Tag Archives: otakon

Otakon Breaks Record for Third Year at Otakon 2024

Posted on by
Otakon

For the third year in a row, Otakon 2024 exceeded the previous year’s record-breaking number, coming in at about 46,000, according to Otakorp.

Last year’s number of 42,101 built on a previous record set in 2022, which was the first year that Otakon topped 40,000. Otakon 2024 marked the convention’s 30th anniversary.

Otakorp President Brooke Zerrlaut said, “Otakon was honored to celebrate its 30th anniversary with 46,000 friends and family. We cannot thank everyone enough for sharing this milestone with us! Even though our volunteer staff could use a week of sleep, we’re already planning for Otakon 2025. We hope to see you then.”

The attendance number includes total memberships/attendees, both pre-registered and at-door, as well as staff, dealers, artists, industry, contractors, guests, and registered press.

The final number may be adjusted slightly after audits are conducted to ensure accuracy. Updated numbers, when completed, will appear on the Events Statistics page on the official Otakon website.

Hotel blocks for Otakon 2025 will open in a little more than a week, on Tuesday, August 13.

Otakon 2025 will be held from August 8-10, 2025 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Scott Westerfeld to appear at Otakon 2024

Posted on by
Scott Westerfeld

New York Times Bestseller Scott Westerfeld will appear at Otakon 2024.

Scott Westerfeld is the author of twelve New York Times bestsellers, including the multimillion-selling “Uglies” series. Published in thirty-five languages and loved by generations of young readers, “Uglies” has been adapted as a feature film starring Joey King, streaming on Netflix in late 2024. The New York Times called the novels, “A masterpiece of popular art.”

Westerfeld is also known for the “Leviathan” trilogy, a seminal work in the steampunk genre. Published in more than twenty countries, all three books are being adapted as an anime series by Studio Orange in Japan, streaming on Netflix worldwide in 2025.

Westerfeld’s books have won many awards, including the Philip K. Dick (Special Citation), Indie Choice, and Locus, and been named New York Times Notable and ALA Best Books of the Year. His work has also won the Victorian Premier’s, Aurealis, and Ditmar awards in Australia, and the Grand Prix de l’Imaginaire in France.

Otakon 2024 will be held from August 2 to August 4 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Yurucamp Production Team are Guests at Otakon 2024

Posted on by

Yurucamp production team for “Laid Back Camp” (Yurucamp) Season 3 will be guests at Otakon 2024. Presenting will be the anime director with Eight Bit Susumu Tosaka, art director Taketo Gompei, producer Takashi Otake, and FURYU Corporation Producer Kaoru Wada.

Susumu Tosaka is an anime director with Eight Bit. He started his career as an animator. At Eight Bit, he has directed “Laid Back Camp” (Yurucamp) Season 3, and he has also worked on “Infinite Stratos,” “That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime,” “Encouragement of Climb,” and “If My Favorite Pop Idol Made it to the Budokan, I Would Die.”

Takashi Otake began his career in the amusement industry in 2008 as a director and planner. For eleven years, he produced collaboration goods with various anime titles. He joined the anime industry in 2019. After gaining experience working on promotional videos, opening sequence, ads, and game apps, he debuted as a producer of anime series with “Laid Back Camp” (Yurucamp) Season 3. He has worked with titles such as “That time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime,” “Blue Lock,” “SYNDUALITY Noir,” and “The Irregular at Magic High School.”

Taketo Gompei works at Goofy, Inc. He has been with the anime industry since 2017 and debuted as the art director for a TV anime series with “SSSS.DYNAZENON” in 2020. He has worked on various projects including TV series, short movies, as well as theatrical titles. Other titles he has been the art director for include “Gridman Universe,” “Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead,” “Go! Go! Lower Ranger!,” and “Laid Back Camp” (Yurucamp) Season 3.

Kaoru Wada is a producer with FURYU Corporation. She has been in the anime industry since 2007 in roles such as production assistant, production supervisor, and line producer. She joined FURYU in 2016, producing titles such as “Laid Back Camp” (Yurucamp) Season 3 and “Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle.”

Otakon 2024 will be held from August 2 to August 4 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Yuriyan Retriever is an Otakon 2024 guest

Posted on by
Yuriyan Retriever

Yuriyan Retriever, a Japanese comic, will be a guest at Otakon 2024. Retriever is affiliated with the Japanese entertainment conglomerate Yoshimoto Kogyo.

She is well-known for her comedic acts that showcase her proficient English, spot-on impersonations, and endearing appearance, making her a beloved figure on Japanese television. She has won numerous comedy competitions and is highly sought after for variety shows. In recent years, Retriever has expanded her repertoire to include starring roles in dramas, appearances in commercials, voice acting, and signing advertising contracts with globally renowned companies.

