I spent a good chunk of the first day wandering around and getting my bearings. Hit the dealers floor and checked out the various wares. A few of the stalls had some really nice deals, most notably the Science Fiction Continuum. They had a small but decent selection of anime DVDs and boxed sets marked at amazingly low prices. Single DVDs for $10 a pop and a number of boxed sets for under $30, including the Ninja Scroll series box and figurine package for $25 and two seasons of Black Jack for under $30 each.

Vertical had their full wares out for the more discerning buyers, and everything there was also marked down by about $5 or more. All of Suzuki’s novels, the Guin Saga novels and manga, Shinjuku Shark, Parasite Eve, and of course the complete selection of Tezuka’s works. They even had a special, a complete run of Buddha for $100. They were also incredible friendly and generally a very cool to talk to.

Media Blasters had a huge layout as well with the full range of their wares including material from their yaoi, smut, live action, and anime libraries, but with each DVD being at least $20 it was running a bit rich for my blood, even if it meant passing on Zeiram and The Great Yokai War. There were a few deals to be had though, several sets of live action films were kicking around the $20 price range including an Eko Eko Azark collection, and the criminally unknown Baian. Still, if live action Japanese movies were your thing and you had the cash, it was definitely the place for you.

One of the other things I really wanted to do on the first night was the catch the Kamikaze Girls movie. I’m not going to give it a full review, simply because that would far too long and entry in its own right. Suffice to say that it was absolutely fantastic. Hilariously over the top with some lovely fourth-wall-breaking moments. If you’re a fan of Lolitas or Yanki girls, or of watching Lolitas getting head-butted repeatedly by Yanki girls, then this movie is for you. Great, great stuff. I’m hoping to eventually track it down on DVD. It’s just that good. The film was actually delayed a bit, and I saw a fair amount of people showing up on, seeing an anime playing, and then turning right around and heading elsewhere. When the movie finally did start the room had about a dozen people in it. Word must have gotten around that it had started though, because a slow but steady stream begin about 10 or 20 minutes into it that ultimately resulted in the room being two-thirds or three-fourths full by the end. It did well enough to receive a round of applause of no less.

The only low point of the night was the Tokyo Pinsalocks concert. After waiting in line for about 40 minutes, with about 10 minutes before it was slated to start a member of the con’s staff came down the line announcing that no bags or props would be allowed inside the concert. Considering that over half the line had bags of loot, laptops, and various cosplay props, this wasn’t exactly what they wanted to hear. At least one girl near me got into a small back and forth with the official over this policy. She asked what to do with the bags, if there was someplace they could leave them like a bag check, etc. The staff member basically said to leave them in the hallway, but keep in mind that the con wasn’t responsible for what would happen to them afterwards. Eh. This policy also had me nixing my plans to try for the Pillows concert the next day, which is probably a good thing considering the length of that line.

I arrive early on Saturday for a local Boston bloggers meet. It was amazingly empty and there’s something oddly pleasant about seeing cosplayers munching down on breakfast in full gear first thing in the morning. After the enjoyable meet-up and getting to put faces to names, it was back to the con and, yeah. Things had changed in that hour and half. The place was packed. The hallways, the dealers’ room–it was wall-to-wall people and quite difficult to move or find a place to sit down. I knew there would be a lot of people, but I didn’t think it would explode like that over the course of an hour or two.

Of course Saturday was the biggest day with a number of interesting panels, events and of course, the Pillows concert. First thing I did was head back to the dealers’ room to burn off some time before some of the panels kicked in. The densely packed room made moving and browsing merchandise very difficult, so after an hour or so of that I wandered outside and sat down to try and figure out the rest of my schedule for the day. No sooner had I did so before I was asked to move from my spot against the wall outside the dealers room because the Pillows line was already that long. The Pillows concert which didn’t start for about three more hours. Definitely glad I decided against attempting to attend. After pushing past the various Kingdom Heart, Bleach and Naruto characters, and narrowly being trampled by Snake in a Box, I made my way to the front hallway on the third floor, sat down to figure out my new schedule for the day annnd… was promptly told to move because they needed the space for the Tokyo Pinsalocks autograph line.

D’oh!

