A line of attendees had already begun to kind outdoors of the Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium by 9 o’clock, as followers staked out their spots for Anime Boston’s opening ceremonies. Some chatted about their plans for the occasion, others caught up on their simulcasts. Inside the half-hour, the road had reached midway across the perimeter of the Hynes’ second flooring, as a whole bunch waited for the occasion to start.
The doorways to the auditorium opened at 9:40 AM, and attendees spilled in towards the middle of the room. The stage stood on the entrance, flanked by screens that performed anime-themed TikToks, Anime Music Movies, and viewers participation video games like “Anime Chronology.” In the meantime, an announcer on the PA system instructed attendees to fill into the room, typically punctuated with makes an attempt to heat the group up.
The Cosplot
As with earlier years, Opening Ceremonies kicked off with the Cosplot. It is a quick skit, by which A-chan and B-Kun, the occasion’s mascots, riff on the yr’s theme. For instance, in 2019, it was “Tales from the Shogunate,” whereas “Bento in Boston” was the topic for Anime Boston 2022.
This yr, although, Anime Boston didn’t have a theme. As a substitute, a lot because it had been within the early years, Anime Boston was merely “Anime Boston.” The parents enjoying A-chan and B-kun each went all-in on this, wandering out onstage in road garments, earlier than addressing the viewers. They bantered concerning the lack of a theme, cracking jokes concerning the state of affairs, earlier than a clumsy silence set in.
To fill the lifeless air, B-kun blurted out that they need to speak concerning the new reveals they’re watching, to which A-chan replied “Beautiful Advanced!” to a minor applause. B-kun countered that “the dub simply dropped, however the present’s older than the principle characters at this level.”
They ran by way of a handful of titles from the present season, shouting out Scrumptious In Dungeon to a couple small cheers. Earlier than lengthy, although, the duo broke down the fundamentals of what the weekend needed to supply, earlier than introducing conference chair Jenny Leary and vice-chair Omega Au.
Introduction
Leary and Au took the stage to well mannered applause and launched themselves to the viewers. The 2 offered a brief, documentary-style video that depicted the Anime Boston employees organising the venue. It interspersed footage of workforce members doing all the things from unloading crates from Crunchyroll, to constructing the stage Leary and Au stood upon with cuts to staffers cheerfully welcoming the viewers to Anime Boston.
Because the display went darkish, Leary provided because of the occasion’s sponsors, together with Discotek Media and HIDIVE. After a well mannered spherical of applause, the duo introduced drag performer Full Destruction onstage to introduce a brand new occasion. This yr, Anime Boston would host its first-ever drag present.
The three took their depart, and stepped offstage, as friends crossed the stage, one after the following.
Friends
North American Friends
Greg Ayres
To many, Ayres is part of the very cloth of Anime Boston’s group. He has been a visitor at each Anime Boston since 2005 when the occasion first moved to the Hynes. Certainly, Ayres was brimming with pleasure as he hurried onstage, and there was an unmistakable sense of pleasure in his voice, as he greeted the group. He shortly highlighted his upcoming occasions for the weekend, earlier than hurrying offstage.
Zeno Robinson
After taking the stage, Robinson remarked that this was his first-ever Anime Boston, including, “I hope we are able to have a whole lot of enjoyable this weekend.” He gave a rundown of his scheduled occasions and panels, providing a specific emphasis on the Jujutsu Kaisen occasion that was slated to happen at midday.
Earlier than heading backstage, he thanked the viewers, including, “I really like you all. I can’t wait, and I’ll see you all very, very quickly.”
Kira Buckland
The group erupted at Buckland’s introduction video, significantly when footage from Jojo’s Weird Journey: Stone Ocean started rolling, and swelled as she took the stage. Very similar to Robinson, she defined that this was her first Anime Boston. Earlier than hurrying offstage, she gave fast plugs for her upcoming Jojo’s Weird Journey and Smash Bros. panels.
