Convention Report: AnimeBoston 2005 Hynes Convention Center, Boston, MA ShadowChaser Dates: 4/29/05-5/1/05 Guests: Daisuke Moriyama, Yoko Ishida, Johnny Yong Bosch, Dave Wittenberg, Scott McNeil, David Kaye, Monica Rial, Brianne Siddall, Cynthia Martinez, Melissa Fahn, Greg Ayers, Chris Patton. Being in Boston for college has its advantages and once again I was able to attend AnimeBoston this year — except this time it was cutting it close. How? My school year ended May 4 and the con ran during finals, so it was a bit of hectic scheduling of finals to take before the con started. This year’s guests were more numerous than last year’s along with a new space the con inhabited. They had moved the con from squishy Park Plaza Hotel to the Hynes Convention Center where there were HUGE open spaces to take pictures of others without the interference of people. This also meant more in the dealer’s room and me staring sadly in my pockets bugged-eyed at the receipts of the stuff I brought. As with my other con reports, here is a day-by-day look. Thursday, April 28, 2005 My best friend Steph and I went to AnimeBoston last year so we joined forces once again to go together this year. As usual, the staff at AnimeBoston allowed pre-registered people to pick up their badges a day early (and it was recommended as on Friday and Saturday there were a TON of people at the registration lines). We picked it up and noticed that the theme for this year on the bag was Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, for both Season One and Season Two (soon to debut on CartoonNetwork). Pretty ... Friday, April 29, 2005 Since Steph was also my roomie this year at Emerson College, we were able to help each other into our costumes. After Spring Break I had gotten inspiration to cosplay as Lacus Clyne in her commander’s outfit from the anime Gundam SEED. Steph helped me with the costume by sewing it while I cut, measured, and pinned the costume together. I digress, so now back to the morning. We woke up extra early, knowing that we had to get our costumes on and put on wigs too (wigs are no fun for me ... they itch like crazy). We had anticipated getting to the Hynes at 10, but didn’t arrive until 11:30. So we decided to wait in line for the Dealer’s Room to open. In line we both had our pictures taken by a few people and took pictures of others. I had a panel at 1 p.m. so took a quick look around the Dealer’s Room to scope out what I might come back to. Steph and I parted ways and I went to the Gundam panel. The Gundam panel (called “All That Gundam”) was initially funny, but then it got old as the people there rehashed what they said last year — mainly focused on the UC line of the Gundam series. Having known almost everything about it and getting bored, I left after 45 minutes and headed to wait in line for my next panel. The Johnny Yong Bosch panel was next on my list. You might remember him as one of the original Black Power Ranger, after Zack — the first one — left the show. He’s the Asian one known as Adam (and went all the way to Power Rangers Turbo — the rangers with the cars) — don’t ask how I know ... I continue to occasionally follow the latest Power Rangers incarnation because it’s funny and sad at times. He also did the voice of Vash the Stampede from Trigun, Kiba from Wolf’s Rain, Kaneda from the re-dub of Akira, and other voices. Anyways, the panel was a lot of fun and he told us about his alternative rock band (formed by Christian gospel then turned alternative — still with a bit of Christian stuff in it — you can definitely tell he was VERY religious), Eyeshine, and how he got started in voice acting. We pestered him to do some of his voices and about Power Rangers. He started his voice sample off with “What this world needs is Love and Peace!” a quote of Vash the Stampede. Then he went straight into, “It’s Morphin’ time!” which just threw the whole room into cheers and giggles. In that panel was a bunch of us that grew up with that show ... so ... nostalgia abound. Anyways the panel was finished so I was about to go to Scott McNeil’s panel, but that meant waiting in line again and getting a seat FAR in the back — which I didn’t want. So I wandered downstairs and headed to an autograph session Monica Rial and Cynthia Martinez were doing at that time. Monica did the voice of Tetsuko of Oh Super Milk-chan!, Haruka Shitow from RahXephon, Fiore Harvenheit from Chrono Crusade and many others. Cynthia Martinez is probably known for her voice of Lina Inverse in Slayers as well as other voices. Both of them were so nice and funny at the same time. Afterwards, I was going to go the Gundam photo shoot (where all characters representing all of the Gundam Series would come together for group photos), but no one arrive — sniff! — and so Steph and I headed back to our dorm room to quickly change and grab some dinner before the Karaoke Competition. We went to the competition and there were many talented singers. Steph didn’t win, but she sure sang a lot better than last year. I still like to rag on her about that. There was a lady from Tofu Records who puts out CDs done by L’Arc~En~Ciel, T.M. Revolution, and Nami Tamaki — all of whom are just some of my favorite artists. She was really nice and we decided that one of us was going to go her panel tomorrow. We met up with Steph’s friends and wandered the con a bit. On our walk around we ran into Webmistress Lizzard (really great person and super-nice!) who was guest liaison to Scott McNeil. I shoved (literally) Steph in front of others so she can get her stuff signed by Scott McNeil and she was speechless when he started doing his variety of voices in front of her. Got a quick picture with him too before deciding to head back around midnight. We were going to call our school’s escort service, but they didn’t even arrive after 2 hours so we hailed a cab and got back to our dorm at 2 in the morning. Ugh. Collapsed into bed and all is a blur. Saturday, April 30, 2005 The weather predicted rain today so I opted not to wear my wig and let my hair loose. I