Otakon

For the Metal Gear Solid character, see Otacon.
Otakon

The Official Otakon logo.
Status Active
Genre Anime, East Asian popular culture
Venue Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Location(s) Washington D.C.
Country United States
Inaugurated 1994
Attendance 29,113 in 2016[1]
Organized by Otakorp, Inc.
Filing status 501(c)(3)
Website
Otakon.com

Otakon (/ˈoʊtəkɒn/ OH-tə-kon) is an annual three day anime convention held during July/August at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Maryland's Inner Harbor district (between 1999-2016), starting in 2017, Otakon will be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. The convention focuses on East Asian popular culture (primarily anime, manga, music, and cinema) and its fandom. The name is a portmanteau derived from convention and the Japanese word otaku. Otakon is one of the longest-running Anime conventions in the United States and was previously the 2nd largest North American anime convention, until falling to 5th as of 2015.[2][3]

Otakon announced that an additional new convention would be created in Las Vegas, Nevada starting in 2014.[4] It was announced at Otakon 2013's closing ceremonies that the convention will be moving to Washington, D.C. and the Walter E. Washington Convention Center starting in 2017 and continuing until at least 2021.[5] At Otakon 2016, it was revealed that Otakon will be at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center until Otakon 2024.[6]

Programming

Former official Otakon logo, since been replaced.

As one of the longest running and largest conventions of its type, Otakon offers a very broad range of programming, exhibits, and other events. Typical Otakon programming includes:[7]

Multiple video rooms in which anime and live action East Asian films are shown on big screens throughout the convention. Fan-produced content including fan-parodies and anime music videos (AMVs) are also shown. For several years, Otakon had a dedicated 35 mm film theater, but replaced it in 2008 with an HD theater[8] to take advantage of the wider array of offerings in that format. Panels and workshops on subjects such as voice acting, how to draw manga,[9] Japanese culture, and a variety of other topics. Industry professionals announce new acquisitions, and expert guests discuss or show tricks of their trade and field questions from the audience. Many panels and workshops are conducted by fans rather than pros (ex. Create a Comic Project).[9] Cosplay and a skit-based Masquerade show, which in recent years has taken place inside the Royal Farms Arena.[7]

