Voice Actor Tomokazu Sugita and Game Designer Mori Toshimichi Come Up-Close and Personal for STGCC

Singapore, 27 August 2015 – The eighth instalment of the biggest annual pop culture event in Singapore, the Singapore Toy, Games & Comic Convention (STGCC), continues to bring a myriad of attractions to the show on September 12-13 at Marina Bay Sands! Hot Toys is thrilled to be joining the event once again this year and will be bringing a wide range of latest collectible figures from Marvel and Star Wars to fans to enjoy in the region! One of the most exciting and attention-grabbing news will be the world premiere and pre-order of exclusive 1/6th scale collectible figures from Iron Man and Star Wars by Hot Toys! Fans remember to stay tuned for more updates when the event date draws near!

Bringing even more exclusives and unique artworks to STGCC is the diverse mix of creative talent at Artist Alley, recording its largest turnout this year with 178 participants from 11 countries.

More notable personalities from Japan will also be joining the line-up of pop culture personalities at this year's STGCC. Acclaimed voice actor Tomokazu Sugita and game designer Mori Toshimichi come from behind-the-scenes to up-close and personal with fans while Japanese crooner You Yanase and song-and-dance sensation Rie Yunohara will be staging a special music and dance segment for the first time in Singapore. Get ready for a weekend of pop culture indulgence at STGCC 2015!

Hot Toy releases to blow your mind
Collectors looking to expand their movie and game collectibles will not have long to wait as Hot Toys is bringing a host of 1/6th scale 2015 Toy Fair Exclusives to STGCC 2015.

The first to be announced is the Iron Man 3 Mark XXIV (Tank) Collectible Figure. The Heavy Combat Suit is made available at STGCC, accompanied by Mark IX and Mark XXVII (Disco) mini collectibles, forming a trio ideal for reenacting the scene in the Iron Man 3 poster featuring the House Party Protocol Suits fired up in mid-air! Feeding more movie mania is the Maria Hill Collectible Figure. The tenacious agent from The Avengers will finally come in the form of a collectible, much to the delight of fans. Yet another spine-tinglingly movie-accurate collectible from Hot Toys, this piece is based on the image of actress Colbie Smulders.

One year after Hot Toys celebrated winning the rights to produce characters from the Star Wars universe at STGCC, the toy manufacturing giant releases a special version of Luke Skywalker, designed based on the image of actor Mark Hamill, disguised as a Stormtrooper, reminiscent of the scene in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, where Skywalker slips into the detention centre to rescue Princes Leia. Collectors will know that movie-centric toys are not all Hot Toys is noted for. To show gaming collectible geeks some love, Hot Toys brings cyborg Raiden, one of the most famous characters from the game series Metal Gear, to STGCC. The Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance character stands gloriously armored in striking metallic red and gold.

Action City releases the Jiang Shi (Glow in the Dark Version) of BE@RBRICK at STGCC 2015. A collaboration with Medicom Toy, this exclusive is in remembrance of iconic Hong Kong vampire films of yesteryear like Mr Vampire (僵 尸 先 生 ) and Encounters of the Spooky Kind ( 鬼 打 鬼 ). Collectors can get their hands on the 100% and 400% versions, but be sure to keep your eyes peeled and cameras ready for the 1000% version on display!

Get your ‘green’ on with Hulk vs Hulkbuster Are you big, green and mean enough? Be sure to practice your Hulk face and muscle-flexing as fans will get to challenge the real deal at STGCC. Requiring three months of labour from over 30 staff and partners, as well as an additional 8 hours to set up for display, is the 7m x 8.5m Hulk vs Hulkbuster. The jaw-dropping installation will keep you entertained with many a photo opportunity.

Largest Artist Alley turnout at STGCC 2015

This year, 178 participants from 11 countries will call Artist Alley home for the weekend. Singapore-based Pobber is one of them, bringing five exclusives, from their one-of-a-kind toy display rack, Autumn Stag, to their sultry Bella Lee, given a vintage touch with the Noir edition. Black Seed from Hong Kong will release two exclusives, Cocoa Monster and Corm Monster, both adorable curios designed and hand-sculpted by its gifted founder, Kenneth Tang.