Alyssa Marek
Like Robinson and Buckland, this yr was Alyssa Marek’s first-ever Anime Boston. She made a quick look onstage and inspired attendees to go to the Dungeons & Dragons occasion, in addition to her autograph periods.
Kristen McGuire
There was a second of silence, adopted by confusion after McGuire’s introduction video ended. This was shortly damaged, although, when McGuire bounded, full-speed onto the stage. “Hey, Anime Boston,” she exclaimed, including “I didn’t understand I used to be supposed to start out strolling!”
She famous that this was her first time at Anime Boston, earlier than encouraging people to go to the Oshi no Ko panel that will be held at 11:30 AM. She added that she was additionally tabling as an artist this yr and that she could be within the Artist’s Alley when she wasn’t at occasions.
Casey Mongillo
Mongillo took the stage to cheers and applause. Their expression confirmed real pleasure as they momentarily seemed over the group. They defined that this was their first-ever Anime Boston as a visitor. Nonetheless, they had been on the occasion in 2014 with Greg Ayres, with whom they traveled to the conference as a good friend. They took a second to focus on their occasions on the conference earlier than stepping offstage.
Shannon D. Reed
Reed wore a glance of nervous pleasure as he took the stage. He launched himself to the viewers and defined that, like those that went on earlier than him, this was additionally his first Anime Boston. He inspired individuals to attend the Oshi no Ko panel, along with different panels he’d be internet hosting all through the weekend.
Natalie Rial
Rial smiled on the viewers as she took the stage, earlier than exclaiming “There are such a lot of of you! I’m gonna throw up,” prompting chuckles from the viewers. She remarked that this was not solely her first time at Anime Boston, however it was additionally her first time in Massachusetts.
She talked up the upcoming Oshi no Ko and Dungeons & Dragons panels, in addition to her desk within the Vendor’s Room earlier than stepping offstage.
Michelle Ruff
Ruff wore a assured smile as she stepped onstage. She had beforehand attended Anime Boston in 2017 and was initially slated to attend in 2020 and 2021 earlier than the occasions had been canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
She famous that she was co-hosting the Persona 3 panel at 4:00 PM and that she’d be studying the right way to play Dungeons & Dragons dwell in the course of the upcoming panel.
Alejandro Saab
Saab hurried onstage and took a number of moments to debate his upcoming panels. Specifically, he highlighted the Persona 3 and Genshin Influence occasions, along with his desk within the autographs room.
Jack Stansbury
Stansbury expressed a mixture of pleasure and shock as he took the stage, explaining that this was his first Anime Boston and his second conference look ever. The room applauded on the remark earlier than he mentioned his upcoming appearances within the Genshin Influence panel, the Dungeons & Dragon occasion, and the Anime Unscripted sport present.
Japanese Friends
Kaho Shibuya
Shibuya stepped onstage dressed as Chun-Li from Avenue Fighter whereas holding a selfie stick. She excitedly defined that this was her first time in Boston, and that “I can’t wait to attempt lobster!” She added that she was trying ahead to getting reacquainted with Dunkin’ Donuts and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, as each had left Japan years in the past,
She added that she could be internet hosting panels on Friday and Saturday however, past that, she would “be on the autographs sales space nearly on a regular basis.”
Yuya Hirose
Hirose briefly greeted the viewers in English, explaining that this was his first time in the US. In Japanese, he mentioned his panels and occasions deliberate for the weekend, along with his deliberate autograph periods.
Yukana
The viewers erupted in cheers and whoops when Yukana’s introduction video highlighted her function as Code Geass’s C.C. She walked onstage and eagerly exclaimed, “Hello everybody, and welcome to Anime Boston 2024! (…) I do know it’s a bit moist and wet, however I hope we are able to have time at this time.” Afterward, she defined that she’d be internet hosting autograph periods and panels all through the weekend.
Yuki Watanabe
Watanabe was pretty understated when he stepped onstage. Not like the others who had come earlier than, there was no introductory video or splashy intro presentation. He launched himself, and added, “In Japan, producers like myself don’t get an opportunity to be onstage, so I’m form of nervous.”