History

Event history

Dates Location Attendance (Unique Memberships) Guests Notes
July 29–31, 1994 Days Inn Penn State, State College, Pennsylvania 350[1] Robert DeJesus, Dave Fleming, Jei Fubler Harvey, Bill Mayo, Neil Nadelman, Steve Pearl, Lorraine Savage, Sue Shambaugh, and Jeff Thompson.[10]
September 1–4, 1995 Penn State Scanticon, State College, Pennsylvania 450[1] Steve Bennett, Robert DeJesus, Matt Greenfield, Teruo Kakuta, Trish Ledoux, Neil Nadelman, Toshio Okada, Steve Pearl, C. Scott Rider, Tomoko Saito, Lorraine Savage, Sue Shambaugh, Toren Smith, John Staton, Jeff Thompson, Adam Warren, and Robert Woodhead.[11] Otakon's first and only four day convention.
August 9–11, 1996 Marriott's Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, Maryland 1,000[1] Steve Bennett, Robert DeJesus, Masaomi Kanzaki, Matt Lunsford, Neil Nadelman, Steve Pearl, Sue Shambaugh, Jeff Thompson, and Adam Warren.[12]
August 8–10, 1997 Marriott's Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, Maryland 1,750[1] Ippongi Bang, Kuni Kimura, Matt Lunsford, and Jan Scott-Frazier.[13]
August 7–9, 1998 Hyatt Regency-Crystal City, Arlington, Virginia 2,500[1] Hiroshi Aro, Tiffany Grant, Shoji Kawamori, Kuni Kimura, Tristan MacAvery, Lisa Ortiz, and Jan Scott-Frazier.[14]
July 2–4, 1999 Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland 4,500[1] Chris Beveridge, Tiffany Grant, Amy Howard-Wilson, Mari Iijima, Yoko Kanno, Kuni Kimura, Hiroyuki Kitakubo, Shin Kurokawa, Rachael Lillis, Kazuto Nakazawa, Fred Schodt, Jan Scott-Frazier, and Shinichiro Watanabe.[15]
August 4–6, 2000 Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland 7,500[1] Yoshitoshi ABe, Bôa, Steve Bennett, Chris Beveridge, Mandy Bonhomme, Robert Fenelon, Michael Granberry, Shinya Hasegawa, Scott Houle, Amy Howard-Wilson, Kunihiko Ikuhara, Mitsuhisa Ishikawa, Ian Kim, Neil Nadelman, Steve Pearl, Gilles Poitras, Hiroaki Sakurai, Jan Scott-Frazier, John Staton, Jeff Thompson, Yasuyuki Ueda, Adam Warren, Pamela Weidner, and Simon Yam.[16]
August 10–12, 2001 Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland 10,275[1] Steve Bennett, Rodney "Largo" Caston, Jo Chen, Colleen Doran, Fred Gallagher, Tiffany Grant, Scott Houle, Toshihiro Kawamoto, Ian Kim, Shin Kurokawa, Masao Maruyama, Hikaru Midorikawa, Fred Perry, Gilles Poitras, Jan Scott-Frazier, Kazuya Tsurumaki, Adam Warren, and Pamela Weidner.[17]
July 26–28, 2002 Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland 12,880[1] Steve Bennett, Chris Beveridge, Rodney "Largo" Caston, Fred Gallagher, Yoko Ishida, Wendee Lee, Masao Maruyama, Yutaka Minowa, Kiroyuki Morioka, Neil Nadelman, Yasuhiro Nightow, Fred Perry, Gilles Poitras, Tatsuo Sato, Jan Scott-Frazier, and Lianne Sentar.[18]
August 8–10, 2003 Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland 17,338[1] Steve Bennett, Mandy Bonhomme, Johnny Yong Bosch, Justin Cook, Julie Davis, Robert DeJesus, Brian Drummond, Fred Gallagher, Scott Houle, Yoshiaki Iwasaki, Toshihiro Kawamoto, Itsuro Kawasaki, Tsukasa Kotobuki, Pontus Madsen, Masao Maruyama, Rica Matsumoto, Dr. Susan Napier, Satoshi Nishimura, Kristine Sa, Fred Schodt, Jan Scott-Frazier, T.M.Revolution, and Pamela Weidner.[19] Otakon's 10th Anniversary Year
July 30 – August 1, 2004 Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland 20,899[1] angela, Matt Boyd, Siu-Tung "Tony" Ching, Luci Christian, Koge Donbo*, Richard Epcar, Christian Fundin, Mohammad "Hawk" Haque, Chuck Huber, L'Arc-en-Ciel, Pontus Madsen, Ian McConville, Yutaka Minowa, Ichiro Okouch, Ananth Panagariya, Chris Patton, Monica Rial, Chris Sabat, Tatsuo Sato, Yuzo Sato, Lianne Sentar, and Matt Thorn.[20]
August 19–21, 2005 Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland 22,000[1] Greg Ayres, Katie Bair, Matt Boyd, Brian Carroll, Luci Christian, Justin Cook, Richard Ian Cox, Huw "Lem" Davies, Ben Dunn, Christian Fundin, Fred Gallagher, Michael "Piano Squall" Gluck, Mohammad "Hawk" Haque, the Indigo, Yoshinori Kanemori, Kumiko Kato, Toshihiro Kawamoto, Dave Lister, Pontus Madsen, Masao Maruyama, Ian McConville, Mike McFarland, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Scott McNeil, Vic Mignogna, Mitsukazu Mihara, Seiji Mizushima, Ananth Panagariya, Fred Perry, Puffy AmiYumi, Scott Ramsoomair, Xero Reynolds, Monica Rial, Michelle Ruff, Michael "Mookie" Terracciano, and Toshifumi Yoshida.[21][22] Attendance was capped at 22,000, attendance cap reached on Saturday, August 20.[1]
August 4–6, 2006 Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland 22,302[1] Christine Auten, Troy Baker, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Christian Fundin, Lisa Furukawa, Fred Gallagher, Caitlin Glass, Yoshiki Hayashi, Kate Higgins, Kouta Hirano, Hirotsugu Kawasaki, Ayako Kawasumi, Nana Kitade, Yuri Lowenthal, Pontus Madsen, Masao Maruyama, Mike McFarland, Mucc, Kazuto Nakazawa, Monica Rial, Antimere Robinson, Patrick Seitz, Makoto Tateno, and Nobuteru Yuuki.[23] Attendance was capped at 25,000, attendance cap was not reached.[1]
July 20–22, 2007 Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland 22,852[1] AAA, Morio Asaka, Steve Blum, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Aaron Dismuke, Eminence, Christian Fundin, Fred Gallagher, Caitlin Glass, Ryuhei Kitamura, Kenji Kodama, Pontus Madsen, Vic Mignogna, Maki Murakami, Mamiko Noto, Hitoshi Sakimoto, Tomokazu Seki, Stephanie Sheh, Mike Sinterniklaas, Michihiko Suwa, and Steve Yun.[24]
