Calling all anime-niacs

SUSHI might be the most famous thing to come out of Japan, but anime undoubtedly comes a close second. Since its conception in 1917, the style of animation which distinguishes itself with vivid graphics and action-heavy plots has spread quite quickly across the globe, bringing with it other forms of Japanese pop culture like manga and J-pop.

Shawn Chin, executive festival director of Anime Festival Asia Singapore 2015 (AFASG15) being held this weekend, has had an affinity for Japanese pop culture since his youth. He says: "What I most like about it is how different it all is. It (Japan) is quite isolated, so there are a lot of unique traditions and facets of their culture that appeal to me. With anime, for example, you have so many different genres that there's a type for every age and demographic."

In its eighth year, AFASG has surpassed all expectations, seeing over 90,000 visitors last year.