He shortly famous that he’d be co-hosting panels all through the weekend with Yuya Hirose.
HIZAKI with Kaya
HIZAKI and Kaya strode onstage in gothic lolita finery. HIZAKI was clad in a red-and-white costume, whereas Kaya wore a black-and-white costume with a purple petticoat. The 2 launched themselves to the viewers earlier than HIZAKI added “We’ve traveled to many nations all over the world, however that is our first time in Boston and we’re very excited to be right here.” She defined that the duo would host a collaboration live performance with Babybeard, including that they had been excited concerning the efficiency.
“I feel it’s going to be a really particular time,” HIZAKI remarked, “so come on down!”
A Transient Tribute
After the visitor introductions, Leary and Au returned to the stage. They famous that they’d an “in memoriam” that they needed to function earlier than they continued. The lights dimmed, and a video tribute to Akira Toriyama, who handed away on March 1 started enjoying. The function included clips of interviews and pictures of the legendary creator, set to Randy Newman’s Once I’m Gone. The five-minute video served as a touching, if painful reminder of simply how a lot Toriyama influenced not solely a era of followers however your entire world of anime and gaming.
When the video completed, Leary and Au mentioned the conference’s charity focus and their partnership with the Nationwide MS Society. Additionally they took a second to disclose a brand new plushie that was being bought as collaboration merchandise.
The 2 left the stage as soon as extra, because the occasion’s last visitor took to the stage.
Babybeard
Instantly, heavy steel riffs started enjoying over the PA system, as members of the viewers shortly acknowledged the opening bars of Nippon Kara Konnichiwa. The members of Babybeard then dashed out to the stage wearing maid outfits.
Babybeard is an idol trio made up of Ladybeard, an Australian stuntman and former professional wrestler, and idols Mahri and Suzu. The group was based in 2021, and launched their Twisted Kaiju Story EP in 2023
The power of the room instantly amped up, as Ladybeard broke into growling heavy steel screams, punctuated by earnest, cheerful singing by Mahri and Suzu. All of the whereas, the three carried out an elaborately choreographed routine that simply begged everybody within the room to stand up and out of their seats. Earlier than lengthy, people had been leaping up, pumping their fists, and cheering.
Because the music stopped, the three performers launched themselves, every garnering a pop of applause from the viewers. They led the group in a call-and-response part, imploring everybody within the room to punctuate the chu! In “Massachusetts.”
There was a quick pause afterwards, as Ladybeard addressed the viewers once more. “Subsequent up,” he defined, “is a tune you’ve most probably heard earlier than.”
A well-recognized steel riff kicked on, as the group erupted in shrieks and cheers. It was a canopy of Babymetal’s Pa Pa Ya!!
By this level, your entire room was on their ft, clapping and singing alongside, with dozens by way of the room busting out their glowsticks to get their wotagei on. Ladybeard’s growling screams labored brilliantly in opposition to Mahri and Suzu’s vocals, and the choreography between the three was simply unabashedly enjoyable.
At this level, they’d made their case for his or her Saturday live performance, which might be held in “Corridor D – D for Dinosaur,” as Ladybeard put it. He added, “I really like America, so completely happy to be again!” as they took a photograph of the viewers.
The group had one final tune on deck on this micro-concert, Twisted Kaiju Story. The tune’s bouncy melody stored the viewers transferring and dancing alongside, holding the power excessive as they delivered remarkably tight choreography and a real pleasure that was matched by the remainder of the room.
Because the set ended, they thanked the viewers once more, earlier than bounding offstage. The attendees, in the meantime, murmured with pleasure and cheer, as they settled down for Leary and Au’s return.
The 2 provided a number of temporary feedback, and thanked everybody for attending, earlier than sending all people off into the halls of the Hynes for an additional weekend crammed with enjoyable, pleasure, and anime.
Extra Images From the Babybeard Live performance
