The setting doesn’t suggest Tokyo or Seoul, with La Concepción on one side and MUNA behind the main stage, but the enthusiasm of the fans of cosplay, manga or Korean rhythms transformed the surroundings of Tenerife Espacio de las Artes (TEA) into a sort of Asian embassy yesterday afternoon. Today, Tecnoplay, the third block of Technological 2024, concludes on the same stage. “This is not a costume; this is a way of life,” says Laura, a cosplay enthusiast who embodies a character from that peculiar world between comics and animation at TEA. All paths of anime and k-pop enthusiasts – of which there are many on the island – led today to the surroundings of the church of La Concepción and the Museum of Nature and Archaeology (MUNA) in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. It may not have been Tokyo or Seoul, but the enthusiasm of the Asian embassy did not waver. Not in the slightest. The second day of Tecnoplay, the third block of Technological Santa Cruz-Grupo Canaauto, drew a considerable crowd around Asian rhythms and video game culture. The timing coincided with Tete, but this is a different audience. Many young people, but also quite a few mothers and fathers who accompanied their teenage children, resigned yet involved in their hobbies and musical tastes.
The Gaming Tents
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Access from the Serrador bridge leads through the library entrance ramp, past different tents filled mostly with boys and girls. From F1 Spanded to Ultima Informatica, the PC Gaming reference in the Canaries. The eyes of a technological caveman could provide a different perspective on such an event, but it’s inevitable that they would be drawn to the Fabricando Nostalgia booth, the cultural association created in 2021 to reproduce arcade games from the 70s, 80s, or 90s. From Space Invaders to the first tennis games on screens that now seem at least from the Pleistocene. Side note: how many youth memories come flooding back just from hearing the sound of the balls propelled by those pinball machines.
First-person Experiences
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Heading up the ramp are Manuel, from Menorca, Claudia, from Granada, and Silvia, from Madrid. They reside in Tenerife for work. Manuel (28) and Silvia (24) are in casual dress, but Claudia (28) is dressed as Ai, a character from anime, the animated form of manga in cosplay. It’s something that “I love and is my hobby.” She misses the opportunity to become a professional cosplayer, common in Asia, through participation in events or advertising campaigns, although she notes that “there are starting to be some examples in Spain.” A little further down, David and Lucas, aged 5 and 7, fair-haired and mischievous, pose for a photo in front of a giant Super Mario for posterity. Their parents, Marcos and Eda, explain that they come from the south originally to visit the museum but joined in upon hearing the commotion for the enjoyment of their kids. An inflatable Mazinger Z seems to watch over in the corner. More nostalgia. A nod and respects to Akira Toriyama, the creator of the legendary Dragon Ball animation, who recently passed away.
Technological Aia
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Another small section of the journey to reach the more modern Asian world. The stage kicks off with a K-pop group contest. There are twenty groups composed mainly of very young boys. Here, all the ingredients of music competitions are present: a presenter with the voice and spirit of a speaker, a jury (female, three girls), an enthusiastic (youthful) audience gradually filling the spaces, and a backstage full of choreography rehearsals and nerves. Like the ones just left behind, after the performance “that went super well,” Cecilia, Cynthia’s sister, the fourth part of Hskysme – the names are as suggestive as they are complicated – joined by Joey, Dania, and Paula, three girls and a boy, two from the South – Cynthia and Cecilia are from Las Rosas, in Arona – and two from Santa Cruz. The older sister is hoarse from all the cheering as each group has its loyal following. She explains as a representative that they are friends and that “they love K-pop and any dance because they enter every competition. They sacrifice a lot rehearsing for this,” she emphasizes.
More Activities
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Among the tents offering products related to this special world is Nymeriacomics, from La Laguna, with an online and physical store at number 29 Alonso Suárez Melián Street. Miguel explains, “We’ve come for publicity primarily, but also to sell above cost. Today (yesterday) is the busiest day and perhaps tomorrow (today) as well due to the proximity of the market.” Their specialty: board games, comics, and miniatures for painting. Aimed at all audiences and ages. Around the ramp, there are stands for activities. Classics like painting or origami and as curious as Crime City, a kind of Where’s Waldo for detectives. Andrés explains: “It was the winner of the Game of the Year in 2021.” Today, for the last time, you can give it a go at Tecnoplay on its third day. For now, Game over, insert coin.
