On April 9, 2004, New England anime fans rejoiced, as they descended upon Boston’s Park Plaza Hotel for a second year. Anime Boston had returned, boasting an expanded space that included the cavernous Saunders Castle, which would host the event’s Artist’s Alley and Dealer’s Room. The guest list was studded with stars, from up-and-coming talents like Monica Rial to English-language icons like Crispin Freeman. Meanwhile, major players in the industry, from Funimation to Dark Horse, to ADV Films boasted industry panels throughout the weekend.
By February, the convention had reached its capacity for a second time, as they sold through all 3,223 memberships available. Much like its inaugural year, it was equal parts chaos and excitement, as impromptu Pokémon battles broke out in alcoves, and lines were packed with folks chatting with an equal sense of excitement and wonder. Some wondered if this would be the year Funimation or ADV finally got One Piece, while others traded stories about the panels they attended or their finds in The Castle.
And, who knows? Maybe Hell would freeze over, and someone would finally license one of those long-lost fansub darlings like Kodocha.
Though the convention had grown, it was impossible to deny that the same electrifying optimism that fueled its first year coursed through its halls. The eager smiles of members seemed inescapable, and there seemed to be real pride in the event from the staff and fans alike. Meanwhile, the Anime Boston website promised they’d be at a bigger venue in 2005, and it was impossible to avoid imagining the possibilities such a location could bring.
It’s been two decades since that weekend. In the years that followed, Anime Boston made the Hynes Convention Center its new seeming forever home. Passing by the gigantic, triangular event sign that adorns the entryway has been a welcome reminder that the rest of the world could fall away for those three days, while more than 20,000 fans returned for one big, rowdy gathering of friends and found family.
As I stepped through the giant glass doors that led into the Hynes, badge in hand, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia. Twenty years have passed since we said goodbye to the Park Plaza, but it never quite feels that way. Though the convention continues to grow, and the world continues to change, Anime Boston remains a place of respite and happiness for one weekend a year.
And, as I walked along the slate floors, the familiar heft of my gear bag on my shoulder, I knew I had come home again.
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