the rangiku files

I know, about freaking time. Here’s the first in a series of entries on “No Lines – 2009″ Anime Boston. And, in fact, the lines were minimal in comparison to last year. The only downside: no more cute logo on the badges. A small price to pay and one easily fixed by attaching one of the chibi badges sold by Katie and Tina in Artists’ Alley.
As I mentioned in Anime Pulse episode 185, Anime Boston 2009 panels and events finally received press coverage in The Boston Globe. You can read about MIT Cool Japan professor Ian Condry’s Madness @ Mokuba play here and Travis Willingham aka Roy Mustang made the Celebrity news section here. There also was a great photo of a couple dancing at the Black Orchid Ball which unfortunately didn’t make it online. I’ll scan it in and post it later.

One minor quibble: next year please, please, please alphabetize the panel and workshop listings in the program book. This hasn’t been an issue in previous years. I’m still trying to figure out the algorithm used to sort the thing.

Okay, another quibble that can only be solved if I am on the scheduling committee: why is that all the good panels conflict with each other? Until Anime Pulse can come up with a way to clone me, I will be a sad panda.

Since anime music videos are always a big hit with con attendees and our Anime Pulse listeners, the rest of this post lists the winners and finalists by category with links and YouTube videos where available.

Best in Show and Best Concept
Dragonball Z – The Silent Movie, DragonBall Z, “Chibi Moon Piano Suite” from Sailor Moon, ForeverZeroo (Divine Illusion Productions)

Editors’ Choice
I Feel Your Presence, Claymore (TV), “All Around Me” by Flyleaf, Dragon/Roy (Darkness Studios)

Best Editing
Memento, 5 Centimeters per Second, “Remembering You” by Steven Curtis Chapman, PurpleKiwi (Numina Studios)

Best Drama and Judges’ Choice
Pivotal, Tengen Toppa Gurren-Lagann, “Prelude 12/21″ by AFI, Alberto Gonzalez

Finalists
I Feel Your Presence, Claymore (TV), “All Around Me” by Flyleaf, Dragon/Roy (Darkness Studio’s)

Dreams Here With Me, Kingdom Hearts, “Here With Me” by Dido, advent87

Apologize, Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth (PSP), “Apologize” by OneRepublic, Belden (Epical Studios)

Soul Eater – Evil Walks, Soul Eater, “Evil Walks” by AC/DC, Damage.com

In a world without sorrow…, Utawarerumono, “If Everyone Cared” by Nickelback, Chaobunny12

Best Romance
Strangers Like Sousuke, Full Metal Panic: Fumoffu, Full Metal Panic, Full Metal Panic: The Second Raid, “Strangers Like Me” by Phil Collins, Firestorm3818 (NEOGEN LTD.)

Finalists
Through Thick And Thin, This Ugly Yet Beautiful World (TV), “I Will Carry You” by Clay Aiken, Melichan923

A Thousand Miles, Macross Frontier (TV), “A Thousand Miles” by Vanessa Carlton, whispersreloaded (Re-Evolution Studios)

Memento, 5 Centimeters per Second, “Remembering You” by Steven Curtis Chapman, PurpleKiwi (Numina Studios)

Broken Wings of Love, Air (Movie), Air, “Forgiven” by Within Temptation, Chaobunny12

Dying Without Your Love, Various Anime, “Can’t Have You” by The Jonas Brothers, Dragon/Roy

Best Action
Wings of a Dream, Tales of the Abyss (PS2), Chrono Crusade (TV), D.Gray-man (TV) , etc., “Through The Fire and Flames” by DragonForce, noelle675

Finalists

Black Lagoon Bodies, Black Lagoon, “Bodies” by Drowning Pool, Mentaleach

Tears of Fear, Elfen Lied, “Enjoy the Silence” by Depeche Mode, Kaitrono

Soul of a Lotus Eater, Soul Eater (TV), “The Lotus Eater” by Opeth, breeman

Memories Of Hate-Final Resolution, .hack//G.U. TRILOGY (Movie), “Own Little World, Own Little World (Remorse Code Remix)” by Celldweller, TwilightChrono