Thankfully I had managed to figure out my schedule and with a while left I decided to once again brave the choppy waters of the dealers’ room. I wasn’t there for too long before my stomach and the crowd resulted in my retreating to the food court for a chance to sit and figure things out and to get something to eat. Sadly that didn’t work either as the food court was about as packed as everywhere else. I grabbed a some fried rice and made my way back to the third floor, admiring a very good Sora cosplay who was surrounded by cameras. I eventually made my way back to the third floor and plunked myself down near the escalators and video rooms while I munched on my rice and decided what to do until the Gaia panel at 5:30. By now it was close to 4 annnd… yep, you guessed it. I sat down and minutes later I’m asked about a line. Thankfully I wasn’t asked to move though, just asked about whether or not I was in the line for the Gaia panel. This kind of surprised me. The concerts, autograph sessions and other events I could understand a line forming for hours in advance. The Gaia panel though…? Wow. After this happened twice I decided to find out just where the line was and get in it before it was too late. Strangely enough at that point the line was going in two different directions. People were lining up behind me, despite my telling them I wasn’t in the line for it, and further down the line had begun to wrap itself around the escalator area. To make matters more confusing there was a line forming a cosplay panel that was practically right next door to the Gaia panel. Oops. At any rate I managed to get in line in time and found myself next to an amazingly good Mario Brothers theme cosplay group. A Mario, a Toadstool, two princesses, amazing stuff. Looked fantastic.

Good thing I got in line that early though since they were turning people away at the door. Still, the line was chaos. I spoke with a girl sitting next to me and we both got the impression that no one had anticipated this kind of line for the panel. To make matters worse, it was left to the fans to form and figure out how to shape the line and, yeah… that apparently involved wrapping around the small escalator area and blocking it for a short time, at least I’m guessing that’s what happened based on the con staffer shouting “People in the Gaia line, do not block the escalator!” The girl next to me had a better view of the area as I was firmly behind a pillar, and even she couldn’t make out the end of the line. It just kind of… vanished, presumably down one of the larger corridors.

At any rate I won’t bore you with the details of the Gaia panel since it, sadly, wasn’t particularly anime or manga related. I was hoping for more partnerships and promotional deals like those they’ve been doing with FUNimation, but no news was to be had. Ah well.

Immediately after the Gaia panel was the ADV panel, which I recapped elsewhere, and that was followed immediately by the Adult Swim Revolution panel which I also stuck around for. It turned out to be a fan-run panel that was actually pretty entertaining. Some discussion about whether or not the latest crop of original programs were any good, random questions about anime on the channel, and more. I felt bad for the two hosts who were asked several questions by fans who thought they were AS reps. This after they stated that they weren’t, several times no less. Ah well.

Sunday was a welcome cool down from the utterly packed and insane Saturday. Only one panel interested me, but I was hoping to catch a few last minute sales in the dealers’ room. Well, at least I got to catch the panel. The sales, aside from a funny little “Jesus has risen but our prices are falling!” sale at the Comicopia table, everything else seemed priced the same as it had been the previous two days.

The panel was an interesting one though. Technology, Globalization and the American Otaku was hosted by Alex L. and two fellow B.U. students, an Alicia and Kent. No last names were used or mentioned. Alex opened the panel by stating that they were planning to take a sociological look at the effects of technology and globalization on subcultures, and then immediately asked how many people knew what they were getting themselves into by attending the panel. Only a few hands went up but no one walked out. Oddly enough most of the panel was taken up with a history of the anime scene in the US. They touched upon the early days of fan subs and how it started with a circle of friends, moved into basements, slowly grew into local school and tape trading clubs, and then morphed into larger gatherings like cons, and so forth. The incestuous nature of artistic influences was only briefly touched upon, with mentions of Tezuka’s work being influenced by Disney and noting that the pendulum has swung back to the other side with the US being influenced by the Japanese animation now.

While some of the information discussed was fairly basic there were several interesting things that came up. Alicia and Alex both discussed how anime was never intended to be exported, and that even to this day they generally don’t tailor it to an international audience. Using EVA as example they talked about how the importation has caused a recontextualization of the imagery and themes throughout the work, adding layers of depth and meaning that were never originally intended. Unlike some, they didn’t view this as a bad thing but as a natural occurrence when it comes to art. Alicia further went on to mention that technology allows for complete rewritings of the material. She used a few AMVs as examples, talking about one she saw at Anime Boston ‘07 developed a lesbian relationship in a program where there previously wasn’t one, and a Full Metal Alchemist AMV that retold the story with the caveat that Al had died during their attempt at resurrecting their mother.

