Otakon '10: The Japanator Scavenger Hunt

5:00 PM on 07.29.2010   |   Brad Rice

Otakon is tomorrow, and we're all currently en-route to the sweet and delightful city of Baltimore. Except for Dale. He's sitting in BWI this very minute, waiting for me to pick him up. He's got some time.

This weekend, we want all of you who are attending to have some fun. The con, with its 30,000 or so attendees, will be fun, but with Japanator by your side, it'll be double rainbow fun. How will we manage this? Why, with a Japanator Scavenger Hunt, of course!

Down after the jump, we've got ten items to search for. Take photos, win stuff. Whoever's got the most photos from our list down below will win fabulous prizes! At the very least, that'll include part one of Toradora!. We've got more things hidden at the office, but I know not what. Rest assured, though, the prizes will be worth your time, and will make your Otakon truly memorable.

1. Catch someone taking an upskirt photo. As you know, Otakon is the Nerd Hookup Capital of the World. That means that people will be doing perverted things, and without a doubt, someone will be taking upskirt photos. Your job is to shame and blackmail them. Dale North is a prime target, y'know.

2. A cosplayer acting totally out of character. Sometimes, you manage to catch these meta moments on film, where Harry Potter is reading his own ending in Deathly Hollows or the Sengoku Basara guys are talking on cellphones. Capture these moments for the lulz. And yes, Red Team members making out with Blue Team members counts.

3. A photo of yourself with Chi. Japanator's favorite little kitty will be out in full force at Otakon, but can you saddle up next to the adorable kitten? I'm sure you'll manage to find her somewhere.

4. A photo of yourself with any of the staff members. It's pretty self-explanatory, so I don't think you'll have too many problems with this. In the gallery are photos of all of us, along with our names, so you can help identify who is who. And yes, you'll get more points for each staff member you have. Double rainbow points if you catch a staffer in cosplay.

5. Photograph the most hardcore pornographic fan art in the Artist's Alley. Title says it all. Alternatively, if you find this guy, you win at life.

6. Find the giant cosplay. Every year at Otakon, someone goes around in giant, 7-10ft tall, cosplay. One year it was the giant fetus from Akira. Another was a Transformer, I believe. Snap a picture of this monolithic monstrosity.

7. Photo of a female cosplayer with her jealous boyfriend standing in the background. Because nothing makes a guy rage when he notices Jake's zoom lens getting a little too close to a girl's Boota.

8. Find an entire team together. That means you need all of the original Sailor Scouts, or all of the members of the Haruhi gang. The team needs to be at least four members, too -- so no duos or trios!

9. Taiga cosplay. Because, y'know, I have my fetishes. Okami-san cosplay will get you half a point.

10. A group shot of totally random cosplayers. That's right -- pair up the most disparate characters together and take a photo of them. Bonus points for randomness or oddly appropriate themes. Again, you need at least four people.

Bonus: Someone with a Vuvuzela. These things are banned, but that doesn't mean they won't make an appearance. Snap a photo of one, then report the person to Con Ops.