still wore my costume, but minus the hair piece and shoes. I wore sneakers instead. We got to the con around 9:30 and Steph went to a FUNimation panel while I headed to Chris Patton’s panel. Chris Patton had done the voice of Ayato from RahXephon and he was also script writing for Gantz, and doing voices on Chrono Crusade. I just wanted to see him because I needed his signature to complete my little RahXephon collection. I got there and found that he was really funny and easy going — and he even gave us his livejournal so we could all pester him. This is the year of pestering people. After Chris Patton’s panel, we ambushed him for an impromptu autograph session since his was yesterday and I missed it. I got my RahXephon booklet signed and took a picture with him then made a beeline to the line that was forming for Johnny Yong Bosch and Melissa Fahn’s autograph session. Steph and I decided that one of us would hold the line while the other headed to the Tofu Records panel. I had originally decided I would go to the panel, but changed plans as soon as I saw the line. And this was at least one hour before signing. Anyways, Steph joined me after her panel was over and we got to meet the two. Johnny seemed very shy and quiet, which was quite true to some of the characters he’s voiced (not at all boisterous as Vash the Stampede). Melissa Fahn is best known as the voice actor for Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tivrusky IV or Ed in Cowboy Bebop. She also has a lot of voice credits to her, but this is the one that most people came to see. There was another autograph session next and that was with Scott McNeil and David Kaye. So as soon as I got my stuff signed by both Melissa and Johnny I ran towards the line for David and Scott. Steph headed to the Anime Dating Game that she was “roped” into doing. David did a lot of voices, but he’s best known for Treize Khushrenada from Gundam Wing, Sesshoumaru from InuYasha, and Charles Xavier from X-Men: Evolution. David was a quick signer and very pleasant to talk to, but Scott — Scott is special. He is very much unlike some of the more aloof voice actors who look upon their fans as they praise him/her with their adoration. Scott is a people person and very huggable. And which was why I spent at least four hours in line to get one single thing signed by him. It was because he spent so much time talking with his other fans (and though I was pretty far up ahead in the line), which I found to be good and bad at the same time. I had planned to go the Dealer’s Room to buy all of my stuff in one go today. Anyways, I managed to get my stuff signed and when we were going to take a picture, he said I looked cute and swept me off my feet (literally). (He also said I was lightweight — heh.) Anyways, there are two pictures of me like that and here’s the better one. Scott has definitely burrowed into my heart as one of the most lovable and adored voice actors. Oh, as an afterthought, he is best known for the voices of Koga from InuYasha, Duo Maxwell from Gundam Wing, and Rattrap from Beast Wars. Afterwards, I rushed to the Dealer’s Room, bought my stuff, ran back to my dorm room to dump the stuff, changed and came back just in time for the Masquerade. Steph, by sheer luck, was able to find a group to enter in it and at the end she won one of the many prizes. She had cosplayed as Kagome from InuYasha and her yellow book bag won Best Accessory. I’ll admit, I was a bit jealous because she had basically entered in every single cosplay thing there was at the con and got a lot of recognition for her costume. Part of me didn’t mind and didn’t really care and was happy for her, but the other part wanted to also be in the spotlight. After the Masquerade we had decided we were going to go to the dance, but then decided not to because we were both exhausted. So we hung about and talked with a few cosplayers and friends that we’ve made during our time at the con. We eventually made it home at 1 a.m. with two of our guy friends escorting us — sooo sweet, you rarely see gentlemen willing to escort women that late at night. Happy dreams abound! Sunday, May 1, 2005 Steph and I woke up and since it was a mildly drizzly day (that eventually turned sunny), and quickly changed. This time we weren’t late as we already knew how to put on our costumes efficiently. We headed over and decided to do some last minute shopping at the Dealer’s Room. I brought a few things for my sister and decided to get out of the Dealer’s Room before I went completely broke. It’s too addicting. After getting some lunch, I met up with Steph’s Masquerade group and we waited in line for the Human Cosplay Chess. Steph was in the Human Chess game as the Black Queen dressed as Kagome. I was going to apply except I hadn’t finished my Lacus costume in time for the due date of the applications. The Chess was a lot of fun, with the white side totally killing the black side. I wish I was one of the people playing chess, but they chose someone else who was the lucky winner. Except it was funny because since all 32 pieces were cosplayers of different anime, when they attacked each other, it was very interesting to see what kind of attacks killed certain characters. One example would be when Alucard from Hellsing as the White King’s Rook killed Asuka from Neon Genesis Evangelion. Nice little bite from one of the coolest vampires in anime. ^_^ The Chess lasted a while and when we got out it was time to go. We said our goodbyes and left the Hynes with happy thoughts and great memories. Plus a load of pictures and goodies. This is by far a lot better than last year’s AnimeBoston. Disclaimer: All contents are personal observations, and no profit or lucre is expected, solicited, advocated or paid by anyone, including those being observed. This is all just for fun. Any comments, please e-mail the author or WOOKIEEhut directly. Flames will be ignored. This report may not be posted anywhere without the author's knowledge, consent, and permission. 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