It's hard to believe that for 30 years, Otakon, the convention that focuses on anime, manga, and other such pop culture topics, has been bringing fans together in some capacity. From their humble beginnings in a small Pennsylvania hotel, to outgrowing the Baltimore Convention Center, and now continuing to grow within the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, it's been a ride.
I began my Otakon journey in the late 1990s, and aside from 2020, I have not missed a single Otakon. When Otakon resumed in 2021 it saw 25,564 unique attendees. In 2022 that number jumped to 40,466. This year Otakon saw about 46,000 unique attendees. That's an impressive number! I've been covering Otakon as press for some time now, and am always impressed by the love the community shows for this convention. From the massive video game hall to the always impressive dealers' room and artists' alley, Otakon is a convention I look forward to every year.
This year I noticed an increase in vintage anime and Japanese pop culture dealers. There were also several vintage video game dealers as well, though pricing was not as aggressive as I had hoped. Unfortunately, many dealers were pricing even somewhat common games higher than what you could find on eBay or other auction sites. On the flip side, many vintage media dealers were aggressive with pricing. I found many vintage Laser Discs for under $30 and even more vintage VHS tapes for under $20. One dealer, Otaku Joe's, had an impressive selection, and aggressive pricing, and from what I could tell didn't shy away from making a deal. We went home with an original Neon Genesis Evangelion soundtrack on LP among other things, and that is arguably the coolest piece I've bought at Otakon.
Dealers and artists alike tend to do extremely well at Otakon. Yet that's not to say it isn't expensive to go. Like most major city conventions, many dealers shell out thousands to get to the convention. Standing on concrete for up to 10 hours a day can be exhausting, and let's be real - it's hard to get away from a booth to even eat. I commend anyone who does shows of any size. It's even more impressive when you see the same dealers again and again each year!
The community itself is something to behold. As I grew up with Otakon in my life, I've made lifelong friends, but have also lost people I've met through the convention circuit as well. Seeing memorials of both staff and attendees who helped make Otakon what it is can hit you. Every year, even for a brief moment, I feel like I'm 13 years old and getting ready for another Otakon. Even if I don't keep up with all of the latest anime or manga, it's still so exciting.
People come from all over the world to make Otakon what it is. If you haven't been, I urge you to check it out. This con truly shows you what it means to be a part of the anime community.
