Cartoons Underground 2026: Interview With Nadya Neo - The Festival's Key Artist And Creator of Animation Short "White Carousel"

For its 15th edition, Cartoons Underground, South-East Asia's largest independent animation festival is set for a day of screening and activities at the Filmhouse on 14 November 2026. The festival features a screening of 28 animated films from 17 countries across three different segments.

The colourful visuals for Cartoons Underground 2026's key art entitled “Velvet Parade”, comes from the imaginative mind of its key artist Nadya Neo. Nadya is also the creator of “White Carousel”, one of the animation films included in this year's screening in the Students Category. The film has also been selected for a number of international animation festivals like Czech Republic's Anifilm, Italy's That's Animato and Japan's Tokyo Anime Award Festival.

A graduate of ADM at NTU, Nadya now works at Finding Pictures, a local based animation production studio. She is especially drawn to old toys, retro interiors and architecture from the 80s and 90s, and these styles are what inspires most of her artwork.

To get to know Nadya Neo better, Red Dot Diva managed to sit her down for a short Q&A session:

Red Dot Diva: Congrats for getting selected for Cartoons Underground! What made you decide on the theme and visuals for your short film “White Carousel”?
Nadya: Thank you! I became quite fascinated with the vintage toy aesthetic a bit before I started working on my film and wanted to create something that I would be excited and passionate to work on for my last year in University! I approached the film from a very visual perspective, often envisioning how I’d want a certain shot to look and seeing how it could fit into the narrative. When I started diving deeper into the rabbit hole of vintage toys and toy illustrations, I felt incredibly inspired and excited about the possibilities of the visual world I could build. I collected a visual library of images that excited me, which became sort of a visual bible for the film, something that I returned to everyday when I needed inspiration. The theme of repetition and cycles came about organically as I thought about how I could come up with a format that would allow me to explore a lot of different environments, because environments are what I most enjoy doing! I think it was the idea of the cuckoo clock that helped to tie the visuals and the theme of routine and repetition together.

Red Dot Diva: You have described your art style aesthetic as vintage and retro. In “White Carousel”, the story unfolds in a cuckoo clock. Have you ever visited or viewed any famous heritage cuckoo clocks as part of your research for the animation short? If you have, which ones were there and what did you learn from them?
Nadya: Unfortunately, I have not visited any in-person, but I spent quite a bit of time looking at videos of them online and appreciating the intricate mechanisms and all of its moving parts! German cuckoo clocks are a classic, but I actually quite enjoy the Seiko cuckoo clocks as well. They are more modern-looking than the German ones, but I really like the mechanisms of how the clock face spins and opens up with the music-box melody. There’s something enchanting about the Seiko clocks, I wanted to evoke that same whimsical feeling in my film.

Red Dot Diva: What were the most challenging aspects you faced while working on “White Carousel”?
Nadya: The most challenging thing about working on this film was embracing a more experimental, non-linear approach to storytelling. I questioned if viewers would be able to find meaning in something more abstract, especially when I approached the film more as a playground for visual experimentation. I think I struggled with the idea that everything needed to serve a purpose, or that everything needed to tie up nicely at the end. Because otherwise what would make each scene important other than just being visually interesting? I had to learn to become comfortable with the uncertainty and accept that maybe not everything needed an explanation, and that maybe exploring these different visual worlds could be meaningful in itself!

Red Dot Diva: Do you have a favourite animation movie, and why is it your favourite?
Nadya: My favourite animated movie is Shrek. I think the humour is top-tier and I really like the gritty, medieval fairytale look of the world. Sometimes I just want to watch a movie for the sake of being entertained without feeling the need dissect every little thing, even though that can be fun too sometimes! Shrek is one of those movies I can always return to and enjoy every time.

Red Dot Diva: You are also Cartoons Underground 2026’s key artist. The art you designed for the festival is so whimsical. Firstly, how did you get this gig as the festival’s key artist? Secondly, how did you arrive at the ideas for the key artwork?
Nadya:Jia reached out to me and asked if I’d be interested to work on the festival’s key art! They had discovered my work through White Carousel, so that’s how the opportunity came about!

I attended Cartoons Underground for the first time last year and really liked the underground, alternative vibe. Since that was my impression of the festival, I wanted to capture a similar energy in my artwork. I still wanted to explore the toy aesthetic that I had become so familiar with, but incorporate a more Southeast Asian flavour rather than the western influences I had usually gravitated towards.

