UlasanAnime.com – This year’s Anime Boston is shaping up to be an event that requires careful preparation, especially with the concurrent Anime Japan event demanding attention. The author, who opted out of attending Anime Boston last year due to a lack of motivation, is considering attending this year primarily to see the musical group nano.RIPE. Reflecting on past decisions, the author wonders why they didn’t prioritize seeing LiSA last year, acknowledging her impressive live performances and recommending others not to miss a chance to see her if the opportunity arises.
For those planning to attend Anime Boston 2016, there are several noteworthy aspects to consider.
A significant development this year is the extensive tie-in with Crunchyroll. Attendees can get “verified” as a Crunchyroll premium member. This initiative, detailed in a forum post, grants members perks such as early access to the dealer’s room, discounts at the Crunchyroll booth, reserved seating at their panels, and other minor benefits. This level of integration is a first for Crunchyroll at conventions, as they have previously sponsored various aspects of events but never to this extent. Notably, these perks are extended to all Premium members, not just those with the Premium+ tier, which raises questions about the distinct advantages of the higher tier.
Another crucial point is the scheduling conflict between Anime Boston and Anime Japan. This overlap makes it challenging to feature prominent guests from new anime, as many industry professionals will be attending Anime Japan. However, Trigger’s Masahiko Wakabayashi is making his way to American conventions again. He will be presenting a premiere of Kiznaiver and hosting a panel for Space Patrol Luluco. While both events are exciting, the Kiznaiver premiere is scheduled for an early 5:30 AM slot, likely coinciding with a live stream from Anime Japan on Sunday. This early start will feature the world premiere of the first two episodes, followed by a streaming session with Japanese staff and cast.
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The Kiznaiver stage event at Anime Japan is scheduled from 9:20 AM to 10:00 AM JST on Sunday, which translates to 8:20 PM to 9:00 PM Eastern on Saturday. The live stream panel is based on a private screening event held in Japan. The author humorously contemplates the activities of “Hibiku and Kaji-kun” during this time on a “workday,” suggesting that the details will be revealed later.
Recalling the previous year, the author admits to spending the entire weekend watching streams from Anime Japan instead of attending Anime Boston. The idea of staying up all night watching live broadcasts from Anime Japan now seems like a viable and perhaps enjoyable way to spend time at a convention. The PonyCan streams are highlighted as particularly promising, along with a scheduled broadcast for fans of the Fate/Nasuverse, featuring notable personalities that are expected to make significant announcements. Additionally, there are streams for Haikyuu!! and B-Project available for those interested.
Industry veteran Masao Maruyama is also confirmed to be attending Anime Boston. Known for his work on Shirobako, Maruyama is expected to share insights into Yuri!!! on Ice, which the author considers a potentially outstanding anime title. This series will also have its first significant preview at Anime Japan.
The Japanese guest lineup for Anime Boston, aside from Wakabayashi and Maruyama, consists of two pairs. Aniplex is bringing a duo of animators to represent Your Lie in April, and a pair of voice actors, Koki Furukawa and Konomi Kakinuma, will also be present. The author expresses admiration for these guests and encourages attendees to see them.
Regarding the musical acts nano.RIPE and ALI Project, the author has little to add beyond the typical involvement of music promoters like JHouseRock. There might be photo opportunities or autograph sessions after the concerts, but attendees are advised to bring money for merchandise. The author is contemplating whether it would be appropriate to get Million Live merchandise signed, given the artists’ involvement in at least three songs from the franchise. The presence of Arikaneesama is expected to be an interesting spectacle. The author plans to bring a few bags of glow sticks, with the specific use depending on nano.RIPE’s setlist. Given the approximate one-hour performance time per guest, a “best-of” anison list would likely necessitate the use of glow sticks for every song.
