Polymanga, the great mass of popular culture and video games, returns to Lausanne

The 18th edition of the Boulimanga Festival, a meeting place for fans of popular culture, will be held at the Beaulieu Theater in Lausanne, from March 29 to April 1. The list includes meetings with over fifty guests, concerts, performances, video game tournaments and cosplay.

The Bulimanga Folk Culture Festival begins on Friday, March 29 for four days, not in Montreux, but in Lausanne. The event, scheduled to take place in the middle of the Easter weekend, welcomes as usual a wide range of soap actors, TV presenters, singers, TikTokers, streamers, voice actors, designers and musicians.

The Swiss event about Japanese, American and European popular culture is growing. The halls and Beaulieu Theater in the capital of Vaud have an area of no less than 23,000 square metres²Or 7000 m² More than last year, and earmarked for the 2024 edition, the organizers indicate in a press release. It is divided into four halls, entertainment and theater areas.

The Polymanga adventure started in 2005 at EPFL. Since then, the festival has grown and moved a lot. But he was able to rely on the loyal audience who now come with their families to this festival like no other. “Bulimanga is a charitable pop culture. We take a lot of initiatives compared to other festivals, such as zero waste, the charity part or our 3D mascot. We have to be pioneers. Bulimanga is one of the pop culture festivals involving young people” audience in the world, With more than 25% under the age of 18, and the most mixed as well. We hope to achieve parity this year,” confirms David Heim, founder and CEO of the festival, at the Couleur 3 Le Poulpe screening on March 27. , 2024.

Voice of Spider-Man and Titov

One of the headliners of this 2024 edition is Takeshi Honda. The animation director of Evangelion and Studio Ghibli, right-hand man of famous Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki, will be present at the convention and signings on Friday and Saturday. He celebrates the 40th anniversary of his polymanga career, which has seen notable films include Evangelion, The Boy and the Heron, Nadia, Oh My Goddess, Millennium Actress, The Animatrix, and… Buro the Caterpillar.” “.

There will also be Donald Renault, the emblematic French voice of Andrew Garfield in “Spider-Man,” Titov, Sora in “Kingdom Hearts,” and Kristoff in “Frozen.” Among the actors, the audience will still be able to see Tom Wallachia (Jaqen Hghar in the series “Game of Thrones”, Dmitry Antonov in “Stranger Things”), Thomas Kuso (Lancelot du Lac in “Camelot”) or even Alain Chapuys (the keeper of the Camelot tavern). ).

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Kpop is coming

Fans of the web stars will not be left out. In terms of pop culture, visitors will encounter YouTubers such as Monsieur Pof, Aline Dessine, Mademoiselle Soso, Sheshounet, IamBlacko, or even the band Normales and their leader Romain Nolag. They have become known for their short videos that humorously narrate their adventures as husbands and parents.

On the musical side, Sarah Allen’s concerts in the company of Benjamin Noss and Yoko Ishida should leave a good impression. K-pop will also be coming to Beaulieu with the highly anticipated Black On concert on Sunday.

The drawing will be highlighted as always. The Artists Village will receive more than 110 painters, about thirty more than last year. Finally, for the second year in a row, the Polymanga Swiss Cosplay League (PSCL) will be held. This Swiss league brings together the best cosplayers from many conventions across the country. Thus the best national cosplayer will be selected.

Comments collected by Yannick Novo

Web adaptation: LD/ATS

Bolimanga, Beaulieu Theater, Lausanne (VD), from March 29 to April 1, 2024.