Singapore Comic Con 2025 (SGCC) - Booth Highlight - A Gamut Of Kawaii Merchandise By Fuzzballs (L1-AA170)

Popular merchandise brand Fuzzballs has grown by leaps and bounds since it's humble beginnings on Tumblr in 2013. Its creator Marc Sach has managed to keep his ever-growing fans interested and invested with his cute, rotund fuzzball creatures by expanding the brand's reach through various licensing deals. Now, you can see Fuzzballs' designs on a gamut of merchandise like t-shirts, plushies, pins, stationery, games and even a colouring book.

Fuzzballs is bringing its trademark kawaii factor at this year's local pop-culture party, the Singapore Comic Con (SGCC). The event will be held at Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre on 6 and 7 December 2025.

To ensure that geeks attending SGCC do not miss the Fuzzballs colourful booth, Red Dot Diva had a short chat with Marc about his brand, and his adorable little creatures:

Red Dot Diva: How did Fuzzballs get started?
Marc: I started Fuzzballs as a silly webcomic back in 2013, which exploded online with requests for our cute characters on merch. We started selling at comic cons in the uk in 2015 and from there have continued to grow thanks to our social media sticker success with over 2 Billion sent to date! We’re now in loads of retailers across the globe and bringing out unique brand of pop culture cuteness to Singapore. The fuzzballs are all about making friends, going on new adventures and eating yummy snacks.

Red Dot Diva: For those not familiar with Fuzzballs, how would you describe your aesthetics and style of the brand?
Marc: We’re a kawaii pop culture brand that’s a mix of east meets west. The fuzzballs love anime, video games and of course yummy food and we riff on that in everything we do. We’re very relatable and fans always have a favourite character who reminds them of themselves.

Red Dot Diva: Where do you find your inspiration to keep on producing new creations?
Marc: A lot of our inspiration comes from our fans, they constantly tell us what they want to see next or cool ideas. But mostly it really comes from our own love of pop culture and having fun with it.

Red Dot Diva: Do you have a favourite part of your creation process? And Why is that so?
Marc: I love meeting the fans, whether it’s the first time and seeing their eyes light up as they laugh at my stupid drawings or the 100th time as they tell me what they love about their favourite character and how it always makes them smile. I also just love to draw what makes me happy and what I think others will enjoy.

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Red Dot Diva: You have a Fuzzballs colouring book published with Waterstones. How was the process to get published like? Any tips?
Marc: Our publisher, Quarto approached us. They’d seen how successful we’ve been, other products we have in retailers and just how much the fans love what we do and knew a colouring book would be a perfect fit for our range of characters and adventures.

Designing the book was very tough as there’s over 96 pages of original artwork and I wanted to make sure we had easy designs so people could relax but also complex ones so people could focus. My tip would be to just make it yourself first, we did that originally with sample books for fans and that gave us a good understanding of how to make a book when our publisher approached us.

Red Dot Diva: Is this the first time you will be boothing in Singapore? Do you has a bucket list on what you want to do when you are here?
Marc: This is our 3rd time in Singapore and our 2nd at SGCC. We can’t wait to be back to see new and old fans alike with an even better booth and even more products! You’ll be seeing us in Singapore a lot more in the future too. As for bucket list, just trying out more yummy food, enjoying the beautiful weather and meeting the kind and amazing people. I do love bike rides around the Marina Barrage too!

Red Dot Diva: What can people expect to see and buy at your booth at this year’s SGCC?
Marc: We will have a catalogue on our socials, but deep breath, we will have t-shirts, coasters, lots of stickers, plush toys, our colour book, our card game Fuzzballs Pizza Thief, loads of enamel pins, mystery bags which are perfect for first time fans wanting a lot of cute things, tote bags to carry it all home in, badges, note pads, our brand new desk pads, and loads more things. So make sure you come by and check out our cuteness overload!!




