Whether you’re into cosplay or classic comics, anime or live-action, Comic-Con Cape Town promises a visual feast of popular culture at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. And with just a few weeks to go until the event, the organisers have revealed the headline artists you’ll have the chance to meet and mingle with.
Top of the bill is actor Sean Gunn, perhaps most famous for his roles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Kraglin and as the on-set Rocket Raccoon in the Guardians of the Galaxy films.
Also not be missed is Lesley-Ann Brandt, who appears as Mazikeen on the hit television series Lucifer. Brandt is also set to appear in the upcoming Walking Dead 6-episode spin-off released this year.
Comic-Con Cape Town has announced the return of Veronica Taylor, who fans will recognise – by her voice, at least – as the original English voice of Pokémon's Ash Ketchum.
But it’s not only global stars that will be in attendance for the weekend focus of the event. Attend on the Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday of the festival (April 27, April 28, and May 1) and you’ll have the chance to bag an autograph from 10 cast members of the Netflix live adaption of One Piece. That includes homegrown talent like Aidan Scott (Helmeppo), Langley Kirkwood (Axe-Hand Morgan), Alexander Maniatis (Captain Kuro) and others.
Beyond the cosplay displays and exhibitor booths, Comic-Con Cape Town also plays host to the Cape Town International Animation Festival.
This year the star speaker will be acclaimed animation director Troy Quane. Quane is the director of the 2024 Academy Award-nominated Best Animated Feature, Nimona, and has also worked on the Disney films Enchanted and The Smurfs: A Christmas Carol.
Quane will share behind-the-scenes insights into the making of this critically acclaimed movie based on the graphic novel by ND Stevenson.
Festival audiences can also look forward to Menna Hamdy’s introduction to the growing animation industry in Egypt, while a showing of ground-breaking African animation will showcase the Kizazi Moto sci-fi anthology that imagines 10 futuristic visions of Africa
Esther Pearl and Clyde Beech will offer a glimpse into the creation of the hotly-anticipated movie ‘Boy Kills World’, unpacking the creation of the animated titles of this film.
‘We are beyond excited to be hosting such incredible talent in Cape Town this year,’ said Cape Town International Animation Festival (CTIAF) show director, Dianne Makings. ‘This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for local animators to get a first-hand look at the industry and gain fascinating behind-the-scenes insights into global animation creation.’
Comic-Con Cape Town, and the Cape Town International Animation Festival, takes place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from April 27 - May 1, 2024. Tickets are available via Howler.
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