Tag: Otakon

Otakon 2011: Fan Panels

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With so many premieres, I felt like I neglected the fans panels a little this year at Otakon. Since panels is usually the biggest draw for me, I feel a bit guilty. There was a great variety, but one only has so much time. Still beyond our own two panels I did squeeze a few others in over the weekend.

I consider a healthy dose of fan panels part of a balanced convention diet. At some cons my entire schedule is filled with nothing but fan panels with the occasional guest panel if they have an interesting Japanese guest. Plus, as I become more active in the fan community I begin to know more of the people doing fan panels so I sometimes just stop in to support my friends who often do very intelligent panels (or at least entertaining panels). Fan panels have this passionate rawness that makes them unique and special. Sometimes that means you go to some real stinkers but such is the price you pay for some incredibly unique and eye-opening content.

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Otakon 2011: Industry

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The presence of industry at events such as Otakon has been evolving and changing over the last couple of years. Instead of focusing on what is coming out now, which is still done, there is a shift to talking about streaming or the next big thing. This was driven home by Sunrise running their own panel this year. While there were no huge announcements from Otakon (which we’ve come to expect with Anime Expo and San Diego Comic Con in the same month), there was still much to talk about.

I have mostly decided to follows Patz’s philosophy and avoid going to industry panels unless I have a burning question that needs to be asked. With so many bloggers and news sources reporting and commentating on industry panels as they happen there is little need for me to show up. The nitty-gritty will be available for everyone to see as soon as it is announced. This lets me sit back and pick what I want to comment on. I like that approach.

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Otakon 2011: Guests

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The problem with Otakon’s announcement schedule is that every year it falls into the same pattern. Anime Expo releases its lineup and everyone goes wild. Then we don’t hear much from Otakon and everyone gets worried that it is going to be weak. Then with only a few weeks left they pull out their lineup and everyone is impressed. This year was no exception with Makoto Shinkai, Masao Maruyama, Noboru Ishiguro, and Atsuhiro Iwakami in attendance as well as a slew of other guests. I think that everyone was extremely excited to see Makoto Shinkai but we should not forget the other great guests who showed up from Japan. They had a great many things to say. Sadly to see Mr. Maruyama and Mr. Ishiguro I had to skip out on the Children Who Chase Lost Voices from Deep Below premiere but I think the things I learned at their panels was well worth it.

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