This in turn led into another point later on in the panel that was essentially about auteurs, and how we’re now seeing the rise of original work coming from fans which are eventually picked up by studios, citing Makoto Shinkai’s recent success as an example of how technology is now allowing for more direct interaction between the fans, the industry and medium. The three seemed to feel that it was only a matter of time before the US anime scene began to produce similar content, creating new material while drawing influence from the variety of materials that are now available to us.

Despite the rosy colored lens this seems to paint, they did mention that the increase of technology has also resulted in less interpersonal meetings and bonds. That with the ability to access and communicate with anyone in the world, people are on one hand communicating more, but becoming further estranged from the world immediately around them. Felt like they were angling towards the hikikomori phenomena though they never directly mentioned it. They did mention how certain shows and movies from the 90’s felt like a reaction to this phenomena though, stating that Lain specifically felt like an attempt to puzzle out the Internet addiction that was emerging in the 90’s. Ultimately the panel wrapped up with the hope that anime would act as a gateway drug to Japanese culture.

There were several other snazzy highlights from the weekend though. On Friday I stumbled across an impromptu sax solo performed by a cosplayer dressed as Midvalley the Hornfreak. He played a little bit of “Tank!”, the theme of Cowboy Bebop. Surprisingly there were several good musicians in cosplay, complete with instruments. In the same hallway a little further down there was a girl dressed as Link playing… uhh… a flute I guess. While on the second floor I passed someone in a cosplay outfit I didn’t recognize playing a bit of “Ready, Steady, Go” on another brass instrument. Lovely stuff and it just reinforced my desire to see a Guilty Gear cosplayer band at some point.

Lines aside, it was definitely a fun weekend.

Our crack team of Chloe Ferguson, Erin Finnegan, and Ken Haley braved long lines and heavily armed cosplayers to bring you the scoop on the Northeast’s fastest-growing anime convention, with the 411 on major anime announcements as well as the weekend’s other events. Erin also toted her camera to the con to capture some of the craziest and most inventive costumes of the weekend. And in case you missed it, here’s our Manga Map of Boston.

Left: Kicking it old school. I love to see age-appropriate costumes! Right: Sign reads: “Save a Horse, Ride a Mustang.” Note the easter basket on the left.

Chloe’s Report

The atmosphere may have been festive, but little could be done about the gloomy undercurrents that pervaded much of Anime Boston 2008’s industry paneling. The transition from 2007 into 2008 has been a rough one for the anime sector, with perhaps the most notable sign of losses being the closure of Geneon, Dentsu’s North American arm and purveyor of a sizeable pool of titles. It’s safe to assume that most North American industry licensors have taken hits of varying sizes, although thus far, a unified plan for recovery and tackling key industry issues remains theoretical at best.

ADV’s Saturday industry panel stands out as a microcosm of the fan and industry-based concerns wracking the anime sector, which frequently resurged among a smattering of like-minded panels. Company rep David L. Williams’ first order of business seemed to be reassurance: that DVDs will continue as scheduled, that ADV is not going under, and that yes, the industry knows it’s reached a sort of death struggle with illegal digital distributors who siphon off profits. There’s no delusion here; Williams readily admitted that digital distribution is not a fast or effective enough lifeline for companies in distress, and that cable streaming of programming was no longer a viable direction for the market. When talk turned to Dentsu and potential directions for its properties, answers were vague at best, although ADV made it clear that the longer the properties spend in limbo, the lower the chances are that third parties will step in to scoop up titles.

Williams then went on to outline the general crisis at hand- that even as the number of titles released has remained consistent, sales are declining, the end result being (he surmises) a contraction on the number of licenses brought over to America in the future. When it comes to combating fansubbing, speed becomes the buzzword of the hour, with company reps each touting the need to release titles at a speed competitive with Japanese broadcasts. The limitations, however, are evident, as this would relegate most shows firmly in the realm of sub-only, thus alienating a large chunk of consumers and presenting further problems down the road. Regardless of how companies choose to approach the problem, it’s undeniable that change is on the horizon for every licensor. As Williams puts it, “these changes will happen because they have to happen. Because the industry needs them to happen.”

