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Anime Boston 2024: Opening Ceremonies & Babybeard
🕑 Added 2024-04-03 04:12:29 +0000 UTCNote: Due to the time-sensitive nature of our coverage, this will be published on the main Anime Herald site on April 6. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Author: Samantha Ferreira
A line of attendees had already begun to form outside of the Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium by nine o’clock, as fans staked out their spots for Anime Boston’s opening ceremonies. Some chatted about their plans for the event, others caught up on their simulcasts. Within the half-hour, the line had reached halfway around the perimeter of the Hynes’ second floor, as hundreds waited for the event to begin.
The doors to the auditorium opened at 9:40 AM, and attendees spilled in toward the center of the room. The stage stood at the front, flanked by screens that played anime-themed TikToks, Anime Music Videos, and audience participation games like “Anime Chronology.” Meanwhile, an announcer on the PA system instructed attendees to fill into the room, often punctuated with attempts to warm the crowd up.
The Cosplot
As with previous years, Opening Ceremonies kicked off with the Cosplot. This is a short skit, in which A-chan and B-Kun, the event’s mascots, riff on the year’s theme. For example, in 2019, it was “Tales from the Shogunate,” while “Bento in Boston” was the subject for Anime Boston 2022.
This year, though, Anime Boston didn’t have a theme. Instead, much as it had been in the early years, Anime Boston was simply “Anime Boston.” The folks playing A-chan and B-kun both went all-in on this, wandering out onstage in street clothes, before addressing the audience. They bantered about the lack of a theme, cracking jokes about the situation, before an awkward silence set in.
To fill the dead air, B-kun blurted out that they should talk about the new shows they’re watching, to which A-chan replied “Lovely Complex!” to a minor applause. B-kun countered that “the dub just dropped, but the show's older than the main characters at this point."
They ran through a handful of titles from the current season, shouting out Delicious In Dungeon to a few small cheers. Before long, though, the duo broke down the basics of what the weekend had to offer, before introducing convention chair Jenny Leary and vice-chair Omega Au.
Introduction
Leary and Au took the stage to polite applause and introduced themselves to the audience. The two presented a short, documentary-style video that depicted the Anime Boston staff setting up the venue. It interspersed footage of team members doing everything from unloading crates from Crunchyroll, to building the stage Leary and Au stood upon with cuts to staffers cheerfully welcoming the audience to Anime Boston.
As the screen went dark, Leary offered thanks to the event’s sponsors, including Discotek Media and HIDIVE. After a polite round of applause, the duo brought drag performer Complete Destruction onstage to introduce a new event. This year, Anime Boston would host its first-ever drag show.
The three took their leave, and stepped offstage, as guests crossed the stage, one after the next.
Guests
North American Guests
Greg Ayres
To many, Ayres is a part of the very fabric of Anime Boston’s community. He has been a guest at every Anime Boston since 2005 when the event first moved to the Hynes. Indeed, Ayres was brimming with excitement as he hurried onstage, and there was an unmistakable sense of joy in his voice, as he greeted the crowd. He quickly highlighted his upcoming events for the weekend, before hurrying offstage.
Zeno Robinson
After taking the stage, Robinson remarked that this was his first-ever Anime Boston, adding, "I hope we can have a lot of fun this weekend." He gave a rundown of his scheduled events and panels, offering a particular emphasis on the Jujutsu Kaisen event that was slated to occur at noon.
Before heading backstage, he thanked the audience, adding, "I love you all. I can't wait, and I'll see you all very, very soon."
Kira Buckland
The crowd erupted at Buckland’s introduction video, particularly when footage from Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean began rolling, and swelled as she took the stage. Much like Robinson, she explained that this was her first Anime Boston. Before hurrying offstage, she gave quick plugs for her upcoming Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure and Smash Bros. panels.
Alyssa Marek
Like Robinson and Buckland, this year was Alyssa Marek’s first-ever Anime Boston. She made a brief appearance onstage and encouraged attendees to visit the Dungeons & Dragons event, as well as her autograph sessions.
Kristen McGuire
There was a moment of silence, followed by confusion after McGuire’s introduction video ended. This was quickly broken, though, when McGuire bounded, full-speed onto the stage. “Hello, Anime Boston,” she exclaimed, adding “I didn't realize I was supposed to start walking!”
She noted that this was her first time at Anime Boston, before encouraging folks to visit the Oshi no Ko panel that would be held at 11:30 AM. She added that she was also tabling as an artist this year and that she would be in the Artist’s Alley when she wasn’t at events.
Casey Mongillo
Mongillo took the stage to cheers and applause. Their expression showed genuine excitement as they momentarily looked over the crowd. They explained that this was their first-ever Anime Boston as a guest. However, they were at the event in 2014 with Greg Ayres, with whom they traveled to the convention as a friend. They took a moment to highlight their events at the convention before stepping offstage.
Shannon D. Reed
Reed wore a look of nervous excitement as he took the stage. He introduced himself to the audience and explained that, like those who went on before him, this was also his first Anime Boston. He encouraged people to attend the Oshi no Ko panel, in addition to other panels he’d be hosting throughout the weekend.
Natalie Rial
Rial smiled at the audience as she took the stage, before exclaiming “There are so many of you! I’m gonna throw up,” prompting chuckles from the audience. She remarked that this was not only her first time at Anime Boston, but it was also her first time in Massachusetts.
She talked up the upcoming Oshi no Ko and Dungeons & Dragons panels, as well as her table in the Dealer’s Room before stepping offstage.
