Comifuro
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6°18′01″S 106°38′12″E/6.300258°S 106.636604°E/ -6.300258; 106.636604
Comic Frontier, also widely known as Comifuro (unrelated to the Japanese manga service of the same name; abbreviated as CF), is a dōjinshi convention held biannually in BSD City, Tangerang Regency, Banten, Indonesia. It has a wide range of activities and participants, from the dōjin marketplace, cosplay show, corporate booth, music performance, and talkshow discussing creative industries (particularly comic and animation) in Indonesia. The convention has been influenced in design and spirit by the Japanese Comiket convention.
History
The convention was founded by several students from the University of Indonesia, with the first convention held in 2012. It was then called Comic Frontier Akipa x Gelar Jepang and 35 circles participated.
Originally a part of Gelar Jepang, a Japanese cultural event organised by Japanology Students' Association of the Faculty of Humanities of the University of Indonesia, Comifuro was spun-off as a standalone event since its third convention.
Comifuro is a member of the International Otaku Expo Association, a global association of expos and events that feature otaku culture.
Profile
The dōjin marketplace is filled by circles of aspiring or established creators publishing their works independently, covering a wide range of fandoms from the east, west, or local IPs. The cosplay show is another mainstay of the event, with many cosplayers from Indonesia and abroad participating. Stage music performances are usually held during and at the climax of the event, consisting of karaoke sessions, music instrument performances, anison, and DJ performances.
Local comic publishers such as reON and CIAYO and the like would usually hold portfolio review sessions where aspiring writers and/or comic artists may submit their manuscripts.
Comifuro is typically held on Saturday and Sunday, bi-annually each year. Ticket sales began in the morning before the gate opens, traditionally at 9:30, with the ticket gate closing at 17:00. The dōjin marketplace and other activities are open until closing at 18:00.
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak in Indonesia, Comifuro held a new online format for the convention beginning from 2021, aptly named as Comic Frontier Virtual, or Comivuro for short (also often abbreviated as CV or CFV). The online format of the convention is a separate event series from its offline counterpart, with the 15th event reserved for an offline format.
For the first offline Comifuro since COVID-19, CF15, it was moved to hall 9 and 10 of ICE BSD where hall 9 was used as an eating place and hall 10 for the actual event. It attracted 17,000 visitors on the first day, crossing over 20,000 for both days combined. Because of this, many were queueing for hours to get a ticket with others were waiting since 3 am. It also was the first time Good Smile Company products being sold at Comifuro.
On 1 December 2022, Comic Frontier announced on their Twitter that Comifuro 16 would be held on 11-12 March 2023 in halls 8, 9 and 10 of ICE BSD. It has been delayed to 6-7 May 2023 however, citing security concerns surrounding the venue and its adjacent areas during the event date as cause of delay.
Events
| No. | Year | Date | Venue | Note | Attendance | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2012 | 15 July | University of Indonesia (held as a part of Gelar Jepang) | 1,500 | ||
| 2 | 2013 | 7 July | 1,800 | |||
| 3 | 28–29 December | University of Indonesia (standalone event) | First standalone event and first two-day event. | 2,500 | ||
| 4 | 2014 | 6–7 September | Gelanggang Remaja, East Jakarta | 3,700 | ||
| 5 | 2015 | 24 January | SMESCO Exhibition Hall | 4,500 | ||
| 6 | 22–23 August | 5,300 | ||||
| 7 | 2016 | 30–31 July | First edition with entry ticketing. | 6,500 | ||
| 8 | 2017 | 21 January | Integrity Convention Center | 9,200 | ||
| 9 | 2–3 September | Balai Kartini | Featured three international cosplayers: Aliga, Ying, and Nemesia. | Over 13,000 | ||
| 10 | 2018 | 3–4 March | Announced and marketed as CFX. | 14,000 | ||
| 11 | 18–19 August | Incorporated Shadowverse Indonesia Circuit E-Sports tournament. | 15,000 | |||
| 12 | 2019 | 23–24 February | 17,600 | |||
| 13 | 7–8 September | 20,500 | ||||
| 14 | 2020 | 22–23 February | First edition to use Rafflesia Grand Ballroom at Balai Kartini, resulting in expanded exhibition space. | 25,000 | ||
| CV1 | 2021 | 17–18 July | Online | Comivuro (Comifuro Virtual) was held as a virtual event substitute with Comifuro 15 name reserved for future offline event. | Online 50,000 | |
| CV2 | December | The 2nd virtual event for Comifuro was announced at the end of the 1st Comivuro, named Comivuro 2.0: You Can (Not) Miss It. | Online 70,000 | |||
| 15 | 2022 | 24–25 September | Indonesia Convention Exhibition | Comifuro 15 moved to ICE BSD, the largest convention centre in Indonesia. | 40,000 | |
| 16 | 2023 | 6–7 May | CF 16 has been expanded to include Hall 8, 9 and 10 of ICE BSD. | 42,000 | ||
| 17 | 16–17 December | Since this edition, committee added more shuttle service operated by Lorena. | 50,000 | |||
| 18 | 2024 | 11–12 May | A Bushiroad EXPO was included. Both days were opened in Japanese by Takaaki Kidani, Bushiroad's CEO and President. | 45,000 | ||
| 19 | 9–10 November | Held simultaneously with the Indonesia Comic Con in the Jakarta Convention Center. | 50,000 | |||
| 20 | 2025 | 24–25 May | Announced and marketed as Comic Frontier XX. A Bushiroad EXPO was held again with Takaaki Kidani attending both days, hosting interpreted Q&A sessions both mornings of the event. | 60,000 | ||
| 21 | 15–16 November | Collaborated with hololive Indonesia 5th Anniversary LIVE Chromatic Future | 70,000 |