This year, Otakon is going to be a super, mega, mondo, rainbow extravaganza of Hetalia! Here’s everything you need to know if you want to make the most of your Hetalia-filled Otakon 2011.
At the booth:
- PRIORITY TICKETS: FUNimation will be offering priority tickets for the Saturday afternoon autograph session at their booth in the dealer’s room. These tickets will guarantee you priority access to the main Hetalia autograph session at 4:30 PM Saturday. These tickets are limited and TOTALLY FREE, so they’ll be available while supplies last. Just come by the FUNimation booth and ask one of our friendly Hetalia volunteers! One ticket per attendee, please.
- HETALIA POSTCARDS: Two different postcards for Hetalia: World Series (see image to right and image below), will be available at the FUNimation booth. Make sure you stop by to grab one, or the other, or both. These are great for collecting.
- HETALIA SEASON 1 AND SEASON 2: Hetalia Seasons 1 and 2 will be on sale at the booth. A very lovely item for autographs, perhaps?
Panels and Special Events
Friday at 10:00 am – Hetalia Model United Nations (aka. HetaMUN)
(Panel 2/Ballroom I-II) Presented by American Cosplay Paradise and FUNimation Entertainment. Back for a second round at Otakon, HetaMUN (Hetalia Model United Nations) combines the hilarious personalities and quirks of the popular Hetalia franchise with the academic phenomenon of United Nations role-play: Model United Nations. The topics may be out of this world but the simulation is authentic and the debate is real.
Come participate by supporting your favorite Nations or just sit and watch the Edutainment unfold!
Friday at 12:00 pm – Bob Shirohata and Akira Sasanuma Q&A
(Panel 1/BCC 318-323) Join us for a Question and Answer session with Hetalia Japanese director, Bob Shirohata, and the seiyuu for Austria, Akira Sasanuma!
Friday at 5:00 pm – Hetalia Fan Gathering
(Outdoor Fountains) Join us at the fountain area just outside the Baltimore Convention Center (between the convention center and the Inner Harbor) for a Hetalia gathering of truly epic international proportions. All are invited to attend and witness this gathering–you do not need to be in cosplay. FUNimation will be on hand to take lots of pictures. We’d love to have as many people there as possible so we can show the Hetalia staff on both sides of the Pacific just how much we all love this series!
Saturday 12:00 – 2:30 pm – Hetalia World Series Premiere and East Meets West Q&A
(Panel 3/ Ballroom I-II) Last year’s event was amazing and FUNimation’s back to bring the rainbow once again. Join members of Hetalia’s staff and cast from both sides of the Pacific as we show select episodes from Hetalia World Series for the first time EVER before its release this winter. Want to ask your favorite nation a question or wonder what goes into bringing Hetalia to you? Following the premiere will be an exciting question and answer session followed by a sneak peek at the feature film releasing this Winter, Hetalia – Paint it. WHITE!. We’ll also be showing the grand premiere of the season three trailer with music by Jim Welch! Jim has done the music for the previous Hetalia trailers, so if you enjoyed them, you’ll definitely enjoy this one. (welchcompositions.com) There will be other Hetalia goodies, surprises and perhaps some prizes as well. You won’t want to miss it! Panelists: Mr. Akira Sasamuna (Austria), Mr. Bob Shirohata (Original series director) Mr. J. Michael Tatum (France), Mr. Scott Freeman (Britain), Mr. Scott Sager (ADR Director, Egypt). Mr. Patrick Seitz (Germany) Moderated by Charlene Ingram (FUNimation Hetalia Brand Manager). Make sure you stay ’til the end!
Autograph Sessions/Individual Panels
The main Autograph Session with ALL of the available Hetalia cast members (East and West) will be onSaturday at 4:30 pm in Autograph 3. We are asking that you please limit the autographed items to ONE official Hetalia merchandise item, out of respect to our Japanese guests, and / or the 12 x 18 Hetalia: Paint it White poster that will be given away at the Premiere panel and at the autograph sessions. To ensure that everyone is able to get through the autograph line, all of the guests will sign the items.
There will be an additional Hetalia staff and cast autograph session on Sunday at 10:00 AM in Autographs 2 BCC 349. This session will be first come first served, so if you missed the Saturday afternoon session, be sure to get there early!
If you would like individual signatures on other items, you may attend any of the individual staff and cast autograph sessions (listed below).
Friday at 10:00 am – J. Michael Tatum (Autograph 1/BCC 350)
Friday at 10:00 am – Patrick Seitz (Autograph 3/BCC 348)
Friday at 12:00 pm – J. Michael Tatum Q&A (Panel 6)
Friday at 3:00 pm – Patrick Seitz Q&A (Panel 5/Hilton Key Ballroom)
Friday at 3:00 pm – Scott Freeman (Autograph 1/BCC 350)
Friday at 5:00 pm – Scott Sanger Q&A (Panel 5/Hilton Key Ballroom)
Saturday at 10:00 am – Scott Sanger (Autograph 2/BCC 349)
Saturday at 10:00 am – Bob Shirohata (Autograph 1/BCC350)
Sunday at 12:00 pm – U.S. Voice Actor Cavalcade (Autograph 1/BCC 350)
Sunday at 12:30 pm – Akira Sasanuma (Autograph 4/BCC 347)
Looks like Otakon is going to be full of Hetalia! What are you planning on attending? All of it, right?