Visitors and participants at the annual exhibition can cosplay, or dress up in costume as their favourite video game, movie or comic book characters, July 28, 2014. [Photo/CRIENGLISH.com]

The 16th Ani-Com and Games expo, one of Asia's biggest animation and comic exhibitions, opens to comic book and cosplay fans from July 25-29 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The five-day festival of animation, video games, comics and cosplay attracts over 700,000 visitors from Hong Kong, Chinese mainland and overseas.

Visitors and participants at the annual exhibition can cosplay, or dress up in costume as their favourite video game, movie or comic book characters.

Players sing and dance on stage, wearing dramatic make-up, elaborate costumes, and using delicately made props to bring one or multiple comic scenes alive. This is their way to express their enthusiasm of the world of animations and games.

Martha Asahi is a Japanese cosplayer from the group "VENaS sisters". She is amazed by the number of male players at the event.

"In Hong Kong, there are many boys and children taking part in cosplay events, but in Japan, those who take part are mainly girls. I can feel the strong power and atmosphere of Hong Kong cosplay events. I am very happy."

Most players at the Animation-Comics-Games Fair have full-time occupations that are not necessarily related to cosplay or animation.

But they are willing to invest money and time into making customs and props, and putting on make up.

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