Author/Screenwriter Peter S. Beagle Returns to Otakon

Baltimore, MD (July 23, 2014) – Otakorp Inc. welcomes back author and screenwriter Peter S. Beagle for his sixth Otakon appearance. Beagle, joining the guest roster for Otakon 2014, is best known for his classic book, "The Last Unicorn," which was later adapted into a much-loved animated feature film. He appears courtesy of Conlan Press, who promises a major announcement at this year's Otakon.

Beagle was born in 1939 and raised in the Bronx, where he grew up surrounded by the arts and education: both his parents were teachers, three of his uncles were gallery painters, and his immigrant grandfather was a respected writer, in Hebrew, of Jewish fiction and folktales. As a child, Beagle used to sit by himself in the stairwell of his apartment building, making up stories.

Today, thanks to classics like "The Last Unicorn," "A Fine and Private Place," and "Two Hearts," he is a living fantasy icon. Beagle has written many teleplays and screenplays, including the animated versions of "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Last Unicorn," plus the fan-favorite "Sarek" episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation." His nonfiction book, "I See By My Outfit," is considered a classic of American travel writing, and he is also a gifted poet, lyricist, and singer/songwriter. He currently makes his home in Oakland, California.

His most famous work, “The Last Unicorn” was animated by studio Topcraft. Many of the animators would join Hayao Miyazaki to form Studio Ghibli. In 2011 "The Last Unicorn" also became a bestselling graphic novel from IDW Publishing.

Otakon 2014 will be held August 8-10 at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, MD.

ABOUT OTAKON AND OTAKORP, INC.: Now entering its twenty first year, Otakon is an annual celebration of Japanese and East Asian popular culture, and also one of the largest gatherings of fans in the United States. Otakon celebrates popular culture as a gateway to deeper understanding of Asian culture, and has grown along with the enthusiasm for anime, manga, video games, and music from the Far East. Since 1999, Otakon has been held in Baltimore, Maryland; currently, Otakon is one of Baltimore's few large, city-wide events, drawing over 34,000 people for three days each year (for a paid attendance of over 100,000 turnstile attendees). Otakon is a membership based convention sponsored by Otakorp, Inc., a Pennsylvania-based, 501(c)3 educational non-profit whose mission is to promote the appreciation of Asian culture, primarily through its media and entertainment. Otakorp, Inc. is directed by an all-volunteer, unpaid staff – we are run by fans, for fans.