Editor: Samantha Ferreira
Before we had realized it, another weekend had come and gone, as a cool Sunday sunrise broke over Boston. A familiar calm washed over the Hynes, as the bustling crowds began to thin out. The boisterous chatter that had defined the weekend began to fade, slowly settling into a nostalgic murmur as attendees began to file into trains, buses, and cars to return home in time for the coming work week.
Those who did remain packed into panel rooms, artist’s alley, and the dealer’s room, as they sought to extend the joy of the convention just a bit longer.
As I wandered the halls of the Hynes one last time, I couldn’t help but remark just how far Anime Boston had come. Twenty years ago, fans packed the Park Plaza Hotel to the point of bursting. Whether they were making friends in karaoke, throwing down in impromptu Yu-Gi-Oh! games, or just taking in the panel atmosphere, it was impossible to ignore the feeling that the first Anime Boston was something special. As the years went on, the convention grew into one of the largest cons in North America. Entire generations of fans have come and gone, and the kids and young adults who made that first trip to the Park Plaza are now bringing families of their own to the Hynes.
Despite this, though, the energy that seemed to course through every attendee in those early years has never dissipated. Every year, the convention manages to feel like a gathering of old friends, even as tens of thousands of people pass one another in the halls. It’s infectious, as the joy of spending time at a convention that’s come to be more like a home away from home, spreads from one person to the next. We reveled in history as we learned about fanzine culture, and we commiserated together as we bade farewell to a manga legend. We met with old friends and sparked new acquaintanceships as we took in far too much caffeine and sugar in a feeble attempt to chase sleep away for a few more hours.
But, like all conventions, it was over before we knew it. As I made our way to the train station, I couldn’t help but smile to myself, my expression hidden by a face mask. Though this year’s event was over, the memories that had been made that weekend would last a lifetime. Even so, the next convention is just a short year away. And as the train lurched out from Back Bay station, it wasn’t a farewell, more than a fond “see you later.”
