Another Otakon and another year where I was overwhelmed with all the convention had to offer. From lovely guests to great friends the entire weekend was a big hit! As per usual I spent a lot of time visiting fan-panels and Japanese guest Q&As. As an added bonus I also ended up in the autograph lines more than I normally do. I spent some time just walking the convention taking pictures and chatting.
The atmosphere of a con is really unique. After four days of sensory overload the real world looks a little funny the week after a con.
After a little snaffu with getting my badge I realized I have been going to Otakon since 2006. (By the way that is when they had Ayako Kawasumi so it was an excellent time to start coming.) Since then I have attended almost every year except for 2008 due to some poor timing and scheduling. But I have always been attracted to the amount of things to do every year. Otakon always has a great lineup of Japanese guests and some of the best panels around. I always have something to do. In fact I wanted to check out the game room, visit the new maid cafe, see concerts, or take in about a half a dozen other events but never was able to do any of those things. Time, food, sleepiness, and the need to socialize meant that sacrifices had to be made. I never understand how people have nothing to do at Otakon.
The most unusual part of Otakon is it is less like a tropical vacation where you spend your time mostly relaxing on the beach a more like hiking adventure where you come back more tired than when you left. It is almost a bit of a test of endurance. But along with the physical and mental exhaustion comes a feeling of your spirits being renewed. You might be spent but in return you are given a pleasant glow from that effort. I tend to run through Otakon at a fairly hectic pace as I am going to panels, seeing guests, and a million other things almost constantly and usually fairly late into the night. So I often come back a bit more worn than most. Heck I felt sort of like a zombie on Sunday. But I would not have it any other way.
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