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<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/09/Animecom-Fest-CCCC-1024x763.jpg" alt=" Trinidadian cosplayer Kai Ramkissoon made his mark at Animecom Fest. " class="wp-image-8008" /><figcaption>Trinidadian cosplayer Kai Ramkissoon made his mark at Animecom Fest. (Photos: Contributed)</figcaption></figure>
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<p>Summer
2019 has been a significant moment for lovers of Asian pop-culture enthusiasts
on the heels of a successful Animecom Fest.</p>
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<p>The
two-day event, the largest for the Asian pop-culture community, took over the
Campion College Auditorium in July, and it was put on by the Jamaica Cosplay
Club (JCC). </p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/09/Animecom-Fest-BBB-1024x690.jpg" alt=" Ricardo Carter, Animecom Fest 2019 event organiser. " class="wp-image-8009" /><figcaption>Ricardo Carter, Animecom Fest 2019 event organiser. </figcaption></figure>
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<p>When it
was held last year in Hope Gardens, it fought technical and weather challenges.
Ricardo Carter of the JCC said his team learned from the previous staging and
applied those lessons to 2019, moving things indoor and expanding the event’s
programme. </p>
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<p>For the
2019 staging, there were vendor booths selling handmade arts and crafts, video
games, entertainment featuring local K-pop dancers, and a focus on cosplay.
There were also panel discussions on video games, film, books and animation. </p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://buzz-caribbean.com/app/uploads/2019/09/Animecom-Fest-AA-1024x763.jpg" alt="For two days in July, the Campion College Auditorium was turned into a mecca for lovers of Asian popular culture for Animecom Fest 2019. " class="wp-image-8010" /><figcaption>For two days in July, the Campion College Auditorium was turned into a mecca for lovers of Asian popular culture for Animecom Fest 2019. </figcaption></figure>
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<p>But for Carter, the big moment was the attendance of Kai Ramkissoon. Ramkissoon, a Trinidadian, was the first international cosplay competitor at Animecom Fest. His aim was to be crowned Jamaican cosplay champion and be the first to hold the cosplay triple crown, as he is both the Trinidadian and Bajan cosplay champion. As impressive as his Captain Falcon costume was, he lost out to Jamaican Kemar Stoddard. Stoddard claimed the trophy, J$30,000 and other prizes.</p>
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<p>On the
heels of the success of Animecom Fest, Carter and his group are already
planning for 2020, as the event has drawn a lot of international interest.
Their other annual event, the Halloween cosplay themed Hallow Palooza, is
scheduled to be held in October. Carter added they will also be taking a dive
into the burgeoning scene with a video game specific event, Games Con, in
December.</p>
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<p>— Written by Nichola Beckford</p>
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