Red Dot Diva: What advice do you have for someone who is just starting out in 2D Animation?
Nadya: I recently attended a masterclass by João Gonzalez who made the film, Ice Merchants. He said that something that you might think is a limitation can actually become a defining part of your visual style, the thing that sets your work apart. I am not great at animating very fluid, dynamic movements, so I made the choice to embrace the more mechanical, stiff movements instead. I actually found that it suited the world I was trying to create better!

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A post shared by nadya (@obscure.apple)

Want to check out Nadya Neo's short film “White Carousel”? Grab your tickets to Cartoons Underground 2026 pronto! “White Carousel” will be screened during Programme B - Rip Tides segment, which begins at 7:30 PM on festival day.


Cartoons Underground 15th Edition
Date: 14 November 2026 (Saturday)
Venue: Filmhouse, 6001 Beach Rd, #05-00, Singapore 199589
Time: Programme C: Playground (All ages) – 1:30 PM, Programme A: Held Breath – 4:30 PM, Programme B: Rip Tides – 7 PM
Tickets: Buy them at https://filmhouse.sg/seasons-events/cu2026/
Website: www.cartoonsunderground.com


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Cartoons Underground 2026 Returns With A New Programme For Its 15th Edition (14 November 2026)

South East Asia's leading animation festival Cartoons Underground is back this year for its 15th Edition on 14 November 2026! The event will be returning to one of its favourite locations, which now called Filmhouse.

This year, there is a new programme launched at Cartoons Underground - a screening specially curated with younger film fans in mind. It is called Cartoons Playground and kicks off at 1:30 PM in the afternoon. With this new segment, Cartoons Underground hopes to inspire and nurture a new generation of young animators and directors in order to put Red Dot Island's talent and stories on the world stage.

“From its inception, Cartoons Underground has aimed to make space for upcoming Singaporean animators,” says Jerrold Chong, Programme Director of the festival. “Now, by opening the festival to children for the first time I’d like to think that by spreading its love of indie animation it’ll captivate young fans who maybe will be my future students and making films themselves five or ten years from now.”

LASALLE College of the Arts continues to be the festival's Education Partner. Their support and partnership provides a platform for young creatives to explore new ideas, refine their craft, and bring their stories to life.

Chris Shaw, Head of the Puttnam School of Film & Animation, LASALLE College of the Arts, University of the Arts Singapore says, “We are very happy to continue LASALLE's educational partnership with Cartoons Underground for the 10th year running. From its inception the festival has aimed to provide space for upcoming Singaporean animators, making it a fertile training ground and a great springboard for our students to showcase their work, as well as a valuable platform where they are exposed to a wide range of immensely creative international animated short films. We also welcome the inclusion of children's programming for the first time, which expands the learning opportunities even more for students.”




This year's audience can expect an eclectic and vibrant selection of 28 films from 17 countries at Cartoons Underground 2026. The list also includes seven animation shorts by emerging Singaporean student filmmakers.

“The more we’re bombarded with soulless Ai-generated content the more we’ll crave art that’s truly human” says festival co-founder Vicky Chen. “What I love about this year’s films is that each one is a reflection of its maker, a story direct from them to us, each the product of experience, imagination and the desire to connect. Animation has always been about pushing creative boundaries, and we want to champion the next generation of filmmakers who have something original to say.”

Highlights of the day's programme include:

* Silence by Yoona Hwang - a story about a deaf child’s enjoyment of a musical concert though vibration and hearing aids. This film will be screened during the family friendly Cartoons Playground.
* Five Orphans from Japanese animator Sarina Nihai - a group of five orphans wander along a ditch in the midst of rising protests and finds a dead body
* A Pint Of Bitter from Irishman Conor Kehelly, who was also Cartoons Underground's 2023 winner - a man trying to have a quiet drink when two other patrons start harassing him
* Drive on, Mr. Otter by California-based Singaporean Chun Kit - timid Mr. Otter gets his last chance to evict an elderly couple or risk losing his own home
* Everything’s Peachy, LASALLE College of the Arts graduate Nah Yee Chern's first stop-motion film, which will be screened at Cartoons Underground’s Singaporean student programme as well as at this year's the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF). The film is about a kitchen hand called Pipa who lands her dream job working for a head chef whom she greatly admires, but then discovers something grisly.
* White Carousel from local artist and animator Nadya Neo - a surreal animation sequence about a wooden doll trapped in a cuckoo clock

Nadya Neo is also the artist for Cartoons Underground 2026's key art, and designed the Official Poster ‘Velvet Parade’ which consists of old toys at a mini festival held in a whimsical landscape. Nadya, who is a graduate of ADM at NTU, is currently working at Finding Pictures. Outside of work, she enjoys watching familiar sitcoms, particularly Friends.