August 8–10, 2008 Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland 26,262[1] Laura Bailey, Peter S. Beagle, DaizyStripper, Richard Epcar, Peter Fernandez, Taliesin Jaffe, JAM Project, Willow Johnson, Kyoko Kano, Mika Kano, Mela Lee, Yuri Lowenthal, MarBell, Masao Maruyama, Hiromi Matsushita, Tony Oliver, Tara Platt, Derek Stephen Prince, Mike Sinterniklaas, Ellyn Stern, Kazuko Tadano, the Underneath, and Kappei Yamaguchi.[25]
July 17–19, 2009 Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland 26,586[1] Becca, Crispin Freeman, Kikuko Inoue, Noboru Ishiguro, Yukio Kikukawa, Masao Maruyama, Hidenori Matsubara, Mike McFarland, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, MELL, Misako Rocks!, Tony Oliver, Fred Schodt, Naomi Tamura, VAMPS, Kanon Wakeshima, Travis Willingham, and Yutaka Yamamoto.[26]
July 30-August 1, 2010 Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland 29,274[1] Peter S. Beagle, Chris Bevins, Maile Flanagan, Scott Freeman, Todd Haberkorn, Clarine Harp, Yoshiki Hayashi, Naoto Hirooka, Home Made Kazoku, Amy Howard-Wilson, Masashi Ishihama, Jerry Jewell, Kanon, Hiroki Kikuta, Hiroshi Koujina, Masao Maruyama, Koji Masunari, Vic Mignogna, Yuji Mitsuya, Tomonori Ochikoshi, Takamasa Sakurai, Patrick Seitz, Stephanie Sheh, Shihori, Mike Sinterniklaas, Felipe Smith, Sugizo, J. Michael Tatum, The Yoshida Brothers, and Hiroaki Yura.[27]
July 29–31, 2011 Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland 29,337[1] Peter S. Beagle, Johnny Yong Bosch, Chemistry, Eyeshine, Scott Freeman, Toshihiro Fukuoka, Orine Fukushima, Noboru Ishiguro, Atsuhiro Iwakami, Masumi Kano, Roland Kelts, Kylee, Cassandra Lee, Shelby Lindley, Masao Maruyama, Mitsuba, Kazuya Murata, Momoka Ohara, Tony Oliver, Lisa Ortiz, Masayuki Ozaki, Scott Sager, Takamasa Sakurai, DJ Saolilith, Akira Sasanuma, Patrick Seitz, Stephanie Sheh, Chiaki Shimogama, Makoto Shinkai, Bob Shirohata, Sixh., Synergy, J. Michael Tatum, Nobuo Uematsu, Cristina Vee, Tom Wayland, Mari Yoshida, and Hiroaki Yura.[28]
July 27–29, 2012 Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland 30,785[1] Peter S. Beagle, Christine Marie Cabanos, Jason David Frank, Gashicon, Aya Hirano, Mikako Joho, Tetsuya Kakihara, Lauren Landa, Masao Maruyama, Yuuka Nanri, Trina Nishimura, Ai Nonaka, Brina Palencia, Shin Sasaki, Michael Sinterniklaas, J. Michael Tatum, Hidetaka Tenjin, Gen Urobuchi, VIXX, and Sarah Williams.[29]
August 9–11, 2013 Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland 34,211[1] Shingo Adachi, Peter S. Beagle, Maile Flanagan, Crispin Freeman, Tsukasa Fushimi, Todd Haberkorn, Kyle Hebert, Home Made Kazoku, Chiaki Ishikawa, Hiroyuki Kanbe, Yoko Kanno, Tetsuya Kawakami, Roland Kelts, Kaoru Kurosaki, Masao Maruyama, Mike McFarland, Vic Mignogna, Kazuma Miki, Masayuki Ozaki, Takamasa Sakurai, Jād B. Saxton, Tomokazu Seki, Micah Solusod, Michihiko Suwa, T.M.Revolution, Yuzuru Tachikawa, Cristina Vee and, Shinichiro Watanabe.[30] Otakon's 20th Anniversary Year[31]
August 8–10, 2014 Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland 33,929[1] Altima, Linda Ballantyne, Dante Basco, Peter S. Beagle, Christine Marie Cabanos, Robbie Daymond, Kelly Gneiting, Katie Griffin, Saori Hayami, Jiro Ishii, Shinichiro Kashiwada, Sunao Katabuchi, Carrie Keranen, Yusuke Kozaki, Wendee Lee, Masao Maruyama, Hidenori Matsubara, Erica Mendez, Tony Oliver, Stephanie Sheh, John Stocker, Ray Villard, David Vincent, Yama, Yoshiki, and Hiroaki Yura.[32] Attendance was capped at 35,000, attendance cap was not reached.[33] First time in Otakon's history that an attendnace decline occurred.
July 24–26, 2015 Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland 26,877[1] Ei Aoki, Laura Bailey, Sandy Fox, Yuichiro Hayashi, Yasuaki Iwase, Seiji Kishi, Toru Kubo, Shizuka Kurosaki, Lauren Landa, Lex Lang, Masao Maruyama, Toshiyuki Nagano, Bryce Papenbrook, Romi Park, Chris Sabat, Takamasa Sakurai, Sean Schemmel, Shinji Takamatsu, Kaiji Tang, J. Michael Tatum, Toshiyuki Toyonaga, Travis Willingham, Shuko Yokoyama,[34] Draft King, and OreSkaBand.[35][36] Attendance was capped at 35,000, attendance cap was not reached. Second consecutive attendance decline recorded.
August 12–14, 2016 Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland 29,113[1] Zach Aguilar, Kazuki Akane, Ilya Alekseyev, All Off, Ray Chase, Robbie Daymond, Aaron Dismuke, Shiro Dogu, Kasumi Fukagawa, Caitlin Glass, Kazuki Higashiji, Kenji Horikawa, Kuniko Kanawa, Yoshitaka Kawaguchi, Nobuhiro Kikuchi, Erik Scott Kimerer, Lauren Landa, Michael Liscio Jr., Yui Makino, Michi, Jason Charles Miller, Max Mittelman, Koji Morimoto, Sarah Natochenny, Muneki Ogasawara, Lisa Ortiz, Haven Paschall, Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld, Stephanie Sheh, Mike Sinterniklaas, Matt Stagmer, Sonny Strait, LeSean Thomas, Alexis Tipton, Shunsuke Wada, Kazutomi Yamamoto, and Yoshiki.[37] Last year Otakon is held in Baltimore. In 2017, Otakon will be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. Attendance increased by 9.3% after two consecutive years of an attendance decrease (2015 and 2014).
August 11–13, 2017[38] Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington D.C.[39] Vic Mignogna[40] First year Otakon will be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington D.C. The special room blocks for Otakon 2017 hotels will open on August 25, 2016 at Noon (Eastern Time).[41]