SINGAPORE COMIC CON (SGCC) 2025
Where: Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre
Date: 6 & 7 December 2025 (Sat and Sun) with special Preview Night on 5 December 2025 (Fri)
Time: 10 AM to 8 PM on 6 & 7 December 2025
Admission: Refer to details at SISTIC - https://www.sistic.com.sg/events/sgcomic1224


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RELATED SINGAPORE COMIC CON (SGCC) 2025 ARTICLES

Singapore Comic Con 2025 Ramps Up With Comic Book Guests Including Joe Rubinstein, Adi Granov, Sean Phillips, Rian Gonzales and more!

Singapore Comic Con 2025 (SGCC) - Booth Highlight - Irresistably Adorable Figurines By Moon Rabbit Sculpts (L1-AA113)

Singapore Comic Con 2025 (SGCC) - Interview with Comic Book Artist Riccardo Federici (Guest Hosted By Fat Snake Comics)

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Singapore Comic Con 2025 (SGCC) - Interview with Comic Book Artist Riccardo Federici (Guest Hosted By Fat Snake Comics)

You might not know this, but besides getting an art, Italian artist Riccardo Federici was a student at the Architecture faculty in “The Sapienza” University of Roma. At the same time while he was there, he also studied about physiology. The blend of these knowledge bases are evident in Riccardo's drawings of characters, featuring extremely detailed and realistic anatomy.

Since 2005, Riccardo has worked on comics with major publishers including DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Dynamite Entertainment, Dark Horse, Blizzard Entertainment and others. One of the acclaimed comic book series Riccardo is known for is "Saria", a gothic fantasy tale in collaboration with writer Jean Dufaux and artist Paolo Eleuteri Serpieri. 

Riccardo also creates original artworks for private collectors and conducts workshops on concept design, painting and illustration in Europe. He is the first comic book artist to have his works exhibited at the Roma Biennale, alongside leading contemporary painters and photographers.

This will be the first time Riccardo Federici is featured as a guest at Singapore Comic Con, so Red Dot Diva was eager to have a little chat with him before he arrives for the event.

Red Dot Diva: While learning more about you on the internet, I found out that you started out in Architecture, and then grew an interest in painting, oils, sculpting, was this a normal progression of your art to illustrations and comics?
Riccardo: I've always had a passion for figurative art in general. Since I was a child, I've always drawn, painted, and designed everything. The important thing for me has always been to do something that felt natural. Therefore, I can say that there has been no transition or change. Architecture may have enriched me in terms of functionality and rationality, but it isn't something that, at least in my case, goes in a different direction than other figurative arts.

Red Dot Diva: You are also the first comic book artist to be showcased at the Roma Biennele. Tell us about what you displayed and what did you work on /collaborate for the event?
Riccardo: I participated in the Rome Biennale with an illustration I created as the cover of a French comic I worked on several years ago: Saria. To participate in the exhibition, I had to pass two selection phases, and when I was chosen among the participants, it was a tremendous honor for me. Comics and illustration, unfortunately, are often considered something that doesn't fall within the realm of art, and it was truly exciting to receive such a prestigious recognition.

Red Dot Diva: Which comic book project did you enjoy drawing the most, and why?
Riccardo: This is a difficult question, as I don't usually get attached to the work I do. However, thinking about it, I can say with certainty that "The Last God" series by Phillip Kennedy Johnson is perhaps the work that has excited me the most. It's a fantasy story reminiscent of a Dungeons & Dragons adventure, set in a rather ruthless, corrupt, and intricate fictional world. For this series, I created 12 issues, a cover, and designed every element depicted: from the characters to the settings, the objects, and so on. I love inventing and designing. Furthermore, Phillip is a fantastic person and writer, intelligent and very collaborative, allowing artists to interpret and express themselves freely.

Red Dot Diva: In your opinion, what is the best thing about being a well known comic book artist?
Riccardo: Many things, and among these, you have the opportunity to create important projects in different sectors such as film, TV series, video games.

