Otakon 2023 Convention Report

Otakon 2023 Convention Report

Going to be a fairly short write-up. The Otakon anime convention was back during the July 28-30, 2023 weekend in its now familiar location in Washington, DC. Despite it feeling as though there were less attendees this year due to less congested hallways, Otakon actually surpassed last year’s record 40K attendance numbers with an estimated 42K this year. This speaks volumes to their improvement in managing the crowd and lines versus the near-catastrophe that was 2022.

Read More

Otakon 2022 Convention Report - Bigger Than Ever!

Otakon 2022 Convention Report - Bigger Than Ever!

The Otakon anime convention returned in 2022 and ended up breaking all of their attendance records by a mile. The 28th Otakon took place from July 29-31, 2022 in Washington, D.C. and unofficial attendance numbers put them over 40,000 attendees for the weekend which is a major leap up from last year’s 25K and well above their previous record of 34K back in 2013 when the convention was still held in Baltimore. Large numbers of people however meant long lines and densely packed crowds wherever you went.

Read More

Conventions Are Back! Otakon 2021 Convention Report

Conventions Are Back! Otakon 2021 Convention Report

It’s been almost 18 long months since the last anime convention, but here we are at last! The COVID-19 global pandemic and subsequent lockdowns made the world grind to a halt last year and caused the cancellation of just about every major event. While the pandemic is unfortunately still ongoing, Otakorp made the decision to go ahead and hold this year’s annual membership gathering (a.k.a. convention) during August 6-8, 2021 and had just 78 days to plan and organize the event. The result was a resounding success.

Read More

Otakon 2019 Convention Report

Otakon 2019 Convention Report

Last weekend from July 26-28, 2019 was Otakon’s third year in the nation’s capital. Since moving to Washington, D.C. from its longtime home of Baltimore, Otakon has been able to better serve its attendees the anime goodness that was sometimes lacking in Baltimore due to its over-crowded nature. Besides some minor hiccups Otakon ran pretty smoothly and was a great time for everyone.

Read More

Otakon 2018 Convention Report

Otakon 2018 Convention Report

The 25th annual Otakon anime convention was held this past weekend from August 10-12 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC.  This is the second year that Otakon has called our nation's capital its home since relocating from its longtime residence in Baltimore.  With a year of experience under its belt, Otakon was able to improve on certain areas to make things run more smoothly while also running into new issues and bumbling mistakes.

Read More

Otakon 2017 Convention Report - The DC Debut

Otakon 2017 Convention Report - The DC Debut

After 18 years, Otakon has finally left Baltimore behind to find a new home in our nation's capital.  With spiraling attendance numbers and increasing discontent about the crowded and antiquated Baltimore Convention Center, Otakon is looking to open a new chapter in its history by moving to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center which they claim boasts five times the square footage.  The DC debut took place this past weekend from Friday, August 11 through Sunday, August 13, 2017.  I'll be completely honest to say that leading up to this event I had a sense of anxiety and doubt about how Otakon will fare in this new location.  But to summarize in case you don't want to read the entirety of this lengthy report to get to my verdict: I was impressed.  Very impressed.

Read More

Otakon 2016 Con Report - Sayonara to Baltimore Edition

Otakon 2016 Con Report - Sayonara to Baltimore Edition

The annual Otakon anime convention may have originated from Pennsylvania, but after calling Baltimore its home for the last 18 years it's hard to imagine it taking place anywhere else.  For better or worse, the sights and sounds of Inner Harbor have become synonymous with the convention and with the overall Otakon experience.  But just like everything in life, all good things must come to an end.  Otakon has long since outgrown the physical capacity of the Baltimore Convention Center and the BCC itself is woefully aged and decrepit.  Thus Otakon will be moving to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in downtown DC until at least 2024.  The city of Baltimore has pledged that they will do whatever they can to bring Otakon back to the city, but we'll have to wait and see if anything comes to fruition in the next eight years.

Read More

Otakon 2015 Convention Report

Otakon 2015 Convention Report

So another Otakon has come and gone.  The annual blockbuster anime convention to grace the shores of Baltimore, MD was held during July 24-26, 2015.  To start off, unofficial numbers report that attendance this year saw a drop to 28,000 attendees which is about 4-5K less than the previous year.  A drop in attendance is really no surprise, however.  Increasing frustration with the crowded convention center, last year's pre-reg line fiasco, a hike in membership fees, and the city-wide unrest that occurred in the spring probably helped to scare some people away.  Despite the setbacks, this year's Otakon was still a fun experience even if it wasn't Otakon's best showing.

Read More