Anime Boston Con Evaluation
March 25th, 2008 at 21:30:53 by wildarmsheero
My con experiences aren’t defined by events, but more by general emotions and feelings. As such, I can’t really write proper con reports, since I can barely remember what even happens event by event. I can however give you a general rundown of the kinds of things that went on in the Hynes on that cold weekend in March.
It’s not a mystery by now that the con was sub-par. I mean, Anime Boston isn’t exactly known for its stellar guest list, which is part of the reason why I go to cons. I couldn’t care less for the guests this year, except for maybe The Pillows (who I ended up missing, anyway.) So before the con even started, I had nothing to be excited about (at least they had Imagawa last year!) However, even with my low expectations going in, I still got disappointed. The only thing that really made me sour was the lines though, but this sour feeling permeated throughout con by way of the various con goers, thusly putting something of a damper on things. Other than the line issue, the con didn’t have much in the way of interesting panels either, which I kind of expected. The only good panel was Mike Toole’s black and white anime panel, and the rest ranged from serviceable to garbage. The two industry panels I hit up, FUNi and ADV, were fine but nothing of note happened. There was a doujinshi panel which was almost horrible, but I kind of liked it since it was about doujinshi. Note to those panelists, though: when your attendance knows more than you do, there is a problem. It’s not all death and destruction, though. The Dealer’s Room managed to put a big ol’ hole in my wallet, and I hung out with various fun internet personalities, so that stuff almost made up for the crappiness of the con itself.
Seems interest in mainstream fandom has shifted towards Death Note, and for some reason I’m noticing more yaoi appreciation than ever before. Let’s hope it’s just a fad. Nothing wrong with Death Note, mind you. I just don’t see how people can make countless AMVs from the show given it consists entirely of talking, thinking and staring. Oh well, better than Naruto, I suppose. Or, god forbid, Bleach. But why is Kingdom Hearts so popular? That’s not even an anime! Oh, silly US fandom.
Overall I had a good time, despite the organization mishaps. That stuff did bleed into my enjoyment of the con, but not by much. By Sunday, I didn’t care anymore. I won’t be going back next year, but hopefully that’ll be because I’m in Japan studying abroad~
Loot

Podcasts
Photos
This is almost the last of my Anime Boston coverage. A comic, which has already been completed, will go up on Saturday, finishing off this series of madness.
Tags: Anime Boston

March 25th, 2008 at 21:39:57
Eh I usually head to the Super Robot and Gundam Panel when I head to cons. That and the “Your Favorite Anime Sucks”. Otherwise, I just go to anime viewing rooms and play games.
March 25th, 2008 at 22:00:31
Tell me that one doujin says “You wa shock.”
March 25th, 2008 at 22:02:52
“Double Love Shock!!”, sorry.
It’s a Futakoi doujin
March 25th, 2008 at 22:18:49
How could you miss The Pillows after I told you to make sure you caught them! Terrible! I did hear the lines were ungodly much like AX out here in California was last year, the problem with these fan run cons is just that, its amatuer organization. Hopefully both cons will get it sorted out for next year (or in AX’s case a couple months i guess)
March 26th, 2008 at 00:18:43
But why is Touhou so popular? That’s not even an anime!
March 26th, 2008 at 00:59:49
Kingdom Hearts became really bishonen/yaoi friendly with the second installment, as the new enemies introduced were basically all said pretty men. Your lack of videogame interest is a big hole in your discipline in otakuism and will crush you if you venture to the belly of the beast.
I’d say that the “yaoi fad” is the likely final fad of Japan related fandom, and the market with either go “poof” or hopefully make a turn towards more well-rounded appreciation. There’s not really any other element to anime fandom left that either hasn’t already existed here or isn’t coming (loli) in a mass appeal form.
March 26th, 2008 at 08:05:06
That crab was awesome.
March 26th, 2008 at 09:24:16
>>JustDJR
I didn’t figure out how to sneak in until after the concert.
>>Anonymous
But…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd5oM6lTKe0
>>TheBigGSN5
Bleh. I got no time for games, and lack the Japanese skillz for eroge.
>>Magusman
Best Crab Ever
March 27th, 2008 at 22:53:02
What artist made the sketch of you? I like that character design style.
March 28th, 2008 at 00:12:35
http://cutemew.deviantart.com/
April 19th, 2008 at 01:43:45
that is a good sketch
June 25th, 2008 at 12:36:37
good pic but I prefer only books ^^ nothing more hehehe and I was never play in Kingdom Hearts don’t know why Its look just strange 4 me ;/
September 4th, 2008 at 14:17:56
I love this one! Looks very nice. Very “Pro”…
October 27th, 2008 at 21:04:20
Yeah!! That crab was awesome.