Red Dot Diva: What will you be looking forward to most when you are here as a guest of Singapore Comic Con? On a food trail or local coffee hunt, perhaps?
Riccardo: Actually, I don't know: I'm very curious to get to know Singapore and the people who live there. I'd love to explore Singapore's less touristy aspects, those considered more traditional. I'm certainly very curious about the food, and it would be fantastic to draw and paint with local artists over a relaxing dinner.

Red Dot Diva: Please also share with the fans what they can purchase at your booth.
Riccardo: At my stand it will be possible to obtain signatures, commissioned works, purchase prints of some illustrations and also my original works of art relating to comics and illustration. I hope that my fans will be happy to stop by my stand, I will certainly be happy to meet them and thank them for their support of my art.

Can't help admiring Riccardo's sick skills as evident in this video:

Riccardo Federici is hosted by Fat Snake Comic's booth (L1-AA01- 12) at SGCC 2025! Do give him a warm Red Dot Island welcome by drop by the booth. You can buy his prints and art, and get your comics signed!


SINGAPORE COMIC CON (SGCC) 2025
Where: Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre
Date: 6 & 7 December 2025 (Sat and Sun) with special Preview Night on 5 December 2025 (Fri)
Time: 10 AM to 8 PM on 6 & 7 December 2025
Admission: Refer to details at SISTIC - https://www.sistic.com.sg/events/sgcomic1224


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RELATED SINGAPORE COMIC CON (SGCC) 2025 ARTICLES

Singapore Comic Con 2025 Ramps Up With Comic Book Guests Including Joe Rubinstein, Adi Granov, Sean Phillips, Rian Gonzales and more!

Singapore Comic Con 2025 (SGCC) - Booth Highlight - Irresistably Adorable Figurines By Moon Rabbit Sculpts (L1-AA113)

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Singapore Comic Con 2025 (SGCC) - Booth Highlight - Irresistably Adorable Figurines By Moon Rabbit Sculpts (L1-AA113)

Singapore Comic Con (SGCC) which will be held at Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre on 6 and 7 December 2025 has invited prominent international guests for the event. However, for Red Dot Diva, it is at the Artist Alley where you find surprises and lovely creations from mostly local artists and crafters. One of the boothers at this year's SGCC is Moon Rabbit Sculpts, owned by small business owner and designer Alicia Chong.

The intricate clay sculpts by Moon Rabbit Sculpts are so colourful and whimsically adorable. Those cute little cats, and dragons! Oh my. Red Dot Diva had to find out more about the creator behind these cute figurines, and here's the short interview with Alicia:

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A post shared by Moon Rabbit Sculpts (@moonrabbitsculpts)

Red Dot Diva: Your sculpts are adorable! When did you learn how to sculpt figurines and what made you decide that this is the type of craft that you wanted to do as a business?
Alicia: Thank you! :) I actually picked up this artform within an interest group in my university. We were hosting like a free-for-all type of art exploration group where we experimented with and taught people the basics of various artforms. I took a liking to clay sculptures - initially I wanted to make miniatures to use in Dungeons & Dragons. But then I continued making them just because I enjoyed it, and eventually I gained more confidence to create more as a business.

Red Dot Diva: Which is your most intricate sculpt to date? And what challenges did you face making it?
Alicia: I made a customised sculpt with two large figurines sitting on a tree stump. It was a dragon and a pet cat - and I think this was the biggest size of sculpt I’ve ever made. It was quite challenging to create because it was super intricate, I added quite a lot of fur details as well as texturing on the wooden stump. It was also a bit top heavy so it actually fell over in the oven. I had to redo parts of the base and the stump because of that! Still, I am really proud of the result, it’s one of the most special pieces I’ve ever done.

Red Dot Diva:Looking at the pic of that creation, it looks fantastic! (Pic below)

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A post shared by Moon Rabbit Sculpts (@moonrabbitsculpts)

Red Dot Diva: How do you keep new ideas flowing, while ensuring that you don’t stress out and you give yourself ample self care?
Alicia: I spend a lot of time looking at animal videos online to relax, and as you probably realised most of my works are animal-themed. I love seeing pets do dumb things. XD I also realised I had to go out and experience things to get inspiration - I used to create in a vacuum which can make my art more repetitive.

