A Collection of Firsts: Wadokai 2025

AICREATIVV
Oct 1
3 min read

When AICREATIVV first designed for the Wadokai Open Championship back in 2023, the vision was prestige. We wanted it to feel like the Olympics — sharp, polished, high-standard. But standing in the crowd that year, something didn’t feel right. Most of the athletes were kids and teens, just starting their journey in karate. The visuals looked impressive, but they felt distant. Too serious. Too far from the energy on the ground.

For 2025, we shifted the strategy completely. Instead of prestige, we leaned into belonging. Inspired by anime, comics, and soundtracks, we asked a simple question: What if every young athlete could feel like the hero of their own story? The answer became clear: mascots kids could see themselves in, Naruto-inspired animations and comic strips, anime soundtracks filling the stadium, and visuals that shouted: “You belong here.”

That shift from prestige to connection became the heartbeat of Wadokai 2025.

First-Time Moments

This year was filled with firsts for the team. For Amal Osmera, it was her first time emceeing, stepping up with her signature “woooo hoooo!!” to announce the winners. When her energy dipped on the final day, Haziyah Azalmey and Ampuan Hafiz jumped in, announcing medalists like pros.

For Sharifah Zaini and Haziyah Azalmey, it was their debut as jelitawans, stepping into the role at the last minute with nothing but poise and red batik on their side. Stephanie Yong, on the other hand, found herself seated with VVIPs — collecting AICREATIVV’s certificate in a shirt that cheekily read “Director in the Making.”

Meanwhile, Faiqah Adawiyah suited up as Tata for the very first time, discovering that being a mascot wasn’t about hiding behind a costume — it was about becoming the character. And for Imamull Qhaeer, handling tech for the first time meant blasting anime soundtracks through the National Indoor Stadium, with the very real fear of pressing the wrong cue during the national anthem.

Behind the Scenes

Like any live event, the most memorable stories often happened off stage. Some of the media team came down with stomachaches, missing a key moment, while backstage energy turned playful as cameras went down and lighthearted karate moves went up.

The Tata mascots sparked chaos and delight, with kids tickling ankles, tugging heads, and running to parents excited to meet the new stars. For Sharifah Zaini, being “appropriately dressed” saved her when she was suddenly asked to be a jelitawan. And Stephanie Yong discovered that being VVIP sometimes meant four hours of quiet endurance, but worth it for the experience.

Designing Belonging

The design team, led by Iman Shamsuddin with Stephanie Yong and intern Audrey (Adreana Shafeqa), faced their own firsts. It was AICREATIVV’s first time creating mascots: Tata Ao and Tata Aka, inspired by the Surili Monkey. It was also the first time designing packaging in the form of blind boxes, complete with dieline templates and Pantone-matched consistency for overseas production.

Dhiyaurrahman Suhaimi pushed Tata further by animating them for the jumbotron, blending anime-inspired fight sequences with new tools, even turning stadium photos into cartoon-style backdrops. The result? A mascot that lived not just in design, but in motion.

Seeing it all come to life from shirts and lanyards to stickers, trophies, and the jumbotron; reminded the team that branding isn’t about the logo. It’s about creating meaning and belonging.

Reflections & Growth

For the media team, it was about learning discipline and speed. Capturing fights with no second takes tested their reflexes, while documenting the crowd’s cheers showed them how powerful sports coverage can be. For others, it was about resilience, Haziyah Azalmey learning to expect the unexpected, Faiqah Adawiyah discovering the hard work behind mascot roles, and Imamull Qhaeer realising the value of guidance when handling tech.

As Amal Osmera reflected: “Branding isn’t just about looks. It’s about how your audience feels. When you design for belonging, everything changes.”

From emcees and mascots to designers and media crew, Wadokai Open Championship 2025 became more than an event. It was a collection of firsts: proof that stepping into the unknown, together, can turn challenges into milestones.