1995 Four-day convention

While the idea of a four-day convention has some support among the general membership (especially among younger members), the idea has been summarily dismissed as unworkable by Otakon staff. It was attempted in 1995, over a holiday weekend, back when Otakon fit comfortably in a small hotel, and even then it was an exhausting prospect that didn't pay off. In those days, the entire convention could be set up in a matter of hours, while it currently takes two full days to prepare the site. At its current size and functional requirements, Otakon would face a significant additional expense in running an extra day, and both industry and dealers have said that it would not be worth their time and money to attend a fourth day. Finally, it is clear that few staffers would be able to afford the extra day (most staffers already use as much as a week of vacation time to help run the con). With almost zero support from staff, industry, or dealers, there is virtually no chance that Otakon will ever attempt a four-day convention again.[42]

Otakon 2010 fire alarm incident

During Otakon 2010, at approximately 2:00 PM on Saturday, the entire Baltimore Convention Center had to be evacuated due to a fire alarm,[43] although there was no fire. Hours of certain events and rooms were adjusted accordingly to accommodate for lost time.

This was only the second safety incident of this sort to take place during Otakon. Nine years earlier, in 2001, the convention center was evacuated due to after-effects of the Howard Street Tunnel fire. Residual tripropylene from an earlier train accident reacted with electrical sparks, and the resulting explosions launched manhole covers 4 feet into the air on Saturday, August 11, 2001 25 days after the Howard Street Tunnel fire,[44] very early in the morning of Sunday, August 12, 2001 city workers opened 48 fire hydrants in downtown Baltimore for approximately 1 hour to 90 minutes in an attempt to flush out and recover the remaining traces of tripropylene,[45] as a result, the Baltimore Convention Center was evacuated during this recovery effort causing thousands of attendees to leave the convention center to encounter inches of water rushing down Pratt Street. This incident was spoofed in Otakon's 2008 Opening Animation: in the video, one of the convention's mascots causes a barrage of manhole covers to strike a giant robot menacing the convention center.