Red Dot Diva: Any tips for newbies who are starting up boothing at events?
Alicia: Before you think about boothing, spend time practising and exploring your favourite artforms first! You may discover new things about your likes, your style and your capabilities - don’t restrict yourself. Be realistic: try and build up a portfolio doing the things you like first to get a feel for making/designing on a larger scale. Also don’t be shy to promote yourself when you do booths! You got to be your own biggest supporter!

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A post shared by Moon Rabbit Sculpts (@moonrabbitsculpts)

Red Dot Diva: What can we expect from your booth at SGCC 2025?
Alicia: Please look forward to my Pokémon-themed keychains, necklaces and brooches. I’ll try to capture the cute charms of your favourite Pokémon! Oh, and not to mention my new line of Pokémon Floating Buddy sculptures - which I created as a little fidget toy for your desk. I’ll also be bringing along plenty of original animal characters as wearable art. Please come say hi - don’t be shy!
Red Dot Diva: I will definitely be dropping by to say hello and admire your creations!


Do check out Moon Rabbit Sculpts at SGCC 2025, Booth L1-AA113!


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RELATED SINGAPORE COMIC CON (SGCC) 2025 ARTICLES

Singapore Comic Con 2025 Ramps Up With Comic Book Guests Including Joe Rubinstein, Adi Granov, Sean Phillips, Rian Gonzales and more!

Singapore Comic Con 2025 (SGCC) - Interview with Comic Book Artist Riccardo Federici (Guest Hosted By Fat Snake Comics)

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Local Vedic Metal Band Rudra Riffs It With An Orchestra For Upcoming Cosmic Dissolution Concert - An Interview With Guitarist Vinod Vaskaran

This Saturday (29 November) at the Esplanade, roaring intense extreme metal music will collide with the precise harmonies of a classical orchestra for a unique concert entitled Cosmic Dissolution. Enduring local vedic metal band Rudra, which has a three decade plus run to date, is set to reverberate the theatre hall with their pioneering brand of aggressive, headbanging heavy metal music consisting of traditional Sanskrit chants. After all, the band is named after the ancient Vedic deity of destruction.

The four-man band has toured in various countries like the USA, India, Thailand and Indonesia, and was also the headlining act for Baybeats 2010 back on homeground. This time, the veteran metal stompers will be accompanied by Resound Collective, a 56-strong symphony orchestra led by the multifaceted bandleader Chok Kerong.

With such a bold and intriguing musical amalgamation in the works, Red Dot Diva had to find out more about what makes Rudra rumble. She managed to catch hold of their guitarist Vinod Vaskaran, and drummed up some very nosy questions for an interview:

Red Dot Diva: I am curious about your musical journey. How young were you when you fell in love with metal music? Do you recall your first band?
Vinod: I was exposed to metal music very early at home. My mum was into the pioneer heavy metal bands like, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple. While I was introduced to newer thrash metal bands like Metallica, Pantera, Iron Maiden, and Testament by my brother. By around age 12, I started to really appreciate the intensity and depth of the music and at 14, I finally bought my first guitar. From that point on, I was completely immersed. During weekends and school holidays, I would spend nearly 10 hours a day practising and learning my favourite songs. I knew even then that music was going to be a lifelong pursuit. By age 16, I joined my first band, Chaos Aftermath, a melodic metal band and within that year I joined a 2nd band, ‘Narasimha’. That was a Blackened thrash metal band. I recorded my first ever album with them. Did a number of shows and that experience cemented my path as a musician.

Red Dot Diva: Why did you choose to play the guitar? What is it about the instrument that moves you?
Vinod: I chose the guitar because it felt like the perfect instrument to express everything I was feeling energy, emotion, aggression, and melody. There’s something incredibly personal about it; every note, bend, and vibrato carries your character and intention. And whenever I listened to music growing up, I always found myself waiting for the lead guitar solos, that moment where the guitarist poured their soul into a few powerful lines. That feeling drew me in and made me want to create that same impact through the instrument.

