{{Short description|Annual animation, comics and games convention in Malaysia}} {{Use British English|date=July 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}{{Infobox recurring event | name = Comic Fiesta | native_name = | native_name_lang = | logo = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | logo_size = | image = Comic Fiesta logo.svg | image_size = 250px | alt = | caption = | status = Active | genre = Anime convention<br />ACG event | begins = | ends = <!-- {{end date|YYYY|mm|dd}} --> | frequency = Annually | venue = KL Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur | location = | coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LON|type:event|display=inline,title}} --> | country = Malaysia | years_active = {{age|2002|12|14}} | first = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2002|12|14}} | founder_name = <!-- or | founders = --> | last = 20–21 December 2025 | prev = | next = 19–20 December 2026 | participants = | attendance = 75,000 (2025) | capacity = | area = | budget = | events = Anime Fest, Comic Fiesta Mini | activity = | leader_name = | patron = | organised = Comic Fiesta Sdn Bhd | filing = | people = | member = | sponsor = <!-- | or sponsors = --> | website = {{URL|http://www.comicfiesta.org}} | current = | footnotes = }}
'''Comic Fiesta''', abbreviated as '''CF''', is Malaysia's longest-running convention that focuses on animation, comics and games (ACG). Its focus is to celebrate all aspects of art and creativity (and the ever popular ACG culture) of Malaysia and abroad. Comic Fiesta is usually held in December at various locations, including Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre at KLCC. It is an event held with the motto of "event by fans for fans", and is also the first and the biggest ACG convention in Malaysia, organised to bring the comic convention experience to the Malaysian audience.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Chan |first=Rachel Suet Kay |date=2018-01-15 |title=“Expressive Rationality”: Habitus and Field in a Malaysian Cosplay Community |url=https://doi.org/10.21315/ijaps2018.14.1.6 |journal=International Journal of Asia Pacific Studies |volume=14 |issue=1 |pages=152 |doi=10.21315/ijaps2018.14.1.6 |issn=1823-6243 |quote=Besides this, there are conventions held in Malaysia, mostly in capital city Kuala Lumpur, which act as avenues for cosplayers to meet and display their costume-making skills and character embodiment, as well as to interact with fans. One such convention is the annually held Comic Fiesta.|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=Davies |first=Dominic |title=Pages of Exception: Graphic Reportage as World Literature |date=2022 |work=Graphic Novels and Comics as World Literature |url=https://doi.org/10.5040/9781501373442.ch-1 |access-date=2026-05-08 |publisher=Bloomsbury Academic |isbn=978-1-5013-7341-1}}</ref>
==History== Comic Fiesta started as a small exhibition at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall in Kuala Lumpur in 2002.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Comic Fiesta 2002 Information |url=https://fancons.ca/events/info/484/comic-fiesta-2002 |access-date=2026-06-01 |website=FanCons.ca}}</ref> Comic Fiesta 2003 fared better with the venue being changed to the Impiana Hotel also in Kuala Lumpur (now known as Ancasa Hotel and Spa).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Comic Fiesta 2003 Information |url=https://fancons.ca/events/info/483/comic-fiesta-2003 |access-date=2026-06-01 |website=FanCons.ca}}</ref> With the larger space, the standing capacity was increased to 300; double the amount of its predecessor. Comic Fiesta 2004 was held at the Malaysian National Visual Art Gallery.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Comic Fiesta 2004 Information |url=https://fancons.ca/events/info/723/comic-fiesta-2004 |access-date=2026-06-01 |website=FanCons.ca}}</ref> The next two years saw Comic Fiesta setting up its event at Sekolah Sri Sedaya.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Comic Fiesta 2005 Information |url=https://fancons.ca/events/info/915/comic-fiesta-2005 |access-date=2026-06-01 |website=FanCons.ca}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Comic Fiesta 2006 Information |url=https://fancons.ca/events/info/1108/comic-fiesta-2006 |access-date=2026-06-01 |website=FanCons.ca}}</ref> Due to its strategic location (close proximity to Sunway Pyramid and easy access by public transportation) the event was found to be more convenient and accessible. It became the birthplace of Cosplay Chess in 2006 (now a common fixture at many local ACG events).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=CF 101: A History of Comic Fiesta « Comic Fiesta |url=http://comicfiesta.org/comic-fiesta-101-cf-a-history/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111205013429/http://comicfiesta.org/comic-fiesta-101-cf-a-history/ |archive-date=2011-12-05 |access-date=2026-06-01 |website=comicfiesta.org |language=en-US}}</ref> Comic Fiesta was then moved to Berjaya Times Square located in Bukit Bintang.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Comic Fiesta 2007 Information |url=https://fancons.ca/events/info/3932/comic-fiesta-2007 |access-date=2026-06-01 |website=FanCons.ca}}</ref>
