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ANI:ME to Bring Japanese Pop Culture to the Middle East

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The creators of Middle East Film & Comic Con are bringing ANI:ME, the biggest celebration of Japanese popular culture to the Middle East. The event will include activities such as Amezaiku, Kimono Dressing, SanaSenaBona, Real Monster Battle, Mochi Pounding, Hatsune Miku Augmented Reality Photo Booth, classic ANI:ME and manga experience.

The festival promises something for everyone and will take place from 27th to 29th October at the du Forum, Yas Island with tickets now on sale at Virgin Megastores and through the Ticketmaster website. These guests and activities add to an already packed roster including Anisong bands JAM Project and Flow, manga veteran Yoshitaka Amano, sword fighter Tetsuro Shimaguchi and more, all coming to the Middle East for the first time.

hatsune-miky-augmented-reality-photo-booth

Hatsune Miku Photo Experience
Hatsune Miku, a Japanese music sensation, is a 16-year-old blue-haired girl with a unique voice and prodigious energy. She’s one of the best known singing idols out of Japan, but what makes her special is that she is not human but a virtual persona who uses a computer-generated voice and 3D graphics, bringing a truly inexplicable persona to life on stage! Yet, being virtual hasn’t stopped her from filling up concert halls, or teaming up with major artists like Lady Gaga and Pharrell Williams! At ANI:ME, fans will have the chance to get their picture with the singing idol at the Hatsune Miku augmented reality photo booth. This is truly a rare opportunity to get a memory with the ‘sound of the future’!

Classic Anime and Manga
Take a walk down memory lane at ANI:ME with classic manga and anime like Grendizer, Astroganger (Jongar) and Aizenborg. Expect official merchandise for sale, giant statues and the biggest Grendizer inflatable fans will ever set their eyes on! All this and more brought to ANI:ME by the amazing team at Cultures Factory, exclusively for the event and the fans! The CineClub will also show some of the most loved anime like Studio Ghibli classics, The Last: The Naruto Movie, Dragonball Z: Resurrection F and much more!

real-monster-battle

Real Monster Battle – Augmented Reality Game
With the HADO Real Monster Battle, players get to fight monsters in real time using a Virtual Reality (VR) headset and all their wits and tactics! In this fantasy themed augmented reality game, players can shoot fireballs, collect power ups and unleash special attacks to defeat the monsters in their way!

maidreamin

Maidreamin
Maidreamin, a Maid Café restaurant in Japan was founded in 2008 and has grown to become the largest maid cafe chain in the world with over 17 locations and over 400 servants from Japan and around the world. The servants are waiting for their masters or princesses to arrive. Enjoy an experience unlike any other as the idols perform their world famous original songs and much more!

amezaiku

Amezaiku
Amezaiku is a traditional Japanese folk art of sculpting candy into a variety of shapes using tweezers, scissors and softened candy heated to 90 degrees. During the Heian period, the art of amezaiku was imported from China and was probably first used in Japan for candy offerings made at temples in Kyoto. The amezaiku craft spread beyond the temple when many forms of street performances of the craft flourished in Japan. It is said that even in Japan, there may be only a handful of people who still practice this hundreds-year-old art form. Shinri Tezuka, one of the few amezaiku practitioners in Japan, is coming to ANI:ME to teach the fans this ancient practice.

kimono-dressing

Kimono Dressing
Experience the art of traditional Kimono dressing as native Japanese kimono dressers show fans how to drape and don the silky garment. Guests will be professionally fitted and can even buy one of the pieces to make their own!

sanasenabona

SanaSenaBona
SanaSenaBona is a “paperbag fairy” idol group from Sasebo, Japan. The 3-piece girl group are best known to sing, dance and share stories about the place they call home! Grab those dancing shoes and prepare to be entertained by these lovely idols!

mochi-pounding

Mochi Pounding
Mochi is a traditional food served during Japanese New Year and is commonly sold and eaten during that time. Mochi Pounders soak the rice in water overnight and cooked in traditional wooden steamers. Then, the polished glutinous rice is pounded with wooden mallets (Kine) in a traditional mortar (Usu). It requires two people to work together – one pounding the Mochi while the other turning and wetting the Mochi with water to prevent it from sticking to the mallet. The Mochi is shaped by hand once the pounding process is complete. Fans can try creating their own Mochi in their favourite flavors!

enako

Enako
Professional Japanese cosplayer Enako, has been gaining fans from across the world since she started cosplaying in 2007. Now one of the most popular Japanese cosplayers around, she is a staple at conventions around Asia and she will be coming to Abu Dhabi and the Middle East for the first time at ANI:ME!

Tickets are priced from AED 650 for a 3 Day VIP entry to AED 150 for a 1 Day entry.

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Events

Sony Announces INZONE Gaming Tournament

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Sony Middle East and Africa has announced the upcoming INZONE Gaming Tournament, set to take place from February 11 to February 15, 2025, across UAE, KSA, Qatar, and Kuwait. Following the success of the recent INZONE tournament in Qatar, this latest edition expands opportunities for gamers across the region, welcoming over 1,000 participants to compete for a $10,000 prize pool across men’s and women’s divisions.

Participants will put their skills to the test in one of the region’s most competitive esports events, battling it out in Valorant, one of the most popular titles in the GCC gaming community. With separate men’s and women’s divisions, winners will claim their share of the $10,000 prize pool, with $5,000 awarded per tournament. Fans can also tune in live on February 14 and 15 to witness the action unfold in the tournament finals.