Red Dot Diva: How did you all meet to form Rudra?
Vinod: We all crossed paths through Singapore’s metal scene, which was quite small community. So, passionate musicians naturally gravitated toward one another. An interesting twist in my journey is that my brother actually introduced me to Rudra when I first started getting into metal. He bought the band’s debut album and told me, “There’s a Singapore metal band you need to check out.” I became a fan long before I ever imagined playing with them. Fast forward to 2009, when I was asked to join the band. It genuinely felt like a dream come true.

Red Dot Diva: For those who are not familiar with Rudra's type of music, how would you describe it to them?
Vinod: We call our style Vedic Metal. It’s a blend of Indian classical influences, spiritual and philosophical themes, and the aggression of extreme metal. Think of it as ancient texts and mantras delivered through heavy riffs, driving rhythms, and intense stage energy. I personally find it both meditative and powerful.

Red Dot Diva: How do you prepare for each time you go on stage?
Vinod: Before any show, we spend time in the studio tightening the set and ironing out transitions. On my own, I warm up, run through key parts and mentally centre myself. Once I’m on stage, it’s all about being fully present and delivering and having fun. The crowd’s energy always elevates the experience and makes each show truly exciting.

Red Dot Diva: How did the idea of playing with a Western classical orchestra come up for your upcoming concert?
Vinod: Over the years, we’ve collaborated with dancers, classical musicians, and even Chinese puppeteers, and as musicians and artists, we’re always discussing new ideas to push the band forward in creative ways. During one of those conversations, we met someone from Esplanade who shared an idea that instantly grabbed us: Rudra, a Vedic metal band, performing alongside a Western classical orchestra. We were blown away by the concept and immediately wanted to make it happen.

Soon after, we met Chok Kerong, the orchestral arranger for this concert. I still remember him saying, “A show of this scale would normally take about a year and a half to compose and arrange.” Yet he managed to pull it off in under four months. His dedication and talent made this collaboration possible.

Red Dot Diva: What other bucket list items does Rudra have as a band?
Vinod: We’ve always dreamed of bringing Vedic Metal into more artistic spaces, and our collaborations with the Chinese puppeteers and the Western orchestra have opened our eyes to even more possibilities. We’d love to see our music featured in films and theatre productions, reaching audiences beyond the typical metal scene. Beyond that, we want to keep creating music that pushes cultural and musical boundaries, collaborate with traditional art forms, and share our sound with listeners around the world. Anything that breaks new ground is on our bucket list.

Red Dot Diva: In one sentence, tell us what the audience can expect in Rudra's upcoming Cosmic Dissolution concert on 29 November.
Vinod: Expect a transcendent, immersive experience where Vedic Metal collides with the power of a full orchestra to create something truly otherworldly.

Feel the powerful distortion of Rudra's music in one of their recent videos here:

COSMIC DISSOLUTION CONCERT
Where: Esplanade Concert Hall
Date: 29 November 2025 (Sat)
Time: 7:30 PM
Tickets: Starting from $45.65. You can use your SG Culture Pass!
Get your tickets at this link: https://www.esplanade.com/whats-on/festivals-and-series/festivals/2025/kalaa-utsavam/events/cosmic-dissolution

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Singapore Comic Con 2025 Ramps Up With Comic Book Guests Including Joe Rubinstein, Adi Granov, Sean Phillips, Rian Gonzales and more!

Singapore Comic Con (SGCC) is all set to host a geek party again this year, and Red Dot Diva has already begun her countdown. The region's premier pop culture convention will held at Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre on 6 and 7 December 2025. The convention will span two levels (Level 1 and B2) with three halls at Level 1, providing more comics, booths and pop-culture fun for everyone. What is even more special is that for the first time ever, SGCC will have a Preview Night held on 5 December 2025 (6 PM to 10 PM) for VIP ticket holders, media, and invited guests.

