Anime Conventions, huh? What can I say that Team XP’s book already hasn’t? I’ve been going to anime conventions since 2004. My 1st was Otakon. I [honest to goodness] can’t remember a damn thing about that show (even though I‘ve got a whole freaking cache of swag from it), but I know it compelled me enough to keep coming back year after year.
I typically write epic jaunts about anime cons, but this time, I thought I’d try to break it up into pieces; so maybe you too can savor the last few moments I’ve come to reflect and experience with the Otakon convention.
It’s been one Hell of a ride; I still can’t believe how far it’s taken me.
So for the unaffiliated, Otakon’s this MASSIVE anime convention out here on the East Coast, in good ol’ Baltimore, MD. People get together for a few days to celebrate Japanese culture and all things inspired by it. Did I mention it’s the 2nd biggest show of it’s kind in North America, to include Mexico & Canada? 1st biggest on the East Coast.
This was my 5th and final Otakon. I’ve already written extensively about it, but it really was a significant year for me, all things considered. It was kinda like a big anniversary for yours truly. A culmination of old choices; decisions I’d made in passion or had been thrusted into in my quick lesson in adulthood, all coming together. Their consequences and ramifications echoing louder still, after all these years.
I seriously can’t remember anything about Ota ‘04, but I still marvel at all the swag I have left over from that show. ‘05 is one show many of the regulars will tell you was the best to date. A lot of great things came out of the convention that year. That’s when I 1st started looking into voice acting. ‘07 was the year I made it a personal goal to have the greatest Otakon EVER; in efforts to make up for missing ‘06. Talk about an anime convention! Guns, booze, rave, friends, massive hikes to 7/11, hookers, drunk kids who thought I was God. This con had everything! And for all the friends I made that year, this was the 1st year I got a chance to meet the lovely Amber, The Hentai Pirate & Light It Up’s own Xavier, probably the only other person around I know as badass as Dark Angel. Had I known the impact(s) they (and other good friends I made that year) would have had, we’da been friends so much, much sooner. Not to mention, the greatest book ever written was kinda born here, in a line, waiting to meet THE legendary Steve Blum. Damn, ’07 was a fucking epic year! ’08 was the 1st real time Team XP got a chance to meet up in person. You might not think so, but the fact that we’d come from all over the country (Cali, NYC, Jersey, Maryland, North Carolina) just to take one picture, or merely talk about one project that no one believed would ever see the light of day, astounding. Simply astounding. Amazing how far things came along still. ‘08 was the year I started really looking at out-of-state cons, as opposed to just out-of-state travel. Otakon was big that year too. Otakon ‘09, my 1st time working the Dealer’s Room. For the first time at any con, I got the chance to work and see a lot of the behind the scenes. I was privilege to Dealer’s Room setup before Otakon put it all over their website. This was also primetime spotlight time for Team XP, and pulling it all off required nothing short of giving the cool katz of Ota a show they’d never forget. And [all of] Team XP pulled that off to the tune of still remembered at this year’s Otakon. It’s been a roller coaster to be sure, never once as easy as expected, but Otakon has always been worth it. And 2010 was just the icing on the cake I needed to bow out gracefully. But more on that later.
And despite all that crazy history in good old Baltimore, I decided now was the best time to say goodbye. There have been a lot of mixed opinions about my (apparently) controversial decision, some people say I’ll be back, others are unable to fathom the words “Last Otakon” in the same sentence, so I’d like to take the time to document a little “for the record” quote.
I, Dark Angel, will never, ever again, as of the end of Otakon 2010, attend the Otakon convention, ever again.
Am I open to guest paneling, assisting in the Dealer’s or Artist spaces, staffing, or autograph signings? Of course. But I’m not going to be doing it at Otakon anymore. I’m glad for all the things I’ve gotten a chance to experience through this event. If I could go back, I don’t think I could bring myself to change anything. 2010 wasn’t the best con I’ve ever had, but for this Angel’s closing ceremony, things ended things on a high note.
