Theme: Traversing Trans-Asian Imaginaries: Anime, Manga, and Media Cultures
Dates: 29-30 May, 2026
Location: National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore

Mechademia invites scholars, artists, and practitioners to submit proposals for the annual conference in 2026, held for the first time at the National University of Singapore. Under the theme "Traversing Trans-Asian Imaginaries," Mechademia 2026 seeks to explore the dynamic intersections of anime, manga, and related media cultures across Asia and beyond. This is part of a broader strategy to extend Mechademia into intellectual communities in different geographical locales.

Keynote Speaker: Chua Beng Huat, Emeritus Professor, Department of Sociology, Distinguished Professorial Fellow at the Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore (NUS)

Title: "Approaches to the Study of Popular Culture in Southeast Asia and Beyond"

Conference Focus

In an era marked by rapid cultural, technological, and social transformation, what does it mean to study anime, manga, and their associated media forms within and across Asian contexts? How do these popular media shape and how are they shaped by processes of globalization, localization, and transnational exchange? We seek papers, panels, and creative works that examine the dynamic crosscurrents shaping anime, manga, gaming, media arts, and fandom across Asia and beyond.

This conference marks a deliberate expansion of Mechademia's scope from Japan to the vibrant mediascapes of Southeast Asia. We encourage submissions from scholars, graduate students, and practitioners located in or working on topics related to Southeast Asia.

All presentations will be in person only. There will be no remote or hybrid presentation. All presentations must be in English.

We invite proposals that engage with, but are not limited to, the following topics:

• Trans-Asian flows and circulations of anime, manga, and games
• Local adaptations, fandoms, and subcultures in any region
• Intersections of gender, race, class, and sexuality
• Digital platforms, digital comics, streaming, and new modes of consumption
• Historical perspectives on art, narrative, and industry
• Comparative studies: Japanese, Korean, Chinese, South Asian, Southeast Asian, and global contexts
• Theorizing Asian media beyond borders
• Ecocriticism, technology, and futures in anime and manga/webcomics
• Queer, feminist, and decolonial approaches
• Media pedagogy and education
• Fandom and participatory cultures: cosplay, conventions, or online communities
• Gaming cultures and the regional e-sports scene
• Gender, sexuality, and identity in Southeast Asian pop cultures
• Popular culture and social change: activism, nationalism, and digital citizenship
• Platform economies: streaming, mobile media, and tech innovation
• Diaspora, migration, and the circulation of media
• Comparative or collaborative studies between Japanese and Southeast Asian creative industries or expressions
• Southeast Asian animation, comics (manga/manhua/komik), games, or digital media

Submission Guidelines

We welcome proposals for:

• Individual Papers
• Panel Sessions (3 or 4 presenters)

Please use the Proposal Template for all submissions. Fill out either the individual or panel proposal in the template. Proposal must include a title, 250-word abstract, and a short bio.

Panel proposals must include a 200-word summary in addition to complete titles, proposals and bios for each presenter.

Upload completed proposals here.

Deadline: 15 October, 2025.

Notification of Acceptance: 15 December, 2025

Subsidies:

Mechademia will offer partial travel subsidies to presenters who are currently enrolled as graduate students at accredited universities located in Southeast Asia (excluding Singapore). This subsidy is generously supported by the Mitsui NUS Japanese Studies in Southeast Asia Fund. The subsidy will be a lump-sum payment of up to SG$500 to be paid after presenting a paper at the conference. Subsidies are limited and will be awarded competitively based on the quality of the proposal. Please indicate in the proposal submission if you wish to be considered for a subsidy.

Contact:
For further information, contact the organizing committee at asiaconference.mechademia@gmail.com

Join us in Singapore for Mechademia 2026 as we traverse the vibrant landscapes of Asian media cultures together!