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A free wifi signal is available inside the Hynes Convention Center. table of contents 5 Letter from the Con Chair 6 Guests of Honor 17 Events 27 Video Programming 32 Panels & Workshops 41 Artists’ Alley 47 Dealers’ Room 49 Room Directory 51 Maps 58 Where to Eat 67 Tipping Guide 68 Getting Around 69 Convention Policies 74 Sponsors 75 Volunteering 76 Staff 80 Autographs MAY 24–26, 2013 3 4 Anime Boston 2013 LETTER FROM THE CON CHAIR Greetings! On behalf of the New England Anime Society, our honored guests, and the entire Anime Boston staff, it is my honor and pleasure to welcome you to Anime Boston 2013! Last year, we partied hard and celebrated our tenth Anime Boston, and it was fabulous! As was reflected in our end-of-the world theme, we were tentatively planning for it to be our last. After all, wasn't the world supposed to end on 12/21/12? After waking up on the 22nd and realizing that the Earth was still turning, some of us panicked and started holiday shopping while some others among us started planning for the convention. I kid, I kid! (Mostly) none of us believed that there was any chance that the world was going to end, and if there was still a chance that Anime Boston 2013 would take place, then we planned to be ready. Some of you may not realize that we start planning the next year's event within weeks of Closing Ceremonies. It is a year-long effort to produce our three-day convention, and the ones who start the ball rolling are our hard-working elected staff and their assistants. Their names are listed in the back of this program guide, right before the autograph page. Flip back there right now and check it out. Don't worry, I'll still be here when you're done. Did you see it? Did you see the list of the executives, the directors, the managers, the assistants, and all the rest of the approximately 400 people who work to put on this show? Many of them will spend this weekend in blue, orange and red Anime Boston staff shirts, but many others will be wearing black so that they can work backstage, while some others dress up a bit more and work with our esteemed guests and industry friends. While our attire may vary, our goal is the same: to put on an amazing show for all of you. It takes 400 people, and a year's worth of time to put together this convention, and all of us volunteer our time and energy to the cause. That said, while you're enjoying the convention, hurrying from one amazing event to the next, please take a couple of extra seconds to thank some of the people who help to make Anime Boston a reality. You, our beloved horde, are the ones we ultimately do this for, and knowing that we're putting on a good show means the world to us. Cheer and Warm Regards, Andrea M. Finnin Anime Boston Con Chairman MAY 24–26, 2013 5 GUESTS OF HONOR japanese guests Shinichi Watanabe Yasuhiro Koshi Director Actor Shinichi Watanabe (aka “Nabeshin”) is known to anime fans as a Yasuhiro Koshi is known as an actor and chief advisor for action larger-than-life, iconic figure with an outrageous sense of humor. movies in Japan and the U.S. He directed the comedy anime series Excel Saga, Nerima Daikon Using his knowledge and experience as a former sergeant in Brothers, and Puni Puni Poemy, which feature frenetic pacing and Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force, he provides advice for battle appearances by his animated alter ego, a mysterious, recurring action scenes, military roles, weapon design, and so on. character with an afro and distinctive outfit who is tangential to the story. He served as the chief military advisor and had guest appearances in many movies, including Battle Royal (2000), Returner (2002), Nabeshin has also served as series director for The Wallflower Battle Royal II (2003), Last Samurai (2003), Calamari Wrestler and Tenchi Muyo! GXP, and he can be found in these series as well, (2004), Casshern (2004), Devilman (2004), Godzilla Final Wars (2004), in cameo or supporting roles. Ultraman (2004), Lorelei (2005), Saikano: She's the Final Weapon (2006), and Sukeban Deka which he has a major role in. Nabeshin has been quoted as saying that he places great importance in making viewers laugh. Stating that he values Most recently he has worked as a military advisor for parts 1 and laughter as much as tears, his preference is to motivate viewers 