The seventh iteration of Comic Fiesta was held at the Sunway Convention Centre.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Comic Fiesta 2008 Information |url=https://fancons.ca/events/info/3933/comic-fiesta-2008 |access-date=2026-06-01 |website=FanCons.ca}}</ref> Over 3,000 square metres of unobstructed function space played a major role in the record number of attendees for the event. 2008 also saw the debut of the Live Art Demonstrations and the Portfolio Review Pavilion, proving to be big hits with aspiring artists looking to break into the competitive Malaysian comics industry. It had also continued the 100 days countdown annual event before CF where artists would submit artwork based on mascots such as Coffy, Tea, Yin Yong etc.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Comic Fiesta » 100 Days Countdown |url=http://comicfiesta.org/?page_id=66 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220105018/http://comicfiesta.org/?page_id=66 |archive-date=2008-12-20 |access-date=2026-06-01 |website=comicfiesta.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Comic Fiesta |url=https://comicfiesta.org/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220072601/https://comicfiesta.org/ |archive-date=2008-12-20 |access-date=2026-06-01 |website=comicfiesta.org}}</ref> left|thumb|CF 2010, Berjaya Times Square Hotel, Kuala Lumpur The decision to keep and expand the Live Art Demonstrations and Portfolio Review Pavilion certainly played a part in pushing the number of visitors for CF 2009 (also at the Sunway Convention Centre) past the 7,000 mark.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Comic Fiesta » CF 2009 Live Art Demonstrations |url=http://comicfiesta.org/activities/cf-2009-live-art/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091209022053/http://comicfiesta.org/activities/cf-2009-live-art/ |archive-date=2009-12-09 |access-date=2026-06-01 |website=comicfiesta.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Comic Fiesta » CF 2009 Portfolio Review Pavilion |url=http://comicfiesta.org/activities/cf-portfolio-review/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091209023347/http://comicfiesta.org/activities/cf-portfolio-review/ |archive-date=2009-12-09 |access-date=2026-06-01 |website=comicfiesta.org}}</ref> Representatives from Imaginary Friends Studios, Pekomik, Big Beak Productions, The One Academy, Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, Clazroom and MDeC participated in the industry seminars. Comic Fiesta 2010, held at Berjaya Times Square's Manhattan Ballroom, continued the trend and attracted over 11,000 people.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Comic Fiesta 2010 Information |url=https://fancons.ca/events/info/3935/comic-fiesta-2010 |access-date=2026-06-01 |website=FanCons.ca}}</ref>
In 2011, Comic Fiesta was moved to Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Comic Fiesta 2011 attracted 15,293 visitors over 2 days and Comic Fiesta 2012, also held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre drew over 30,000 visitors across two days (22 & 23 December 2012), and was attended by renowned Japanese artists such as Redjuice, Kurata Yoshimi<ref>{{Cite news |title=CF 2012 CREATIVE FACTOR - Comic Fiesta 2012 Information Board |url=http://community.comicfiesta.org/index.php?/topic/8750-cf-2012-creative-factor/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121209082941/http://community.comicfiesta.org/index.php?/topic/8750-cf-2012-creative-factor/ |archive-date=2012-12-09 |access-date=2026-06-01 |work=Comic Fiesta Community |language=en}}</ref> and bless4. Internationally, various doujinshi writers from India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia also took part in it.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mamat |first=Roslina |last2=Mansor |first2=Nor Shahila |last3=Abdul Halim |first3=Hazlina |last4=Abd Rahim |first4=Normaliza |date=2015-12-01 |title=Manga Dan Dojinshi Malaysia: Persamaan dan Perbezaan Ciri-Ciri Luaran Karikatur (Similarities and Differences in The External Characteristics of Manga and Dojinshi Caricatures in Malaysia) |url=https://doi.org/10.17576/jkmjc-2015-3102-27 |journal=Jurnal Komunikasi, Malaysian Journal of Communication |volume=31 |issue=2 |pages=480 |doi=10.17576/jkmjc-2015-3102-27 |issn=2289-1528|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
