mellow-osity

Does Otakon ever publish a link to watch all the winners?

Yikes. I have run into disputes on a final bill before that I usually hash out at the front desk, but I don't think I've ever been billed an extra night. Did this show up on the statement they gave you at the hotel? Or just what was taken from your bank account?

I do wish Otakon would promote the forum. There's an active Discord group, but I miss the long form discussion and organization of a forum/bbs.

Show off the cool stuff you picked up at this Otakon! I need to snap a few picks of the things I bought, but I'm interested in what everyone was able to find. +++ Obligatory request to please not post GIGANTIC photos +++

Yes! This guy dressed as Shin from Dorohedoro. It's been a long time since I've seen a cosplay that made me stop and blurt out "OMG CAN I TAKE YOUR PHOTO!!?" I never see any cosplayers from this series. It was a great start to Friday morning. I spent almost the entirety of my first panel editing the photo on my phone as you can see by the two edits below.

So, I'm seeing alot about the food policy, but did anyone personally have food taken off of them? I walked in every day with a Starbucks coffee, a few granola bars, one day with a wrapped up subway sandwich with chips, and a couple tangerines. From this explanation, I figured that's why they were so lax about it:

I always try to go to as many panels as possible. Also, warning , as a graphic designer I am very critical of the organization and look of presentations. Here's what I managed to go to this year: ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ FRIDAY ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Parade of 100 Demons: Yokai Festivals I think I showed up about 10 minutes late to this one (9am panels ftw), but it was super good. Panelists had a great presentation, did their research and had some laughs along the way. Loved there were actual video clips of the festivals. Abrakadabra! Magic Systems in Anime This was alright - a little dry, but well explained. There were a few slides that had too much information on them. Don't make your audience sit in front of a wall of text. Break it up - include more images or video of some of the magical systems being explained. Dark Horse Manga Always a great panel, I attend this one almost every year. Dark Horse publishes some amazing stuff, and I look forward to the overview of what they've published in the past, what they have currently, and their new stuff in the works. Presenter was great, super knowledgeable and interesting. J-Fashion for Guys I was pretty intrigued by this since it's a topic I don't know much about. I feel bad because the presenter came in late because he got lost, so he was a bit flustered starting the panel, and I think it through off his pacing. I left about halfway through and ran over to catch the latter half of: Product Placement in Anime This was great and super entertaining. Another great panel by the Nerdy Couple. Wish I had caught the whole panel. Yurei, Yokai, & School Girls Another one I wasn't able to catch the beginning of, but wish I had! Was really interesting and covered alot of different examples. Evangelion: Enter the Multiverse! The presenter mentioned being a bit nervous, but did a great job - definitely very passionate about Eva. My Evangelion interest is a bit high right now, after watching the Netflix release, so it was great to see examples of other Eva stories and how different/weird they are. Loved the video game examples - didn't know that ANY of those existed. LGBT in AMV Came in late to this one and watched some great AMVs. Awesomely BAD Japanese Music Videos This was my first time going to this. Great weird/awful/hilarious videos. I was kind of missing any commentary by the presenters to setup or talk about any of the videos, but if the plan is to show as many vids as possible, I can see why they didn't talk. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SATURDAY ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The Women Who Write Shounen and Seinen Manga Love manga and love ladies who make Shounen and Seinen, so this was right up my alley. I missed a little bit of the beginning, but there were a ton of artists and series that were covered. I have a lot of new manga to look up and read! Shout-out that they mentioned my fave series Dorohedoro by Q Hayashida. New Anime for Older Fans I think I've only been in this panel a couple other times - it's always great. Presenters know what they're doing - nice summaries of the shows, great clips, the two presenters work well together. I'm probably going to watch all the ones they recommended. I already watched two eps of Skull Faced Bookseller Honda San last night - soooooo good! In Defense of CG Anime I definitely went into this with the mindset of "I don't like CG anime - it looks awful" and the presenter changed my mind! Showed so many good examples of CG done well, and honestly some that were so well done they almost look hand-drawn. Great presenter - super knowledgeable. Entertaining and informative panel. Hetomato and Other Peculiar Days: Unique & Interesting Festivals of Japan Another great panel on festivals. Super informative, great panelists. The Otakon Gameshow This was probably the most disappointing panel/event I attended. First, there was no description in the Guidebook app, so I thought maybe the old game show was back which I LOVED, but they announced early on that it was not. BUMMED. They started off with a ball pit contest where people from the audience had to dig through it and find marked balls, but I couldn't even see them doing this because it was on the floor in the very front of the panel and idk, I left early because it didn't seem like it was going to get any better. Just seemed kind of jumbled together. Gameshow Impossibru: Retro Gaming Challenge First time I've been to this panel, and it was hilarious. Loved all the gaming challenges - super fun. I'd go see this again. Figures to the Max! Blinded by BOObs The only 18+ panel this year. Was very informative about how to buy figures in general and showcased 18+ figures. I was SO tired though that I left a little early. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SUNDAY ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didn't make any panels on Sunday because I was after some last minute gifts in the dealer's room. But! I did make it to the Diana Garnet and Nano concert. Super good! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SERIOUSLY THOUGH ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ If anyone needs a second eye on their panel presentation, or wants some help spiffing it up. Let me know.

There was also Bradio, Diana Garnet and Nano so I think it's unfair to say there wasn't a variety this year - that's Hip Hop/Rap, Funk, Pop and Rock. I didn't get to go to this, but there was also the video game anthem performance in a panel.

I have to pack everything today.

Yeah, I never worry too much about the weather since I spend almost ALL day in the convention center, but getting caught in a random downpour from hotel to convention center does suck.

So, I'm looking to secure my hotel and I'm looking at some a little further away than I generally like, but I want to spend less on hotels this year. Now, I see that scooters have popped up in DC. Has anyone used them there? I used them while being in Denver recently, and they made getting around a breeze! Having a hotel a little farther away doesn't look so bad if these scooters are around.

Mangaka: Natsume Ono (House of Five Leaves, ACCA) Such great storytelling and art style! Kabi Nagata (My Lesbian Experience with Lonliness, and My Solo Exchange Diary) I wonder if she'd be up for visiting. Music: Every year until they come! Asian Kung-fu Generation!