Zombie jamboree ticks all the boxes

Armageddon hit Hamilton last weekend bringing anime, manga, celebrities and sci-fi together.

Thousands more people attended the event this year, dressed as their favourite characters and parading through the expo venue, Claudelands Events Centre.

There was an array of different events, including an ice-cream eating competition, fear factor competition and a special effects make-up face-off.

Tony Amendola, who plays Geppetto in Once Upon a Time, and previously played Bra'tac from Stargate SG-1 said he thoroughly enjoyed attending.

"I love coming to conventions like this because you get a real sense of who your audience is," he said.

Jason Momoa, Khal Drogo in Game of Thrones, was popular with a room packed full of fans of all ages.

Pirihira Bassett said it was her first time at Armageddon. "The best talk so far has been Jason Momoa. My dad grew up the same place he did," she said.

Other celebrities attending included Yeardley Smith, who does the voice of Lisa Simpson; Sylvester McCoy, who plays the seventh doctor in Doctor Who; Joe Flanigan, who played Lieutenant Colonel John Sheppard in Stargate, and more.

Armageddon seemed to be popular with celebrities, with TV's Ben and Jono filming an episode of their programme Jono and Ben at 10.

Ken Just said it was his third year attending Armageddon, and he had attended it in Christchurch as well.

"Christchurch Armageddon had more people, which was great - but the rest of it is about the same," he said.