Otakon is the biggest anime convention on America’s east coast. Held annually at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore’s inner harbor since 1999, the event brings in more than 20,000 attendees each year, and is still growing. (2010’s total was an impressive 29,274 people.) With such a large number of anime fans gathering in one place, Otakon can be a bit overwhelming to first time con-goers. Even veterans of smaller conventions can find themselves lost within the Baltimore Convention Center (BCC). This guide was created with the goal of making everyone’s first time at Otakon a fun and stress-free experience!
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| An overhead view of the Charles Street Lobby, a popular spot for cosplayers |
Anime conventions, also known as ‘cons,’ are a forum for anime fans outside of Japan to meet and share their interest in anime and other aspects of Japanese pop culture. Cons usually span a weekend and involve a number of events, such as panels, workshops, video screenings, concerts, and contests. Attendees come from all over the country and usually stay in nearby hotels. During the weekend of Otakon, the entire inner harbor is overrun by anime fans.
Besides the large number of panels and anime screenings, Otakon is also highlighted by Q&A or autograph sessions with celebrities (such as voice actors and well-known cosplayers) and performances by Japanese bands. Recent past special guests have included the band Home Made Kazoku, the voice actor Johnny Yong Bosch, and the fashion designer h.NAOTO.
Another essential element of a con is the Dealer’s Room, where all sorts of anime and pop culture related merchandise is available for purchase. According to the Otakon staff, the Dealer’s Room at Otakon is “big enough to land a plane in.”As a result, you can spend hours entertaining yourself with browsing and shopping. Even more can be found for sale in the Artist’s Alley, where individual artists, writers, and craftspeople set up booths selling their work and offering commissions.
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| The Dealer's Room at Otakon |
Cosplay, the act of dressing up as a character from an anime series, is also extremely popular, and many con-goers will attend the event in costume. You’ll know you’re getting close to the convention center when you see Goku from ‘Dragon Ball Z’ walking down the street with Haruhi from ‘The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya.’
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| Cosplay of Yomiko Readman from the series "Read or Die" On the 'skywalk' bridge outside the Baltimore Convention Center |