Otakon Vegas

Main article: Otakon Vegas
The official Otakon Vegas Logo.

Otakon has announced that in 2014 a new convention would be held at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada where they hope to create a smaller convention and test new ideas.[4]

Facilities

Otakon has been located in the Baltimore Convention Center at least in part for every year beginning in 1999, though it soon expanded to require the entire convention center and more recently, other buildings as well. Events such as the masquerade now place in the Royal Farms Arena, located one block away, and at least some programming takes place in the Hilton Baltimore Convention Center Hotel,[8] connected to the Convention Center by its skybridge,[46] since 2009 (see the section below titled "Hilton Baltimore Convention Center Hotel and Otakon" for more details).[7]

Since 2014, Otakon began to utilize meeting space within the nearby Hyatt Regency Baltimore hotel (see the section below titled "Hyatt Regency Baltimore and Otakon" for more details) which is connected to the Convention Center via a skywalk that also connects the Convention Center with the Sheraton Inner Harbor hotel, McKeldin Square (which contains a fountain that is linked with the skywalk where Otakon attendees hold photoshoots at) and the Harborplace Light Street Pavilion.

Otakon 2016 will be the final year for the Baltimore facilities as Otakon 2017 will be held in Washington, D.C. at the much larger Walter E. Washington Convention Center allowing Otakon to return to having every event under one roof in a single venue which was the idea of moving to Baltimore in 1999.[47]

Royal Farms Arena

As Otakon has outgrown the convention center alone, it has increasingly made use of the Royal Farms Arena for large events, most notably for the Masquerade.[7]

Hilton Baltimore Convention Center Hotel and Otakon

The Hilton Baltimore Convention Center Hotel opened on Friday, August 22, 2008.[48][49][50] In 2009, Otakon had been promised a minimum of 30,000 square feet (2,800 m2) out of a total 45,000 square feet (4,200 m2) by the Hilton Baltimore.[51][52][53] and had confirmed that they would use the Hilton for the convention itself; however only a limited number of events and panels took place at the Hilton with the major of events taking place in the more-spacious Baltimore Convention Center.[54]

On February 7, 2009, Otakon posted information on its panels for Otakon 2009, confirming that panel space will be in the Baltimore Convention Center and will be expanded into the Hilton Baltimore.[55] Otakon 2009 utilized in the Hilton, the Poe meeting room for its Manga Library and the Key Ballroom for two additional panel rooms and one additional autographs room.

Otakon 2010 further expanded into the Hilton, using not only the space used in 2009 but also what essentially amounted to all of the convention space on the second floor of the Hilton.[56][57]

Otakon 2011 further expanded into the Hilton, using the entire space on the second floor, and one room on the first floor of the Hilton for the first time.

Otakon 2012 continued the trend of utilizing the convention space at the Hilton Baltimore, using the entire space on the second floor and two rooms on the first floor. Otakon 2012 utilized on the 1st floor Peale for Jamspace and Johnson for the Maid Cafe[58] and utilized on the 2nd floor, Poe for the Manga Library, the entire Holiday Ballroom for a video room, Calloway for a panel room, and the entire Key Ballroom that was divided into three separate rooms, Key 1-6 combined was used as a panel room, Key 8, 11, and 12 combined into a single room also was used as a panel room and Key 7, 9, 10 combined was also used as a panel room.[59]

Otakon 2013 continued the trend of utilizing the convention space at the Hilton Baltimore, using the entire space on the second floor and only one room on the first floor (Peale for the Maid Cafe[60]). The 2nd floor layout changed between 2012 and 2013 with the Holiday Ballroom being split into two separate rooms, Holiday 4-6 was used for panels, Holiday 1-3 used for videos, Poe was used for the Manga Library, Calloway was used for the OtaMuseum, and Key 1-6 was used as a panel room, Key 8, 11 and 12 was used as a video room and Key 7, 9, 10 was used as a panel room.[61]

Otakon 2014 and 2015 continued the trend of utilizing the convention space at the Hilton Baltimore, again using the entire space on the second floor and using three rooms on the first floor (Peale for Live Programming and Johnson for Maid Cafe in 2014[62] and 2015 and Ruth for Hiro's Dance Academy in 2015[63]). The 2nd floor layout remained the same between 2013 and 2015.[64][65]

There is a third level of meeting/convention space at the Hilton Baltimore[66] but it has never been utilized for public programming by Otakon between 2009 to 2015.

