Anime, K-pop fever grips the city

KARACHI:

In the midst of food festivals and other mega events in the city, youngsters stole the show by meeting on a unique platform to exhibit characters of Korean and Japanese pop cultures. The convention, called 'Karachi Anime & Comic Con', was organised by Geek Haven at the Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi.

The event brought together members of a subculture as participants flaunted their colourful costumes which represented popular anime and Korean characters/celebrities.

As Japanese and Korean subcultures gain popularity and growth among the city's youth, these participants, who conscientiously follow their favourite shows, met on the arts council's platform for a meet and greet within the local community.

The event also offered an environment for K-pop and Japanese animation enthusiasts to meet likeminded folks and discover other members of the growing community.

Roots of a subculture

Haris Khurrum, founder of the Karachi Anime & Comic Con, stated that Japanese culture played a prominent role in his early life. "From spending countless hours watching anime and playing games, this subculture has become my escape and the reason for me to keep going."

He added that followers of this subculture also have to deal with a lot of haters. "I've actually had to deal with such haters since I was 10 years old. They would make fun of me for watching my favourite animation. They always questioned why I watched these cartoons that were run in a foreign language. I also had to deal with a lot of bullies due to which I learnt my lessons in my life and became the brave person I am today."

Responding to a question about why anime and comic cons are held in reserved areas, the anime con founder further stated that such fandoms were not accepted in mainstream society.

"There is a mentality problem of backwardness in our people. The fans of the subculture are unnecessarily judged and bullied. We have experienced this in our previous events. A con is a place where people of different fandoms unite and celebrate their love for anime, games and k-pop."

Love for Korean pop

Filzah Baig, an anime and K-pop enthusiast, responded to a question about self-expression. "Visual cultures often portray different ideals and they impact me as well as a lot of people in K-pop and anime subculture," she said. "It helps shape your morals and gives you a lens into the world through someone else's eyes."

She added that K-pop and Japanese subculture is quite significant in Karachi. "It's at a stage where we can say that more and more people are learning about it. They are starting to embrace it. Self-expression and self-love also teach us to understand its importance for everyone around us."

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The growing cosplay community

Talha Waseem, part of the anime con's management team, stated that he had been gripped with the vividness of cartoonistic animation. "Even at this age, I am fascinated with it on a personal level. When I discovered anime, I gained a much richer experience."

Responding to a question on K-pop, he added it would be an injustice to the community regarding the sheer amount of hate or disapproval they get from others. "Having organised anime and comic cons multiple times, we usually take extra precautions to deal with anything unwholesome that happens to the community."

He further said that the main attraction of the convention is the cosplay community. "A lot of the participants are strangers to one another; many of them only became friends when they took part in this subculture."

Ayesha, another Korean culture enthusiast, said that K-pop dramas portray ideals of justice and many idol groups encourage their fans to accept reality. "There are many things these subcultures teach us including the importance of pursuing one's dreams and being passionate about it."

The occasion marks cosplay, a practice involving the wearing of fancy and elaborate costumes of their subculture. Many of the visitors include the family members and friends of the active participants, who may not be directly involved in the subculture, but are present to support their loved ones and encourage others to freely express themselves and the identities they established for themselves. Moreover, elements of the convention include merchandise of comics, manga, music albums, stickers and souvenirs as well as a variety of food on different stalls and other exhibitions.

The many different performances on the event day include singing and dancing acts by various local artistes as well as skits, plays, re-enactments and the punchy K-pop musical performances.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 18^th, 2022.