Jun 24, 2014
I vaguely recall the days of the old, when Toycon was just several rows of stalls filled with toy merchandise and a tiny stage for auctions and announcements. Nowadays, it’s filled with novelty akin to your bland cookie cutter, bi-monthly convention.
Consider me an idiot for thinking of this like some farfetched ideal. But would it be too much to ask for Toycon to remain in its original, pristine arrangement of just selling toys and assorted merchandise? Nowadays, the event is filled with a cavalcade of entirely different assortments. It doesn’t necessarily tarnish the prestige of being the year’s best go-to event for all the best deals in the field of toy/figure/merchandise collecting. But there are some lines that shouldn’t be crossed.
One of the less innocuous moments of that dance
One of this year’s Toycon segments was a short stage time for the sponsor UNO Magazine, a male adult entertainment magazine published locally. One lucky attendee got in the receiving end of a lapdance from a sexy lady. That was probably too much. It felt out of place, unnecessary, and degrading. We were there for the toys, not for sexy show. I’d have gone to a nightclub instead if I wanted to experience lap dances. Also to note, there were kids in the event! The event isn’t just for the big boys and girls wanting to buy their most-awaited Nendoroid or Revoltech figure. There were also kids with their parents wanting to buy their next best plaything. I don’t think the Toycon staff will explain themselves to the parents of these children who witnessed such an act on stage. And it compounds the problem more. Shouldn’t the organizers at least exercise restraint when giving sponsors such an open time on stage? Shouldn’t there be rules to apply even for sponsors? C’mon, cosplayers get a restriction of sorts in order to avoid R-rated skits, costumes showing too much skin, and the like. Why can’t we be as strict with these stage segments too? Surely, it was the responsibility of the parents to shun their kids away from the stage during UNO’s lapdance segment. But the responsibility shouldn’t have stopped there. Almost everyone knows that UNO Magazine is targeted for the male adult population because of its content. Toycon officials should have surmised the fact that their stage time may have been an activity related to such; and as such, anticipate their stage segment and put in restrictions socially acceptable to general audiences. Despite the boner it caused in many men, it was highly inappropriate to have shown that during Toycon. Really, do you want kids to see a lady grinding her ass off on top of a guy? I don’t think so.
Of all the years I’ve spent going to Toycon, I never really bothered with anything happening on stage. It wasn’t what Toycon was about. It was all about the stores filled with boxes and boxes of great toys and figures and collectibles. It was all about strolling the venue the whole day looking for that elusive deal, squeezing through tight aisles, and haggling through different sellers. It was about meeting people with the same interests, and sharing opinions. Lapdances aside, I did think that Toycon’s layout this year was perfect. Remember when Toycon was just about toys? This year, I was able to imagine just that. Thanks to the stage being placed on the right end of the long hall, the merchandise area was left in peace. We could barely hear anything coming from the stage while we strolled along the tight spaces of the merchandise area. And despite all that chaos of squeezing through tight spots, we felt most at peace. And that made this year’s Toycon virtually similar to its roots, just an area of nothing but toys.
We can never return to the days when Toycon was like Comiket, just rows and rows of toys and collectibles. There will always be cosplays, bands, and sponsor segments taking up the stage time. Just leave us to our shopping in peace, and we’ll be fine.
I just hope that the lapdance thing won’t happen again. I’d hate to say it but it felt like Toycon hit rock bottom when they allowed that on stage.
I know madaming mga trip sa mga convention but… This is sad… In any convention, even if nearly everyone’s there for the same or similar interest, all have different views (tao lang, diba?) and many kids attend. Sana, sa susunod na convention, ToyCon man o kahit ano, di na mangyari to. Let this be a lesson for everyone and let us not repeat mistakes. Buti nga I wasn’t there when that happened (I was at day 3, fortunately) ‘cuz otherwise, I would’ve walked out.
sorry guys, but I believe in the saying: PUT UP or SHUT UP. heck we can’t even contribute something for the event, why bother ranting di ba? don’t get me wrong, marami ako ayaw sa toycon this year but the thing is, meron ba tayo na-contribute besides sa bumili tayo ng ticket at namili ng hauls natin? let’s give props to the organizers na nagiisip ng gimick kahit na di natin trip. aba, it takes a lot of dedication to come up with ideas such as these for 13 years! so for me, let’s try to be positive on this one and stop the hate. happiness lang, kakasawa yung rant ng rant eh
Sir, hindi po hate kung nagpapahayag lang kami ng disappointment sa nangyayari sa mga convention at exhibit ngayon. Constructive criticism ang article, walang sinabing masagwa. Itinuro lang yung issue.
Sabihin na nating may advisory ang Toycon na may sexy show ang sponsor nila na rated SPG. In the first place, bakit kailangang magkaroon ng lap dance sa isang otaku/geek convention na alam namang pupuntahan ng mga bata? Hindi ba pwedeng mag-song and dance na medyo kid-friendly? Hindi sa nagpapaka-hipokrito, pero wala talaga sa lugar.