Cartoons Underground is an event that Red Dot Diva looks forward to every year. The sheer range of creativity and originality is like a buzzy dopamine trip. For someone who watches a lot of shows and movies regularly, Red Dot Diva can usually anticipate when the usual story tropes would occur. This does not happen often at Cartoons Underground. The animation shorts are usually full of surprises! So, if you desire to watch something different, do get a ticket to the festival for a wondrous audio-visual experience.

For a sneak peek of what you can expect at Cartoons Underground, check out the trailer below. You can explore the full programme at cartoonsunderground.com.

TICKET PRICES
Playground (NEW! Family friendly, for young audiences) : SGD 13
Held Breath - International & SG Student Films: SGD 18
Rip Tides - International & SG Student Films: SGD 25
Students get 10% off Standard tickets for Held Breath and Rip Tides.
If you're a CU Megafan, CU merch is included in your ticket.


Cartoons Underground 15th Edition
Date: 14 November 2026 (Saturday)
Venue: Filmhouse, 6001 Beach Rd, #05-00, Singapore 199589
Time: Programme C: Playground (All ages) – 1:30 PM, Programme A: Held Breath – 4:30 PM, Programme B: Rip Tides – 7 PM
Tickets: Buy them at https://filmhouse.sg/seasons-events/cu2026/
Website: www.cartoonsunderground.com


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Singapore Comic Con (SGCC) 2026 Returns With A List of Comic Book Guests Including Michael Golden, Clayton Crain and Peach Momoko

The annual geek fest Singapore Comic Con (SGCC) will be returning to Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre on 5 and 6 December 2026 at Level 1 and B2, with a special preview night on 4 December 2026. The convention has been announcing their guests since the middle of the year, and comic book fans will be pleased with the list of creators and artists who will be visiting Red Dot Island this time around.



For starters, Red Dot Diva noticed that the Scott Collectibles team, who usually take up a sizeable corner with their usual posse of comic book guests, will not be at this year's show. Not to worry - local online store Fat Snake Comics has already invited a number of wonderful guests appearing at their booth. Their guest list includes veteran Michael Golden, Alex Sinclair, Steve Leialoha, Renee Witterstaetter, Terry Dodson, Arthur Suydam and Santa Fung.

Acclaimed Japanese comic artist and two-time Eisner Award winner Peach Momoko will also be returning to SGCC 2026. She was last here in 2024, so if you have missed meeting her or getting your books signed back then, here is your second chance!

Other returning guests are Eisner award-winning writer and screenwriter Tom Taylor, reknown Eisner award-winning French comic book artist Olivier Copiel (who was a guest more than 10 years ago in 2014!), Philippines-based artist and Co-founder/ Creative Director of HMT Studios Harvey Tolibao, and local artist/ co-founder of Imaginary Friends Studios Stanley Lau aka Artgerm, who has been a stalwart of the show for several years. South Korean artist, writer and illustrator of the supernatural thriller comic GUMAA Jeehyung Lee also makes a comeback to the pop-culture fest.

In addition, fans can meet the co-founder of Image Comics and creator of fan favorite X-Men character Bishop, Whilce Portacio. Joining him at SGCC 2026 are Clayton Crain the Co-creator of Toxin, who has recently launched his own new comic book series, Out To Hell, Claudio Castellini who is best known for his artwork in titles like Marvel vs. DC, Silver Surfer, Man and Superman, and Wolverine: The End, as well as Davide Paratore, cover artist for Marvel's ongoing series the Moon Knight.

