Vienna’s Phantasy

 

VIECC – Vienna Comic Con was held in Messe Wien. This convention joined a lot of people – Japanese Manga fans, Japanese animated movies called anime, sci-fi movies, computer and video games fans and many more. These kind of conventions are always fun as its fans are dressing in their favourite character, which is called cosplay. This time I came in a costume, which took me a few weeks to sew and a lot of inventiveness as the dress included some lighting elements. I think it turned out great. I believe others were also amazed at my outfit as they all wanted to take picture with me. I felt great as superhero Sombra from video game Overwatch, especially when I met even more characters from the game.

There was a diverse selection of products on many stalls. But I was really enjoying the programme. Stars from pop culture world came to the convention and participated in round tables, workshops, they signed autographs and photographed with fans. There were exhibitions, photograph meetings, special meetings with comics authors and famous stars, but the peak of the convention was cosplay competition. Competitors, older than 16 years old, competed in different categories. The jury judged the costume and the performance, which had to showcase the character. The competitors were also divided to people who sewed the costumes and the other group consisted of competitors with costumes made out of artificial materials, with shields, weapon immitations, and the third group consisted of competitors with costumes, which included technical elements with lighting, optical and mechanical effects. The winner got a trip to the biggest convention in the world, which happens in Chicago.

At the opening ceremony of the conventions there were real stormtroopers from Star Wars. Some famous guests participated in various events. We could meet Billy Boyd from Lord of the Rings, Jason Isaacs from Harry Potter, Ross Mullan from Game of Thrones and Doctor Who, Adam Brown from The Hobbit and Pirates of the Caribbean, and Matt Ryan from Assassin’s Creed. We could also meet John Rhys-Davies who played Gimli in Lord of the Rings, New Zealander Temuera Morrison from Star Wars, and Sebastian Roche from The Vampire Diaries. Illustrators and comics authors were also attending the conventions. The most interesting to us was Scott Snyder, author of Batman comics, and American-Bosnian illustrator Adi Granov who draws Iron Man, Spider Man and Captain America comics. I also had a chance to meet the stars of Cosplay – Alodia Gosiengfiao, Nana Kuronoma and last year’s winner of the world’s cosplay competition Okkido.

 

The organizer was company ReedPop, which also organizes conventions in New York, Chicago and Singapore. If you’re interested in this conventions, you have to buy tickets early as they are quickly sold out. 

Viennese Messe Wien is close enough to other attractive parts of the city so I took time to see the Christmas markets. But for the start, I enjoyed myself in a couple of rides in Prater park. It hasn’t changes a lot since my first visit, but I did see the new chocolate museum. I was amazed what some talent can do from chocolate – different figures, statues (some are even 2,5 metres high). I really liked the showcase of Indian civilisations, which first started to use cocoa trees in America. I learned a lot when I saw the procedures of growing cocoa trees and making chocolate. Of course I had to try some chocolate. There’s a shop in the museum with different chocolate deserts. Whoever has more time, can also play with interactive games or join a workshop of baking chocolate desserts. 

 

I didn’t get an accommodation in any of the hostels. Some are also HI members but they were full and I couldn’t find room for four people. But I definitely recomment hostel Myrthengasse, which is located in the old city centre and only a short walk away from the biggest city attractions.