I've been an anime fan for 6 years now. My favorites are the Slayers series (it got me hooked), Ranma 1/2, Full Metal Panic and Love Hina. I went to Otakon (2003-2005), Manganext (06), Animenext (07), and volunteered at New York Anime Fest (07). I'm really into Harry Potter, Harry Potter fanfiction, and fantasy books like Dark Materials series. IF ANYONE IS GOING TO ANIMENEXT I'LL SEE YOU ALL THERE! To anyone who loves (or used to love) the Sailor Suited Champions of Love and Justice, this year’s Otakon is the place to go. During the August 8-10 convention in Baltimore, Maryland, Otakon will be hosting the married couple Hiromi Matsushita and Kazuko Tadano. These two people are responsible for designing and animating the Sailor Scouts (Sailor Senshi) in the Sailor Moon and Sailor Moon R series. While they have appeared in other conventions such as Anime Expo and Anime Central, this will be their first time being hosted in Otakon, which is in its 15th year.
Besides designing the Sailor Moon characters, Tadano has designed characters for Petite Princess Yucie, Wedding Peach, and Crystal Triangle. Matsushita has worked as an animator in Astro Boy, the Dragonball Z Movie 1, Crystal Triangle, Petite Princess Yucie, and Project A-ko.
Otakon seems to be the convention to be at this year. The awesome Kappei Yamaguchi is the Seiyuu guest for this year. Yamaguchi is best known as the voice of Ranma and also of Inuyasha, as well as L in Death Note. Otakon's musical guests this year are JAM Project (which includes Rica Matsumoto, the voice of Satoshi/Ash Ketchum), Marbel, and the UNDERNEATH. For the entire list of guests go here.
So what kind of impact will these two have on the biggest convention on the east coast? Will there be an upswing in the number of Sailor Moon characters cosplayers? No matter what, Otakon will always be the big party and everyone is guaranteed to have fun.
Source: Otakon Web Site and Anime News Network