the latest line up of guests for this year’s highly-anticipated event.
Two Power Rangers, a Peter Pan Fire Lord, a lycan (ie. werewolf), and a legendary comic book creator are coming to TOYCON POPLIFE FanXperience 2018 on June 8-10, 2018 at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City.
Leading the list is comic book industry Hall of Famer Neal Adams, whose reinvention of Batman’s look to the blue-and-gray color scheme highlights his work and influence during the 1960s and 1970s, aside from creating Batman villains Ra’s al Ghul and Man-Bat, and revitalized other titles such as Green Lantern, Green Arrow, and X-Men.
Filipino-American actor Dante Basco will get to meet his kababayan fans. He played Peter Pan’s sidekick Rufio in the 1991 movie Hook alongside Robin Williams, and is the voice actor for the fire-bender Zuko in Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender, Jake Long in Disney’s American Dragon: Jake Long cartoon series, as well as various video game characters.
Two actors from the Power Rangers franchise will share the TOYCON 2018 stage. Jason David Frank played the Green Ranger and the White Ranger in the 1993-1996 Mighty Morphin Power Rangers series and its other iterations over the years. Michael Copon’s breakout role was playing the Blue Ranger in last year’s Power Rangers: Time Force movie, but he was also known for his roles in the TV series One Tree Hill.
Another TOYCON 2018 guest is Kevin Grevioux, best known for his role as the lycan Raze who fought against vampires in the Underworld film series, which he also co-created and wrote the screenplay of the movie. He also appeared in films such as Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes remake, The Mask, and Steel.
American actress, fashion model and beauty queen, Kelly Hu will join Toycon, he's popularly known to play as Sorceress Cassandra in The Scorpion King movie, then Kelly played a villain in X-men 2 movie as Lady Deathstrike, the mutant with adamantium finger claws. She did voice roles for characters in Phineas and Ferb, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Green Lantern:Emerald Knight. On TV she played as Pearl on CW series The Vampire Diaries and also in Arrow tv series as China White.
According to Cholo Mallillin, Event Marketing Head for TOYCON PH, this year’s event aims to give Filipino pop culture fans a playground experience with a community that shares their common interests.
“What we want to give TOYCON fans every year is a sense of belonging to various fan communities. We bring in guests and experiences that bring fans back to why they collect toys, cosplay, read comics, or rewatch their favorite TV series or movies in the first place,” Mallillin said.
Mallillin added that more guests and attractions will be announced in the coming days and even on the opening day itself.
Among the other attractions in TOYCON 2018 is “Sikat Ka Toy!”, the Philippine’s first ever toy design contest. Artists and toy aficionados can submit their designs by June 2 for a chance to receive more than Php 30,000 worth of prizes and the opportunity to have their winning toy design produced for limited sale. Toy designs for the Sikat Ka Toy! contest can be emailed to toyconph@gmail.com by June 2, 2018, and contest mechanics are on toyconph.com.
Other attractions for this year include toy exclusives from the popular Funko toy line, as well as toy exhibits and launches from global designers, Anatoy from South Korea, Coarse from the USA, Deewy from China, Playhouse from Thailand, and Hidden Fortress Manila featuring the works of premier Pinoy toy designer Quiccs Maiquez.
Highlights:
- The biggest gathering of Toys, comics and merch exhibitors in the country
- The biggest toy display by the Philippines Toy Group Association
- International celebrities and guest from PopLife FANX
- International toy designers from Philippines, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand and USA
- Toy exhibit by XM Studios, Sideshow, Prime One and Hot Toys
- Visual art exhibit by Toym Imao
- Arts and Comics artist Alley
- Filipino Comics Legends Exhibit
- ABS CBN Display
- Cosplay K.O.
- Solar, Jack TV and MTV display
- Sinag Animation Presentation
- TMC mini cinema showing Tokyo Ghoul, Fist of Fury and The Wailing
- TRESE Toy Launch
- The Creator Stage featuring online creators and celebrity
- Gaming Stage
- Sound Arena Stage featuring: KISSBEE, HYOLYN and APL DE AP
- Warner Bros. presents Teen Titans and The Meg
- Action figure and toy customization contest
- Sikat Ka Toy! Philippine toy design competition
- Toycon Exclusive - TEQ63 Manila Killa by Quiccs
- Toycon Exclusive - Toycon Minifig by Pinoy LUG
- Pinoy Pop Culture Icon Award
- AND MANY MORE.......
TOYCON 2018 + POPLIFE FANX is sponsored by Maxi Collector, Legendary Beast Studio, XM, Filbars, Great Toys Online, and Gaming Library.
Supported by Kramer Toy Warden, Warner Bros, Tagalized Movie Channel, Sinag Animation Studios, Anotoys Collectibles, Hubbyte Toys and Collectibles, Dreamworks Dreamplay, City of Dreams Manila, Shopback, Halimaw Studios, Big Boys Toy Store, KidsCompany, Bandai, Gundam Build Divers, Devant, Tamashii Nations, Good Smile Company, Jinio, Comic Odyssey, DC Superheroes Cafe, Food Panda, Bruder, Xend and Oishi O Wow.
Media Partner with ABS CBN, Expat Philippines, WheninManila.com, Manila Bulletin, MTV Philippines, Jack TV, PSICOM Publishing, Retro 105.9, Clickthecity.com and the Philippine Bloggers Network
Event Partner with TEQ63, Anima Alliance, Philippine Toy Groups Association and Ex-Link Events
TOYCON POPLIFE FanXperience 2018 regular day passes and FanX VIP Experience passes are available in all SM Ticket outlets or through www.toyconph.com.
