Singapore Comic Con (SGCC) 2025 is in full swing at Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre, marking its largest edition yet with over 250,000 square feet of pop culture festivities across five halls.
My son Asher and I made our annual pilgrimage to attend SGCC this Saturday and spent half a day soaking in the atmosphere of the event’s second day. The event, which concludes tomorrow, has brought together more than 400 exhibiting companies and brands from around the globe for a weekend celebrating comics, gaming, anime, collectibles and more.
The action spans both Level 1 and Basement 2, creating a clear divide in experiences.
For most general attendees, families, and casual fans, Level 1 is the undeniable main hub. This is the spectacular, sensory overload core of SGCC. The floor is a meticulously organised maze of towering exhibitor booths, some sleek and corporate showcasing the latest high end collectibles, others quirky and independent, draped in fan art and handmade crafts. Here, we navigated bustling aisles, taking photos with roaming as well as scheduled appearances by costumed characters like the ever popular Ultraman and Spongebob Squarepants.
Along with other attendees, we queued patiently for limited edition merchandise drops, collect various swags from selected booths and browse countless artist alley stalls offering everything from delicate watercolour prints of anime characters to bold, graphic novel style superhero portraits.
The cosplay presence adds to the festivity. From meticulously crafted armour from games like Genshin Impact to instantly recognisable classic anime uniforms, the cosplayers are both participants and attractions, often pausing for photos and adding to the communal, celebratory atmosphere. Recognisable local creators, including one of Singapore’s top cosplayers, Rurusama and other Mediacorp and TikTok personalities can be spotted at the event, interacting with fans.
A major highlight for many, particularly those who grew up in the late 90s and early 2000s, was the much anticipated appearance of Power Rangers Time Force stars Jason Faunt and Erin Cahill. Their panel, “Morphin’ Memories: Then, Now, and Beyond,” offered fans a deeply nostalgic and revealing look behind the scenes of the iconic series.
The event opened on Friday with a more business oriented focus. Industry Day Zero provided a platform for brands, retailers, distributors, and creators to network, explore partnerships, and discuss the commercial landscape of pop culture. Topics ranged from monetisation strategies for independent artists to the challenges of licensing and distribution in Southeast Asia.
This professional prelude set the stage for the evening’s exclusive Ultimate Preview Night, a perk reserved for Platinum ticket holders, media, and specially invited guests. This coveted access granted entry to a first look at the exhibition floor in a less crowded environment and, more importantly, a special stage programme. Platinum attendees were also rewarded with a physically hefty Platinum Pack, a box of treasures designed to kickstart the convention weekend.
Throughout the public days on Saturday and Sunday, the main stage will be hosting a relentlessly busy schedule designed to cater to diverse fan interests. The crowd favourite Cosplay Competition is a key attraction, drawing some of the most talented and dedicated costume makers in the region, showcasing incredible craftsmanship and performance.
The Ani Idol Performance allows fans of Japanese idol culture to enjoy live singing and dance. Special performance appearances, like a staged encounter with Godzilla and dynamic Ultraman shows, create shared, cheering moments for audiences.
Descending to Basement 2 is like entering a different, equally passionate dimension of the convention.
The atmosphere shifts from broad spectacle to focused intensity. This is the kingdom of the tabletop community, co-occupied by Bandai Card Fest and Collexi Con.
The spacious hall is filled with the distinct sounds of card sleeves shuffling, dice rolling, and the tactical discussions of players deep in matches. Long tables are lined with players engaged in tournaments for popular games, while demo stations allow newcomers to learn the rules.
A significant portion of the floor is given over to a bustling marketplace, with numerous vendors and independent collectors buying, selling, and trading single cards, sealed booster boxes, and rare collectible card game merchandise.
Back upstairs, the exhibitor lineup on Level 1 features powerhouse brands who have pulled out all the stops with expansive, immersive booths. Bandai Namco and Bandai Hobby dominate with displays featuring exclusive, convention only figures, such as the S.H.Figuarts Ultimate Shining Ultraman Zero and a special 40th anniversary Dragon Ball Son Goku & Dragon set.
The Bandai Hobby booth also hosts hands on Gunpla workshops, where fans can try their hand at building model kits. Heatboys draws crowds with impressive, large scale new product displays. Their “MechaHeat Stellar Expansion Spartacus” is a 28cm tall behemoth of die cast metal and intricate engineering, featuring LED lights and multiple weapon systems. Meanwhile, their Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 40th Anniversary line, reimagining Raphael and Leonardo as heavily armed mecha warriors, offers a fascinating fusion of nostalgia and cutting edge collectible design.
Making a major debut is Kayou, China’s leading trading card brand and a recent addition to the Hurun Global Unicorn Index 2025. Beyond just a display, they built an immersive fan first environment showcasing global hits like Harry Potter and Naruto alongside regional favourites Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and Free Fire. This launch complements their massive expansion across Southeast Asia, where they have already established thousands of retail touchpoints.
Other notable exhibitors include Infinity Studio and Queen Studio, displaying their hyper realistic, museum quality statues that command awe and astronomical price tags. Threezero and Yolopark showcase their articulated robot and mecha figures. INART raises the bar for 1/6th scale collectible figures with astonishing likeness and detail.
From Japan, Bushiroad, Furyuu, and Ichiban Kuji bring their unique brand of figure collectibles and capsule toy excitement. The local and regional scene is also represented. The Falcon’s Hangar acts as a major distributor booth, representing brands like Hasbro, Jada, and ZD Toys while also spotlighting local Singaporean partners like Arielle Models SG and Kenshop SG.
The artist alleys and independent creator sections remain the soul of the convention.
Amidst the corporate glitter, these aisles are where personal passion projects find an audience. Countless established and emerging artists were there selling prints, stickers, keychains, and original artwork, often featuring unique crossover concepts or personalised fan art. This is where direct connections are made, where fans can compliment an artist on their work and take home a unique piece of memorabilia that is not available in any store.
Singapore Comic Con 2025 is organised by Generation Experience and is part of the Singapore Media Festival, hosted by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), supported by the Singapore Tourism Board, with Mediacorp as the official media partner.
