"Cyber Panda"

In just over a month, the highly anticipated 2023 World Science Fiction Convention in Chengdu will be unveiled.

This is the first time that the World Science Fiction Convention is being held in China, and Chengdu will become the first Chinese city, as well as the second Asian city to host the world's highest-level science fiction event.

On September 13th, at the press conference of the 2023 World Science Fiction Convention, the Organizing Committee officially announced the convention's slogan as "Encountering the Future in Chengdu". The corresponding logo is the "Star-Grabbing Panda", and the mascot name is "Dream in Science".

"The hosting of the 2023 World Science Fiction Convention in Chengdu is an invitation that Chengdu extends to the world to jointly envision the dream of peace development, and cultural exchanges that continue to shine radiantly with the light of science, technology and innovation." said Yao Haijun, the full-time chairman of the 2023 World Science Fiction Convention and the President of Chengdu Science Fiction Association.

"Encountering the Future in Chengdu" Embraces the World with Science Fiction Imagination

Behind the final determination of the slogan, "Encountering the Future in Chengdu", is the expectation and deep participation of countless science fiction fans in the 2023 World Science Fiction Convention.

According to the organizing committee, the convention slogan was previously solicited globally. In just under a month, more than 5,000 submissions from science fiction fans worldwide have been received in the co-creation, and after rounds of selection and refinement, the convention slogan was eventually determined.

In my view, Chengdu is not only an ancient city with a 2300-year history of a civilized society, but also a city full of vitality and opportunities, a city that can make dreams come true. Especially in the field of scientific and technological innovation, there is an active innovative spark, where industrial clusters have formed, and efforts are made to cultivate future industries.

"The slogan 'Encountering the Future in Chengdu' not only expresses the best wishes for the World Science Fiction Convention settling in Chengdu, but also embodies Chengdu's beautiful vision of embracing countless worlds through science fiction imagination and meeting the infinite future", said Yao Haijun.

Matching with the slogan is the emblem of the convention, the 'Star-Grabbing Panda'. According to reports, the core element of the emblem is the giant panda, which symbolizes peace and harmony and is the most representative and popular cultural symbol of Chengdu. Surrounding the panda are blue-green stars and planets, representing technology, sharing and harmony.

The cute and lovable giant panda passes through the star ring, as if passing through a "wormhole" in space-time, embarking on exploration into unknown universes, symbolizing the 81st World Science Fiction Convention's exploration of the boundaries of imagination and innovation, embracing the world, and envisioning the future.

The mascot of the convention, "Kormo" ( Chinese Name “科梦”) offcially unveiled at the press conference. Kormo is a giant panda that embodies both science fiction genes and Chengdu elements.

According to the mascot designer, the prototype of the mascot is an adorable giant panda dressed in cruise equipment, with color tones inspired by the silver-blue of the main venue nebula of the convention. The pattern on its ears comes from the sun bird of the Jinsha Site, and the cruise core controller on its head is a ginkgo leaf. The "Staff of Creation" in its hand is inspired by the golden staff relics of the Sanxingdui Site, and it also has a companion, the "Star Realm Messenger," which is inspired by the bronze bird of the Sanxingdui Site.

"As people can see from Kormo, there is a clever integration of the ancient Shu civilization and modern technology, and a wonderful collision between mechanics and imagination," said the designer. Kormo aims to express the Eastern aesthetics with roots in Chinese culture, which still maintains its unique style in the rapidly developing digital world, exploring incessantly and creating non-stop.

At the press conference, the organizing committee displayed some samples of cultural and creative products featuring the image of Kormo, such as cool figurines and cute backpacks, marking another collision between technology and culture.

It is understood that based on the image of Kormo, the organizing committee will develop more than 200 cultural and creative products in 12 categories, including toys, bags, clothing, stationery, and household items. These products are expected to be officially released and made available to fans in late September.