Otakon 2011 Review

(reposted from my Tumblr account)

The last weekend of July 2011 was spent by me at the whatever-teenth annual Otakon. Otakon weekend is perhaps the only weekend on the calendar during which thousands of people actually travel TOWARD Baltimore, Maryland, as opposed to running away from it at full speed, blood gushing from their bullet wounds.

Otakon is synonymous with the first time I ever heard the words “anime” and “convention” used together. Credit for this goes to my friends Bill & Brian who, several years ago, traveled to Baltimore specifically for the convention. Complaints about Baltimore’s lack of parking, restaurants, and navigational ease (all of which I confirmed while there) were interspersed with vivid descriptions of anime infiltration stretching on into infinity. At the time in Philadelphia, at least as far as my experience was concerned, anime was limited to a pathetic shelf or two at the movie/music stores and imported VHS tapes at a novelty shop downtown. Thus, digesting the fact that there was a gathering around the genre, enough to brave the six-hour round trip separating the two cities was difficult.

Then, Brian told me the following story:

“The convention center was also holding some religious conference that weekend. So we’re waiting by the elevator with a bunch of nuns. The elevator doors open and there’s a guy inside cosplaying a demon. He looks right at the nuns and says in a really deep voice ‘going down?’”

I had to go to this event.

It wasn’t until years later that I would begin frequenting anime conventions on an annual basis, despite still classifying myself as “anime lite.” The overall geek culture and sub-emphasis on video games prevalent at many conventions is what attracted me. Ultimately, I even began blogging for the conventions, something that earned me many new friends, friends with whom I felt truly comfortable, close friends. My travels took me to conventions not only in and around Philadelphia, but also to Washington, DC (where I learned that Brian’s above story is an anime con urban legend) and Boston.

So, what did I think of Otakon, the second biggest anime convention in the COUNTRY, a convention to which, as anime anthropologist and good friend Charles Dunbar puts it, “all roads lead?”

Impressive.

But not memorable.

I suppose that size is to blame. In terms of anime convention, Otakon has become a corporation of sorts, with policies and personal politics steering a convention that bills itself “for otaku.” The panel offerings struck me as the least diverse; I am still spoiled by Anime USA 2010, whose panel offerings were not only plentiful but also varied. The fans seemed to be there for no other reason other than to be there, because, dude, this is OTAKON! The sense of community wasn’t wholly lost, but it wasn’t abundant, either; this is in stark contrast to those conventions that draw fewer attendees than Otakon’s final total of 35,000+. It didn’t seem personal.

Maybe it’s just me.

What did impress me was how welcome Baltimore was to the convention. Signs at our hotel and nearby eateries welcomed Otakon. Street vendors were just as plentiful as they are at sporting events, hocking food, drinks and even caps outside of the convention center. I half expected to see Otakon badge scalpers! Certain units in a nearby food court overlooking the city’s famed Inner Harbor offered specials to those in costume and/or possessing Otakon badges. Local TV news crews were on scene and one free weekly newspaper I saw—a publication describing itself as a source for all things “hip”—featured Otakon on the front page.

Perhaps Otakon 2012 will be more “Otakon” and less “OTAKON!!!”

This all being said, I am in no way any sort of expert. I open the comments floor to any and all debate/discussion about your OWN thoughts on a convention whose most popular aspect was a guy selling ice cold water.

For only one dollar.

Zenkaikon V is Here!

In my hotel room five floors above the Valley Forge Convention Center in suburban Philadelphia, I just unpacked the old Blinky hat for Zenkaikon V.

Although this is Inochiblog’s first year at Zenkaikon, it is my third time attending the rather young, yet rapidly expanding, convention. Zenkaikon was the first convention I attended devoted exclusively to anime; prior to that, my convention outings were limited to those celebrating video games or comics/pop culture. Thanks to it, my eyes were opened wide to a genre that had, at best, a few tables scattered around the other conventions. What’s more, its fans tended to be the happiest and most devoted group of people I have ever seen at an event.

This year, I am elated to be on the official staff of Zenkaikon as a blogger. The folks who bring an overabundance of anime to my current home region of suburban Philadelphia each year are exceptionally hardworking and dedicated to the success of their event and to the assurance that it will be enjoyed by all of its attendees and guests. This year, their efforts have resulted in, for the first time in its history, a third day of activities.

