Anime Boston 2007

[Yukito Kunisaki]

Well, It is around four months until this con, so I decided to open a thread for it. Anyone here coming this year?

They have announced the following guests:

---Voice Actors/Actresses---

Greg Ayres is not your average voice actor. The once "fanboy" turned VA started working for ADV Films two years ago, and in that time, he snagged two of his favorite roles in anime. He was thrilled to voice the role of his favorite character Son Goku in Saiyuki, then one year later, Kaworu Nagisa in the director's cut of Neon Genesis Evangelion. Other roles include Toga in Gravion, Chrono in Chrono Crusade, Yuya Asou in SuperGals, Mannen in Pretear, and Shinji Kazama in Full Metal Panic. He can also be heard in other titles such as The Legend of the Mystical Ninja, Steel Angel Kurumi, Those Who Hunt Elves II, Panyo Panyo Di Gi Charat, Cromartie High School, Gunslinger Girl, Azumanga Daioh, D.N.Angel, Kodocha, and Macross. Greg can currently be heard as Hideki in Nerima Daikon Brothers, Pope Alessandro in Trinity Blood, Onigiri in Air Gear, and Koyuki in BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad.

To find out even more information visit Greg's web site at www.gregayres.com.

This will be Greg's third appearance at Anime Boston. You can hear his panel from Anime Boston 2005 in the Anime Boston podcast.

Laura Bailey is the voice behind the lovable character Tohru Honda from “Fruits Basket”. Don’t let that ultra-sweet fool anyone; Bailey has also voiced Lust from “Fullmetal Alchemist”, Alv from “Kiddy Grade” and Henrietta in “Gunslinger Girl.” Bailey also provided ADR direction in “Case Closed”, “Gunslinger Girl” and “Kodocha”. She has also appeared in “Negima! Magic 101”, “Dragonball Z”, “Yu Yu Hakusho” and “Lupin III”.

Troy Baker is a multi-talented voice actor. Mostly recently chosen to be the voice of Abel Nightroad in “Trinity Blood,” Baker is also voiced such memorable characters such as Frank Archer in “Fullmetal Alchemist,” Nagi Springfield in “Negima! Magic 101” and Alphonso in “Gunslinger Girl.” Baker has also appeared in “The Galaxy Railways,” “Lupin III” and “Case Closed.” This Dallas-area native was originally the lead singer and guitarist for the band Tripp Fontaine.

Colleen Clinkenbeard has been involved with professional voice acting for the past 13 years. Starting off with “Dragon Ball Z” as Zangya, Clinkenbeard gradually grew into stronger roles such as Éclair from “Kiddy Grade”, Riza Hawkeye from “Fullmetal Alchemist” and Esther in “Trinity Blood.” Clinkenbeard has also appeared in “Kodocha”, “Lupin III”, “Spiral” and “Samurai 7”. She has lent her voice to various video game characters in “Aeon Flux”, the Fullmetal Alchemist video games and “Spikeout”.

Travis Willingham is best known as Colonel Roy Mustang from “Fullmetal Alchemist,” mostly recently heard as Iggy from “Ergo Proxy”. A graduate of Texas Christian University, this Dallas-native has also starred in “Yu Yu Hakusho”, “Blue Gender”, “Kiddy Grade”, and “Case Closed” before settling into his Fullmetal Alchemist role. He has also voiced characters in “Time Crisis 4” video game.

---Industry---

David Williams is currently an ADR Director for ADV Films as well as their DVD Producer and voice on the Internet. He has directed Angelic Layer, Pretear, Najica, the original Nuku Nuku OVAs, Dirty Pair, and many others. He's produced more DVDs than he can remember and had more skin grafts due to online flame wars than he wants to remember. He's often invited to anime conventions where he can be seen wandering the con with his "What would you do for a DVD?" badge, giving out DVDs to clever and amusing otaku. His roots in the industry go deep, having been an anime fan since before there was an anime industry in the U.S. and with ADV from the beginning when his living room was used as a production facility for their first show, Devil Hunter Yohko.

---Artists---

Robert DeJesus is an Indiana-born, self-taught artist. In 1990, he got his first art career break when he sent an eight-page short story to Antarctic Press' anthology, Mangazine. From that, he was asked to work on other assorted Antarctic Press comics, such as Ninja High School and Mangazine. After working for the company for about four years, Robert went freelance. He teamed with other artists such as Adam Warren on Bubblegum Crisis and Dirty Pair and Phil Foglio on the Xxxenophile card game. He co-produced a portfolio 'zine with Steve Bennett. Robert's biggest claim to fame has to be designing Banzai Chibi Chan, the mascot for PlayStation Magazine: 100% Independent. DeJesus and his wife, Emily, have started their own company, Studio Capsule.


