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Veronica Qi

Thousands of visitors have flocked to an animation, comics and games fair in Hong Kong, drawn to Hello Kitty plush toys, Spider-Man figurines and spinning top contests, among other collectibles and interactive activities.
The five-day Ani-Com & Games Hong Kong fair opened on Friday at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, with many attendees seeking to buy limited-edition merchandise arriving early in the morning before opening hours.
The first visitor to enter this year’s convention was 21-year-old university student Eric Yip, who arrived at 7am after being selected in a lucky draw as one of the first 300 visitors. He bought a standard HK$50 (US$6.40) admission ticket.
“I was really happy and couldn’t believe I was selected,” he said.
Yip, who has attended the annual event almost every year, said he was prepared to spend more than HK$1,000 on merchandise. He was among the first visitors to get his hands on Sanrio products, including Pompompurin and Cinnamoroll items.
Hongkongers Verna Liu and Kasa Liu, both in their twenties, also came specifically for Sanrio merchandise. The pair paid an additional HK$100 for fast track tickets and waited in line for more than an hour before entering.
They said they were especially looking forward to Sanrio’s long-legged Hello Kitty products, which were only available through limited sales channels.
“I am looking forward to the long-legged Hello Kitty products here because this is a Hong Kong-exclusive collection, and there are only two chances each year to get these products, one online and one here at the exhibition,” Kasa Liu said.
Beyond character merchandise, exhibitors said collectible products and interactive experiences were among this year’s highlights.
Connie Chan, head of commerce at Sakasaka, a trading card distributor with six booths at the exhibition, said trading cards were gaining popularity and that this was the first time her company had introduced such products at the fair.

It also set up a designated area to teach visitors how to participate in an interactive display that projected their Pokemon cards onto screens so they could take photographs.
Luxury brands also have a presence at the fair. Austrian crystal maker Swarovski, which is taking part for the first time, brought together a selection of character-themed products featuring Spider-Man, Captain America and the Minions.
Billy Wong, district manager at Swarovski, said the brand had long offered products inspired by comics and animation, but had never displayed so many of them together before.
“We see [Ani-Com] as a great opportunity to show a different, more vibrant side of Swarovski and let people know that we also have these kinds of products,” Wong said.
Beyblade X, appearing for the first time at the show, also attracted young fans with an interactive battle area, where participants could pit their specially designed spinning tops against one another.
Jack Siu, a Tomy Asia marketing representative for Beyblade X at the fair, said the renewed popularity of the toy reflected consumers’ growing interest in retro products.


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Thousands of fans throng 5-day animation, comics and games fair in Hong Kong

A visitor in a Spider-Man costume tries his hand at a video game. Photo: Elson Li

Eric Yip, the first visitor to enter the fair this year, holds up the Cinnamoroll and Pompompurin plush toys he bought. Photo: Elson Li

Crowds of visitors queue to enter the Ani-Com & Games Hong Kong fair held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on Friday. Photo: Elson Li

Participants pit their Beyblade tops against one another at the fair. Photo: Veronica Qi

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Hello Kitty plush toys, Spider-Man figurines and Beyblade X spinning top contests among attractions at Ani-Com & Games Hong Kong


Hello Kitty plush toys, Spider-Man figurines and Beyblade X spinning top contests among attractions at Ani-Com & Games Hong Kong.


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Bonnie Chan

Sanrio

Thousands of fans throng 5-day animation, comics and games fair in Hong Kong

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Hello Kitty plush toys, Spider-Man figurines and Beyblade X spinning top contests among attractions at Ani-Com & Games Hong Kong

Hello Kitty plush toys, Spider-Man figurines and Beyblade X spinning top contests among attractions at Ani-Com & Games Hong Kong