Singapore-based 2015 Top Cow Talent Hunt runner-up comic writer Kelly Bender will feature his newly published Sci-Fi comic, Starburn. French anime and manga artist Eternal-S and Japan's Blackbook Toy who has collaborated with the likes of prolific pop and graphic artists, Ron English and Frank Kozik, are also part of the varied range of artists converging at the largest Artist Alley turnout in STGCC's history.

Go behind the scenes of the movies and games industries

Voice actors are often the unsung heroes behind many Japanese anime and games. Tomokazu Sugita, an acclaimed seiyuu (voice actor) returns to STGCC with his low and crisp voice. Gintoki of the popular Gintama, Kyon from Haruhi Suzumiya and Joseph Joestar of Jojo's Bizzare Adventure, are just a few of the adored lead roles in anime he has lent his voice to. He has brought to life characters from video games, such as Ragna the Bloodedge from fighting game BlazBlue.

Left: Tomokazu Sugita

Mori Toshimichi, the game producer and illustrator who has worked hand in hand with Sugita in many productions such as >BlazBlue, will make an appearance in Singapore for the first time at STGCC. Mori, one of the creative forces behind Arc System Works, has produced many other prominent titles including the internationally renowned game P4U and XBLAZE. 2D video gaming fans will also get to know more about the video game producing luminary at the Spotlight on Mori Toshimichi segment.

Right: BlazBlue: Central Fiction © ARC SYSTEM WORKS

Tomokazu Sugita and Mori Toshimichi will take you behind the scenes by sharing what it is like to be a creator at the Creator Talk Show. While learning about the challenges and rewards that the duo have experienced, the audience will also get an inside scoop in what the pair is collaborating on.

Music and dance stars from Japan come together for a special segment

This year, STGCC introduces a special segment of music and dance, helmed by songstress You Yanase and song-and-dance professional Rie Yunohara. You Yanase brings her harmonious style of music, “Wa” (和) to the audience at her maiden STGCC appearance. With an individualistic talent for harmonising tradition and modernity, as depicted in both her music and get-up, Yanase enjoys a growing popularity in Japan. Stepping out in 2014 with a solo career based on the “sing and dance” theme after having gained fame as a member of the All Japan Idol National Team at the French Japan EXPO 2013, is Rie Yunohara. Get prepared to be treated to Rie's strong vocals and energetic moves, all wrapped up with her bubbly personality.

STGCC tickets are on sale now, priced at SGD$19 for a one-day pass and SGD$28 for a two-day pass. Tickets are available for sale at selected authorised retail outlets and at the event. Visit www.singaporetgcc.com/tickets- queues for more ticketing details.

Check out www.singaporetgcc.com for the latest STGCC news!

About Reed Exhibitions

Reed Exhibitions is the world's leading events organiser, with over 500 events in 43 countries. In 2014 Reed brought together over seven million event participants from around the world generating billions of dollars in business. Today Reed events are held throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa and organised by 41 fully staffed offices. Reed Exhibitions serves 43 industry sectors with trade and consumer events. It is part of the RELX Group plc, a world-leading provider of information solutions for professional customers across industries.

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About RELX Group

RELX Group plc is a world-leading provider of information solutions for professional customers across industries. The group employs about 28,000 people of whom half are in North America.

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About Singapore Toy, Game & Comic Convention

The Singapore Toy, Game & Comic Convention combines the best of pop culture from East and West to Asia, uniting the worlds of comics, anime, toys, collectibles and games. It is the pre-eminent event in the Asian market that fits with other shows in the Reed pop culture portfolio, including New York Comic Con (NYCC), the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2), Star Wars Celebration, PAX, NYC - Special Edition and OZ Comic Con.

STGCC will reach out to a whole new world of fans in Asia and opens a vast market with exciting opportunities for companies to break into the Asian market and/or reinforce a growing presence. Fans will experience a showcase of pop culture's coolest and latest products, and be thrilled by personalities and characters from the worlds of superheroes, villains and realms of fantasy.

STGCC's vision is to deliver quality content and spread the currency of cool in Asia and aims to be the leading catalyst for the pop culture industry.