In 2019, she gained international attention when she appeared on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent,” where her performance in a stars-and-stripes swimsuit became a sensation worldwide. In 2024, she will star in the Netflix drama “The Queen of Villains,” which will be available globally. Starting in December, Retriever will embark on her career expansion into the United States.

Otakon 2024 will be held from August 2 to August 4 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Yoshinori Kitase is an Otakon 2024 Guest

Posted on by
Yoshinori Kitase

Yoshinori Kitase will be a guest at Otakon 2024. He is a producer at Square Enix, the company known for the “Final Fantasy” videogame franchise.

Kitase began his career at Square Enix (formerly SQUARE Co., Ltd.) in 1990. He has been involved with many projects, including “Final Fantasy V,” “Final Fantasy VI,” “Final Fantasy VII,” “Final Fantasy VIII,” and “Final Fantasy X.”

Kitase served as the producer for “Compilation of Final Fantasy VII,” “Final Fantasy Type-0,” The “Final Fantasy XIII” series, “Final Fantasy VII Remake” and “Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.” He also served as the executive producer for “Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion.”

As director and a core development member of the original “Final Fantasy VII,” on the “Final Fantasy VII” remake project, Kitase works to ensure that the original game’s spirit is kept intact while working closely with new development members to bring in the power of a new generation so that these titles will appeal to both newcomers and fans of the series.

Otakon 2024 will be held from August 2 to August 4 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Yomi Hirasaka is coming to Otakon 2024

Posted on by
Yomi Hirasaka

Yomi Hirasaka will be a guest at Otakon 2024. He is a novelist from Gifu Prefecture in Japan.

Hirasaka debuted in 2004 by winning the Excellence Award at the 0th MF Bunko J Light Novel Newcomer Award. His main works since then include “Haganai: I Don’t Have Many Friends” published in 2009, “A Sister’s All You Need” in 2015, and “A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics” (“Henjin no Salad Bowl”) in 2021.

Otakon 2024 will be held from August 2 to August 4 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Teruki Endo has been added to the Otakon 2024 Guest List

Posted on by
Teruki Endo

Teruki Endo will be a guest at Otakon 2024. He has filled multiple roles at Square Enix, the company known for the “Final Fantasy” videogame franchise.

Previously a planner and lead game designer of the battle sections for “Monster Hunter 3,” “Monster Hunter 4,” and “Monster Hunter: World,” Endo joined Square Enix to serve as the battle director for “Final Fantasy VII Remake,” creating a battle system that combines signature “Final Fantasy” command battle with intuitive action.

He has continued to serve as battle director for “Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.”

Otakon 2024 will be held from August 2 to August 4 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Takuma Kishida to Be a Guest at Otakon 2024

Posted on by
Takuma Kishida

Takuma Kishida, a producer with TMS Entertainment, will be a guest at Otakon 2024.

He has worked on many titles such as “The Seven Deadly Sins: Four Knights of the Apocalypse,” “I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World and Became Unrivaled in the Real World, Too,” and “Don’t Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro.”

Otakon 2024 will be held from August 2 to August 4 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Shuichiro Umeda Has Been Added to the Otakon 2024 Guest List

Posted on by
Shuichiro Umeda

Voice actor Suichiro Umeda will be a guest at Otakon 2024. He is the voice of Chirinu Nio in “Blue Miburo,” which will be screened at Otakon.

Umeda is affiliated with KEN PRODUCTION and is known for various roles in anime. Some of his notable roles include Saybil in “The Dawn of the Witch,” Yuuki Izumi in “Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie,” Akira Tendo in “Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead,” Jogoro Kobato in “Shōshimin Series,” and Kazuhiko Nukumizu in “Too Many Losing Heroines!”

He is also scheduled to play Haruka in “Loner Life in Another World.”

Otakon 2024 will be held from August 2 to August 4 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Ricco Fajardo will appear at Otakon 2024

Posted on by
Ricco Fajardo

Actor Ricco Fajardo will be a guest at Otakon 2024.

Ricco is an actor whose performances have been seen in many ways: on stage, film, commercials, industrials, voice-over, animation, and motion-capture. Known for his roles in anime and video games, his most recent credits include the egoist striker Isagi in “Blue Lock,” Tomo’s best bud Jun in “Tomo-Chan is a Girl!,” the enigmatic Kotaro in “Zombieland Saga,” the loveable Mirio in “My Hero Academia,” the fearsome Benimaru in “That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime,” the party loving priest Pandreo in “Fire Emblem: Engage,” and for Otakon 2024’s Final Fantasy celebration, The Veritas of the Heavens (The First Cid) in “Final Fantasy Brave Exvius.”

An avid gamer and watcher of anime and movies, Ricco loves being physically active and his cats. He is originally from San Jose, California and resides in Dallas, Texas.

Otakon 2024 will be held from August 2 to August 4 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

« Older Entries