In 2014, Comic Fiesta was held in KLCC on 27–28 December with multiple different Japanese art, manga and anime shown by the creators. ACG events including here were cosplay competition, creative art market booths, game competition finals, stage performances and concert. Producer Shinji Hashimoto and Lead Game Designer Wan Hazmer of Square Enix also held a panel on discussing the future of Final Fantasy by showing the trailer of Final Fantasy XV which carried some influences of Malaysian life.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Michael |first=Max |date=2014-12-29 |title=Final Fantasy XV Comic Fiesta Panel {{!}} TechRaptor |url=https://techraptor.net/gaming/news/final-fantasy-xv-comic-fiesta-panel |access-date=2026-05-07 |website=techraptor.net |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tan |first=Thomas |date=2015-01-12 |title=Cosplayers light up the magic at Comic Fiesta 2014 - Citizens Journal |url=https://cj.my/100091/cosplayers-light-up-the-magic-at-comic-fiesta-2014/ |access-date=2026-05-07 |language=en-US}}</ref> thumb|Comic Fiesta 2015 In 2015, Comic Fiesta was moved to Malaysia International Exhibition & Convention Centre located in Mines Wellness City. Comic Fiesta 2015 attracted 45,000 visitors for over 2 days. Performing guests consist of Flow, Majiko from Exit Tunes, Inc., guest cosplayers Reika, Jin (behindinfinity) and also special guests Danny Choo, Hajime Tabata and Wan Hazmer from Square Enix.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CF2015 |url=https://comicfiesta.org/history-cf2015 |access-date=2026-06-01 |website=COMIC FIESTA |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2016, Comic Fiesta was then moved to Putra World Trade Centre. Although transportation was significantly easier, the venue was also deemed inadequate for the large number of attendees. Guest lineup starring in this fiesta included local performers such as 5 Minute Heroes and Ocean of Fire to international cosplayers Siutao, Miu, Onnies and Stayxxx, and popular illustrators Evacomics and Zeen.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Thomas |first1=Tan |title=55,000 Fans Swarm PWTC For Comic Fiesta 2016 |url=https://cj.my/108397/55000-fans-swarm-pwtc-for-comic-fiesta-2016/ |website=Citizens Journal |publisher=Citizens Journal |access-date=7 May 2026}}</ref>
Starting from Comic Fiesta 2017, the location reverted to KLCC to accommodate the increasing number of visitors.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weijun |first=Eu |date=2017-12-18 |title=Thousands flock to KLCC for Comic Fiesta |url=https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2017/12/18/thousands-flock-to-klcc-for-comic-fiesta |access-date=2026-06-01 |website=Free Malaysia Today {{!}} FMT |language=en}}</ref>
Comic Fiesta 2018, which was held at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on 22–23 December 2018, attracted approximately 60,000 visitors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.comicfiesta.org/history|title=Comic Fiesta 2019 {{!}} 21–22 Dec, KLCC|website=COMIC FIESTA|language=en-GB|access-date=13 September 2019}}</ref> Comic Fiesta 2019 was held again on 21–22 December at KLCC.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CF2019 |url=https://comicfiesta.org/history-cf2019 |access-date=2026-06-01 |website=COMIC FIESTA |language=en-US}}</ref>
Comic Fiesta-associated events, such as the Comic Art Festival Kuala Lumpur 7 (CAFKL7), Comic Fiesta Mini Johor 2020, Comic Fiesta Mini Penang 2020 and the Toys Anime Game Comic Con 2020 (TAGCC 2020) was announced to be postponed to 2021, citing the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia.<ref>{{cite web |title=Events 2020 |url=https://www.comicfiesta.org/2020events |website=Comic Fiesta |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200821184828/https://www.comicfiesta.org/2020events |access-date=21 August 2020|archive-date=21 August 2020 }}</ref>