I am hoping to go as Yukito Kunisaki from Air *Above avatar*. So, for those going, any thoughts on costumes or looking forward to anything yet?

[Caster13]

wow, nice lineup....AND NO VIC!!!! HALLELUHIA!:lol: theres fullmetal stuff, but they got a lot more variety in their roles. we have yet to hear the BECK dub, so we wont know how thats turned out yet for a while. but Greg Ayers....wow, thats good voice acting to do so many different types of voices.

i might be going, but ill have to see whats up with a friend, as i need a mode of transportation, with me having no car. this con looks really fun. im going to a lot more panels than i did at AnimeNEXT. and its a lot bigger.

[Yukito Kunisaki]

Well, for one thing, Vic Mignogna was confirmed by the AB Chairman that he cannot make it that weekend. (I think he is cool, but i am relieved because the Miniskirt army will probably be enough...no need for both them and the rangers there all at once). Greg Ayre's 3rd year in a row at AB, and I have yet to actually talk to/meet him. He is awesome, and appearently, he says he loves AB...his reappearence just makes me believe it. I wonder how much longer he will be here for. :D

Well, yea, AB is usually fun, though last year was so cluttered, I couldn't really enjoy it. I hope they have things more organized this year, and I really look forward to it.

[Caster13]

yea and if vic got put on a part for Deathnote....RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! FANGIRL STAMPEDE!!!!

[Yukito Kunisaki]

Yup, haha. And for some reason, i could see him doing that L guy...or was it Light? Idk, I never read it, so it is beyond me, but the kid who is always in the chair..i can somehow picture Vic's voice over him. AB would be doomed if that were to happen and Vic was to come in the next year.

[Caster13]

we'd still have to worry about the cons in the summer....

[LinaLoN]

I'm going! I can't wait to see Greg again!

I REALLY can't wait to meet Laura Bailey who does Sana's english voice in Kodocha! She has done really hard work and special attention to that role. Kodocha is one of those animes that is almost IMPOSSIBLE to translate alot of it directly from the Japanese version but Laura's interpetations make sense to me and it doesn't hurt the stroylines any like Sailor Moon did. What I find really admirable is her version of Sana's "rapping" because it's times really well with the mouth movements and I end up singing along.

I'm going as Sakura from Naruto and Lina Inverse from Slayers of course.

[CrimsonNataku]

I will be attending Anime Boston, it is my local convention, after all.

As for cosplay, I've made costumes for 3 consecutive years (only one per year, though ^_^) and am making another for the Masquerade (walk-on) this year.

I've also proposed a few panels to AB... Hopefully one will get accepted. I did two last year, and I really enjoyed the experience, so I'm hoping to do it again.

[Caster13]

that ballroom dancing thing is gonna be interesting, mainly cause of what people would wear...or try to:lol:

[GreatNekoKoneko]

... voice actors. meh. i got some .20 bb's ready to fire at some Narutards. now thats a good reason to go to cons.

[Bishoujo Senshi]

Wish I could go, but work concerns will not allow it. I did have a good time when I went last year, although I do agree that some better organization would have been nice.

[Caster13]

hehe the anime club in my college went to otakon last year and attacked a huge group of Narutards with airsoft, starting with the president shooting neji in the face not even a foot away from the gun. they completely opened up on them.

[Xx0t0rixX]

I'm mad pumped for Anime Boston. I'm on a journey to find a Kannazuki no miko poster and maybe even some shoujo-ai (possibly yuri) doujinshi~

last year was a lost cause but I did get a MAri-mite poster and there were 4 different ones.

However my favorite question remains un answered. Will Greg be DJing at the dance?! o__o

[Xx0t0rixX]

... voice actors. meh. i got some .20 bb's ready to fire at some Narutards. now thats a good reason to go to cons.

goodluck not getting kicked out. Anime Boston is strict on their weapon policies.

[Caster13]

id just take a paintball grenade and chuck it into a crowd of my choice:D

[GreatNekoKoneko]

...like i said. voice actors = meh.

i mean, c'mon. he's a VOICE ACTOR.

[Caster13]

apparently your talking about american ones, cause i know that your a megumi hayashibara fan:lol:

[Milky Mixer]

I'm going to be there - though I'm hoping for a more exciting second round of guests to be announced. I think they had Mary Elizabeth McGlynn and Richard Epcar last year, but I wasn't able to make it, so I'm hoping they'll both return. And more industry guests, too.

[GreatNekoKoneko]

...megumi hayashibara. (sobs). if i only went there years ago... oh the humanity.