Attendees of Preview Night can expect to have exclusive access to selected guests, watch a curated segments on stage and a first-hand view of the showfloor. Check out the SGCC's Ultimate Preview Night programme below:



For the comic book fans, SGCC has already rolled out the list of international guests, which includes several veteran and emerging comic book creators. Amongst them are returning A-listers like Eisner Award-winning artist Joe Rubinstein as well as artist and conceptual designer Adi Granov. Glenn Fabry, Martin Simmonds, Kael Ngu, Mico Suayan, Stephen Segovia and power couple Carla Cohen and Lucio Parrillo will also be back for the event.

Joining them are British artists Sean Phillips and Jacob Phillips. Due to a conflict in their schedule, the father and son duo had to miss the show last yeas, so dear fans, you can rejoice! They will be able to make it to Red Dot Island this time around. Sean Phillips' illustrious and award-winning career spans five decades, with his works found in books by all of the major comic book publishers. Sean has drawn for Hellblazer, Batman, X-Men, Marvel Zombies, and Stephen King’s The Dark Tower. Currently, he is drawing for the long-running Criminal series written by Ed Brubaker and coloured by Jacob Phillips.

Fans would also have the chance to meet many other comic book guests like:
* Rian Gonzales - whose art is riot of colours and infused with chibi-ness,
* Italian artist Giulia Pellegrini who also loves LARPing,
* Indonesia-based Rudy Ao who is known for his photorealistic art pieces,
* Eisner Award-winning Simon Bisley who is best known for his work for DC Comics' Lobo, and
* South Korean artist JeeHyung Lee who has worked with both DC and Marvel, as well as being the writer and illustrator of the supernatural thriller comic GUMAA.

Power Ranger fans can get to meet two celebrities this year - red ranger Jason Flaunt, and for her very first time ever to SGCC - pink ranger Erin Cahill. Erin is also known as the voice of Chloe "Karma" Lynch in Call of Duty: Black Ops II. Her appearance is specially brought to you by Retro Experience. To nab ticket packages for the meet and greet with Erin, head to the link at Eventbrite - https://www.eventbrite.sg/e/power-rangers-time-force-sgcc-2025-tickets-1124358098339?. Fans who want to meet Jason Flaunt can head to SGCC's website to get their tickets.



For the full SGCC 2025 guest list, click on this link: https://www.singaporecomiccon.com/guest


TICKETING INFORMATION

There is a range of tickets options for SGCC 2025, including Preview Night, early access to the shows and merchandise bundles. 1-day tickets are priced at SGD 38 per person, while the 2-day access is priced at SGD 68 per person.

To check out the details and purchase tickets to SGCC 2025, click on this link: https://www.singaporecomiccon.com/sgcctickets

SGCC also has a special perk for families. Kids under 8 can enter the show for free (maximum of two kids under 8 per ticket)! So, you can have a kick start in nurturing your kids' love for all things pop culture.

This year's SGCC limited edition merchandise includes a colourful SGCC x Artgerm T-shirt and Bomber Jacket by the popular Stanley "Artgerm" Lau. If you are a huge fan of Artgerm, this is something not to be missed!



SINGAPORE COMIC CON (SGCC) 2025
Where: Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre
Date: 6 & 7 December 2025 (Sat and Sun) with special Preview Night on 5 December 2025 (Fri)
Time: 10 AM to 8 PM on 6 & 7 December 2025
Admission: Refer to details at SISTIC - https://www.sistic.com.sg/events/sgcomic1224

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Cartoons Underground 2025 Brings Two Screenings Of Dynamic Animation Shorts at *SCAPE's The Ground Theatre on 1 November 2025

If you have not noticed, the Red Dot Diva blog was in hiatus for most of this year. Red Dot Diva had to deal with her mom's declining health and dementia. Due to this, her mom had to be placed in a nursing home for better long time care. With the loss of the matriarch in the home, other family and personal matters had to be managed as well. However, Red Dot Diva is now ready to revive the blog in some limited capacity, and she is delighted to bring this piece of announcement about an event that adds so much colour to the local arts scene.

