Otakuthon is Montreal’s only fan-run, non-profit, bilingual anime convention. Created and organized by the Otaku Anime club of Concordia University, Otakuthon has consistently expanded its attendance and its list of activities since its conception in 2005. For a third year in a row, Otakuthon’s organizers wish to celebrate their love of anime with both the casual and die-hard fans of our vibrant city.
Anime, a term derived from animation in English, has become Japan’s premier cultural export, similar to India’s Bollywood and Korea’s TV dramas. From heartbreaking romances to the most bizarre science-fiction, it has something to offer for viewers of all ages and interests. Accustomed fans enjoy watching and reading anime products for its originality, superb story-telling, quirky humour and of course, its great animation. This form of animated media is now present in most youth oriented and science-fiction TV programming. It has even influenced some recent American productions including Avatar the Last Airbender, Kill Bill and The Matrix. As a sign of its growing mainstream acceptance, several anime motion pictures have been nominated and even won awards in recent editions of the Oscars.
As a product of Montreal’s thriving culture, Otakuthon strives to be a fully bilingual convention and is open to attendees of all ages. It has hosted many activities and events and includes an Exhibitor Hall, video screening rooms, RPG and video gaming rooms, amateur artwork exposition and various panels and workshops regarding almost every aspect of Japanese culture. Every day of the convention starts and ends with several major events, such as a J-pop concert, a costume (Cosplay) masquerade, an idol contest, a music video contest, and even an overnight dance. Of course, it wouldn’t be a convention without guests. Last year, Otakuthon’s guest of honour was Venus Terzo, a Canadian actress who not only voiced characters in many popular anime, but also starred in Da Vinci’s Inquest and Da Vinci’s City Hall as Angela Kosmo. Other notable guests included Christopher MacDonald, editor-in-chef of the renowned anime news website Anime News Network, Claude J. Pelletier, editor-in-chief of the long lasting anime magazine Protoculture Addicts and Scott Ramsoomair, the creator of the insanely popular webcomic VG Cats.
Thanks to last year’s success, this year’s edition of Otakuthon will be relocating to Montreal’s convention centre, the Palais des Congrès. With its more spacious and better- equipped facilities, the convention will be able to further improve and expand its already wide and diverse range of activities. With your attendance and support, Otakuthon can thrive and be a major festival in Montreal and perhaps, one day, become a major North American anime convention!