Hyatt Regency Baltimore and Otakon

Otakon 2014 utilized for the first time ever, convention space at the Hyatt Regency Baltimore[67] for a new event called Hiro's Lounge held in the 2nd floor Constellation Ballroom.[68] The Hyatt Regency Baltimore hotel is connected to the Baltimore Convention Center via a skywalk system that connects the Convention Center with the Sheraton Inner Harbor hotel, McKeldin Square (which contains a fountain that is linked to the skywalk where Otakon attendees hold photoshoots at) and the Harborplace Light Street Pavilion.

Otakon 2015 continued the trend of utilizing the convention space at the Hyatt Regency Baltimore by using 2nd floor meeting rooms Maryland Suites and the Constellation Ballroom.[69] The Constellation Ballroom again was used for Hiro's Lounge (renamed to Hiro's 21) and the Maryland Suites was used for autographs.

Walter E. Washington Convention Center and Washington D.C.

At Otakon 2013's closing ceremonies, the convention staff officially announced that Otakon will be held in Washington D.C. at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, citing overcrowding of the BCC. This new venue will be used starting with Otakon 2017 and will last until at least through Otakon 2021. At Otakon 2016, convention staff officially announced that Otakon will remain in Washington D.C. at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center until Otakon 2024.[6]

Otakorp

Otakon is run by the Pennsylvania-based non-profit organization Otakorp, Inc.[70] whose primary purpose "is to promote the appreciation of Asian culture, primarily through its media and entertainment.[71]"

Otakon is the annual meeting of Otakorp, Inc. Otakon attendees do not purchase "tickets" to Otakon; they actually become a member of the non-profit organization that runs Otakon with their paid attendance to the convention. Everyone who pays the annual membership fee to attend Otakon is also a supporting member for Otakorp and is able to participate in sanctioned events, contests, or giveaways that might occur during the year.

All staff are unpaid volunteers (certain staff who meets certain defined requirements are allowed to vote on issues affecting Otakorp and Otakon,[71] for example, in 2013, the voting membership (voting staff) of Otakorp, Inc. voted on the issue of whether to remain in Baltimore after Otakon 2016 or to move to Washington D.C.[47]), although registration tasks are supplemented by temporary workers provided by Visit Baltimore, and certain services such as legal and accounting work are by contract. Otakon also enlists the help of non-staff assistants, who are referred to as gofers. Otakon 2006 listed over 500 staff on its roster, though not all work the convention directly, though in a similar count, at the time immediately following Otakon 2013, Otakorp listed 861 staff on its online roster.[72]

Otakorp, Inc. also sponsors film screenings as part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC, and assists with programming at other film festivals.

Otakorp, Inc. also operates Otakon Vegas, a spin-off convention of Otakon held in Las Vegas, Nevada and the Otakon Matsuri (a free one-day festival held on the Thursday prior to Otakon itself[73]).

Economic impact on Baltimore

As of July 30, 2010, Otakon has had a great economic impact with its host, the City of Baltimore. Otakon has had the highest economic impact in Baltimore for 2009, 2008 and 2007 and has been a top convention for Baltimore since 2003.[74] Otakon 2009 had an economic impact of $12.5 million in direct spending and booked over 4,500 hotel rooms. Otakon 2010 had a great impact in terms of food vendors.[75] According to the Baltimore Business Journal on December 10, 2010, Otakon 2010 had 4,575 booked hotel rooms and an estimated economic impact of $15.3 million, up from $12.5 million the year before.[76]