[Caster13]

their attendance probably maxed out for her being there.

[Lady Vader]

It'd be worth it to go just to see Greg again, Hes Fantastic!

[Milky Mixer]

I wonder when they're going to announce more guests. I'm ready for some news. I'm really excited about this trip anyway, but yeah, so far the guest list doesn't have anyone that personally excites me.

Still, I know the con will be killer fun anyway. AND I talked my sister into tagging along with me. So we're going to fly up Thursday and do the Boston Trolley tour. Friday and Saturday will be the con. Sunday we want to go to the Museum of Fine Arts. Not sure what else we'll do on Sunday and Monday, but we're gonna check out some of the sites and the shopping. I also want to go by the Bull & Finch, the bar that served as the exterior for Cheers. And I better get me some genuine Boston Clam Chowder when I'm there, too!

[Yukito Kunisaki]

"Second Round of Guests
March 16, 2007
We're pleased to announce our second round of guests.

From Japan, the convention welcomes Junji Nishimura, director of "Ranma ½" and the "Violinist of Hamelin", and also Yasuhiro Imagawa, the creator of "Giant Robo" and chief director of "Mobile Fighter G Gundam."

As for North American guests, the convention welcomes voice actors Chris Bevins, Luci Christian, Mike McFarland, and Mike Sinterniklaas and industry guests Grant Moran and Tom Wayland.

Anime Boston -- Northeast's largest Anime convention to host worldwide talent! "

[Milky Mixer]

Meh, color me disappointed so far...

Most of these folks are the same voice actors who appear at all of the cons. How about getting someone different for a change, like Liam O'Brien? I'd still like to have Mary Elizabeth McGlynn appear, she doesn't seem to do very many cons. Other than the guy who directed Simoun, which I love but will probably be overshadowed by his Kyo Kara Maoh! connection, I can't say I'm interested in anyone they've got lines up.

Here's hoping for a third round...? ;) So far no musical guest has been announced, so I'm hoping when they announce that they'll thrown in a couple more guests that might turn my head a bit more (or does AB not usually have a musical guest?). Oh well, I guess at least I won't be spending the entire con waiting in autograph lines...

[Yukito Kunisaki]

Meh, color me disappointed so far...

Most of these folks are the same voice actors who appear at all of the cons. How about getting someone different for a change, like Liam O'Brien? I'd still like to have Mary Elizabeth McGlynn appear, she doesn't seem to do very many cons. Other than the guy who directed Simoun, which I love but will probably be overshadowed by his Kyo Kara Maoh! connection, I can't say I'm interested in anyone they've got lines up.


Mary Elizabeth McGlynn was at anime boston in 2005 i believe...might have been 06, but she wasn't one that interested me as much to member.

They have one more wave of guests. If they have announced Japanes eguest on the second wave, then I can only hope something great on the last. I won't count my eggs though.

[Milky Mixer]

So there will be a third round of guests announced? Cool.

[Yukito Kunisaki]

So there will be a third round of guests announced? Cool.

Yea, there always is. Even still says, "...and more to come! (http://animeboston.com/guests/)"

[Yukito Kunisaki]

Anyone here talking part in the new Voice Acting contest AB has recently put up?

http://animeboston.com/events/gameshows/vac.shtml

[Yukito Kunisaki]

Last set of Guests!

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2007-04-04/anime-boston-announces-final-round-of-guests

Northeast's largest anime convention announces latest additions to all-star lineup.

BOSTON, April 1, 2007 – Anime Boston is pleased to announce its final round of guests. From Japan, the convention welcomes Hiroshi Iwata, producer of Macross, and Kenji Terada, writer for Kimagure Orange Road and the first three Final Fantasy titles. The convention also warmly greets voice actress Brina Palencia.

Brina Palencia is relatively new to the voice acting scene. Noted as the voice of Eve from Black Cat, Palencia has also starred in Full Metal Alchemist, Speed Grapher, Gunslinger Girl and Negima!. Most recently, Palencia has been cast as Maho Minami in BECK: Mongloian Chop Squad and Elisa Wasmeyer in Trinity Blood. Palencia has also voiced characters in Solty Rei, Spiral, The Galaxy Railways and Samurai 7.

Hiroshi Iwata is perhaps best known as a producer for Macross: Do You Remember Love? and the Macross TV series. He has also been a producer for the Time Patrol-Tai Otasukeman television series and the Outlanders OAV. He served as a director on Mori no Youki na Kobito-tachi: Berufi to Rirubitto (The Littl' Bits), which has aired in the United States on Nickelodeon. Iwata is well known to the U.S. market, working on various shows for ABC in the early 1970s. Most recently, Iwata has become a freelance producer, working on Hello Kitty, Keroppi, and Batsumaru for Sanrio.

