Otakuthon Model Expo 2025

This year, there will be a lot of attractions prepared for event participants to learn about plastic models and figurines, such as model-building workshops, mini-events, new product showcases and our yearly competition! Experience the fun and diverse world of plastic models!

Find us in room 515AB. Create your unique experience with us!

BEGINNER LEVEL BUILD WORKSHOPS

Attendees are welcome to visit us in the Model Expo room to have your firsthand experience on plastic model building! Try out one of the different entry-level plastic models provided. Workshops last an hour and there will be limited slots per session. Tools will be loaned if needed. There will be multiple workshops throughout the convention period. Be sure to check it out!

MINI-EVENTS

Various mini-events will be available after a build workshop. These mini-events include trivia games, voice acting games and garapon raffles. Enjoy your after-build cooldown time with these mini-events. There might be prizes to be won!

INTERMEDIATE AND ADVANCED BUILD WORKSHOPS AND PANELS

Is it your first time building plastic models and it piques your interest? Or you've built a few models and want to learn more? Join us in our build panels! There will be various Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced build workshops and panels to showcase the different levels of plastic model building techniques. These panels will be hosted in the Model Expo Room 515AB and will have a totally different set of models than our entry-level kits in the Beginner Workshops (Spoiler, they are unique creatures!) From learning the very basics of plastic model building, little tricks to enhance the visual appeal of your newly built model, to modifying or using more than the basic tools. Everyone is welcome to visit and learn! Tools will be loaned for your convenience if needed. Limited slots per session.

PLASTIC MODEL EXPOSITION

Be it Gundams, girl figures, humanoids, vehicles or animals, your favourite anime characters, mecha, and original works come to a tangible form through plastic models and figurines! There will be a lot of variety of plastic models and figurines that will be displayed in the Expo area! This exposition from various manufacturers shows the latest products in the model space. Visit and take a look at all of these existing or upcoming products!

MASAMUNE PLASTIC MODEL COMPETITION
	Otakuthon Model Expo will be hosting the Masamune Plastic Model Competition this year! Huge thanks to Masamune Gunpla Studio for making this happen! Interested parties will be able to find us on the 5th floor, Room 515AB, Model Expo Room. The Plastic Model Competition is open to everyone and all skill levels! Showcase your plastic modelling skills that you’ve honed so far and get a chance to take the crown on one or more of our competition categories! All plastic model types which are connected to anime are accepted. See the ruleset below for more information. There will be many prizes to be won!
GUNPLA BUILDERS WORLD CUP (GBWC) CANADA 2025 QUALIFIER The Gunpla Builders World Cup will be returning to Canada as an in-person competition this year! The qualifier will be a sub-category in the Masamune Plastic Model Competition. The entries that fall in this category will need to comply with the GBWC rules. Otherwise, they will be placed in the Open Category. GBWC Ruleset: https://gbwc.bandai-hobby.net/en/regulation/

COMPETITION RULES

Participation Ruleset

You must have a valid Otakuthon 2025 pass to participate.
A proxy on behalf of the creator for bringing the entries to the competition will be allowed.
You will have until Saturday, August 9 at 20:00 to submit your entry. Entry registration starts as early as 13:00 on Friday, August 8, 2025.
Registration area will be clearly indicated during the competition period.
After registering the entry, a photo will be taken in the photo booth in the registration area. This will be used to promote and show your entry during the competition period.
You will be the only one holding and placing the model in the display shelf for the competition.
The takedown time starts at 16:00 on Sunday, August 10, 2025. All the entries should be retrieved during the final hour after the awards ceremony.
To avoid any unpleasant surprises, only the participant or the designated proxy will be allowed to take back their entry at takedown period.
An awards ceremony for the winning entries will start at 15:00, August 10, 2025. All participants are welcome to join the awards ceremony. We will not contact the winners beforehand.
Otakuthon and the Otakuthon staff are not responsible for all unclaimed entries at the end of the event on Sunday, August 10, 2025. The event area will be closed at 17:00.

Model Entry Ruleset

You can have a maximum of two (2) entries and size should not exceed 50x50x50 cm (19.685x19.685x19.685 in.) each.
Bootleg products are not allowed. The entry will be disqualified and we will void any points or judging done on the entry.