This initiative highlights Sony’s commitment to supporting the gaming community by delivering innovative platforms and top-tier esports experiences across the Middle East. Speaking on this, Jobin Joejoe, Managing Director of Sony Middle East and Africa, said, “The INZONE Gaming Tournament reflects our commitment to elevating the gaming experience in the region. With the booming esports expansion across the region, we are reinforcing our commitment to the growth of gaming communities and fostering talent across the GCC.”

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Cool Stuff

NARUTO THE GALLERY Experience Makes its Middle East Debut in Dubai

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Celebrating over 20 years of the global anime sensation NARUTO, fans in the Middle East will have a rare opportunity to experience the iconic world of their favourite ninja, as NARUTO THE GALLERY experience makes its debut outside of Japan, for the first time in Dubai. This unique experience, direct from Tokyo, will run from January 31 to April 6, 2025, at The Concourse Convention Center, near the Dubai Outlet Mall, marking the first time outside East Asia that the beloved anime’s legacy will be celebrated on this scale.

Created to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the NARUTO anime’s debut in Japan, this immersive experience takes fans on a journey through the series’ iconic moments, themes, and characters. Featuring vivid life-size installations and exclusive artwork from the animation, NARUTO THE GALLERY offers an opportunity to step into Naruto Uzumaki’s world, including rare behind-the-scenes content from the series’ origins. From the vibrant landscapes of Konoha (Hidden Leaf Village) to unforgettable battles and intimate character portrayals, visitors can relive every pivotal moment of the beloved anime.

Experience Includes:

  1. Authentic Artifacts and Original Artwork: View never-before-seen concept art and materials used in creating the series, transported directly from Japan
  2. Interactive Displays: Fans can engage with iconic scenes and immerse themselves into the universe of NARUTO through dynamic video presentations on large screens and multiple monitors.
  3. Fans can engage with iconic scenes and participate in interactive exhibits that immerse them in the universe of NARUTO
  4. Exclusive Merchandise: Limited-edition NARUTO memorabilia and exclusive merchandise, making it a must-visit for any anime fan

As a landmark event for regional anime fans, NARUTO THE GALLERY reflects the global influence of Japanese anime and its cultural crossover appeal. With Dubai known as a bridge between East and West, this event reinforces the city’s position as a hub for innovative and world-class entertainment experiences.

This is a ticketed event, with tickets starting at AED 60 per person. Tickets can be purchased online through Platinumlist or at the venue itself. The exhibition will be held in The Concourse Convention Center, which is seamlessly connected to the Dubai Outlet Mall.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with NARUTO THE GALLERY Executive Committee to bring such an authentic and original experience to Dubai,” said Ahmad Khalifa, CEO, Akiba. “Al Ahli Group and Akiba are committed to growing the pop-culture scene in the region, spanning from West Asia to Africa, and introducing year-long, themed experiences and events, celebrating various iconic properties. And kicking off our series of events with NARUTO THE GALLERY, is extra special, as we celebrate NARUTO’s 20-year legacy by creating an incredible experience for anime fans in the region to connect with the series on a personal level.”

“We are truly honoured to bring NARUTO THE GALLERY to Dubai as its next destination. Through this exhibition, we hope to provide as many fans as possible with an opportunity to immerse themselves in the rich history and legacy of NARUTO,” said the NARUTO THE GALLERY Executive Committee.

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Bikes

Bollywood Stars to Blaze the Track at Dubai Autodrome for ‘DSBK Middle East Championship’

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Dubai is gearing up for an electrifying fusion of speed and stardom as the ‘DSBK Middle East Championship’ takes centre stage at the iconic Dubai Autodrome Racing Circuit on February 2, 2025. For the first time, some of Bollywood’s biggest celebrities will swap the red carpet for racing helmets, promising an adrenaline-pumping showdown like never before. Some of the Bollywood favourite stars, including Arbaaz Khan, Sohail Khan, Emraan Hashmi, Vivek Oberoi, Gauahar Khan, and Salman Yusuff Khan, among others, will be participating and riding in this high-octane motorsport extravaganza.

The event is equally igniting interest and quickly gaining traction in the country as well, for its never-seen-before blend of Bollywood glamour with the thrill of superbike racing. As the UAE’s premier superbike championship, DSBK Racing has carved a niche for itself in the region’s motorsport scene. The event provides an opportunity to immerse in edge-of-the-seat racing action, engaging family-friendly activities, and a seamless experience with free entry and parking, ensuring inclusivity for all visitors.

Beyond the high-speed action, the event boasts an array of entertainment options, including live DJ performances, a dedicated children’s play zone, a diverse range of food trucks, an interactive fan zone, and exclusive meet-and-greet opportunities with racers, influencers and celebrities. DSBK Racing’s Founder and celebrated racer Nasir Syed, along with Co-Founder Abdul Samee shared their vision for the championship and said, “The DSBK Middle East Championship is more than just a race; it’s a movement to promote responsible riding and nurture motorsport culture in the region. We aim to establish DSBK Racing as a marquee event on the Middle East’s motorsport calendar.”

In a major announcement, DSBK Racing has also unveiled two groundbreaking initiatives. The DSBK Racing Academy, UAE’s first-ever Superbike training academy, is aimed at cultivating the next generation of racing talent through structured training programs for aspiring riders. Additionally, DSBK Racing is committed to fostering a passionate community of riders, families, and motorsport enthusiasts, offering an experience that extends beyond races to include education and entertainment.

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