MAD SCIENCE! aB Science Inc. PROGRAM GUIDEBOOK “Leaders in Industry” WARNING! MAY CONTAIN: Vv Highly Evil Violations of Volatile Sentient :D Space-Time Materials Robots Laws FOOT table of contents 3 Letters from the Co-Chairs 4 Guests of Honor 10 Events 15 Video Programming 18 Panels & Workshops 28 Artists’ Alley 32 Dealers Room 34 Room Directory 35 Maps 41 Where to Eat 48 Tipping Guide 49 Getting Around 50 Rules 55 Volunteering 58 Staff 61 Sponsors 62 Fun & Games 64 Autographs APRIL 2-4, 2O1O 1 IN MEMORY OF TODD MACDONALD “We will miss and love you always, Todd. Thank you so much for being a friend, a staffer, and for the support you’ve always offered, selflessly and without hesitation.” —Andrea Finnin LETTERS FROM THE CO-CHAIRS Anime Boston has given me unique growth Hello everyone, welcome to Anime Boston! opportunities, and I have become closer to people I already knew outside of the convention. I hope you all had a good year, though I know most of us had a pretty bad year, what with the economy, increasing healthcare This strengthening of bonds brought me back each year, but 2010 costs and natural disasters (donate to Haiti!). At Anime Boston, is different. In the summer of 2009, Anime Boston lost a dear I hope we can provide you with at least a little enjoyment. friend and veteran staffer when Todd MacDonald passed away. We’ve been working long and hard to get composer Nobuo When Todd joined staff in 2002, it was only because I begged. Uematsu, most famous for scoring most of the music for the Few on staff imagined that our three-day convention was going Final Fantasy games as well as other Square Enix games such to be such an amazing success. Derek Guder (Programming as Chrono Trigger. Securing him for Anime Boston has been a Director in 2003) and I were the leaders of a vocal minority who long and arduous task, and I would like to offer special thanks insisted that our planning for “no more than 700 attendees” was to VGO Director Shota Nakama for making this possible. I, like crazy. For Derek, his approach remained the same regardless of quite a few of you, have played and loved Final Fantasy games, attendance. For my Co-Director of Security Shamus Mahan and and I am elated that we were able to bring him to Anime Boston. I, the problem was considerable. We had to manage thousands I distinctly recall playing Final Fantasy VII in a friends dorm of attendees joining us in 2003 with a skeleton crew. Every year room for countless hours during college instead of finishing my since then, Security staff numbers increase, but the group’s es- programming assignments. Those were good times. sence is unaltered. Todd helped define that spirit and he would be here with us this year, but the choice wasn’t his (or ours) to make. Of course, we provide a lot more for you to do than to just come and see a famous composer. I also cannot forget all of our We now dedicate our Manga Library in his honor. There is other guests. We have some new faces, including voice actors no more fitting memorial for a guy whose love of anime was Chris Smith, and Josh Grelle, as well as ADR director and voice surpassed only by his love of reading. The Todd MacDonald actor J. Michael Tatum. We have also brought back the Video Memorial Library will be a lasting tribute to serve as a token of Game Orchestra (VGO) this year, and this time they’re bringing our gratitude. In 2003, Todd and his fellow Security staffers did their entire 90-piece orchestra! Clarine Harp, voice actor last what no one—not even the Fire Department— imagined that they present at our event in 2006, will also join us this year, as well could do. They watched over the unanticipated thousands of as returning guests like voice actors Chris and Greg Ayres and attendees that year. If not for Todd and the dedicated members of ADR director Tom Wayland. Security, there would be no Anime Boston today. When you visit the Todd MacDonald Manga Library, borrow a book, read, enjoy So, whether your interests in Anime Boston lie in video games, yourself, and know that Todd would have wanted it that way. cosplay, interacting with guests, or the more ribald topics like hentai dubbing, I welcome you once again to Anime Boston We will miss and love you always, Todd. Thank you so much for 2010 and sincerely hope you have a fantastic time! being a friend, a staffer, and for the support you’ve always offered selflessly and without hesitation. On behalf of Anime Boston, thank you for saying “yes” to my cry for help in 2002— only one of countless times that I was grateful to call you my friend. All the