There’s something special about Anime Boston to otaku in the northeast. People think about it all year long, and the Anime Boston forums are active even when the con is far away. Heck, it’s hard for me to even walk past the Hynes Convention Center any other time of year and not imagine it packed wall to wall with cosplayers.

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Maybe it’s because the convention draws 15,000 people. Maybe it’s because it usually falls in May, when the weather has just gotten warm, college kids are done for the semester, and high school seniors have graduated. Maybe it’s because Back Bay is such a majestic part of Boston architecturally. Maybe it’s the long lines snaking around the building to get into the masquerade that get everyone hyped up. For any and all these reasons, otaku meticulously plan for it with cosplay, skits, shenanigans, and reuniting with friends… from Anime Boston the year before!

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At my first Anime Boston I innocently stumbled on a grand piano in a small corner of the hotel. Since nobody stopped me, I started performing renditions of my favorite anime and video game songs for people passing by. Before I knew it, a crowd had formed – and they stuck around for hours. It was especially fun when a cosplayer walked by and I knew the music from their series. Imagine serenading Zelda, Tifa, Aeris or Winry, getting guys to “fight” during video game battle music, or a group sing-along to “Pokemon – Gotta Catch ‘em All!”

Of course, now there are more accomplished anime / game pianists, and these days you can find a hundred guys who know Final Fantasy on YouTube. But at the time, people thought it was wonderful that there was someone playing anime music at an anime convention. I’ll always remember the experience as a turning point in my musical career.

Personal nostalgia aside, I’ve seen some phenomenal stuff over the years, I decided to post some favorite masquerade highlights from 2007 and 2008:

This is the skit that made Ikeda Katsu a well known cover band in the northeast. They’ve since traded the ukuleles for electric instruments, and now perform frequently at local conventions and events. Anime Boston gave them their start because the masquerade put them in front of 5,000+ people.

The original “otaku boyband” that later became an inspiration for LeetStreet Boys. Ratica and Brookline High School continues performing high energy dances, and will undoubtedly return this year.

This skit’s production values made my jaw drop. I can only imagine how many hours must have been put into perfecting this piece. Seeing it live was even funnier than watching it on video.

So, who knows what new amazing things Anime Boston will bring this year? I’ve had a lot of great personal experiences, artistic inspiration, and made a lot of great friends. Everyone I know is really psyched up. Here’s to adding a new chapter of Anime Boston legends and myths!

Cheers!

Do you have any favorite convention skits from conventions you attended? If so, post a comment with a video link in the comments below.