Otakon is an event that can't be easily be described in words. All right, I'm lying — it's an anime convention: a gathering where fans of Japanese animation gather to exchange ideas and views. But it's nearly impossible to describe the actual "soul" of the event — the special something that makes that three-day stretch so magical to fans from across the country.

This year, I was fortunate enough to attend Otakon as a member of the press. With a golden ticket to the anime enthusiast's Mecca, I was the proverbial kid in a candy store. While I couldn't make it to absolutely everything I wanted to see (a guy's gotta eat and sleep at some point), I have to say that the trip was worth the ten-hour drive, and the numb ass I endured on the way.

I would like to use the confines of this space to give my thoughts on a couple of events that particularly stuck out in my mind.

Outside of the confines of the panel rooms, I and my trusty assistant partook of the more "typical" things one would think of: Taking cosplay photos and shopping in the dealers' room (and boy, did we ever shop!).

There was no shortage of people willing to pose for a photo, nor was there a lack of outstanding costumes. While I couldn't catch everybody I wanted to, I would like to thank those that did pose for photos over the weekend.

Note: I do apologize, as this will start with a quick event summary. To understand why I found this event so noteworthy, one has to understand what actually went down in this event

Upon entry to the room, every attendee was told "no cameras, no audio, no video. You'll understand why soon enough." However, I don't think anybody could have anticipated what was to come. The panel was laid back, and felt more like a fan panel than an industry event. Bandai opened the event with business as usual as they showed off their newest acquisition, .hack//G.U. Trilogy. After the trailer, things began to heat up as the reps showed off the artbox for Gurren Lagann's upcoming bilingual release. During the demonstration, Bandai started showing the true meaning of "Surprise!" as voice actor Yuri Lowenthal (Code Geass, Gurren Lagann) burst into the room. Yuri's very presence seemed to lighten up the room, as the panelists started cracking jokes and the focus shifted to an Oprah-esque "look under your chair" giveaway. One guest went home with an autographed Eureka Seven boxed set, and another took with him a signed Code Geass banner. The panel shifted to trivia and bloopers from Bandai dubs, which included a few particularly hilarious Gurren Lagann flubs.

Mr. Lowenthal could not stay long, however, and made an exit that was as quick as his entrance. After a bit more trivia and bloopers, it was time for "Surprise!" Number two. After having two attendees dance for the other members' amusement to Motekke! Sailor Fuku (the opening to Lucky Star), Bandai Entertainment CEO Ken Iyadomi perked up and asked "Motekke! Sailor Fuku means 'Take it! My Sailor Fuku'. So who else took took sailor fuku?" A confused silence hit the room, until another panelist piped up asking "Another group covered this song. Anyone know who it is?" One attendee quickly blurted out the answer, "It was JAM Project!" The attendee received a prize, and the event shifted to Surpise #2. the members of JAM Project filed into the room, to much applause. Of course, Masami Okui-san, the only female member of the group, was asked the burning question of the moment: "Who took YOUR sailor fuku?" To which she replied "Nobody," earning an affectionate "aww" from the crowd. But the moment didn't last long when she perked up, saying "but sometimes, I still like to pull it out," which received a completely different reaction from the crowd as well as the rest of JAM Project.

The Bandai representatives started handing out shirts at this point - specifically, the T-shirts that came with the limited edition of Lucky Star volume 1 - white, with a bright pink sailor fuku printed on the front and back. The event wouldn't go on until absolutely everybody - attendees, the panelists, even JAM Project, put them on and began dancing to Motekke! Sailor Fuku. Yes, absolutely everybody. After the song ended, a bit more Q&A ensued, before the event closed with a random prize giveaway.

The announcement was nothing special, I'll admit. However, the atmosphere of the room was something that is hard to forget. A packed crowd, a gaggle of Bandai staffers, and a loose party atmosphere combined to create an electricity that would excite anybody. The Bandai panelists were all in a great mood, despite this being their second panel of the day, and seemed to be more than happy to sling jokes about with Lowenthal and a few of the attendees.

JAM Project were in especially high spirits, and were quite happy to joke around and relax with the attendees. A highlight of the event came about when JAM Project asked the fans what anime they liked, and a member piped up with "Bokusatsu Tenshi Dokuro-chan." A hush fell over the room as Kitadani-san rose up and glared at the attendee for a minute, before he pointed at the poor sap and shouted "OTAKU!" in a booming voice, as the room erupted in laughter.

The entire event was fast, loose, and informal. Everyone was in high spirits, especially the guests. Also, seeing ANN's and Japanator's editors in bright pink sailor fuku shirts? Priceless.

JAM Project, an anime-music power-team of Hironobu Kageyama, Masami Okui, Masaki Endoh, Hiroshi Kitadani, and Yoshiki Fukuyama, made their US debut at the First Mariner Arena to a house packed with at least five thousand fanboys and fangirls (present company included, of course). The members of JAM Project sang their hearts out to the crowd, which swelled to a deafening roar by the fourth song, in response.

The energy was unmatched - absolutely everybody in the arena, even the types that typically don't do so, were up on their feet, jumping around, and pumping their fists to the music. Things got even wilder when the artists broke into individual pieces. From Kageyama-san's Cha La Head Cha La to Okui-san's Rinbu Revolution, to Kitadani-san's We Are, there wasn't a single seated fan in the house. Even when fans did finally sit for Fukuyama-san's Seventh Moon and the acoustic set that followed, the room was abuzz with excitement.

JAM Project managed to squeeze every ounce of energy from the room, and ran with it the whole way. They were happy to be there, and the fans were screaming with absolute joy. In layman's terms, if I were to describe the concert, I'd say "IT'S OVER 9000! A true marriage of Epic and Win, through and through."

The night was a smashing success, and I wish JAM Project the same reception as they continue their tour to Saitama and Mexico City.

Otakon 2008 was an event that far surpassed my previous experiences at any anime convention. The atmosphere, the people, and the especially the smooth operation by the staff really set Otakon'08 apart from any convention I have ever attended. The event itself may have ended, but I will always have fond memories of the weekend, be it the event, the people, or even the hobos and water sellers that seemed to troll around outside 24/7.

I would like to thank the convention staff, and the truly stellar press team, for granting me the opportunity to cover the event "in the trenches," so to speak. I hope to have the opportunity to cover the event at least once more before Otakon reaches the big 2-0.