So, Anime Boston 2003 was not only my first con, it was also the first ever Anime Boston. There were bound to be a few trip-ups, a few mistakes, but I'd done my research and came prepared; packing the prerequisite sewing kits, adhesive velcro, superglue, and scissors, which saved our asses on several occasions, so my best advice to you is DON'T COSPLAY WITHOUT A REPAIR KIT. As strong and well-constructed as you think your outfit is, edges fray, buttons pop, things don't hold as tight as you'd like.

Anyway. I think that the attendance shocked everyone involved; the staff, the hotel, and the attendees. On Friday there were 2,222 attendees-- on Saturday, there were 3,563 registered before they had to start turning people away due to fire code restrictions. The whole weekend was pretty much 'standing room only.'

As for our costumes, they held up really well. And while Chichiri was the crowd favorite, Yui was the judges favorite. Because two of the judges were Fushigi Yuugi fans, they were able to really appreciate the detail and work I'd put into both costumes; but the Shinzaho (Yui's necklace and major plot point) was what cinched it, and Haruka Rose, who selected us for her Judges' choice award, identified the hand-made Shinzaho as the deciding factor.

I am so glad I cosplayed as Chichiri. Nearly everyone recognized me, and on Friday and Saturday I was followed by shouts of "Chichiri!" I got hugs, pose requests, and about a half-dozen people said I was "the best Chichiri" they'd ever seen. I got the most compliments on my mask and staff; the staff because it was solid, sturdy, unlike most of the other Chichiri staffs I've seen while searching online, which are made from styrofoam; and the mask because apparently, very few people can successfully recreate his face.

So, on Masquerade night, I had my fingers crossed for a workmanship award in the Journeyman division, but we lost out to an amazing Edea who certainly deserved the award. However, it was all worthwhile, because the screams that greeted my appearance on stage... It was Awesome.

Sadly, the Masquerade was plagued with slip-ups from the beginning. Starting about an hour later than scheduled, the music and audio for several groups was messed up, and the chairman of the con / announcer for the masquerade was... well, kind of embarrasing. He mispronounced just about everything, and the audience screamed corrections at him every time. And, as my friend Kim said, it wouldn't have been so bad if NHK hadn't been there videotaping it. NHK is one of Japan's biggest television stations; what will the Japanese viewers think when they see the chairman-- the guy in charge-- mangling their language?

Anyway, despite all this, most of the cosplayers were able to 'rise from the ashes' and pull off succesful, unique and entertaining performances and showings. Some of the costumes were absolutely incredible.

A lesson I learned from all this-- while my Chichiri and Yui costumes were very well done and spot-on in accuracy, The characters themselves weren't detailed or exotic enough to bring home a serious award. I'd have to go for someone more insanely detailed--and if my costume includes special features, so much the better. So I've been thinking-- maybe I'll start work on Nakago's full suit of armor, with fiber-optics in the hands so that I can make them glow blue to emulate his ki blasts. Or, perhaps, Suzaku would be a better choice.

In any case; I won a judge's choice award, which is amazing and incredible, and I was teased and tempted by the possibility, later, of winning a best in show award. That is now my goal.

However, I don't think I'll ever give up cosplaying Chichiri. The response from people was just so wonderful; I couldn't sacrifice that just for a bigger, fancier costume that nobody recognizes. So I'll split the days; one day as Chichiri, the other as lil' miss crazy-detailed.

Moving away from the masquerade, I also entered three pieces into the art auction; a print of Chrono Trigger, a print of Link, and a print of Kabuki Quantum fighter. The Chrono Trigger print sold for $50; the Link for $30, and the KQF did not sell. A pretty decent haul, I think.

I was also awarded a free marker from www.copicmarkers.com for drawing a couple of pictures for them using their kickass markers.

I thank everyone who made the weekend such an amazing experience, especially the people who worked so hard on the con despite it being about four times bigger than expected, and also all the people who love Chichiri and made my outfit such a blast to wear. And a great big thanks to judge Haruka Rose for giving us her award.

Photos

Other Fushigi Yuugi cosplayers

(Aggravatingly enough, I seem to have posed exactly the same way for every photo here. I actually had a repretoire of five or six poses I alternated through; just not when faced with my own camera, apparently)

I found two other Chichiris-- a third one was rumored, but I couldn't find him.

Me with Nuriko, and a way-cute Chiriko.

Yui and Tamahome, and me with Tasuki.

Miaka and another Yui, and Yui and I on stage with Hotohori, Nuriko, and the Anime Boston mascots, A-chan and B-kun.

All of the seven Seishi were accounted for, except for poor Mitsukake. He's always left out. Come on kids, cosplay as Mits next time!

Video game cosplayers

There were a ton of really quality Final Fantasy cosplayers there. Sadly, I didn't get photos of even half of them; but here are the ones I did.

From Final Fantasy 10, the way-cool Lulu, as excellently done by two different cosplayers, and an incredible Auron.

Wakka and Lulu, from Final Fantasy 10, and in the middle, Riku from kingdom Hearts.

Squall from Final Fantasy 8, and the other photo is a wicked-cute Lucca, the only Chrono Trigger cosplayer I saw.

And finally, Aeris, Reno, and Vincent from Final Fantasy 7.

Panel guests / celebrities / judges

Yui with Kirby Morrow, Me with the chairman of the con, and Tristen Citrine, pro costumer and masquerade judge.

Masquerade winners, odds and ends

Winning Best of Show, we've got a giant glowing Gundam made of metal (yes, there's a person inside) with other members of his group, including a convincing Austin Powers. Next, a pair of Edeas from Final Fantasy 8; the one on the left won best workmanship for the Journeyman class. Finally, Yui and I show off our judge's choice award with the awarding judge, Haruka Rose.

Though I'm not sure what they're from, I just thought that the Samurai guys were wicked cool; and Yui and I do a cute pose in the telephone booth.