Kenji Terada is a prolific screenwriter who has an impressive list of credits to his name. He is likely best known as the writer for the first three games in the Final Fantasy series and as the series organizer and main scriptwriter for Kimagure Orange Road. His writing credits also include Space Adventure Cobra, Genesis Climber Mospeada, Kinnikuman, Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross, Dirty Pair, Dancougar - Super Beast Machine God, BAOH, Ushio and Tora, Wedding Peach, and the Batman: Dark Tomorrow video game. He served as a director for the Outlanders OAV. Recently, Mr. Terada was tapped as a story consultant for the film Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles.
Other previously announced guests are Greg Ayres, Troy Baker, Laura Bailey, Chris Bevins, Luci Christian, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Robert and Emily DeJesus, Yasuhiro Imagawa, Mike McFarland, Junji Nishimura, Mike Sinterniklaas , David Williams and Travis Willingham.

Anime Boston is an annual three-day Japanese animation convention held in Boston, Massachusetts. Anime Boston 2007 will be held Friday, April 20th through Sunday, April 22nd at the Hynes Convention Center and Sheraton Hotel Boston. More information about Anime Boston can be found at http://www.animeboston.com.

[Milky Mixer]

I am so disappointed.
This lineup of guests, imo, is lousy.
Man, I'm depressed now.
I'm flying up from St. Louis for this and there's not one guest I care to see.
I don't really go to cons just for the guests, but I can say it's likely I won't be going to panels for any of these folks. Meh.
Guess at least I won't be wasting time standing in line waiting for autographs.
I hope the rest of the con is better...
From poking around the forums on their website, it seems like they've already had people crabbing about the dealers room and the hotel mixup. Why do I just have a bad feelin' about this con...?
I guess at least I'll get to do some siteseeing in Boston.

[Yukito Kunisaki]

I don't care for most of the people, but I still want to see Greg Ayres. I honestly have a good feeling about the con myself, but that is just me. I have quite a few things i am looking forward to.

[Milky Mixer]

What else are you looking forward to? I haven't seen much in terms of the rest of the activities, other than stuff like the big ball (which I won't attend) and the video game contest (again, I won't attend).

I was hoping to see some industry guests from Dark Horse, Viz, Tokyopop, Bandai, Geneon, something. I was hoping we'd get a mangaka from Japan, too. Most of the voice actors are the ones who are at every con.

I should say, I always have a good time at the cons, whether it's browsing the dealers room or just chillin in the anime rooms. And I'm sure there will be a few panels I'll want to attend. But so far, meh, doesn't seem like anything extra cool is happenin' at Anime Boston yet.

[Yukito Kunisaki]

Well, I am in the AMV finals, so of course I will be looking forward to that. I always love watching the contest, be me in it or not.

The Anime name that tune was gone last year, but was brought back, so I cannot wait for that.

Anime Unscripted (Last years, it was called Whose line is it anime), was completely pushed back to a time I couldn't see it, so I await that as well.

There are SOME guests I still desire to see, Like I said, I want to see Greg Ayres. The rest though are bleh.

Go and check out the dealers room (Thats my big place at the con every year.)

Check out the anime showing rooms.

And a bit of the panels look interesting to me.

The big thing is the AMV contest though. If I manage to win one of my categories, the con will be bigger for me.

[Caster13]

you guys are nuts. the stuff that some of these people have done is big. ok......one of them wrote the first three final fantasy games and did Kimagure Orange road along with a bunch of other stuff. oh yea, thats reeeaally lame

[Yukito Kunisaki]

Honestly, My favorite FFs were 4-6. I never played the first three, but the NES third one...I STARTED it, and I hated it. I suppose he was one to save the company though, so that is cool.

[Milky Mixer]

I'm not a fan of Final Fantasy. If I'm not into Final Fantasy, why would I be keen on meeting someone who wrote Final Fantasy? I never said all of these guests were lame, I just said none of them interested me.

[Milky Mixer]

There's a tentative schedule up on AB's site now for the panels as well as the video rooms. Looks like there will be lots of things I wanna check out, minus the guests, LOL! Solid State Society, industry panels...