Cartoons Underground, South-East Asia’s top indie animation festival, is back this year despite a major setback regarding the loss of the favourite and longtime venue, The Projector cinema. After the unexpected news of The Projector's closure, Cartoons Underground 2025 was almost cancelled. Fortunately, with the last minute help of new venue partner *SCAPE, the festival is raring to go with a bigger than ever programme on 1 November 2025. For the first time, there will be two screenings held for the afternoon and evening programme, consisting of 2 1/2 hours screening of a selection of bold and creative indie animated shorts. Included in the programme are also live Q&As, and the event's iconic Golden Durian Awards, presided by judges Huang Junxiang, Khoo Siew May and Ning Xuan Tan.

“We were very close to not being able to stage the festival this year,” says Festival Co-founder Vicky Chen. “Thanks to *SCAPE, we can bring our community together once again—and on a bigger scale than ever before.”

As in past years, the event's screening will feature an eclectic mix of local and international animation shorts, which include four films by homegrown student filmmakers and 16 global entries that include award-winning entries screened at international film festivals like Annecy, SXSW and Cannes. Festival attendees might want to look out for these film highlights - Mountain Mountain by Singaporean students Grace Cheu and Ben Tan, a story about two young adults searching for “mountains in Singapore” on a Mount Faber cable car ride; S The Wolf by Egyptian filmmaker Sameh Alaa, whose previous work won the Palme d’Or at Cannes; and Pear Garden by Iranian animator Shadab Shayegan, a BAFTA-longlisted film exploring the bond between a granddaughter and her grandmother after breast cancer surgery.

LASALLE College of the Arts is also continues to support young filmmakers as Education Partner for the festival. Chris Shaw, Head of LASALLE’s Puttnam School of Film & Animation, says: “We are excited to partner Cartoons Underground once again this year. Collaborations like these that bring education, industry and community together are absolutely vital to develop a thriving animation scene. Singapore and the region have an incredible wealth of creative talent that deserves to be showcased on significant platforms like this. Festivals like Cartoons Underground are essential for our students. Having their work seen by the wider community and industry, not only motivates them with a sense of accomplishment, but also builds confidence and creates pathways onto the international stage.”

On 25 October 2025 (Saturday), a week before the festival, Cartoons Underground will be presenting a masterclass and panel entitled Animating Tomorrow at LASALLE College of the Arts. This session will feature indie and industry professionals Paul Fu (Ubisoft Singapore), Ervin Han (Robot Playground Media), Vann Law (Rouge Collective), Race Krehel (Metamo Industries), and Exyl (Independent Filmmaker & Programmer), who will share about their individual journeys in the art of animation and help participants explore how they can keep their animation fresh and future-ready.


Check out the details of this industry event below. Do hurry, as there are only a few tickets left!

Animating Tomorrow – Industry Meet-Up
Date: 25th October 2025 (Saturday)
Venue: LASALLE College of the Arts, 1 McNally Street Blk F, Lvl 2, Room F208 Singapore, 187940
Time: 2PM – 530PM
Tickets: Free, but please sign up at https://tinyurl.com/AniTmr-panel

*SCAPE will be transformed into an animation playground for the upcoming festival. Expect to experience an interactive virtual street-art gallery inspired by Kampong Glam (created with Metamo Industries), enjoy scrumptious food from Kult Yard and Lavi Tacos, and check out creative booths that bring Southeast Asia’s animation community to life.

For a taste of what will be in store on 1 November, here's a trailer of the brilliant animation films that you would be able to catch at the screenings:

Having attended a few iterations of Cartoons Underground, Red Dot Diva recommends those who want to support local creative endeavour or wish to do something different to come for the screenings. You will be wowed by the amazing filmmakers that we have nurtured here. Who says Red Dot Island is boring???


