If you’re looking to go to a convention that gathers vendors, cosplayers and guests, and is family-friendly, look no further than Brussels Manga!
Tour & Taxis in February welcomed this pop culture-based event with a very accessible atmosphere for visitors. It’s a more intimate kind of convention. If you tend to get a little overwhelmed by crowds, this might be the one for you.
In terms of accessibility, it felt like alleys were also easier to navigate than at some other events due to the lighter crowds.
From meeting the guests for signings and pictures to taking part in activities like origami or figurine painting, everything was included in the ticket price, which I always consider a huge advantage.
This year’s headliners included several actors involved in French or Dutch dubbing. Among them were Brigitte Lecordier (the French voice of San Goku, among many other characters), Alain Eloy (the French voice of Zoro from One Piece and Rick Sanchez from Rick and Morty) and the Dutch voices of Rumi and Mira from KPop Demon Hunters.
The singer Bernard Minet, who may be familiar to you if you watched French cartoons in the 1990s, returned for this edition to sing opening themes like ‘Les Chevaliers du Zodiaque’, ‘Sailor Moon’ and ‘Dragon Ball’.
As you may know from reading my previous event reviews, nothing makes me happier at conventions than wandering through the artist alley. It was in good company this time, as members of Hellhound Belgicus 411 took the opportunity to gather in Tour & Taxis as well.
Brussels Manga being a smaller convention altogether, there were also fewer creators than we’ve seen in Tour & Taxis before. But that didn’t prevent me from discovering and buying some amazing creations from the artists. To name a few: Axoupi, Boomarrows and Lordratgun.
This kind of event being the perfect occasion to try some snacks, you could give a try to the corndogs or — maybe a bit less easy to find in daily life — I can suggest the red bean taiyaki, which were excellent. There’s always a variety of meals to choose from, but you’re also allowed to bring your own food.
Not many steampunks this time, but the buildings of Tour & Taxis never fail to provide excellent backgrounds for your pictures. It’s fun, there’s space, and the spots aren’t cramped.
