Otakon is the largest anime convention on the East Coast of North America. The convention celebrates Japanese culture - anime, video games, etc.
| Name | Otakon |
|---|---|
| Founding Year | 1993 (main) 2014 (Vegas) |
| Founders | Todd Dissinger Dave Asher Mitch Hagmaier Bill Johnstone |
| Final Year | 2018 (Vegas) |
| Status | Ongoing (main) Defunct (Vegas) |
| Location | Main: 1994-1995 State College, PA 1996-1997 Hunt Valley, Maryland 1998: Arlington, VA 1999-2016 Baltimore, Maryland 2017-present: Washington DC Vegas: 2014-2018: Las Vegas, Nevada |
Otakon
Origins and Convention Days
The origins of Otakon can be traced way back in 1993 where the Penn State Science Fiction Society (PSSFS) attended I-Con at Long Island. The convention was a mini-con which had a mix of furry and anime fandoms, and video games. Two members of the club, Dave Asher and Todd Dissinger, thought that the convention was enjoyable but could have been better. With this mindset, one of the two uttered "we can do better" to which they got to work.
While the two members planned out the soon-to-be Otakon, Mitch Hagmair didn't pay much attention to them until June when the duo announced the convention. He jumped into the team and the trio got to work upon his return from Pittsburg (PA) in August of 1993. During these meetings, they stated some princpials: they were broke college students who set a $2400 budget. The other principal is that OTAKON is a fan convention not held back by industry leadership.
As for the venue and location, the friends, who are known as "The Founding Four," decided to hold the first convention at Penn State as they were all living and attending college at the college giving the close proximity of the surrounding cities, New York, New Jersey, and Baltimore. OTAKON never had tickets as [Bill] Johnston held a rather utpian vision: pay their membership dues which resulted in always having members.
Johnston became the convention chair due to being the one who dealt with the hotel which he got a deal with the Days Inn free facilities so long as their was a room blokc with modest attendence. In a weird twist, he knew about the hotel due to the PSSFS used it for thier convention back in 1987 which ended in disaster. The guests were cheap: hard talkers, and story-tellers. Johnston managed to rig a video room showing the rather negatively received dub of "Bubblegum Crisis" by AnimEigo.
From there, the convention was and continues to be a massive succeess to which in the beginning the Founding Four was expecting 400 members and 360 members arrived for the inarguation convention year.
OTAKON has become one of the largest anime conventions of the East Coast.
Controversies
The 2010 Fire Alarm
The 30th Anniversary Merch Line Debacle
The Hotel Block
The Pandemic Shut Down Scare
2021 Attendence Increase
Fate
Vegas