Oo, sabihin na nating may mga cosplayer na halos kita na ang singit. Kaso ang punto, mayroon silang character na ginaganap, hindi sila sponsor, at lalong hindi sila lumalandi sa stage para magpa-excite ng laman.
Nakakainis lang kasi na karamihan ng mga trade shows at exhibits ngayon, ginagawang panghatak ng tao yang mga chicks. Sa mga car show na lang, wala nang pumapansin sa mga sasakyan dahil lahat ng mga ‘photographer’ kuno, nakatutok sa mga babae.
Kung gimmick at gimmick din lang naman, marami namang bagong pwedeng subukan dyan at marami namang bago sa Toycon bawat taon e. Overboard lang talaga ito. Kapag nagkaanak ka, maiintindihan mo.
Sana lang matuto tayong maghimay ng kritisismo sa reklamo.
Thank you. Nasabi mo lahat ng gusto ko sabihin.
it’s ok, naiintindihan ko din naman kayo. pero sana, intindihin din natin yung mga nag-oorganize. taon-taon tayo nagko-“constructive criticism” kaso sa totoo lang wala naman tayo nagagawa. suggest ko lang sir, sana tayo rin na net lurkers, mag-participate din sa planning. open naman siguro sila ganun, kesa yung ganito nga na tinitira natin sila ng ganito. para din sabihin na mukhang pera yung mga organizers, sir excuse lang po. para niyo rin sinabi na mukhang pera ang taong maglalagay ng laruan sa mcdo. peace
mukhang pera kasi organizer ng ToyCon kaya lahat ng mag iisponsor pinapatulan. Baka next year pag inalok ng free tasting ng alak dyan mag lalagay na din sila ng alak drinking contest sa stage
Its same case happens with Animetics
Asortment
Cosplay event turn into a GENERIC Concert
and Stage Performance I remembered the old conventions
Anime Music Videos
Anime OST Video Okes
Even Anime Battle of the Bands…..
now after the convention gone like this
I will give the example is this Toycon 2014 (we all know Ozine Fest 2014 is a big failure), Lots of people didnt pay an entance and didnt went inside the Mega Trade hall
and I am the one of them, when roaming around I heard the song HIPON inside, wow oh wow! I thought its a battle of the band of singing anime song and I heard the hipon song…tsk….
I didnt know a lapdance in day one now I am feeling that I am watching a live show in a night bar lol, I’ve gone to a night bar once and never want it to do again
toy con, as far as I know Otakus, Weaboo thinks more about Anime, Figures and Games but not this one……..
Masyado na kasing commercialized. Different pop-cultures are introduced. Unnecessary events and sponsors are also included though they have nothing to do about the actual event. (i.e., not about toys nor figurines)
Oh well, I think we can’t do anything about it, for now. Medyo mahirap na ring ibalik ang dati. And if you start to complain, maraming magagalit at mamasamain.
It’s been happening to every type of convention/exhibit.
Dati, kotse ang bida sa Transport Show. Ngayon mga FHM models na.
Ngayon, Toycon naman ang pinasok ng UNO.
Di na ako magtataka kung FOODBEX naman ang tatargetin ng Playboy.
Well said…you capsulized my very sentiments…and a lot of toycon aficionados will agree with your opinions as well I’m sure of that!
This is not a toy
Sooner or later Toycon will be a R18 Con fullfill with porn star ,jav etc etc etc . also the toy exhibitors will have a pole dancer and stripper also some hookers
I was at the first ever Toycon, never missed one til I moved out of the country 2 years ago. Yes, it has gone a long long way from the early years of toycon, where you mostly see actual toy collectors, selling their stuffs. Compared to the recent years I’ve attended, it has become a more commercialized version of what i perceived it to be. I understand that that comes with progress and demand of the toy business, but given the choice, I like it way better then than now. just my few cents…
i wont be surprise if they sell adult toys in the future…. sigh
I’ve been snubbing Philippine Toycon since it strayed away from being an actual Toycon. It became too commercial and saturated with pop culture. I’d rather have speakers from toy manufacturers, talk about how to maintain toys, toy appraisal and value definition & exclusive showcase of upcoming toys. Nowadays, it’s a money making circus. I have nothing to gain there. Fail!
Remember when anime cons weren’t about Kpop or western cartoons?
Toycon isn’t an anime con, however.
Anime is short for animation. Cartoons fall under that genre. top kek. research first before making retarded comments.
Last time I remembered Anime is a Japanese style of animation.
I guess you’re not doing your homework and yet you lecture people of your stupidity, dumbass
May point din siya. The word “anime” is also a French term for animation. AFAIK it is a borrowed term in Japanese, hence it is written in Katakana and not Hiragana or Kanji, as opposed to manga.
Anime cons in the Philippines originally used to be about Japanese animation. But as people’s interest began to diversify, it included any animation shows that we enjoy, and even non-anime shows like Star Wars or Game of Thrones. Anime cons these days can be about Japanese animation, but it can also be about animation and other geeky interests in general.
Ka disappoint!
i’m really disappointed with Toycon
sana di na maulit to