Otakon 2013

It’s been a while, but Otakon is such a big event there is so much to cover!

Otakon is the biggest celebration of Anime and Japanese pop culture on the east coast. Every year thousands flock to Baltimore, Maryland for the three day convention to celebrate a love of Japanese animation, costly, and community.

This year was a big year for Otakon, celebrating its 20th anniversary. The convention pulled out all the stops for its 20th convention. There is always something to do at Otakon. A variety of panel presentations from fan panels about specific series, to Japanese fashion, industry panels, pop music, comedy and role playing to podcast recording. There is also the Artist alley where artist can sell their artwork, prints, clothing, figures, whatever! An art show and auction, a ginormous dealers and industry room where guests can buy all of the anime, manga, and kawaii goods their heart desires.

Another main draw of Otakon is the guests, and being one of the largest anime conventions in the country, Otakon gets some good guests. This year Otakon hosted a variety of guests connected to the industry. Japanese guests included Tomokazu Seki (Escaflowne,  Evangelion,  Cardcaptor Sakura,  Weiss Kreuz). Popular american voice actor Vic Mignogna (most famously voiced Edward Elric in Fullmetal Alchemist) and Crispin Freeman (Ghost in the shell, Wolf’s Rain, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya).

A number of prolific musical guests appeared at Otakon also. The Saturday concert featured Japanese hip hop group Home Made Kazoku and singer T M Revolution. Both guests had performed at Otakon in previous years and were ecstatic to return. The Sunday concert featured Yoko Kanno, an extremely famous composer who has made music for Cowboy bebop and Macross Frontier along with many others.

The festivities started on Thursday with the annual pre registration pick up. Badge pick up and registration lines are notoriously long at a con of Otakon’s size so many people go and pick up their badges on Thursday. There was also a pre-con festival with carnival games, a Yukata (a kind of summer Kimono) contest, live music (of both the traditional Japanese and modern variety). The festivities were spoiled a bit by the rain but the fans soldiered on.

Friday was the official start of the convention. The day kicked off with its usual long line for the dealer’s room and registration and crowded hallways but as the day wore on and things opened up the crowds were less concentrated and it was easier to walk around. There was a great mix of amazing cosplay, but everyone knows that Saturday is the day that the really amazing cosplay turns out for the Masquerade performance in the evening.

Hashtag Studios attended the Saturday concert and let us just say, it was amazing. Both Home Made Kazoku and T M Revolution put on amazing shows. Both HMK and TMR are returning guests, TMR last appearing in 2003 and HMK in 2010. Both were received with welcome arms during their pervious shows and this year both artists were welcomed back with a kind of excitement you can only expect from true fans. HMK opened the show and got the crowd pumped with their fast rhymes and catchy beats. The band was hilarious too. One member knew English very well (he was born in the US) and the other did well two. They made jokes and got the crowd involved. The songs were energetic and upbeat. The group had a touching moment where they thanks the crowd and America in general for the support they gave Japan in 2011 for the Tohoku Earthquake and tsunami that devastated a large portion of Japan. HMK played several songs that got the crowd pumped and then it was time for a short break to prepare for the second musical guest T M Revolution.

The tension and excitement in the air before TMR took the stage was tangible. T M Revolution is a fan favorite among Otakon gores, having sung many theme songs for many different anime series. T M R took the stage with a flurry of excitement. He provided an energetic performance that the crowd ate up. The Fangirl screams were just as loud as you’d expect every time TMR lifted his shirt. TMR tried hard with his English and it was quite good. He was very grateful to the audience and his American fans. He expressed his gratitude through both English and Japanese when he wasn’t able to express himself in English. TMR also mentioned the the Tohoku Earthquake and how he is so appreciative of the americans who donated their money and love and support to Japan.

TMR gave an emotional Finale with the theme song to Ruroni Kenshi, Heart of Sword and The Party Must go on.

Fans were treated to a surprise collaborative performance by both Home Made Kazoku and TMR, a very rare collaborative performance. At the very end TMR didn’t want to leave the stage saying “thank you” to everyone multiple times. It was obvious how much TMR loves coming to Otakon and his American fans.

Some special activities were introduced for Otakon’s 20th anniversary. One of the newer features was a 21+ Lounge on Friday night that had a cash bar and swing music. It was a great event that the “older crowd” at Otakon could enjoy. Time flew by at the Lounge and some “classy anime” music was played for guests to enjoy.

Otakon gives off a great sense of community. Otakon’s slogan is “For Fans by Fans,” and that is apparent at the convention. There is something for every type of fan and there is always something happening. Otakon had a huge variety of programing. There were panels on cosplay, Japanese fashion, specific series, from industry names such as Aniplex and Funimation, There were podcasts, dance work shops, you name it and Otakon had it. This is the great thing about Otakon; no matter what you are interested in there is something there for you. Besides the programing Otakon has a great mix of people. For the most part attendees are normally well behaved and friendly. The costly at the con is for the most part fantastic. There is always a huge mix of great cosplay at Otakon. This year’s most popular cosplay went to Shingeki no Kyojin/ Attack on Titan (Hashtag studios did a review of it here). Every where you went there were brown jackets and maneuver gear.

The Inner Harbor in Baltimore is a great place for the convention, with tons of hotels, restaurants and shops close to the convention center. Otakon brings a lot of business to the City of Baltimore. Attendees love the city of Baltimore for their weekend of nerdy, but Otakon released shortly after the convention that Otakon will be relocating. In 2017, Otakon will be moving to Washington DC for at least 5 years. Otakon’s contract with the City of Baltimore expires in 2016 and the convention will be moving to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in DC. The Baltimore Convention Center will be undergoing renovations soon and Otakon wants a good home for their convention that will meet the needs of their staff and guests. But don’t worry, Baltimore still has three more years of Otakon!

As the largest anime convention on the East Coast (and the second largest in the country) Otakon is a fantastic time. It has variety, good people, and never stops surprising fans. Hashtag Studios hopes to continue to attend Otakon in years to come!