If you are anywhere near the Philadelphia area, I highly suggest that you attend Zenkaikon as it celebrates its fifth year. There is plenty of parking to be had within the convention center’s massive lot, and two bus lines link riders to certain suburban destinations as well as downtown Philadelphia itself.

I will see you there!

Check out the convention’s official website at zenkaikon.com.

Kotoricon 2011: Underbelly

Following their Saturday panel at Kotoricon 2011, I talked to a few members of the group “Underbelly.” I learned that the panel was not only their first at a convention, but in the words of one, “we were just kind of winging it.”

I and others who attended the panel would find this very hard to believe.

A steadily-growing crowd was treated to well over an hour of not only Underbelly’s trademark videos, but also a plethora of humor from the panelists/members that never missed a beat. Aimed at guests aged 17 and over, the members of Underbelly supplemented four of their videos (and one blooper reel) with trivia contests, Q&A, and general information about themselves and their work.

Underbelly is based largely out of Burlington and Gloucester Counties in New Jersey and is comprised of Justin Silverman, Newt Wallen, Kevin Bellardine, Frank Patterson, and Shawn Caple (as well as others from video to video, including panelist Katie Yetter). The members write, produce, direct, edit, and of course star in webisodes poking fun at anime (particularly Pokemon), video games, and comic books. You know, the usual stuff. Had they produced, for example, soap operas…well, I’d probably still watch their work, because whatever they would be capable of coming up with would be much better than anything Aaron Spelling could ever offer.

The panel kicked off with a trivia contest in which questions about anime/video game/comic book minutiae (such as: “What does the ‘donkey’ in ‘Donkey Kong’ mean?” (ANSWER: Nothing)) that were awarded with such prizes as:

–A “Mr. Slave” action figure from “South Park”;
–35MM trailers of such classic flicks as “Ernest Goes to Camp” and “National Treasure”;
–An oversized poster/banner of the George Clooney flick “Solaris” (a film which doesn’t make “Batman & Robin” seem like that much of a crime anymore)
–A “Star Wars” action figure…of Mace Windu
–The box that held the prizes (seriously)

The videos screened (and very warmly responded to) included “Friends to the End,” a recut episode of “Pokemon”; “4Kids is 4Idiots,” which details the numerous ways popular video distributor 4Kids ruined quality Japanese anime under the “for the children!” guise; “2 B.A. Master,” wherein a Pokemon fanatic is forced to attend “Pokeholics Anonymous”; and “Anime to Crapime,” detailing the evolution (should you wish to call it that) of Japanese animation from its early history to today. The final video shown was a blooper reel, featuring outtakes that happen to be just as hilarious as the content being produced. Needless to say, the DVD of the show was also given as a prize.

Informative and funny, the panel was a definite hit with its audience. Check out their Facebook page at facebook.com/underbellyshow as well as their Youtube channel at youtube.com/underbellyshow.

Kotoricon 2011: Uncle Yo

A friend (and possibly foe) to geeks and non-geeks alike, comedian Uncle Yo had a Saturday crowd full of otaku and casual fans laughing hysterically until the end of his performance at Kotoricon 2011.

Specializing in humor related to video games, anime, comic books, and the like, Uncle Yo has entertained crowds at conventions all across the country, from (as his biography suggests) Albuquerque to Albany. From stand-up performances to cosplay judging, he has done all there is to do for guests at the biggest and smallest of conventions. Kotoricon 2011 marked his first convention appearance of 2011.

His nearly-hour-long set included jokes related to Broadway’s “Spider-Man: The Musical,” roomba cleaning robots, the summer 2010 story about a bank robber dressed as Darth Vader, and, of course, instant messaging on airplanes. I won’t get into any specifics of his set, as he requested that audience members do not in any way record his performance (nor are they allowed to set him on fire). Besides, mere words cannot do his comedic stylings any justice whatsoever.

For more information on Uncle Yo, including where to buy DVDs and CDs of his unique brand of stand-up comedy, visit his website (which you are also not allowed to set on fire) at uncleyo.com.