Comic Frontier (affectionately referred to as “Comifuro” by locals) is one of Southeast Asia’s biggest anime conventions, held bi-annually at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition center in Jakarta, Indonesia. As a Malaysian, Comifuro has been on my list of dream conventions to visit for years, mainly due to the event’s Comiket-style art market, which frequently draws thousands of artists from the region.
When I was given an opportunity to attend the May edition of the event, which took place over the 16th and 17th, I jumped at the chance to go, and absolutely didn’t regret it. Here’s some of the highlights I experienced from over the weekend:
Creative Art Market
As I mentioned earlier, Comifuro is known for its massive creative art market, with a sea of booths selling fan-made merchandise of not only anime and games, but practically anything you could think of. Paintings inspired by Wong Kar-Wai films, keychains of the Beatles, and photocards of F1 drivers could be found nestled among doujin market staples like Genshin Impact and Love and Deepspace, as well as original creations designed by the artists in attendance.
As the venue was packed full of attendees throughout the weekend, I’d highly recommend anyone who plans to visit Comifuro to browse through catalogues and making a shopping list for booths you want to visit prior to the event, as it’s nearly impossible to casually browse through every stall when you’re there. If you want to go the extra mile, most artists also offer pre-orders several months in advance, allowing you to pick up your merchandise at the event with ease.
Sponsors & Exhibitors
Located next to the creative art market was a series of bigger booths, which not only housed more merchandise, but also activities like cosplayer meet-and-greets, interactive VTuber booths, and indie game demos. More niche services could also be found here: a booth that offered on-the spot screenprinting, another that sold merchandise for Jakarta’s public transport system, and even a booth offering free legal advice to passers-by, just to name a few.
Bigger brands such as Bushiroad could also be seen taking up space at the event, offering visitors learn-to-play card game sessions, merchandise displays, and even a doodle wall that anyone could join; as well as local anime retailers like Kyou’s Hobby Shop, which sold a wide range of official anime merchandise. Perhaps the most intriguing booth in this category belonged to Pos Indonesia, an Indonesian postal service that allowed visitors to ship their merch hauls straight to their homes.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, the event also hosted a few community booths where fandom groups could gather and showcase their interests to like-minded fans. All these seemingly disparate elements came together to form an event that truly did feel like it offered something for everyone.
Stage Highlights
Comifuro offered a few different stages that audiences could visit throughout the event. The Main Stage hosted anime screenings, panels from industry experts, VTuber showcases and more, while the Activity Stage put the spotlight on performers from the community, who showed off their singing and dancing skills. There was a strong emphasis on local talent, with many of the featured guests being established Indonesian creators.
There were also two additional stages located outside the event hall: a DJ stage, where anisong DJs could be seen spinning their takes on popular anime and J-pop songs; and a dedicated area for panels, which saw discussions on topics as diverse as slice-of-life anime and TTRPGs, to the yuri genre and even the ethics of gacha gaming.
Food & Beverages
If you ever needed a bite to eat during the event, Comifuro had you covered with dozens of food stalls and trucks parked right outside the venue, mainly offering Japanese-inspired fusion fare such as beef bowls and onigiri, as well as Indonesian staples like ayam geprek. Ample seating was also provided outside the venue for anyone who wanted to sit down to eat, or who just wanted to catch their breath from walking around the convention all day.
The atmosphere outside the hall was just as lively as it was inside, with groups of visitors not only enjoying their meals outdoors, but also participating in various fandom meetups and cosplay gatherings. A significant portion of the outdoor carpark was also dedicated to itasha, cars decorated with images of popular anime characters and VTubers.
Closing Thoughts (& Travel Tips)
If you’ve ever thought about visiting Comifuro, I’d definitely recommend it. Personally, I found it refreshing to attend an event where the creative art market – not the guest stars or exhibitors – was the main focus. Despite the presence of branded booths, the event never felt overly corporate or sterile, and the brands did come on board felt appropriate for the occasion.
I also found it quite inspiring to see local and regional creators being celebrated at the event, with crowds turning up in droves to support local guests when they appeared on stage. The Indonesian VTuber group PANDAVVA amassed an especially large crowd, with their fans’ cheers practically echoing off the walls every time they spoke.
That being said, if you’re planning on making a visit,you should still take note of a few things:
- Much like any other major con in Southeast Asia, the Internet connection in the venue is spotty at best. If you’re coming with friends, move in groups or set designated meetup spots to avoid losing one another in the crowd.
- Cash is king here, as the unreliable Internet connection often makes it difficult to pay via e-wallet. However, it should be noted that some vendors may still be strictly cashless; it’s always better to ask before getting in line.
- Cosplayers are strongly discouraged from changing into costume in the event’s general restrooms. Instead, use the on-site changing rooms, which are even equipped with makeup tables that anyone can use.
With all that being said, I’m already looking forward to my next trip to Comifuro, and can’t wait to see what they have in store when the event returns this 31 October. Otsufuro!