There is one thing that Red Dot Diva noticed from this year's list of announced guests. There seems to be more focus on showcasing Asian creators and artists, like:

* Japanese artist Terada Katsuya, a master of traditional pen and ink techniques,
* 鄺東原 (Kwong Tung Yuen) also known as 上官小寶, Hong Kong’s artist known for his work in the longest running (4 decades!) comic《李小龍》Bruce Lee. He will be accompanied by his son 鄺世傑 (Kwong Sai Kit), Second-Generation Leader of Kwong's Publishing and Editor-in-Chief of 拳皇97,
* South Korean art instructor, illustrator, and painter and the founder of Superani and established AniChanga art school Hyun Jin Kim,
* Malaysian artist Ivan Tao, best known as the cover artist for Boom! Studios Power Rangers comics, Something Is Killing the Children and Vampirella,
* Filipino comic book colourist Ellery, who has worked for top publications such as DC Entertainment, Dynamite Entertainment, Image Comics,
* Singaporean homie Derrick Chew whose artwork can be seen in projects with Marvel, DC Comics, Square Enix, Epic Games and Mobile Legends.

Oh, will there be celebrities, you ask? Power Ranger actors have been part of the guest list in recent years, and it is no different this year. Event company Retro Experience are bringing in Catherine Sutherland (Pink MMPR, Zeo and Turbo Ranger) and Nakia Burrise (Yellow Zeo and Turbo Ranger). To secure a meet and greet with these two actors, head to this Eventbrite to book your slot - https://www.eventbrite.sg/e/power-rangers-zeo-turbo-sgcc-2026-tickets-1979575665103.



SGCC has also invited Tracy Lynn Cruz aka Ashley Hammond the Yellow Ranger to meet her fans at the convention. So, hardcore Power Rangers fans have an exciting weekend to look forward to!

Besides the Power Ranger actors, SGCC's guest list includes Japanese actors Uji Kiyotaka (Sho / Ultraman Victory in Kamen Rider Revice, Kamen Rider Fourze, Lesson of the Evil, Another and Detective Chinatown 3), Negishi Takuya (Hikaru Raido / Ultraman Ginga, Bokutachi wa Mada Sono Hoshi no Kousoku wo Shiranai in Netflix's Ikugasami, Shogo Aoyama in Actors High) as well as voice actress Rin Tateishi, who is best known for her role as the guitarist Anon Chihaya from BanG Dream!'s MyGO!!!!!. Uji Kiyotaka and Negishi Takuya will only be at the convention on 5 December while Rin Tateishi will be on SGCC stage on 6 December. Photo and/or autograph opportunities can be purchased via the ticketing link at https://www.singaporecomiccon.com/tickets, from the Bundles tab.

You can check out the convention's guest list announced so far at this link: https://www.singaporecomiccon.com/guest


TICKETING INFORMATION

In addition to a range of tickets options for SGCC 2026, this year's event introduces an all-new SGCC Superhero Pack. The special pack offers fans premium access (e.g. fast lane and early entry), exclusive collectibles, and a brand-new collection of artist collaboration merchandise featuring original artwork by internationally acclaimed comic artists.

To attend Preview Night, you can choose to purchase a ticket to soak up in the entire convention 2.5-day weekend, or get the access to the Friday evening as an add-on. For more details including the various pricing options, click on this link to purchase your ticket: https://www.singaporecomiccon.com/tickets.

Best of all, to help lessen the load of your annual geek expenses, you can use the SG Culture Pass to purchase tickets to SGCC 2026. Just head to this link to use your SG Culture Pass credits - https://sg60culturepass-online.globaltix.com/attraction/singapore-comic-con-sgcc-2026-121396

Geeks who love collecting SGCC merchandise have loads of limited-edition collectibles and exclusives to choose from. The 2026 collection includes:
* Artgerm SGCC Exclusive A5 Notebook
* Lucio Parrillo & Carla Cohen SGCC Exclusive Tote Bag
* Peach Momoko or Olivier Coipel Exclusive SGCC T-Shirt
* Official SGCC T-Shirts available in two designs.

Grab them while stocks are still available!

There is still about 6 weeks to go before the wild celebration of the best of Eastern and Western pop culture begins. Red Dot Diva says it is not too late to gather your geek posse, start planning for your cosplay/ fun geek wear, and save up for the item that you have been wishing to add to your collection. See you there!


SINGAPORE COMIC CON (SGCC) 2026
Where: Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre
Date: 5 & 6 December 2026 (Sat and Sun) with special Preview Night on 4 December 2026 (Fri)
Time: 10 AM to 8 PM on 5 & 6December 2026
Admission: Refer to details at SISTIC - https://www.sistic.com.sg/events/sgcomic1224

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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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A post shared by Fuzzballs (@fuzzballs)

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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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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If you enjoy Red Dot Diva's content, feel free to help her efforts going by showing your support through ko-fi. Thank you!

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:

View this post on Instagram

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)

View this post on Instagram

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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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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