3 of 20th Century Boys, and he was a consultant on the Space to have fun and enjoy a show. He reasons that his success stems Battleship Yamato live action movie, recently released to Blu-ray. from provoking the same, strong emotional investment “in a humorous way” as a traditional, sentimental story does. Mr. Koshi is a well-known writer for the popular Japanese periodical called "Arms Magazine". Nabeshin has also written lyrics for the opening songs of Excel Saga and Tenchi Muyo! GXP, and has served as storyboarder and He has also published articles on the history of weapons and episode director for a variety of other anime series. uniforms of the Japan Self-Defense Force. He is also a talent manager who works closely with the Japanese anime and J-pop industry! He heads up the Big Fighter Project (B.F.P.) which has been producing talented artists since 1996. 6 Anime Boston 2013 GUESTS OF HONOR Shinichiro Kashiwada Tomohiko Ito Producer Director As Aniplex’s producer, Shinichiro Kashiwada is involved as a Tomohiko Ito works at A-1 Pictures and is most recognized as the chief producer for the hit animated series Sword Art Online. director of the hit series Sword Art Online. He made his directorial debut with the animated series Occult Academy. He has also been involved with numerous titles including Puella Magi Madoka Magica TV series and Oreimo Series Ito’s long list of credits includes Death Note, The Girl Who Leapt as an associate producer. Through Time and Summer Wars to name a few. This will be Ito’s first time appearing at an Anime Convention here in the U.S.A. Mr. Ito is looking forward to sharing his thoughts on Sword Art Online and more, here at Anime Boston. MAY 24–26, 2013 7 GUESTS OF HONOR japanese guests (cont.) musical guests Yousei Teikoku Band Beginning in 1997, Her Highness Yui descended on the human realm from The Empire of the Fairies and began making music with the intention of "regaining the forgotten hearts of those who IBI believe in fairies". Fashion Designer Debuting with Japanese anime music label Lantis, the group has Japanese designer Naoto Hirooka’s gothic and lolita fashion line since created many songs for anime and video games. h. NAOTO has accumulated positive reviews and praise from both Japanese and Western markets. After receiving positive With a concept combining Gothic Lolita visuals, and a mix of stimulation from collaborations with charismatic visual-kei artists, genres such as classical and J-pop based in heavy metal, Yousei h.NAOTO started the “h.ism” project in the mid 2000s based on the Teikoku stands out prominently in the anime music scene. theme of fashion and music coexisting in one entity. Representative songs include "Baptize", opening theme to the TV In 2007, the success of h.ism led to a collaboration with the young anime "Seikon no Qwaser", and "空想メソロギヰ" (Kuusou Meso- fashion design duo IBI and MINT. “Sixh.” was born. Started by IBI, rogiwi/ Fantastic Mythology), opening theme to the TV anime "Mirai the fashion line Sixh. unites visual-kei artistry with the imagery Nikki", among countless others. of popular host and hostess clubs. A new theme, ghost-kei, was created by combining the words “gothic” and “host” into “ghost”. MEMBERS Without a doubt, Sixh.’s cool, carefree ideas are not restricted by Vocal: Her Highness Yui ordinary rules of fashion or society. Lead Guitar: Shiren Guitar: Takah In 2007, Sixh. expanded from a fashion brand into a band with the Bass: Nanami same name. By 2011, Sixh. have evolved a new concept “SIXH. Drums: Gight Opera”. They created the idea to combine Fashion and Opera on the stage. They have performed their SIXH. Opera in Chicago, LA Official Web Page: www.fairithm.com and Tokyo. In 2012, designer IBI designed Visual girls band “exist- trace” stage outfits and also, collaborated on a Manga with them. Facebook (English Official): www.facebook.com/dasfeenreich Twitter: twitter.com/yui_fairithm h. NAOTO’s fashion line and band Sixh. is constantly adapting and merging with ever-evolving Japanese counterculture. At heart, Sixh. is the sixth sense beyond the five senses! www.kincs.jp/fashion/sixh 8 Anime Boston 2013 GUESTS OF HONOR Raj Ramayya ORIGA Singer, Composer and Lyricist Vocalist Raj Ramayya is an Indo-Canadian singer, composer and lyricist Olga Yakovleva, better known under the moniker ORIGA, is a based in Marin County, California.