Otakon Vegas 2015

Hironobu Kageyama. We'll have a more detailed report of the Lantis Festival on Anime News Network later.

The convention may be on the smaller end—attendance is just north of 2,000, and the convention itself is situated around two primary hallways—but there's no denying the benefits of experience and the Otakon name. Events were largely on-time all weekend, the staff was plentiful and helpful, and the guest list was much stronger than you'd typically see at a convention this size. Fans of Sailor Moon's Naru Osaka).

Fans of the Aniplex of America preceding it.

Perhaps the biggest upside of a small convention with big guests is the increased access. Not only is it easier for attendees to obtain autographs, but a lighter programming load also made it possible for each actor to attend multiple individual and group Q&As. And then there's the intimacy. How many people can say that they've lurked after a to hear McGlynn belt out "Blue," the episode 26 ending theme from Cowboy Bebop? (Those who haven't heard her singing voice should check it out.) Or stuck their head into opening ceremonies in time to hear Kageyama rock out to "Cha-La Head-Cha-La?" Otakon attendees who attended the ANISONG World Tour Lantis Festival also had the chance to enter a raffle for a special VIP party with JAM Project and YUI from Yōsei Teikoku, featuring Q&As, autographs, and photo shoots with the artists.

While Otakon Vegas doesn't draw the same industry presence as larger conventions, there were still a few industry s sprinkled amongst its offerings. Aniplex of America kicked off the industry s on Friday afternoon, bringing in special guest Sushio to sketch a special Otakon Vegas Gurren Lagann illustration which would later be sold for charity. Hosted by E.J. "Toonami's Tom, who had a special announcement to make. Kill la Kill will be making its Toonami premiere on February 7 at 11:30 PM EST/PST, however there is yet to be any news regarding what, if any, edits will be made for the broadcast.

Funimation delivered their the following day, with Senior Manager of Social Strategy and Development No-Rin.

Crunchyroll stopped by Otakon Vegas as well, with a Saturday morning. The was presented by Brand Manager and Convention Manager Golden Boy anime. ists also talked about some of the manga that was available on Crunchyroll, which is now available to Crunchyroll's , and other facets of their website, such as the Crunchyroll Store.

But there's more to conventions than just guests and industry s. There're the dealers' rooms, the fan s, the otaku, it's an inviting pocket that shields you from the "real" world. By the same token, those seeking diversions, parties, and the permission to drink a yard-long decanter of booze on a public sidewalk need only to step a few hundred yards away. Increasingly, it makes sense why Otakon settled on the Las Vegas Strip for their secondary convention. The freedom to have both the frenetic energy of Las Vegas and the muted feeling of a suburban anime con at your fingertips is tantalizing and appealing.

Undoubtedly, Otakon Vegas benefited greatly from the presence of the ANISONG World Tour Lantis Festival this year. It gave fans the chance to see JAM Project, Faylan, and other acts in an intimate setting just 1.3 miles away from the convention. It also brought extra star power to the opening ceremonies, where even those who didn't purchase tickets to the concerts were able to see a surprise performance of one of the most iconic anime opening themes from the past few decades. To say that both events coincidentally happened in the same city, on the same weekend would be naïve, though. Again, there's no minimizing the experience of Otakon, which collaborated with Lantis in the past. Those who have been to second-year conventions in the past will tell you that they're riddled with problems and lackluster guest lists, which isn't a problem for Otakon Vegas.

As it often does, it all comes down to one simple question, "Would you recommend going to Otakon Vegas?" And having been to the convention two years in a row now, I can answer that yes, it's worth it. You can't walk in expecting the brouhaha of Otakon Sr., nor the wall-to-wall, round-the-clock programming, but you will get the same level of professionalism, organization, and know-how. And if your worry is Las Vegas itself, then rest easy—you'll barely know you're there.