Erin’s Report

I arrived at Anime Boston on Saturday morning this year, and immediately noticed the drop in the average age of attendees. There were many age-apporpriate Naruto cosplay kids running around the tragically crowded registration area. Attendance had clearly increased over last year. It was certainly better attended than New York Anime Festival 2007, despite the Easter holiday weekend.

Webcomics about the registration line:

• http://daijoubu.animeblogger.net/2008/03/24/megadaijoubu-27-anime-boston-and-the-line-goes-on/
• http://daijoubu.animeblogger.net/2008/03/24/megadaijoubu-26-in-line-for-anime-boston/
• http://www.unowen.net/tegaki/dblog.php?u=8325&e=49718

Look what you missed by avoiding a huge registration line: groups of girls cosplaying as Link!

Noah witnessed a spontaneous dance-off waiting in the short pre-registration line: a Konoha-era Sasuke cosplayer faced off against a Shippuuden-era Sasuke. They were both excellent dancers, but Konoha Sasuke got served.

Video game cosplay is very popular, and this year saw a significant increase in the number of Phoenix Wrights. Many costumes incorporated a fake cake as a reference to Portal, and cries of “The cake is a lie!” echoed the halls throughout the weekend. There was no stand-out most-popular costume this year, although L and Haruhi Suzumiyas populated the crowd.

The Dealer’s Room was in a smaller space this year, and I found it a little disappointing compared to previous years. One thing that seemed new was manga dealers selling partial or complete sets of manga at a discount.

The manga dealers were flooded with copies of Haruka; Beyond the Stream of Time volume one. One dealer was selling them for $5 on Sunday. Haruka is set for a big North American debut, with a run in Shojo Beat magazine, volume one of the manga due out April 1st, and the anime series being released by Bandai Visual beginning April 22nd. Personally, I hate Haruka, (a Fushigi Yuugi rip-off with no interesting characters or plot), and I doubt it will do well in the U.S. without the support of the popular dating sim it was based on.

I got a really great recording of “Shojo Manga of the 1970’s” (check my podcast next month), learned a little about Japanese baseball, hit a well-attended panel about doujinshi, and attempted to learn the Lucky Star Dance (along with three Disney princess cosplayers).

Noah was impressed by the comedy selections at the AMV contest. Anime Boston’s AMV contest has gotten steadily better every year. I’m sorry I missed it!

Sunday was a surreal experience. A group of gothy-teens in black T-shirts and extra-belted pants also wore bunny ear headbands. Someone walked in wearing a full-body Easter Bunny suit and a red kimono before I had my coffee yet, and I knew it was time to leave.

Having missed the boat on the Hare Hare Yukai dance, I attempted to learn the Lucky Star dance at 10 AM on Sunday.

Ken’s Report

The FUNimation panel on Friday was hosted by Adam Sheenan. Early on, Sheenan plugged the digital distribution format noting that FUNimation had several series available on both Xbox Live and iTunes. He viewed the method as a gateway drug for anime. Newcomers could preview the dub of a series cheaply, then seek the full package afterwards. FUNimation is also looking into the possibility of premiering sub-only episodes of new series online via their website before giving them a physical release.

There was an obligatory FUNimation Channel plug, complete with mentioning that Black Cat recently premiered there, followed by a listing of the all the upcoming series that FUNimation will be releasing in the next few months. Among them are Shuffle, Black Blood Brothers (with episodes currently online), Aquarion (13 episode half season boxed set release), the One Piece Movie plus the FUNimation dub and cut of the 4Kids episodes in half season boxed sets, DBZ movies and season releases, Baldr Force EXE (a single disk OVA), the School Rumble OVA, Claymore, and the CGI movie, Vexille.

After running down the above-mentioned list, Sheenan opened the floor to questions. He stated that they’re interested in getting the new season of Gunslinger Girl but they haven’t acquired it yet. He also said to look for Ouran High School Host Club news this summer. When questioned about Geneon and the possibility of picking up any of their library, Sheenan stated that they’ve been looking into it but it hasn’t moved beyond that stage yet. FUNimation also has no plans to release newer episodes or seasons of Kodacha. FUNimation seems to be really keen on the idea of the the 13 episode half-season boxed sets. The Aquarion and One Piece series are being used to test the waters for this style of release and if they do well enough they may consider the possibility of skipping singles altogether in favor of half-season boxed sets. It was mentioned that they may try releasing Claymore in this format. In regards to Case Closed, FUNimation does want to release more of the series but aren’t sure how to do so at this moment. Sheenan did confirm that the series was dead to Cartoon Network, but didn’t rule out the possibility of it turning up on the FUNimation Channel at some point.

