ToyCon 2024: TOYCON Evolution brought together toy enthusiasts hailing from diverse backgrounds to immerse themselves in the different eras of the toy industry at the SMX Convention Center Manila, Pasay City from June 14 to 16. This year’s run featured an extensive list of activities spanning from exhibits, performances, panel discussions, design contests, and tabletop tournaments.
The SMX Convention Center was transformed into a buzzing hub for commerce with the different booths filled with toys throughout the years. TOYCON Evolution celebrated more than just vintage toys as they also featured different up-and-coming releases from both well-established professionals within the toy industry, and also those new to the market.
A little bit of everything
For the event’s 21st run, toy designers and creators were put front and center with different opportunities for event-goers to actively interact with these creators. Q&A sessions and panel discussions on topics such as “Trends in Collectible Markets,” and “The Impact of Technology on Toy Design,” among others, were among the ways attendees could further immerse themselves into the toy industry.
Similarly, hands-on workshops were offered during the event’s run, each designed to both engage and educate interested event-goers on different interest-based topics. These workshops covered everything from DIY toy customization and 3D printing to preserving vintage toys.
Cosplayers of characters from different movies and series also flocked to the convention center to take part in the event’s “Cosplay KO Competition.” There was no shortage of photo opportunities with the cosplayers virtually covering every genre, cosplaying characters from different games, series, and movies. They showcased their talent, creativity, and love for the craft from one iconic superhero to the next. Performances from international artists such as Bugvel, Kuroguro, and Tenohira El, among many others, were given the spotlight throughout the convention.
Moreover, a bustling marketplace offering a multitude of toys and collectibles created an ideal hub for toy enthusiasts of all ages. TOYCON Evolution welcomed retailers offering a vast array of merchandise. The opportunity to come across rare finds of vintage toys, signed comics and posters, among many other collectibles filled the different booths at the SMX Convention Center. Funko Pops, Warhammer figures, and various Pop-mart blind boxes were among those available to the event attendees.
Exploring endless opportunities
Adding to the buzz of the atmosphere, Benilde played a key role as a major sponsor of this year’s ToyCon.
Industrial designer and Benilde faculty member, Mr. Patrick Sunico shared in his interview with The Benildean how for this year’s ToyCon, Benilde wanted to open the doors of opportunity to attendees of the event.
“As an academic institution, it opens up the door for, let's say, kids who have the talent to design or are in the industry of artists, and they want that to translate into an education, which eventually will lead to a career. That's where we're going, to provide that,” he explained.
To do this, Benilde had an official booth-exhibit that showcased the following program that the College offers: Multimedia Arts, Animation, Industrial Design, and Game Development.
ID122 Industrial Design student Quinn Tanega expressed how through the convention she was able to get some exposure in the toy industry. “Being able to display my works at the Benilde booth and have artists drop by and give their comments and feedback have been extremely helpful in my journey as a designer. I was also able to network a lot and get in contact with multiple local artists and toy designers.”
Additionally, Christien Lorenzo, another ID122 Industrial Design student, mentioned how the ToyCon also helped bring the spotlight to smaller toy designers who wanted to showcase their own passion for toy design through the showcasing of their products and skills. “I was surprised to see how many local and foreign indie art toy designers and how big their communities were,” he observed.
When asked about any highlights from the event, Tanega also aired out how ToyCon’s Creators and Artisan Alley and Comic Zone have evolved since she first attended back in 2017.
“Compared to when I would attend Toycon back in 2017, the art toy scene was very small and in its infancy. I knew that, but I wasn’t expecting the amount of tables and the variety,” she compared. “There were a few rows dedicated to local artists and toy designers, then there were sections for Malaysian, Indonesian and Thai artists. The fact that Western artists from the UK also had tables was a pleasant surprise,” she shared.
Celebrating a shared community
Moreover, Tanega asserted how ToyCon 2024 offered more than just the opportunity for collaboration, highlighting how the convention gave her a space to be with like-minded people.
“The opportunity the organization gives to local artists to sell and promote their work is truly breathtaking. Social media can only do so much, being able to see the artists and their work in person is completely different in the best way ever,” she ended.
Ultimately, TOYCON Evolution provided the toy enthusiasts a space where they could enjoy and be amongst other people who share the same passion for toys both in the local and international scene.
Interested event goers could catch more details on any upcoming of ToyCon’s upcoming events by visiting their website or through following them on their Instagram and Facebook pages.
