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It begins: Otakon 2010, here we come!

A shot from the crazy lines at Otakon 2009. We brave the terror once again!

It would seem that Ani-Gamers is once again on the road, this time to Baltimore’s resident anime convention (and one of the largest in the country), Otakon. But this is no normal convention. No, because this year I will be rooming with BakaTanuki and Lwelyk (along with Internet Heroes the Reverse Thieves and many others), while Ink and Uncle Yo will be off handling their own sleeping arrangements. Yes, friends, that is FIVE Ani-Gamers writers at one convention. If you ever wanted to get our autograph and then punch us in the face for thinking anybody wanted our autograph, there has never been a better chance!

Oh yeah, and we’ll have lots of coverage, too! There are press conferences to attend, panels to write up, and podcasts to record, not to mention a final con report to write. If you can’t get to the convention, please do your best to enjoy it through our coverage. Think about it this way: At least you won’t have to listen to teenagers screaming “buttscratchers!” in your ear for three days.

Just to get the word out before the break, I want to let everybody know that I will be running my character designs panel, “The Changing Faces of Anime,” after its positive reception at AnimeNEXT 2010, and Uncle Yo will be performing his stand-up comedy as well as his new “Embracing the Robot Apocalypse” panel and “Anime One-Night Stands.” Below, I’ve included tentative itineraries for Ink, Uncle Yo and myself. If I get itineraries from the other bloggers, I’ll be sure to post them in here. [EDIT 1: Added Evan Krell (BakaTanuki)’s schedule after the break.]


We begin with Ink’s schedule, which is nicely organized and shows a sense of focus and thoughtfulness greatly envied by his editor-in-chief.

Friday

When What Where
9–10 am What’s the Point of Anime Intro & Ending Themes? Panel 6
11 am–12 pm La Corda D’Oro Primo Video 1
12–1:30 pm Madhouse Panel Panel 2
2–4 pm Bamboo Blade Video 2
4:30–5:30 pm Anime, Lost in Translation Panel 1
5–6 pm Dead Like Us: Shinigami and the Japanese Idea of Death Panel 4
6–7:30 pm Funimation Industry Panel Panel 3
6:30–7:30 pm Japan: The Most Convenient Place on Earth Panel 4
7:30–8:30 pm Bad Anime, Bad!! Panel 5
9:30–10:30 pm Modern Mythology: Mythic Elements in Anime & Video Games Panel 4
10:30 pm–11 am Voice Actors After Dark! Panel 3
11 pm–12 am Portrait of a Fujoshi: The Psychology of Ogiue Chika Panel 4
12–1 am Anime One-Night Stands Panel 1

Saturday

When What Where
9–10 am Experiments in the Anime Industry: noitaminA Panel 4
9:30–10:30 am The Changing Faces of Anime Panel 1
12:30–1:30 pm Anime in Academia Panel 1
1:30–2:30 pm Bouncing Through the Years: A Gainax Panel Panel 4
6–7 pm 10 Anime You’ve Never Heard of but Must See! Panel 5
8–9 pm Genshiken 2 Video 5
9–10:30 pm Bandai After Dark Panel 5
10:30–11 pm Japanese Folklore: Kitsune, Oni and Yuurei, Oh My! Panel 4
11 pm–12 am Feminism, Fandom, and Fanservice Panel 1
12–1 am Sailor Moon’s Influence on the World of Hentai – Filthy Edition Panel 2

Sunday

When What Where
9–10 am I “Squeeee!” for Shoujo Panel 1
12 pm–1:30 pm Japanese Directors & Producers Panel Panel 6
1:30–2:30 pm Dubs that Time Forgot Panel 2


On the other hand, my list is full of overlapping panels and missing a number of panels I don’t know I’m going to yet. I tried my best to include only the ones I’m sure I’ll be at, but this is obviously still very tentative. (If a panel has an asterisk [*] next to it, I might not be there for the whole time, if I go at all.)

Friday

When What Where
9–10 am What’s the Point of Anime Intro & Ending Themes? Panel 6
12-1 pm Anime Journalism: The Story Behind The Story Panel 5
3-4 pm Hetalia Mock UN Summit Panel 3
4:30-6 pm Aniplex Panel * Panel 5
6-7 pm You Don’t Like Moe — And Here’s Why! Panel 5
7:30-8:30 pm Bad Anime Bad!! * Panel 5
8-9 pm Gundam Unicorn Video 5
9:30-10:30 pm Modern Mythology: Mythic Elements in Anime and Video Games Panel 4
11 pm-12 am Portrait of a Fujoshi: The Psychology of Ogiue Chika Panel 4
12:30-1:30 am The History of Hentai * Panel 2

Saturday

When What Where
9:30-10:30 am The Changing Faces of Anime

(THIS IS MY PANEL. ONLY TRUE HEROES MAY ATTEND.)
Panel 1
11:30 am-2 pm Welcome to the SPACE SHOW (premiere) HD Theater
2-3 pm Podcasting for your Fandom Panel 1
6-7 pm 10 Anime You’ve Never Heard of but Must See! Panel 5
7:30-8:30 pm The Otakon 2010 Gundam Experience: Life Beyond 30 Panel 5
8:30-9:30 Uncle Yo: Otaku Stand-up Comedy Panel 3
10:00-1:00 Saturday Night Fan Parodies Video 5
11:00-12:00 Feminism, Fandom, and Fanservice * Panel 1

Sunday

When What Where
12 pm–1:30 pm Japanese Directors & Producers Panel Panel 6
1:30–2:30 pm Dubs that Time Forgot Panel 2


Meanwhile, Uncle Yo, also on a mission to rub my lack of coherent scheduling ability in my face, provides us with a succinct list of only the events he will actually be performing/speaking at. Nice going!

When What Where
Fri 6-7 pm Embracing the Robot Take-Over Panel 6
Fri 12-1 am Anime One-Night Stands Panel 1
Sat 8:30-9:30 pm Uncle Yo: Otaku Stand-up Comedy Panel 3


Here’s a last-minute addition: Evan Krell (a.k.a. BakaTanuki)’s schedule. This is still very tentative, he tells me, but you can look for him hanging with the other cool Ani-Gamers bros throughout Otakon.

Friday

10:30 am-12 pm Vertical, Inc. Featuring Felipe Smith Panel 2
12-1:30 pm Madhouse Panel Panel 2
1:30-2:30 pm VOCALOID: Hatsune Miku & co. sing for you! * Panel 2
3-4:30 pm Takamasa Sakurai Panel Panel 2
4:30-6 pm Aniplex Panel 5
6–7:30 pm Funimation Industry Panel Panel 3

Saturday

9–10 am Experiments in the Anime Industry: noitaminA Panel 4
11:30 am-2 pm Welcome to the SPACE SHOW (premiere) HD Theater
9-10 pm The Life and Times of Akiyuki Shinbo (if I can brave it) Panel 4
9:30-10:30 pm Touhou Project Panel 1
6-7 pm 10 Anime You’ve Never Heard of but Must See! Panel 5

Sunday

9–10 am I “Squeeee!” for Shoujo Panel 1
12:30-1:30 pm Castles, Forests, and Bath Houses: The Worlds of Hayao Miyazaki Panel 5



Click here for more of our Otakon 2010 coverage

  • Evan Minto's profile

    Evan is the Editor-in-chief of Ani-Gamers, a freelance reviewer for Otaku USA Magazine, and a frequent anime convention panelist. You can read his ravings about anime, manga, games, politics, music, and more on Twitter @VamptVo.

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