UlasanAnime.com – Jim Vowles, who previously managed guest relations for Otakon for about a decade, has stepped down this year and is now assisting the new team. He used to run a guessing game on Otakon’s forums, teasing attendees with hints about upcoming guests each year. This tradition was enjoyable for both guessing and being teased, and it seemed to benefit everyone involved due to the shared excitement and anticipation.
However, this practice can sometimes have unintended consequences, though not in the way one might initially assume. It appears to foster resourceful thinking among attendees. What has transpired in the past few days is a bit more complex, but it’s a rather amusing situation that I’ll attempt to explain.
Let me be clear from the outset: this is entirely speculative. I’m guessing, and nothing I propose is definitively true.
The core of the matter isn’t about predicting who will be on Otakon’s “star-studded” import guest list or their domestic lineup. Instead, it’s about how certain developments hint at upcoming announcements, creating a sense of urgency and excitement for those still in the dark.
The situation began several weeks ago when Otakon confirmed that a large number of Japanese guests were already lined up and booked, with only their official announcement pending. This is quite unusual for Otakon, perhaps even unprecedented given the quantity of guests involved. When such a scenario occurs, it’s typically due to a third-party stipulation. The standard practice is for all involved parties to announce their participation in an event simultaneously.
Things become more intricate when guests are tied to a product announcement. This necessitates that not only do the parties synchronize their release notes, but the announcement date also hinges on contractual discussions surrounding the product. The “product” in question usually refers to a premiere, such as a dubbed anime or a film, or a license announcement.
The motivation behind this approach is straightforward: some companies leverage conventions to promote their projects. Generating buzz through a “world premiere” or by announcing that “all the voice actors and directors will be present at the convention where we’re making this announcement” can be quite impactful. While major conventions like Anime Expo or Otakon likely wouldn’t allow such a complete takeover of their programming (Bandai might have done something similar at a past Otakon for Christina Vee?), especially with Japanese guests who require significant support, it’s more probable that an announcement will be made at one con, with further support and hype generated at the next.
Consider the implications when five spots for Japanese voice actors are confirmed and locked, alongside five spots for American voice actors. This situation arose just as news broke about Aniplex’s involvement with the US release of Madoka Magica, which happened yesterday.
Honestly, I have no definitive answers. It’s simply been a lot of fun to highlight that Otakon is about a month away, which is typically when major announcements are made.
As of now, we know that two of the five guest spots are for one show, and the remaining three are for another. This has partially resolved the immediate mystery, adding to the excitement!
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