STGCC is back at MBS!!

Hi Huneybees,

The annual Singapore Toy, Game & Comic Convention (STGCC) announces its first wave of pop culture personalities for 2012. Fans in Southeast Asia can look forward to meeting Marvel Comics illustrator Mark Brooks, well-known for his stunning illustrations for Marvel, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic illustrator Mark Torres and recognised kaiju (Japanese monsters) illustrator and toy designer, Mark Nagata.

Fans can also expect more exclusive STGCC collectibles at this year’s event. Cult toy designers Tristan Eaton and The Beast Brothers, well-known for their distinct urban art style as seen on the infamous Dunny and Munny toys by designer toy label, Kidrobot, will be in Singapore for the first time at STGCC. Tokidoki creator Simone Legno, a huge fan favourite, will also be creating limited edition collectibles only available at STGCC.

From Asia, Japanese pop culture fans can look forward to meeting Chibi art illustrator CHANXCO and DJ Zanio from popular Japanese vocaloid group, ZANEEDS, and Chief Editor of Japan’s top cosplay magazine Cosmode, Tadaaki “Jacky” Dosai.

The annual event will take over the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Marina Bay Sands from 1 to 2 September 2012. Online ticketing opens 31 May 2012.

“This year, we want to showcase more aspects of pop culture from both East and West. Our fans can expect a greater mish-mash of personalities, exhibitors and offerings that will span across mass and niche segments of pop culture, including more cult toy designers and illustrators which fans have been asking for,” said Ms Yeow Hui Leng, Project Director of STGCC. The pop culture fest is co-organised by Reed Exhibitions Singapore and ReedPOP in the U.S., organiser of New York Comic Con (NYCC).

Exclusively drawing for Marvel Comics, Mark Brooks is well-known for his stunning cover work on comic titles such as X-Men Legacy, Uncanny X-Force, The Amazing Spider-Man, Dark Reign: Young Avengers and TRON. His current projects include illustrating the pages for the Brian Wood miniseries Wolverine and X-Men: Alpha and Omega.

An L.A. native, Tristan Eaton, began pursuing street art as a teenager, painting everything from billboard to dumpsters in London, Detroit and New York. The graffiti artist has done work for Nike, Hasbro and U.S. President Barack Obama’s voteforchange.com campaign. Tristan also has a permanent collection in New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MOMA).

Carlos and Ernesto East, better known as The Beast Brothers, are artist powerhouses who have created memorable works for Nike, Kidrobot, Reebok, Barcadi, Vans and Coachelle Boutique Art Auction.

Comic illustrator Mark Torres, whose graphic drawings has graced the pages of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, HOPE and Zombies vs. Robots, will also be making his debut at STGCC. He is also well-known for his attention-grabbing mix of traditional and digital art styles and twisted playfulness to his interpretation of subjects.

CHANXCO, the illustrator behind Japanese vocaloid group, ZANEEDS’ distinctively cute Chibi characters, will be coming to STGCC with DJ Zanio. Having performed at World Anime Festivals in Germany, Seattle and Los Angeles, fans can look forward to electrifying performances of popular anime and video game music.

Joining the line-up is illustrator and toy designer, Mark Nagata, one of the most recognised kaiju (Japanese monsters) illustrators in the world and the man behind the San Francisco-based Max Toy Company, which specialises in original custom and limited editions of kaiju toys and artwork hand painted by Mark. He has worked with prominent companies such as Lucasfilms, DC Comics, Hasbro Toys, IBM, and Sony. His colourful art style can be seen on over 40 cover paintings for R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps book series Give Yourself Goosebumps. Mark also owns one of the largest Ultraman toy collections in the world.

With more creators, illustrators, designers and exhibitors of comics, toys, games, anime, manga as well as famous Japanese cosplayers to be announced in the coming months, fans can look forward to an adrenaline-charged weekend as they get up close and personal with iconic pop culture personalities at autograph signings and forum sessions.

Tickets this year are priced at $15 for a 1-day pass and $25 for a two-day pass. VIP tickets are priced at $50 per ticket. For more details, go to www.singaporetgcc.com/buy-tickets

STGCC is also collaborating with tokidoki to create a special tokidoki pack comprising a special design tee exclusive to STGCC, limited-edition STGCC tote bag and a 1-day pass to the event. Each pack retails at $60.

For the latest STGCC news, visit www.singaporetgcc.com!

Kidrobot for Swatch "Colours in Living Motion" Launch Party

Hi Huneybees,

Love the Swatch Watch invitations.

October kickstarted with me meeting another of my favourite artist Joe Ledbetter. I've been following his work since my poly days and had a chance to meet him at STGCC 2009. And I was super duper happy when I got invitations to Kidrobot for Swatch "Colours in Living Motion"  launch party. It was held at Zouk and I was there with my usual gang of bloggers.

*I know this post is pretty late, but I was waiting to gather my photos, as my camera was out of batt that night. Special thanks to Darren Ong for helping me with photography, Xavienphoto and Jen Su for the photos*

Media board at the entrance of Zouk.

Wonderful company that day...

At the Entrance of Zouk, they were playing the video for kidrobot's range of watches. I must take pic!

Cute video right? Super lots of work was put into this stop motion video. Film Makers and Animators would know what I'm talking about...

Everyone would know who is Swatch, but what about Kidrobot?

Kidrobot is the world's premier creator of limited edition art toys and apparel. They create vinyl toys like "Kozik-Smoking Rabbit", "Yummy", "Munny" and "Dunny", apparel, accessories, and other products in collaboration with many of the world's most talented artists and designers. 

And of course, this time, they have collaborated with some of the famous artists to come up with 8 different designs for Swatch watches and packaged together are the specially designed Dunny-s!

Hidden Dunny's face.

Managed to grab a pic with JLed himself before the show starts.

The host comes on stage and boy was she pink!

First game they played was a treasure hunt. In different corners of the club, they have hidden Dunny-s and the crowd went mad searching. I did too, turned my handphone's flash brightly on, combing every little nook.

In the end, it was found by others, but in our group, lucky Darren found one! He got the colourful one by TILT and not only did he walk away with vouchers, he even got to keep the DUNNY!!

 

Joe Ledbetter was introduced on stage.

 

He answered some question from the host and went on to finish up his special edition Wall Size Swatch Watch and Dunny.

Video taken by Darren Ong.

So while JLed was drawing, there was a game of recommending your friend up on stage. Someone's who good with art and colours. I was thinking, "isn't that me?". I appointed myself, raised my hands and I went on stage not knowing what the challenge was. LOL! 

On stage, I met Jen Su, the lady behind Singapore team on World Runway Premiere. Read all about it here...

We were given watch templates and we had to design them within minutes! Winner gets to walk home with a watch! I'm so into winning it!

This was my design.

Jen and her design.

Excitement grew when it was down to me and this lady.  She won , but I still had vouchers . :P

The contestants.

Friendly Jen took a picture with me. She's so colourful and vibrant, it felt like I was talking to my own reflection

When the challenge ended, JLed was also done with his drawings. Yipee!

 

Taking a pic of his completed work.

And instead of letting the crowd taking his photo, in turn he took ours!

Thank you Joe and Swatch for the wonderful night!

When I got home, I checked out the goodie bags. Design of the bags are so cute right?!

In the bags, there were vouchers and DUNNY-s! I got the one by Gary Baseman (another wonderful artist) and the other one by MAD, which is pretty much the pink one that got the most attention with the ladies.

I had Joe autographed on the Swatch booklet with a drawing of Rat from his Zodiac collection.

He also autographed on the back of my watch drawing....

Thank you guys for the great company that night!