Making its return in 2022, Comic Fiesta had been held at KLCC receiving approximately 69,000 visitors. Special guests included Suzuki Konomi, Akihito Tsukushi and performers from hololive.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hakim |first=Luqman |date=2022-12-16 |title=Hololive EN and Hololive ID Are Coming To Malaysia This Weekend |url=https://sea.ign.com/comic-fiesta-2022/193659/news/hololive-en-and-hololive-id-are-coming-to-malaysia-this-weekend |access-date=2026-06-01 |website=IGN Southeast Asia |language=en-sg}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=CF2022 |url=https://comicfiesta.org/history-cf2022 |access-date=2026-06-01 |website=COMIC FIESTA |language=en-US}}</ref>
Comic Fiesta in 2024 was held in KLCC from 21 to 22 December 2024 which attracted over 70,000 visitors. Some of the special guests included various comic companies from Hong Kong supported by HKETO which also held the opening ceremony of Comic Fiesta that year. Japanese artistes such as Suzuki Konomi and Myth & Roid vocalist KIHOW also were the popular segments for the event.<ref>{{Cite web |title=HKETO Jakarta promotes Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development in Malaysia (with photos) |url=https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202412/21/P2024122000337.htm |access-date=2026-05-08 |website=www.info.gov.hk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tee |first=Kenneth |date=2024-12-29 |title=Malaysia’s Comic Fiesta 2024 ends with a bang with popular Japanese artistes Suzuki Konomi, MYTH & ROID vocalist KIHOW rocking crowd |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/life/2024/12/29/malaysias-comic-fiesta-2024-ends-with-a-bang-with-popular-japanese-artistes-suzuki-konomi-myth-roid-vocalist-kihow-rocking-crowd/161418 |access-date=2026-05-08 |website=Malay Mail |language=en}}</ref> thumb|B2Takes performing at Comic Fiesta 2025 The recent edition of Comic Fiesta was held from 21 to 22 December 2025 at KLCC that had attracted 75,000 visitors making the most visited CF till date. Some of the special guests include Shoji Kawamori whose film Labyrinth had its premiere screening in the event, Naoki Hamaguchi, Studio Head and Director of Final Fantasy XIV and Wan Hazmer. Sentenced to be a Hero TV anime also had its premiere screening at the event.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-05-08 |title=Sentenced to be a Hero TV Anime Gets Premiere Screening at Malaysia Comic Fiesta |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2025-12-09/sentenced-to-be-a-hero-tv-anime-gets-premiere-screening-at-malaysia-comic-fiesta/.231872 |access-date=2026-05-08 |website=Anime News Network |language=en}}</ref> Hong Kong Pavilion sponsored by CCIDA from Hong Kong had also participated in it. A local artist had some stolen work being sold as a merchandise in the same year's CF.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency sponsored industry to participate in Comic Fiesta 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (with photos) |url=https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202512/22/P2025122200440.htm |access-date=2026-05-08 |website=www.info.gov.hk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bahrom |first=Shahril |date=24 December 2025 |title=Local Artist Exposes Stolen Artwork, Claims To Have Been Threatened If Post Is Not Taken Down |url=https://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2025/12/24/local-artist-exposes-stolen-artwork-claims-to-have-been-threatened-if-post-is-not-taken-down/#gsc.tab=0 |url-status=live |access-date=8 May 2026 |website=}}</ref>
In 2026, Comic Fiesta will be held in between 19 and 20 December 2026 at the World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur.<ref>{{Cite web |last=luqman |date=2026-05-22 |title=Comic Fiesta 2026 Drops Anime-Style Announcement Video, Confirms December 19–20 Return to Kuala Lumpur - GamerBraves |url=https://www.gamerbraves.com/comic-fiesta-2026-drops-anime-style-announcement-video-confirms-december-19-20-return-to-kuala-lumpur/,%20https://www.gamerbraves.com/comic-fiesta-2026-drops-anime-style-announcement-video-confirms-december-19-20-return-to-kuala-lumpur/ |access-date=2026-06-01 |language=zh}}</ref>
==Showcase==
===Creative Art Market=== Comic Fiesta plays host to the largest amateur creative art market in Malaysia similar to Comiket of Japan, which consists over 100 booths showcasing talents in the field of visual arts and illustration. Comic Fiesta also contains an incredible variety of self-published comics, artbooks, posters and other merchandises available for sale.<ref>{{Cite web |last=luqman |date=2025-12-20 |title=[CF 2025] Comic Fiesta 2025 Overview — A Celebration Across Worlds Where Creators and Culture Converge - GamerBraves |url=https://www.gamerbraves.com/cf-2025-comic-fiesta-2025-overview-a-celebration-across-worlds-where-creators-and-culture-converge/,%20https://www.gamerbraves.com/cf-2025-comic-fiesta-2025-overview-a-celebration-across-worlds-where-creators-and-culture-converge/ |access-date=2026-06-01 |language=zh}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=COMIC FIESTA 2025 - Creative Art Market |url=https://comicfiesta.org/art-market-2025 |access-date=2026-06-01 |website=COMIC FIESTA |language=en-US}}</ref>