[Yukito Kunisaki]

Yea, I see even a good schedule for Sunday even, and theres hardly anything to do on it....I can catch Cosplay chess! :D

Sucks I am going to have to bail out on the AMV contest on Friday due to train departure, but I have to see it. Yay for special seating. :)

I also cannot wait for Anime name that tune, anime unscripted and some other random gameshows. Haha, yes! :D

[Caster13]

id go if i could......that cherry blossom ball is gonna be funny. there definitely gonna be some entertaining stuff happening at that, and i refer to what the fans will do:lol::lol::lol:

[Yukito Kunisaki]

Yea, I have formal attire, but the schedule still doesn't have the ball on it, and that ruins my knowledge of going. Either way, i have no one to go with, and I hate being formal. If it is very very late too, that would be bad and chances are, the dance would be in the way of my schedule.

[Milky Mixer]

Ooooh, less than a week to go!!

The way I see it, I'm not going to know what I'll really be doing until I get there and can see the "finalized" program book. I was trying to see what anime showings, if any, overlapped with panels or other activities I wanted to attend by checking out the posted schedules, but both of them say they will definitely be changing. So I guess there's no way to really plan ahead until I get my program on Thursday night. And even then they warn ya things may change.

I'm thinking of going to the Plushie Workshop. Is that silly? I want to make an Air Master plushie, heh! But I'm afraid as a 31 yr old guy I might be a bit out of place in what is essentially a "doll-making" workshop.

[Yukito Kunisaki]

Ooooh, less than a week to go!!

The way I see it, I'm not going to know what I'll really be doing until I get there and can see the "finalized" program book. I was trying to see what anime showings, if any, overlapped with panels or other activities I wanted to attend by checking out the posted schedules, but both of them say they will definitely be changing. So I guess there's no way to really plan ahead until I get my program on Thursday night. And even then they warn ya things may change.

I'm thinking of going to the Plushie Workshop. Is that silly? I want to make an Air Master plushie, heh! But I'm afraid as a 31 yr old guy I might be a bit out of place in what is essentially a "doll-making" workshop.

Nah, and even if so, just say it is for your child, or someone you love. Geez....it is so close, I cannot wait!Day one will be my biggest of event days...Ah >.o

[Caster13]

well anime boston is over. my friend went, and he said that the con staff were total a$$holes. dont know much about the con otherwise. anyone go to the cherry blossom ball? he wasnt formal enough to get in.

[Yukito Kunisaki]

I don't know where he was, but the only one I saw as an ******* was the Lady at the autographs.

I didn't go to the Cherry Blossom Ball, but I have atleast 3 sets of clothes worthy to get in.

[Delta-Pheonix]

When i went to New hampshire on an exchange my Host and her friend said they where going, unfortunatly I had to go home two days before it started, oh well there'll be others.

[Milky Mixer]

I thought the con was kinda disappointing, myself. I thought the panels could've been better, at least the ones I attended. The Shojo of the 60s Panel was the best panel of the show that I went to, imo. I really wish there would have been more panels like that, delving into some of the historical stuff in manga and anime... but I know I might be in the minority, as my biggest complaint about cons is that more people seem to be there for a costume party than for anything else, and since I don't care about cosplay...

I did the plushie workshop, it was fun, but you don't really get enough time to make a plushie with a complete costume and so forth (but then, that's likely a multi-day art project so ya can't ask for too much, and the chick running it was cool). I wanted more from the industry panels, but I can't say I learned anything that new from any of those either. The Dealers Room was ok.

As a whole, this con was less enjoyable than ACen and Anime Weekend Atlanta. A big plus though was the proximity to the foodcourt in the mall, which made eating a lot easier than forking out money for $20 scrambled eggs at a hotel restaurant or eating at the same place all weekend long.

[Michiyo_Yoshiku]

The New England ANime Society is going insane....I don't expect them to be around much longer.......see my other thread here to find out why.

if Anime Boston goes under with them I'm going to form a group to keep it going.

[PatrickD]

The New England ANime Society is going insane....I don't expect them to be around much longer.......see my other thread here to find out why.

if Anime Boston goes under with them I'm going to form a group to keep it going.

There is virtually zero chance that the NEAS, Anime Boston's parent organization, will be going under anytime in the forseeable future. As a board member, I can assure you that the organization is on completely stable ground after running five amazingly successful Anime Boston events as well as numerous other anime events in New England.

I find the mere suggestion of such a thing to be rather amusing.

[Michiyo_Yoshiku]

There is virtually zero chance that the NEAS, Anime Boston's parent organization, will be going under anytime in the forseeable future. As a board member, I can assure you that the organization is on completely stable ground after running five amazingly successful Anime Boston events as well as numerous other anime events in New England.

I find the mere suggestion of such a thing to be rather amusing.

I just love seeing things go under.

Cept ECW I cired when Paul Heymen Showed up on Raw but I digress.

Honestly I'm just doing some angry ranting. I wish you all the best. But really......that other con isn't a good idea.