Families, friends and cosplayers celebrate pop culture at Comic Con Portugal
Inside the Altice Arena, you can hear a soundtrack for the film “Back to the Future”, by composer Alan Silvestri, welcoming those who are rushing to “live” an experience identical to the work created by the director Robert Zemeckis, in 1985.
If the future in 1985 featured flying skateboards, the revealing present isn’t quite like that, but it reinforces the power of imagination when it comes to deconstructing elements of a video game or movie.
Speaking to Lusa agency, Renata Rodrigues, a cosplayer (person who plays a fictional character), says she comes to Comic Con Portugal to participate in workshops, K-pop (Korean pop) and anime ( Japanese animation).
“We’re going to be a little more immersed, meet other people and take pictures”, he adds, noting that he tried “a lot” to make his character’s costume, to make the electronic game “Genshin Impact”.
Renata Rodrigues, who came from Ovar, compares the seventh edition of the event with the previous ones.
“It is very well signposted. I think that in the other edition there was no good signage. The last edition, which was on the Passeio Marítimo de Algés [Oeiras], I think it was a little more confusing. […] A problem that we detected was that there were a lot of people, everything was very concentrated ”, he says.
Next to it is Rita Félix, also from Ovar, who considers the event to be very well organized, paying attention to the measures imposed to control the pandemic.
“The lines are well organized. They’re always checking to see if the covid-19 test was done. I think it’s very well organized and has all the necessary security, because of the covid-19”, he points out.
For Rita Félix, it is correct not only to show the complete vaccination certificate, but also the covid-19 test, because, she says, “it guarantees more people’s safety”.
Further on, a Viking appears walking alongside a character from the “Star Wars” saga, mixing the historical vision of the Nordic countries with the scientific scientific one.
Francisco Antunes, who is from Lisbon and carries a suit weighing around 15 kilograms, says that he still hasn’t regretted visiting Comic Con Portugal, adding that he managed to do everything he planned to do in one day.
“So far there is no regret. In terms of security, I think it’s impeccable. Security is doing a good job of controlling people, with the covid-19 test and the recovery certificate”, he says.
Recalling the last edition on Passeio Marítimo de Algés, Francisco Antunes considers the new space smaller, noting that in 2019 he was unable to do everything he wanted.
“For me, it’s not just a tourist visit, it’s really a get-together. Being with friends, making friends… […] I like, above all, interacting with people, starting conversations with ‘cosplayers’. I do Nordic historical recreation and I take the opportunity to bring this to the ‘cosplay’ world”, he remarks.
And he adds: “My equipment is all made of metal, my shield is made of wood, that is, a much heavier material, which, despite being uncomfortable, I am willing to suffer until the end.”
On the other hand, Paulo Trindade, who plays a character from “Star Wars”, said that this is the first time he has participated in Comic Con Portugal.
“We all came here because of socializing, to do ‘cosplay’. an interaction [social] is the best part of these events. We met here, on Thursday”, says the fellow from Lisbon, looking at the Viking.
Cosplaying from 2015, Paulo Trindade considers it “refreshing” to participate in an event that celebrates pop culture.
“Last year we were quarantined, the measures are all being respected. We see masks, cleaning…. Everything is safe and super controlled in that sense”, he notes.
About his Mandalorian costume, Paulo Trindade explains that he made it by hand, except for the helmet and shoes, which were modified, adding that, to make the armor, he used “malleable plastic with a heat gun”.
“The fabrics are varied. I arrange fabrics and then mix them. I make up patterns, I find it funny. I use a lot of recycled stuff”, he emphasizes.
Interpreting characters from the Japanese anime “Bungo Stray Dogs”, by Inês Medeiros and Afonso Pires, from Lisbon, he considers the seventh edition of Comic Con Portugal “interesting”.
“It’s interesting and it’s good to be outdoors and also indoors. You can see what we like”, they maintain.
The event that celebrates pop culture takes place in various formats, from Thursday to Sunday, with limited seating and mandatory test coverage-19 for access to ample spaces.
JML // CSJ