Visit Baltimore in their published Annual Reports has listed Otakon multiple times, starting with Otakon 2009 listed as simply "Otakorp (Otakon)" with a reported room nights total of 4,475 and an estimated economic impact of $15,263,859,[77] Otakon 2011 listed as simply "Otakorp, Inc." where Visit Baltimore reported the attendance for Otakon 2011 was 31,000 people, way above the officially reported attendance count of 29,337 people, reported room nights total of 5,740 and a reported estimated economic impact of $11,300,000[78] a significant decline between 2009 and 2011 (2010's information wasn't reported in the FY 2011 annual report[79]), Otakon 2012 listed simply as "Otakorp, Inc." where Visit Baltimore reported the attendance for Otakon 2012 as 27,000 people, way below the officially reported attendance count of 30,785, reported room nights total of 5,740 and a reported estimated economic impact of $10,634,730[80] a decline of $665,270, Otakon 2013 listed simply as "Otakorp, Inc. (Otakon)" where Visit Baltimore reported a start date for Otakon 2013 as Monday, August 5, 2013 instead of the correct start of Friday, August 9, 2013, reported attendance as 25,000, way below the officially reported attendance count of 34,211, reported room nights total of 5,450 and a reported estimated economic impact of $5,099,611 (A picture of Otakon was also featured in the FY2014 annual report in which Otakon 2013 was listed),[81] a significant decline of $5,535,119, Otakon 2014 listed as "Otakorp, Inc. (Otakon 2014) with the correct start date of Friday, August 8, 2014 reported attendance for Otakon 2014 was 33,852 which was much closer to the officially reported attendance count of 33,929, reported room nights total of 9,255 and a reported estimated economic impact of $10,252,139,[82] a significant increase of $5,152,528, and as of November 18, 2016, the latest listing is for Otakon 2015 listed simply as "Otakorp, Inc. (Otakon)" where Visit Baltimore reported a start date of Otakon 2015 as Friday, July 17, 2015 a full week prior to the correct start date of Friday, July 24, 2015, reported attendance for Otakon 2015 was 26,877 which correctly matches the officially reported attendance count, and an estimated economic impact of $10,993,850,[83] a slight increase of $741,711. Seeing how the actual year is one year behind the fiscal year that Visit Baltimore uses for their convention reporting, and that Otakon has been listed annually since their FY2012 annual report, it likely means that the Visit Baltimore FY2017 report that will be released sometime in 2017 will list the information for the final Otakon (Otakon 2016) held in Baltimore for the foreseeable future.

Otakon Awards and Recognition

Otakon 2011 Visit Baltimore "Customer of the Year" Award

In 2011, Visit Baltimore (Baltimore City's tourism agency) awarded Otakon with a "Customer of the Year" award for "hosting their annual tradeshow and convention in Baltimore since 1999. They have demonstrated ongoing commitment to Baltimore, bringing more than 27,000 attendees to the city every year, a much-anticipated event by the local community and media" and that Otakon "have also selected Baltimore as the host destination through 2016.[84]"

Crisis Heart Brawlers

At Otakon 2012 Otakon officially announced a partnership with indie game development studio, Studio Nasu, to develop an official video game, Crisis Heart Brawlers: Clash at Otakon! to be released to celebrate the 20th anniversary at Otakon 2013. The game was successfully funded on Saturday, September 22, 2012 with 531 backers and a total amount of $33,642.[85] In March 2013, the game had missed its deadline of release and in August 2013 failed to fulfill a promised Thursday release party before Otakon 2013 with the developer gone silent about the status of the game.

