Anime Festival Asia Malaysia — also known as AFA MY, was held for the very first time this year on the 9th and 10th of June 20120, at Kuala Lumpur’s Putra World Trade Center. Featuring appearances by Japanese animation bigwigs, Anisong stars, and celebrity cosplayers, the event brings a taste of Singapore’s iconic AFA event to Malaysian shores.

AFA MY features some of the same special events at AFA in Singapore, including talks and stage events from animation luminaries such as Ishikawa Mistuhisa and Ishii Tomohiko. There were appearances by Japanese celeb cosplayers Kaname and Korean cosplayers Tasha and Miyuko. Last but not least, AFA MY has its own Anisong event entitled Super Anisong Genki Live, headlines by Flow and Kalafina.

The event also played host to the first Malaysian Semifinals of the AFA Regional Cosplay Championships. The winner of the event will fly to Singapore to compete with teams from Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Singapore. The Grand Prize winner from the 2011 RCC was Team March Omega from the Philippines.

The winners of AFA MY RSS Semis was Team Checkmate –- comprised of Amy Wong Fong Ee and Tan Pei Jian, who portrayed characters Sebastian Michaelis and Ciel Phantomhive from the manga and animation series Black Butler (Kuroshitsuji). The pair won airline tickets and accommodations to the main event, plus goodies from event sponsor Canon.

Thank you to Singapore comrade and photography enthusiast Jimmy of Golgolak’s Den.