Where Education, Industry and Imagination Collide
Comic Con Cape Town 2025 isn’t just about cosplay and collectibles — it’s a festival of ideas. This year’s programming carves out space for academic dialogue, career-building insight, creative mentorship, and deeper cultural exploration. From AI in higher education to the storytelling power of fight scenes, the Con’s educational panels and workshops prove that pop culture has more to offer than escapism — it’s a launchpad for learning.
🎓 Insight Meets Imagination: A Festival for the Mind
Whether you’re a student, teacher, creator or curious fan, the Main Stage and Poptaku Stage serve as platforms for conversation, creativity and career growth. Here’s a curated selection of this year’s thought-provoking sessions, with even more available in the full programme.
🔍 Academic Power Panels
💡 Reshaping the Future of Higher Education with AI
Speaker: Dr Miné de Klerk (Eduvos)
Explore how one of SA’s top private institutions is integrating AI into curricula — responsibly, ethically and inclusively.
🌍 Afrofuturism in Africa and the United States
Speakers: Jason Johnso & Usé Ufot
This cross-continental conversation explores how Black creators use Afrofuturism to envision future narratives through comics, music, and visual culture.
📖 Teaching and Learning Narrative Art
Workshop: Adam Kubert
Legendary comic artist Adam Kubert hosts a hands-on workshop for educators and art students on narrative art techniques and classroom integration.
🎮 Where Pop Culture Meets Profession
🎓 The Impact of Esports & Education
Speaker: Dr Riaan Steenberg (Eduvos)
An in-depth look at how gaming and Esports are bridging South Africa’s digital skills gap and opening new career pathways for youth.
🎤 The Microphone is Your Superpower
Speaker: Paulo Dias
A motivational session on how gaming, comics and cosplay can become powerful tools for connection, influence and transformation.
🖋️ So You Want To Become A Comics Pro?
Panelists: Sean Izaakse, Anand Ramcheron, Warren Louw, Rob Levin
Local heroes and international editors give the real scoop on breaking into the comics industry and standing out.
🌱 Training Tomorrow’s Creatives
✨ Emerging Artists Programme (City of Cape Town)
An initiative spotlighting young talent with training, mentorship and showcase space on the Comic Con floor.
🤖 Understanding AI In Creative Industries
Panelists: Jack Devnarain, Adrian Galley
Explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping storytelling, VFX, and screenwriting — and how to wield it ethically.
🎮 Gaming Industry Growth in South Africa
Speakers: William Mabin, Lars Espeter, Jonathan Hau-Yoon, Jo Eyre
A call to arms for gaming startups, devs and investors: the time for a homegrown gaming industry is now.
📝 Storytelling & Publishing Masterclasses
✍️ Traversing the Fantasy Writing & Publishing Landscape in SA
Speaker: Michael Ferguson
Learn what it takes to publish locally and internationally — with or without a publisher.
💔 How to Write and Publish a Romance Novel
Panelists: Shameez Patel, Nuhaa Bardien, Kelly L. Clarke, Stevlyn Vermeulen, Lindsay Norman
Explore story structure, market fit, and publishing routes in one of the world’s bestselling genres.
📖 Breaking In & Standing Out: Start Your Creative Career at Any Age
Speaker: Amy Gajjar
From career changers to Gen Z graduates, get practical steps on launching a career in the creative industries.
🎬 Film, Voice and Visual Storytelling
🎥 The Dangers of Unregulated Film Production in SA
Panelists: Jack Devnarain, Adrian Galley
Examine the risks to workers, communities, and the environment when the booming film industry lacks policy oversight.
🔊 What’s In A Voice? Dubbing Characters with Power
Speaker: Bruce Crossey
A behind-the-scenes look at the artistry of dubbed performances and how voice actors give soul to animation.
🥋 The Influence of Fight Scenes on Visual Storytelling
Speaker: Nicholas Jonker
Understand how fight scenes progress character arcs, heighten emotion, and tell stories without words.
🎨 Comics, Cartoons, Manga & Cultural Crossroads
💬 Cartooning for a Living
Panelists: Andy Mason, Gavin Thomson, Brandan Reynolds
What does it take to make a living drawing funny pictures? These pros discuss everything from political satire to syndication.
🗯️ How to Make Your Own Comic Book
Workshop: Andy Mason
From pencils to panels — a hands-on crash course for young artists and creators.
🧠 Afro-Manga Unleashed: The Japanese Influence on SA Storytelling
Speakers: Ziyaad Rahman, Ethan Spicer, Chadley Bantham
Explore Siri Watu, South Africa’s first Afro-Manga anime, and the fusion of manga aesthetics with African mythologies.
📚 The Advent of the Modern African Story
Speakers: Wandile Williams Abrahamse, Alboricah Rathupetsane, Merin Raju Jacob
Discover why the world is hungry for African narratives told by African creators — and how to be part of the movement.
🎶 Music, Language & DIY Film
🎼 Cinematic Music Composition in SA Films
Speaker: Ebrahim Mallum
Go behind the score of Spelonk, followed by a special screening.
🎥 Turning Pain Into Art: Independent Filmmaking Without a Studio
Speaker: Mikhail Williams
A young filmmaker shares how personal stories, limited resources, and self-belief can build an entire production.
🈶 Learn Japanese with the Japanese Language Club SA
An interactive intro to Japanese language basics — great for anime fans or anyone who’s always wanted to ditch subtitles.
🔍 Final Thoughts
Comic Con Cape Town 2025 proves that pop culture isn’t separate from real-world learning — it’s the perfect gateway to it. Whether you’re sketching your first comic, launching a creative business, or investigating AI ethics, these talks equip fans to turn passion into profession.
