Last week, Otakon made a prediction that about 27,000 would show up at their Baltimore, MD convention. And now we're on the last day of the event, and the registrations have been tallied.
Between pre-registration and at-con registration, 25,108 was the final headcount. Of course, that doesn't count those that will pay for a pass for Sunday today. It's a nice number. This crowd made for a lively weekend, which we were glad to see after Anime Expo's muted/weak event earlier this month.
Yes, the American anime industry has changed forever. The big spectacle seems to be dying off as some anime companies have closed. But that doesn't mean people won't want to get out and have a good time, cosplay and buy anime goods. Seeing the turnout and attitudes of the attendees here at Otakon gives me hope. Things are different, but they aren't necessarily bad. No matter how bad it gets, the fandom won't die.
Check out the video above. This was shot from the balcony that looks down over the main posing/photography area for cosplayers here at Otakon.
I think part of the benefit may be that Otakon is mainly a fan convention: by fans, for fans. I know my local con doesn't allow fansubs to be shown in the video rooms, and tends to have loads of industry panels. While my local con has been growing steadily even then, some were vocal about the con this past January, and some changes that needed to be made (like the doors opening at 9AM, but nothing going on until damn near 5PM).
That, and you have the economy to contend with. I wasn't able to enjoy my local con as much since I was laid off two weeks before it went down (read: no buying in the dealers room, couldn't stay in the hotel with friends, etc), and I wasn't able to make Otakon this year (for the FOURTH damn year in a row) due to me still being unemployed and thus still looking for a job/cash strapped.
this is the first Otakon I have not gone too. I have too many dissapoints behind me at this time to fork out hundreds of dollars for overpriced hotels and have to deal with the water scalpers every 20 feet. I think everything went downhill for me the year they stopped doing Mystery anime theatre parodies. After that the industry started letting me down yearly by promising big things and then that company would close it's doors and not finish what they started. I like anime, but not finishing what you promised in a timely manner makes me wonder if I should trust anyone anymore. I have a lot of great memories from Otakon but unless things change I probably won't be going anymore. If dark horse stops publishing Berserk here in the states I'm probably going to be done with anime forever also. That title, nana, claymore, and yotsuba are the only things holding me back from walking away forever.
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