The ADV panel on Saturday was essentially a short Q&A session with ADV’s David Williams and Janice Williams. They quickly shot down the rumor that they were ever in any trouble of closing down despite the brief halt they placed on production earlier this year, and they also mentioned that they had picked up the series, Kiba, recently.

Williams was down on the concept of digital distribution as the wave of the future, maintaining that it hadn’t become easy enough for it become a major means of distribution. He also pooh-poohed the idea of Blu-Ray HD DVD’s, comparing it to the dead SVHS format saying that it would be replaced by something new soon enough. He was also down on the idea of half season sets saying that fans would still pass on them in favor of eventual release of a full season boxed set. When asked about what went down between ADV and Geneon, Williams was rather tight lipped about the situation, avoiding any specifics. He also had very little to say about ADV manga, but they did mention that new volumes of Yotsuba& and Cromartie High have just been released and that there would be more coming from that division in the future, but he wouldn’t even begin to discuss the current state of the Manga divison’s website. Williams had little to say about the new EVA movies but, after being asked about the possibility of ADV “rescuing” the original EVA movies from Manga Entertainment, he did seem rather keen on the idea of gathering all the EVA material under the ADV umbrella. A really interesting tidbit: fansubbers have legal standing to actually sue Crunchyroll. He wouldn’t go into specifics but did say that any fansubbers unhappy with what Crunchyroll is doing with their material should talk to a lawyer. And finally on a live action note, he mentioned that while he’d love to see ADV pick up the license for the earlier Gamera movies they were currently tied up elsewhere.

Left: Guitar Hero cosplayer - note the huge registration line in the background. Right: Is Ouran High School Host Club super popular or are people attracted to the simple costumes? DVDs are due out this summer.

Planning on attending Anime Boston this weekend? If so, check out our Manga Map of Boston, directing you to the best places to buy manga (besides the convention floor, of course!). PCS reviewer and fellow Bostonian Chloe Ferguson pitched in to help me compile this list; if we’ve missed one of your favorite spots, let us know in the comments section.

Comicopia

464 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston
(617) 266-4266
http://www.comicopia.com/

Just a short walk from the Hynes Convention center is a manga lover’s paradise: Comicopia. This small storefront has a selection that would shame your local Kinokuniya, with titles popular—Fruits Basket, Bleach—and obscure—Junko Mizuno’s Princess Mermaid—and a friendly, knowledgeable staff that wear their otaku credentials proudly. Although Comicopia doesn’t offer the same attractive discounts as its competitors, it does run promotions on staff favorites; on a recent visit, the first volumes of Dragon Head and Eden: It’s An Endless World were 30% off the cover price. If you’ve only purchased your manga at Borders or Barnes and Noble, Comicopia is a great place to lose your comic store virginity—its neatly organized shelves and pleasant atmosphere are the perfect antidote to the attitude, clutter, and “no girls allowed!” vibe that can make a visit to your LCS such a drag.

You Can Get There From Here: Take the GREEN LINE to Kenmore. When you exit the station, take a right on Commonwealth Avenue. Comicopia will be on your right in the last block before Storrow Drive.

–Katherine Dacey

Harvard Book Store

1256 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge
(617) 661-1515
http://www.harvard.com/index.html

An academic, independent bookstore with seriously great taste in manga; if independent manga publishers and intelligent titles are your tune, then this is the place for you. (Think Ode to Kirihito, Abandon the Old in Tokyo.) Upstairs is the new stuff, while downstairs is a funky used books floor that’s essentially a free-for-all in terms of selection, with everything from retro 80’s and 90’s editions of titles to read-once new stuff likely to appear. It’s undeniable that manga is the minority here, but the staff is more than happy to assist, and manga can be seen cropping up on the featured titles shelf. The store also packs a Frequent Buyers discount worth applying for and, above all, a great atmosphere.

