Over the last weekend of April 2005, Anime Boston rang in its first-ever convention at the Hynes Convention Center. For the first time, the event could operate beyond the constraints of the Park Plaza, with no attendance caps and nearly 100,000 square feet of space to play with. And in turn, the convention raised the bar with a star-studded guest list that included Chrono Crusade creator Daisuke Moriyama, Greg Ayres, Monica Rial, and Yoko Ishida.
Although Anime Boston 2005 had attracted a staggering 7,500 people that year, it still retained the overall vibe of the “little con that could” that captured everyone’s hearts just two years prior. It was impossible to escape the sheer excitement of the weekend, as fans eagerly chatted about the shows they were watching, the fansubs they were tracking, or simply whatever scores they could find in the Dealer’s Room.
Compared to the Park Plaza, the Hynes felt positively massive. The venue’s spacious hallways still had quieter corners where someone could hear their footsteps echo even at the busiest times of the weekend. It starkly contrasted with the greater anime world at the time, which was riding high, unaware that the greater market bubble would pop just a half-year later.
It’s hard to believe that it’s been two decades since then, or that more than a quarter-million cumulative attendees would walk through the convention’s doors over the years. The triangular sign has become a beacon for local anime fans; a welcoming sight that invites people to pretend that the outside world could just vanish for a weekend, and enjoy a weekend among friends and fans alike, in a unified celebration of all things anime.
As I walked through the Hynes’ grand glass doors again, a blue lanyard dangling around my neck, and a pack on my back, I couldn’t help but feel nostalgic. Though the crowds were bigger, and the anime world has changed immensely, it was impossible to deny that this was the same Anime Boston that had provided a place of joy and fandom all those years ago.
And once again, we had all returned home for another year of fun and excitement.