There will be 7 competition categories:

Gunpla - GBWC	Category is open to all Bandai Gunpla models participating specifically in GBWC. Small or Large scale Gunpla models are accepted as long as it is within the specified size restrictions.
Gunpla - Open	Category is open to all Bandai Gunpla models. Small or Large scale Gunpla models are accepted as long as it is within the specified size restrictions.
Non-Gunpla	Category is open to all First-party plastic models. This could range from girl models, tanks, planes, etc. as long as it is derived from an anime or original series.
Fan Favourite	Category which will include all the models entered in the competition. Votes from the convention participants who pass by our event area could vote for their favourite model.
Out-of-the-box	Models must be built using only the parts and materials provided in a commercially available kit, minus the decals, but stickers provided with the kit are allowed. Painting is recommended.
The Odd One	Category which will include all the models entered in the competition. This category is for the least-known kit to us. The kit you never knew existed or a kit “long forgotten”. The kit should not have been extensively modified from a regular kit into something that was never produced. It must have been in production at some point by a known manufacturer, such as Arii, Bandai, Imai, Takara, Volks, Wave, etc.
Under 18	Category which will include all the models entered in the competition. Entrants under 18 years of age has the chance to win this category. The passion of the young ensures the future!

Be on the lookout for some surprise categories during the Awards Ceremony!

Judging Rubric

Main Category	Sub-Category	Description
IDEA Final Scoring Weight - 20%	Creativity - 5 points	We will judge the overall motif or theme of the model in this category as well as physical modifications on the kit.
IDEA Final Scoring Weight - 20%	Posing - 5 points	We will judge the visual appeal of the model in terms of poses in this category.
PAINTING Final Scoring Weight - 40%	Choice of colour/pattern - 5 points	We will judge the visual appeal of the colour palette and/or patterns applied in the model in this category.
PAINTING Final Scoring Weight - 40%	Painting Cleanliness - 5 points	We will judge the cleanliness and quality of the paint job of the entry in this category. Hand painted and airbrushed kits are judged on their cleanliness on equal terms.
CRAFTSMANSHIP Final Scoring Weight - 40%	Build - 5 points	We will judge the cleanliness of the non-painted aspects of the build in this category: Nubs, nub marks, seam lines, mould lines, sanding marks, file marks, cleanliness of the pieces, etc. Dioramas will be part of the judging for the whole entry.

Extra 2 points will be given if a title is added to the model entry. But remember, it has to be relevant to your piece. For example, the title “The Final Shot”; the entry should have an indication of a “Final Shot” through posing, motif, etc.

General Rules

The judges’ decisions are final.
Failure to comply with the rules will result in disqualification.
Entries must be original and created by the participant.
Major modifications to existing kits are allowed.
All entries must be stable and safe for display.
The use of toxic or hazardous materials is strictly prohibited.
Entries must not contain any offensive, hateful, or discriminatory content.
Submitted works must be plastic models related to anime (e.g. Gundam, figurines or mechas).
All entries must be completed at the time of registration for the competition.
Entries must not have won prizes in previous Otakuthon model competitions.

Judging Categories

Kit Work: Build quality, cleanliness, assembly.
Painting & Finishing: Paint quality, application, detailing, realism.
Originality & Creativity: Innovation, concept, uniqueness of the work.
Presentation: Quality of the diorama or base, staging, lighting (if applicable).

Judging Process

Judges will evaluate each entry according to the judging categories.
Points will be awarded for each criterion.
Entries with the highest scores will win prizes.

Prizes

Prizes will be awarded to winners in each category.
A “Best in Show” award will be given to the most outstanding entry.
Additional prizes may be announced.

Registration and Submission

Registration will take place on-site at Room 515AB during the model exhibition’s opening hours.
Models must be dropped off during the designated hours.
Detailed information on registration and schedules will be available on the Otakuthon website and on-site.

For inquiries, please contact gunpla@otakuthon.com with the Subject [Inquiry] - Competition.

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the event!

Thank you to our partners in making this event possible!