Michelle Ruff
Ruff wore a confident smile as she stepped onstage. She had previously attended Anime Boston in 2017 and was originally slated to attend in 2020 and 2021 before the events were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
She noted that she was co-hosting the Persona 3 panel at 4:00 PM and that she’d be learning how to play Dungeons & Dragons live during the upcoming panel.
Alejandro Saab
Saab hurried onstage and took a few moments to discuss his upcoming panels. In particular, he highlighted the Persona 3 and Genshin Impact events, in addition to his table in the autographs room.
Jack Stansbury
Stansbury expressed a combination of excitement and surprise as he took the stage, explaining that this was his first Anime Boston and his second convention appearance ever. The room applauded at the comment before he discussed his upcoming appearances in the Genshin Impact panel, the Dungeons & Dragon event, and the Anime Unscripted game show.
Japanese Guests
Kaho Shibuya
Shibuya stepped onstage dressed as Chun-Li from Street Fighter while holding a selfie stick. She excitedly explained that this was her first time in Boston, and that “I can't wait to try lobster!” She added that she was looking forward to getting reacquainted with Dunkin’ Donuts and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, as both had left Japan years ago,
She added that she would be hosting panels on Friday and Saturday but, beyond that, she would “be at the autographs booth almost all the time.”
Yuya Hirose
Hirose briefly greeted the audience in English, explaining that this was his first time in the United States. In Japanese, he discussed his panels and events planned for the weekend, in addition to his planned autograph sessions.
Yukana
The audience erupted in cheers and whoops when Yukana’s introduction video highlighted her role as Code Geass’s C.C. She walked onstage and eagerly exclaimed, “Hi everyone, and welcome to Anime Boston 2024! [...] I know it's a little wet and rainy, but I hope we can have a good time today.” Afterward, she explained that she’d be hosting autograph sessions and panels throughout the weekend.
Yuki Watanabe
Watanabe was fairly understated when he stepped onstage. Unlike the others who had come before, there was no introductory video or splashy intro presentation. He introduced himself, and added, “In Japan, producers like myself don't get a chance to be onstage, so I'm kind of nervous."
He quickly noted that he’d be co-hosting panels throughout the weekend with Yuya Hirose.
HIZAKI with Kaya
HIZAKI and Kaya strode onstage in gothic lolita finery. HIZAKI was clad in a red-and-white dress, while Kaya wore a black-and-white dress with a purple petticoat. The two introduced themselves to the audience before HIZAKI added “We have traveled to many countries around the world, but this is our first time in Boston and we are very excited to be here.” She explained that the duo would host a collaboration concert with Babybeard, adding that they were excited about the performance.
"I think it's going to be a very special time,” HIZAKI remarked, “so come on down!"
A Brief Tribute
After the guest introductions, Leary and Au returned to the stage. They noted that they had an “in memoriam” that they wanted to feature before they continued. The lights dimmed, and a video tribute to Akira Toriyama, who passed away on March 1 began playing. The feature included clips of interviews and photographs of the legendary creator, set to Randy Newman’s When I’m Gone. The five-minute video served as a touching, if painful reminder of just how much Toriyama influenced not only a generation of fans but the entire world of anime and gaming.
After the video, Leary and Au discussed the convention’s charity focus, and their partnership with the National MS Society. They also took a moment to reveal a new plushie that was being sold as collaboration merchandise.
The two left the stage once more, as the event’s final guest took to the stage.
Babybeard
Suddenly, heavy metal riffs began playing over the PA system, as members of the audience quickly recognized the opening bars of Nippon Kara Konnichiwa. The members of Babybeard then dashed out to the stage dressed in maid outfits.
Babybeard is an idol trio made up of Ladybeard, an Australian stuntman and former pro wrestler, and idols Mahri and Suzu. The group was founded in 2021, and released their Twisted Kaiju Tale EP in 2023
The energy of the room immediately amped up, as Ladybeard broke into growling heavy metal screams, punctuated by earnest, cheerful singing by Mahri and Suzu. All the while, the three performed an elaborately choreographed routine that just begged everyone in the room to get up and out of their seats. Before long, folks were jumping up, pumping their fists, and cheering.
As the music stopped, the three performers introduced themselves, each garnering a pop of applause from the audience. They led the crowd in a call-and-response section, imploring everyone in the room to punctuate the chu! In “Massachusetts.”
There was a brief pause afterwards, as Ladybeard addressed the audience again. “Next up,” he explained, “is a song you’ve most likely heard before.”
A familiar metal riff kicked on, as the crowd erupted in shrieks and cheers. It was a cover of Babymetal’s Pa Pa Ya!!
By this point, the entire room was on their feet, clapping and singing along, with dozens through the room busting out their glowsticks to get their wotagei on. Ladybeard’s growling screams worked brilliantly against Mahri and Suzu’s vocals, and the choreography between the three was just unabashedly fun.
At this point, they’d made their case for their Saturday concert, which would be held in “Hall D - D for Dinosaur,” as Ladybeard put it. He added, “I love America, so happy to be back!” as they took a photo of the audience.
The group had one last song on deck in this micro-concert, Twisted Kaiju Tale. The song’s bouncy melody kept the audience moving and dancing along, keeping the energy high as they delivered remarkably tight choreography and a genuine excitement that was matched by the rest of the room.
As the set ended, they thanked the audience again, before bounding offstage. The attendees, meanwhile, murmured with excitement and cheer, as they settled down for Leary and Au’s return.
The two offered a few brief comments, and thanked everyone for attending, before sending everybody off into the halls of the Hynes for another weekend filled with fun, excitement, and anime.
