Otakon Brings Background Art Director Kazuki Higashiji to D.C.

Otakon 2026 is pulling in one of anime's most accomplished background art directors. Kazuki Higashiji, whose work has shaped the visual depth of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex and Maquia - When the Promised Flower Blooms, will be among the industry professionals attending the convention later this month.

The three-day event runs July 31 through August 2 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., and will feature an extensive lineup of creators spanning voice acting, direction, and production design.

One notable shift for this year's Otakon: the convention will no longer permit fan art sales in its dealers room. The policy change marks a departure from how the event has traditionally operated, reflecting evolving approaches to how fan-created content is handled at major anime conventions.

Source: Anime News Network