Hundreds queue as Ani-com opens

The 26th Ani-com & Games kicked off at 10am Friday at the Convention and Exhibition Centre, with hundreds of anime and comics enthusiasts lining up to enter. This year’s event boasts a 30 percent larger exhibition space compared to last year.

Originally, the order of entry was determined by a lottery system. However, the attendee who won the first-place spot failed to show up, allowing the second-place winner—Cheng, a visitor from Macau—to step into the coveted "first entry" position.

Cheng told reporters that he woke up at 4am and traveled to Hong Kong via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Shuttle Bus, arriving at the venue by 7.30am as instructed.

He plans to spend around HK$10,000, mainly on a PS5 console and accessories for friends, citing better availability and discounts at the event. A six-time attendee, Cheng described the festival as "the biggest ACG event in Hong Kong and Macau," though he felt this year’s shopping options were somewhat limited.

Following tradition, Cheng marked his entry with a playful "backward turn" move, joking that he had "practiced in advance."

He admitted he never expected to secure the second-place lottery spot but found the reporting time slightly too early, suggesting a one-hour delay would have been more convenient.

The festival continues to draw fans from across the region, with many eager to explore the latest in anime, comics, and gaming.