Brace Yourselves: Anime Boston is Nearly Here!
By: EyeSpyeAlex
Another year, another Anime Boston! This will be my third time attending as a representative of The Geekly Grind and I cannot wait! For those who are unfamiliar with Anime Boston let me give you a little history.
Anime Boston is New England’s largest convention, with events and guests that highlight Japanese animation, comics, and pop-culture. Anime Boston has occurred annually since 2003, initially being held at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel. In 2005, the convention found its permanent home at the Hynes Convention Center, where it’s been held ever since.
Anime Boston typically caters to around 25,000 attendees, all eager to experience the awesome events packed into the convention weekend. Fans this year have a lot to look forward to. Here’s a couple of things I’m excited to do this weekend:
MIYAVI Live at Anime Boston
I’ve been a fan of MIYAVI since high school (Girls, Be Ambitious was my jam) and my respect and admiration for MIYAVI has only grown over the years. His work for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is commendable, and his jump into the film industry is no small feat either! After watching a couple of clips on YouTube I’d say fans looking to attend his concert are in for the show of a lifetime!
The AMVs
Anime Music Videos or AMVs are a favorite convention pastime of mine. I love watching fans express themselves and their love of a particular anime through music. They’re especially fun to watch at a convention where you can experience emotions as a collective unit. I’ve laughed and cried at many AMVs at Anime Boston over the years with fellow fans, which is an oddly comforting thing for me. It’s nice being able to have a real reaction to anime in public without worrying about being judged. One of my favorite AMV sessions to watch is Disney Through AMVs, which is happening from 3:00-4:00pm on Saturday, April 20th in Fan Creations 312.
The Fan Panels
It wouldn’t be a convention without the fans, and fan-led panels are one of my favorite parts of Anime Boston. I love getting recommendations for new anime or manga, or connecting with others on a particular show. It’s a great time to geek out with strangers over a shared interest. There are two panels in particular that caught my interest this year. The first one is Diversity in the Magical Girl Genre, which is happening on Saturday morning from 11am-12pm in Panel Room 309. The second is Superheroes vs Shounen Comics, which is happening on Sunday afternoon from 12:30-1:30pm in Panel Room 202.
I’ll also be checking out some of the industry panels and will be tweeting announcements in real time during the events. Be sure to follow The Geekly Grind (@TheGeeklyGrind) on Twitter and on Instagram for the hottest news and coolest cosplay! If you need information on how to register for Anime Boston, or need schedule details check out their website here.