You Can Get There From Here: Take the RED LINE to HARVARD SQUARE. As you exit the station, reverse your direction and walk east along Mass. Ave. in front of the Cambridge Savings Bank. Cross Dunster Street and proceed along Massachusetts Avenue for three more blocks. You will pass Au Bon Pain, Toscanini’s, and the Adidas Store. Harvard Book Store is located at the corner of Mass. Ave. and Plympton Street.

–Chloe Ferguson

Hub Comics

19 Bow Street, Somerville
(617) 718-0987
http://www.hubcomics.com

Billed as “the comic shop for NPR listeners,” this Somerville newcomer is a pleasant place to spend a few hours browsing. The manga section is small—just one rack at the moment—but well stocked with CMX’s best offerings; on my first visit, I counted all nine volumes of Moon Child and full runs of Chikayu Misaki and Swan among the books for sale. Mixed in with the new arrivals are used titles and older editions of Viz manga (i.e. Maison Ikkoku, Ranma ½), as well as some fine examples of manga history: the first three issues of Amerimanga magazine, where folks like Amy Kim Ganter cut their teeth before landing book deals with Tokyopop. The rest of the store is organized thematically, with special sections for spandex fanatics, younger readers, and indie press enthusiasts. You can even bring Fido—the staff keeps a jar of dog biscuits behind the register for four-footed visitors. The only drawback to Hub Comics is its location; you’d be hard-pressed to get there without a car. Still, if someone in your entourage has wheels, it’s worth a visit, especially if you follow it up with a nosh at nearby Bloc 11.

You Can Get There From Here: Take the GREEN LINE (any train) to LECHMERE. At Lechmere, hop on the #87 bus (Clarendon Hills) to Union Square.

–Katherine Dacey

The New England Mobile Book Fair

82-84 Needham Street, Newton Highlands
(617) 964-7440
http://www.nebookfair.com/

You won’t find a Starbucks at this no-frills Boston institution (and when I say “no frills,” I mean it—the Book Fair is housed in a large, dark warehouse), but you will find great deals on manga, cookbooks, academic tomes, bestsellers, coffee table books, classics, mysteries, Choose Your Own Adventures—in short, any book in print as well as many obscure and out-of-print titles. Although the Book Fair carries titles by smaller publishers—Broccoli Books, Vertical, Inc.—its real strength is its selection of Viz and Tokyopop titles. You’ll find a robust selection of older and newer series, from the latest volume of Nana to out-of-print series like The Big O. All books are discounted between 20 and 40%; snag a reward card, and you’ll be on your way to earning a $20 gift certificate. If your comic habit extends to American creators such as Adrian Tomine, Alison Bechdel, or good ol’ Charles Schulz, you’ll find a small but well-stocked graphic novel section in the same section of the store.

You Can Get There From Here: Take the GREEN LINE (D Train/Riverside) to NEWTON HIGHLANDS. At the Newton Highlands stop, exit and walk to Walnut Street. Take a left onto Walnut and cross over the tracks. At Centre Street, take a right. Cross under Route 9. Centre Street becomes Winchester Street. Take Winchester Street to Needham Street. The New England Mobile Book Fair will be on your left. (Note: distance from T stop is approximately one mile.)

–Katherine Dacey

Tokyo Kid

36 JFK Street, Cambridge
(617) 661-9277
http://www.tokyokid.com/

If it’s Japanese subculture, it’s probably here; Tokyo Kid’s manages to fit an extensive selection of all things Japan pop in a relatively small store, although the dizzying arrays and tight shelves may not be exactly crowd friendly. Still, whether your passion runs towards anime, manga or both, Tokyo Kid has something to offer across all spectrums of fandom and age. To top it off, the store in genuinely invested in the community it serves, occasionally running events and contests to bring local fans out to mix. Though Tokyo Kid’s anime rental and sales seem to take the forefront, the store does devote an entire wall to manga alone, making it worth the trip in any search for elusive volumes- and with its unmistakable blue signage and prime corner location upstairs at the Garage mall, it’s hard to get lost along the way.

You Can Get There From Here: Take the RED LINE to HARVARD SQUARE. Exit up the main stairs/escalators onto JFK Street. Turn left up JFK Street to the end of the block and the Garage Mall (there’s a large arrow sign.)

–Chloe Ferguson