On July 30, 2014, Otakorp, Inc. terminated the business relationship with Studio Nasu and revoked all intellectual property rights.[86] At the convention feedback panel of Otakon 2014, the president of Otakorp, Jennifer Piro said that there cannot be any more comments on the subject as it has become a pending legal matter.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 "Otakon History: Stats Page". Otakon. Retrieved 2014-01-20.
  2. ↑ Delahanty, Patrick (2015-01-05). "Ten Largest North American Anime Conventions of 2014". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2015-01-11.
  3. ↑ Delahanty, Patrick (January 4, 2016). "Ten Largest North American Anime Conventions of 2015". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  4. 1 2 "Otakon Spin-Off Convention in Vegas Planned for January". Anime News Network. 2013-02-21. Retrieved 2013-02-21.
  5. ↑ "Otakon to Move to Washington D.C. in 2017". Anime News Network. 2013-08-11. Retrieved 2013-08-11.
  6. 1 2 Wood, Carrie. "Otakon 2016 Reflections and Report". Retrieved November 23, 2016.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Events: Schedule". Otakon.com. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
  8. 1 2 http://otakon.com/pdf/bcc_map.pdf Retrieved 2010-08-09.
  9. 1 2 "Anime Convention ::: Advanced Media Network - Comprehensive Convention Coverage". Anime.advancedmn.com. 2009-07-21. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
  10. ↑ "Otakon 1994 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2015-08-01.
  11. ↑ "Otakon 1995 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2013-07-24.
  12. ↑ "Otakon 1996 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
  13. ↑ "Otakon 1997 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2013-07-24.
  14. ↑ "Otakon 1998 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
  15. ↑ "Otakon 1999 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2013-07-24.
  16. ↑ "Otakon 2000 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2015-08-01.
  17. ↑ "Otakon 2001 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2013-07-26.
  18. ↑ "Otakon 2002 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2013-07-26.
  19. ↑ "Otakon 2003 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
  20. ↑ "Otakon 2004 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
  21. ↑ Shapiro, Stephanie (August 22, 2005). "Power Puffy Girls". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2007-07-17.
  22. ↑ "Otakon 2005 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2013-07-28.
  23. ↑ "Otakon 2006 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2013-07-28.
  24. ↑ "Otakon 2007 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
  25. ↑ "Otakon 2008 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
  26. ↑ "Otakon 2009 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2013-07-28.
  27. ↑ "Otakon 2010 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2013-07-28.
  28. ↑ "Otakon 2011 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2013-07-28.
  29. ↑ "Otakon 2012 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2013-08-02.
  30. ↑ "Otakon 2013 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2013-08-12.
  31. ↑ "Otakon". JNTO. Retrieved 2013-06-19.
  32. ↑ "Otakon 2014 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2013-08-12.
  33. ↑ "Otakon's Online-Registration Opens at 12:01AM, March 8th!". www.otakon.com. March 7, 2014. Retrieved January 11, 2015.
  34. ↑ "Otakon 2015 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2015-08-01.
  35. ↑ "Draft King to Play Friday Concert at Otakon 2015". Anime News Network. May 28, 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  36. ↑ "Oreskaband to Perform at Otakon". Anime News Network. June 5, 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
  37. ↑ "Otakon 2016 Information". AnimeCons.com. Retrieved 2016-10-15.
  38. ↑ Inc., Otakorp,. "Otakon: Location". dc.otakon.com. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  39. ↑ Inc., Otakorp,. "Otakon: Location". dc.otakon.com. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
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  41. ↑ Inc., Otakorp,. "Otakon: Hotel Room Block opens August 25th! - News & Annoucements". dc.otakon.com. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  42. ↑ "Otakon FAQ - General info: Why don't you run a four-day convention?". Otakon.com. Retrieved 2007-11-02.
  43. ↑ "Otakon's Convention Center Evacuated Due to Fire Alarm (Update 5) - News". Anime News Network. 2012-07-22. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
  44. ↑ "EFFECTS OF CATASTROPHIC EVENTS ON TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS HOWARD STREET TUNNEL FIRE BALTIMORE CITY, MARYLAND JULY 18, 2001" (PDF). ntl.bts.gov. U.S. Department of Transportation ITS Joint Program Office. July 2002. p. 35. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  45. ↑ Vozzella, Laura (August 13, 2001). "Sewers, Howard tunnel connect CSX reveals link, but manhole blasts still called a mystery". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  46. ↑ "Baltimore Hotels | Hilton Baltimore | Baltimore, MD". .hilton.com. 2011-12-27. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
  47. 1 2 "Otakon to Move to Washington D.C. in 2017". Retrieved 2015-08-12.
  48. ↑ "New downtown Hilton opens its doors to guests". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
  49. ↑ "Hotel meets convention". Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on January 5, 2016. Retrieved 2016-01-04.
  50. ↑ Dash, Julekha (2008-08-22). "Baltimore's $300 million convention hotel opens to the public". Baltimore Business Journal. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
  51. ↑ "Fans Flock to Baltimore's Otakon". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on August 14, 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
  52. ↑ "Lodging Reservations Otakon 2009 Baltimore, Maryland July 17–19, 2009". BACVA. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
  53. ↑ "reserving hotel room blocks". Otakon BBS. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
  54. ↑ "New Convention Center space". Otakon BBS. Retrieved 2008-08-23.
  55. ↑ "Otakon 2009 Panels Page". Otakon. Retrieved 2009-02-15.
  56. ↑ 2010 Otakon Map Retrieved 2010-08-21.
  57. ↑ "Hilton Baltimare Floor Plan" (PDF). www.ashg.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 11, 2015. Retrieved 2016-01-04.
  58. ↑ "Otakon 2012 on Guidebook". guidebook.com. Retrieved 2015-08-12.
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  60. ↑ "Otakon 2013 on Guidebook". guidebook.com. Retrieved 2015-08-12.
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  70. ↑ Register of Corporations, Pennsylvania Dept of State. "Business Entity: OTAKORP, Inc.". Retrieved 2007-10-24.
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  85. ↑ https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2080650728/the-official-otakon-super-beat-em-up-video-game
  86. ↑ http://www.otakon.com/news_article.asp?id=913
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