===Cosplay=== Comic Fiesta hosts both solo and group cosplay competitions and is considered to be the second main focus of the event. Participants use the chance to showcase their skills in cosplay, attracting many to attend the event aside from buying self-published comics and artbooks.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Chan |first=Rachel Suet Kay |date=2018-01-15 |title=“Expressive Rationality”: Habitus and Field in a Malaysian Cosplay Community |url=https://doi.org/10.21315/ijaps2018.14.1.6 |journal=International Journal of Asia Pacific Studies |volume=14 |issue=1 |pages=156 |doi=10.21315/ijaps2018.14.1.6 |issn=1823-6243 |quote=Malaysian cosplayers, as a subset of Asian cosplayers, are made up of multiethnic members of Asian descent. Attendance at a convention such as Comic Fiesta helps them acquire an audience, as well as exchanging social contacts.|doi-access=free }}</ref>
===Comic Fiesta Mini=== thumb|Comic Fiesta Mini Johor 2018 Comic Fiesta also organises two small CF-like events specialized for ACG enthusiasts in the north and south of Peninsular Malaysia, namely Comic Fiesta Mini Penang (stylized as CF Mini Penang) and Comic Fiesta Mini Johor (stylized as CF Mini JB, since 2018).<ref>{{Cite web |title=I.O.E.A |url=https://ioea.info/eventinfo/20-150326/#child10000680 |access-date=2026-06-01 |website=ioea.info}}</ref>
==List of Comic Fiesta events== {| class="wikitable" |+ !# !Year !Date !Location !Attendance<ref>{{cite web |title=Comic Fiesta |url=https://www.comicfiesta.org/history |access-date=5 January 2020}}</ref> |- |1 |2002 |14–15 December |Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, Kuala Lumpur (now known as The Kuala Lumpur And Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall) |500 |- |2 |2003 |6 December |Impiana Hotel, Kuala Lumpur (now known as Ancasa Hotel) |1,000 |- |3 |2004 |11–12 December |Malaysian National Visual Art Gallery (Balai Seni Visual Negara) |3,000 |- |4 |2005 |17–18 December |Sekolah Sri Sendaya, Subang Jaya (now Sekolah Sri UCSI Subang Jaya) |3,000 |- |5 |2006 |16–17 December |Sekolah Sri Sendaya, Subang Jaya (now Sekolah Sri UCSI Subang Jaya) |3,000 |- |6 |2007 |15–16 December |Berjaya Times Square, Kuala Lumpur |5,000 |- |7 |2008 |20–21 December |Sunway Convention Centre |7,000 |- |8 |2009 |19–20 December |Sunway Convention Centre |8,000 |- |9 |2010 |18–19 December |Berjaya Times Square, Kuala Lumpur |10,000 |- |10 |2011 |17–18 December |Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, KLCC |15,000 |- |11 |2012 |22–23 December |Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, KLCC |25,000 |- |12 |2013 |21–22 December |Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, KLCC |40,000 |- |13 |2014 |27–28 December |Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, KLCC |49,000 |- |14 |2015 |19–20 December |[http://miecc.mines.com.my/ Mines International Exhibition & Convention Centre, Seri Kembangan (MIECC)] |45,000 |- |15 |2016 |17–18 December |Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur (PWTC) |45,000 |- |16 |2017 |16–17 December |Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, KLCC |55,000 |- |17 |2018 |22–23 December |Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, KLCC |60,000 |- |18 |2019 |21–22 December |Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, KLCC |65,000 |- |rowspan=2 | # |2020 |colspan=3 rowspan=2 | ''Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic'' |- |2021 |- |19 |2022 |17–18 December |Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, KLCC |69,000 |- |20 |2023 |23–24 December |Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, KLCC |70,000 |- |21 |2024 |21–22 December |Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, KLCC |73,000 |- |22 |2025 |20–21 December |Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, KLCC |75,000 |- |23 |2026 |19-20 December |Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, KLCC{{Efn|Yet to happen}} | |}
==Notes== {{Notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== {{commons category}} * [http://www.comicfiesta.org/ Comic Fiesta Official Website]
Category:2002 establishments in Malaysia Category:Anime conventions in Malaysia Category:Comics conventions Category:Recurring events established in 2002