best, Andrea Finnin Keith Kyzivat Anime Boston Co-Chair Anime Boston Co-Chair APRIL 2-4, 2O1O 3 GUESTS OF HONOR japanese Nobuo Uematsu MYM of GaGaaling Nobuo Uematsu was born in March 21, 1959, in Kochi Prefecture, Japan. GaGaaling He initially started his career in music making music for TV com- GaGaaling was formed in 2004 with MYM, MOTO, and CHERRY. mercials after graduating from Kanagawa University. They debuted on the label ROYAL PUNX in 2005. In 2007, bassist JUN joined and now GaGaaling contains 4 members. In 1986, he joined Square Co.,Ltd. (now renamed as Square Enix Co., Ltd.) and began working on the much acclaimed Final Fantasy MYM (pronounce Maimu) series. Later, he became the audio director of Square and has A vocalist and song writer of GaGaaling. She wasn’t familiar produced music for many other popular games. with music until she went to a Rolling Stones concert. She was impressed with the live event so much she then decided to be a In October 2004, he left Square Enix and established his own vocalist. In 2005 December, she met an artist named Rikki who was company, SMILE PLEASE CO.,LTD. and also in October 2006, he physically challenged, and she learned a lot of things through this also founded Dog Ear Records Co.,Ltd. As the president of the experience. Also she had published a book called Tsuyoi Namida companies, he has been actively involved in various types of music (Strong Tears) which are stories on why she started GaGaaling. productions. Besides GaGaaling, she is working as a fashion model, too. He is known for composing many renowned works from Final Fantasy, Official Website Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon, as well as the Guinsaga anime. gagaaling.com/index.html Myspace myspace.com/gagaaling Blog blog.livedoor.jp/gagamaiming 4 anime BOSTON 2O1O EVOLUTION OF THE OTAKU Otakuus moleculi EVOLUTION OF THE OTAKU Nerdius simplicus EVOLUTION OF THE OTAKU Animeus bacterii EVOLUTION OF THE OTAKU Otakuus sarcopterygii EVOLUTION OF THE OTAKU Oegopsina cthulhus EVOLUTION OF THE OTAKU 1337ius cambriani EVOLUTION OF THE OTAKU Otakuus devoni EVOLUTION OF THE OTAKU Otakuus rex EVOLUTION OF THE OTAKU LOLcatius egyptian EVOLUTION OF THE OTAKU Modernus 4chanii GUESTS OF HONOR 12 12 12 = 1922 1782 + 1841 industry Video Game Orchestra Tom Wayland with Shota Nakama Tom Wayland is a graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts with a degree in acting. Tom got his start performing in Video Game Orchestra is a Boston based orchestra that performs various theatrical productions ranging from Hamlet to Jesus Christ contemporary arrangements of video game music with an orches- Superstar, to Stomp. After a stint as a rock star roaming the East tra, choir, and a rock band. Coast’s rock clubs, Tom ran out of money and had to get a job – and thus began what is now a 10-year career in the anime/animation Focusing on showcasing interactive media compositions, VGO industry. is dedicated to provide access and raise awareness of orches- tral video game-related compositions. Comprised of a 45-piece Tom has produced and/or directed hundreds of anime programs symphony, a 40-piece choir, and a 5-piece rock band, the regional such as Now & Then, Here & There, Revolutionary Girl Utena, Alien and international award-winning musicians come from over 20 Nine, The World of Narue, Ichi the Killer, Mew Mew Power, Magi- countries. This multi-cultural diversity background contributes to cal Do Re Mi, GI Joe Sigma Six, and currently serves as the voice the unique sonic signature of VGO. director on the hit series Pokemon. Tom is also a very busy voice actor having appeared in over 100 titles including Teenage Mutant In May 2008, VGO was created by Shota Nakama while he was a Ninja Turtles as Jammerhead, GI Joe Sigma Six as Stormshadow, student at Berklee College of Music in Boston. The orchestra back Pokemon as Reggie, Sho, and numerous creatures, Yugi-oh 5Ds then was much smaller, and the first concert in July was held at as Nervin, Three Delivery, Yugi-oh GX, Chaotic, Magical Do Re Mi, a small chapel with only 200 people in the audience. The major One Piece, Mew Mew Power, Knight Hunters, Genshiken, Kujibiki, break through was at the Berklee Performance Center concert in Gokusen, and most recently Kakuton in Ikki Tousen and the title March 2009. That was the biggest and the first student produced role of Arceus in the latest Pokemon Movie Arceus and the Jewel concert to completely sell out 1,215 seats in the history of Berklee of Life. Tom’s work can also be seen or heard on various TV com- Performance Center.