Cartoons Underground 14th Edition
Date: 1st November 2025 (Saturday)
Venue: *SCAPE, The Ground Theatre, 2 Orchard Link #04-05 Singapore, 237978
Time: 4PM – 11PM
Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/cartoons2025
Festival Pass (Programme A + B):SGD 35
Programme A Only (4PM):SGD 15
Programme B Only Q&A + Awards Ceremony (7PM):SGD 25
Festival Pass (Programme A+B) (Student):SGD 25
10% Off Group Buy: SGD 157.50
Website: www.cartoonsunderground.com


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The Hitman And The Assassin - A Singapore-UK Action Short Film Premiering Internationally 19 Jan 2025

Forget about Bridgerton and Downton Abbey. It is time to watch something different by leaping right into an action-packed SG-UK short film collaboration entitled “The Hitman And The Assassin”. The action film which was directed by William Axtell, stars UK action actor Colin Squire and Red Dot Island’s own action actor and film-maker, Jonathan Cheong.

Colin Squire, also the producer of the film, fell in love with action movies when he was a young child. From then on, Colin learned and tried different kinds of martial arts, including karate, kickboxing and taekwondo. His foray into acting came by when he took a workshop by British action star Mark Strange during the pandemic lockdown. When the lockdown was lifted, Colin was given the chance to star in a couple of Mark Strange's short action films, including “Combat Zone”. “Combat Zone” went on to win a string of awards at film festivals.  

8 years ago, local actor Jonathan Cheong started out Raging Fire Productions, with a vision to uplift genre films in Red Dot Island. Inspired by his idol and role model Donnie Yen, Jonathan strives to produce realistic fight sequences coupled with engaging story-telling. To date, Jonathan has worked on several movies, short films, TV shows, promotional gigs, web series and more. Some of these titles include the celebrated “Star Wars fan film Legend Of Hope: A Star Wars Fan Film” (2020), awrd-winning “Bullet For Vengeance” (2023) and a memorable role as Bearded Man in Kuman Films' viral dystopian movie “Pendatang”. For most of these own productions, Jonathan provides the choreography for the action sequences .

After meeting at the Fighting Spirit Film Festival last year, Colin and Jonathan bonded over their passion about action movies and discussed about doing a short film together. The result is a fun (and also, funny) action short film where a Singaporean Assassin bids for the same victim as a Brit Hitman. Will they end up eliminating each other? Or will they become deadly frenemies?

“The Hitman And The Assassin marks the first time I'm part of a project in the West,” says Jonathan Cheong. “What's fun and unique is that I'm not playing an English but rather a Singaporean Hitman that happens to somehow be on the soil of England. And it just so happens that another local Assassin is there to do his job!

The film may seem to be really simple and direct, but it sets up alot of potentials for the future sequels to come! What's another interesting aspect is in the title itself. The Hitman and the Assassin! The film literally plays the stereotype we think of in movies of which the Hitman being better dressed than an Assassin! There is alot of humor but really intense action scenes coupled with!”

Colin Squire added, “The Hitman And The Assassin gave me a huge opportunity to learn and work with the talented Jonathan Cheong, and brilliant Will Axtell. Jonathan approached me with a great first concept which was a bit more serious but it soon evolved naturally in to a shorter action comedy with I believe turned out for the best.

The story has been done many times, but I think our fun, short film has some great action sequences and has laid the foundations for all of the three characters to evolve. Ben created a fun character spontaneously because in the original version he was not even meant to talk, if the opportunity allows us it will be interesting to see how the Hitman and the Assassin's relationship grow.”

“The Hitman And The Assassin” premiered at Bristol’s Forbidden Worlds Film Festival. Even though the film did not win an award in that festival, it garnered several awards in other notable film festivals in 2024. These awards include Best Action and Best Poster at No Country For Old Film Festival, Best Action Short at Paris Film Awards, and Best Poster and Best Comedy Action at International Film Festival.

Look out for the film as it is set to premiere internationally on director Will Axtell’s Youtube channel on 19 January 2025.


Colin Squire and Jonathan Cheong will also be appearing as special guests of the next Live With Red Dot Diva happening this Sunday (15 December 2024), at 11 PM SGT (3 PM GMT) on Red Dot Diva’s Facebook Page and Youtube channel. Join in to catch clips from the movie, chat with the actors and you get the chance ask them questions about the action film industry.

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