Stay Awake!, Samurai Champloo, “No Brakes!” by The Offspring, Ryan Von Kunes Newton

Best Comedy
Stranger Than Death Note, Death Note, Cowboy Bebop, “Stranger Than Fiction” Theatrical Trailer, Daikun Productions

Finalists
Akatsuki’s Rockin’, Naruto, “Double Trouble” by Team Rocket, We Are Icthulu

FutaMeat Armstrong, Fullmetal Alchemist (TV), “Just as Long as Me” by Jonathan Coulton, BasharOfTheAges

Die Fuerine, Ouran High School Host Club (TV) , Excel Saga, Full Metal Panic: Fumoffu, etc., “Der Furher’s Face” by Spike Jones, LantisEscudo (Hyoushou Productions)

Azumanga Hobbits, Azumanga Daioh, “They’re Taking the Hobbits to Isengard” by Erin Beekveld, Dracut Toupin

Dragonball Z – The Silent Movie, DragonBall Z, “Chibi Moon Piano Suite” from Sailor Moon, ForeverZeroo (Divine Illusion Productions)

Best Fun/Upbeat/Other
Dance Dance Celebration, Minami-ke (TV), Cowboy Bebop, One Piece: Baseball Special, etc., “Celebration” by DJ Bobo, TerryH1984

Finalists
Funky Bass, Kannazuki no Miko, A Certain Magical Index (TV), Shakugan no Shana (movie), etc., “Straight Heat” by edIT, FaytxZen

Ragnarok, Ah! My Goddess (Movie), Ah! My Goddess: Everyone Has Wings (TV), Ah! My Goddess: Fighting Wings (special), etc., “Blasphemy” by IMMEDIATE MUSIC, http://www.animemusicvideos.org/usernum/728 (Honou Productions)

Escape, Kaleido Star, Kaleido Star New Wings, “Pocketful of Sunshine” by Natasha Beddingfield, K-chan/Whisper Kiss Studios

Ouran: Love! Angst! Crack!, Ouran High School Host Club (TV), “Are You Gonna Be My Girl?” by Jet, ForeverZeroo (Divine Illusion Productions)

Pirates of the One Piece: At Grand Line’s End, One Piece, “Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End” trailer track, luggeriano (w00d00 Studio)

Okay, time to pack it in. Look for more updates this week, and, as always, keep the anime love strong.

Oh, wait a sec. Did I mention that this was the first year that Anime Boston had a hentai AMV contest? Ah, I thought I did. Now, what was the winner? Oh yes, it’s called What Indeed, composed of various anime with “What’s This” by Danny Elfman from Inner Indulgence Studios. And, no, I don’t have a link.

Who is this cat-eared, cat-tailed shinigami sleeping in the back seat of the rangi ninja mobile? People came up to him at Anime Boston 2008 and asked him which Bleach character he was and what squad he belonged to…

More on that, later. You really, really want to see the AMV winners. I know. I’ve posted YouTube files as placeholders (where available) as well as links to the files at animemusicvideo.org. I also have video of the AMVs. They will go up when post-processed if they look any good. I’ll add the finalists later.
Best in Show: Falling Dreams
“See Who I Am” by Within Temptation
Kingdom Hearts
Mysterious Rider
http://www.animemusicvideos.org/video/156961

Best Comedy: The Anime Network
Various Songs
Various Anime
Dave Warner
no amv.org link

Best Action: The Deth of Anime
“Metalocalpyse Theme & other songs” by Dethklok
Various Anime
Dave Warner

http://www.animemusicvideos.org/video/154601

No YouTube link.

Best Fun/Upbeat/Other: Unbreakable
“Move Along” by All American Rejects
Various Anime
Songbird21

http://www.animemusicvideos.org/video/157060

Best Romance wrote: Ouran Day
“Ordinary Day” by Vanessa Carlton
Ouran High School Host Club
Kiarrens

http://www.animemusicvideos.org/video/155657

Best Drama: Escaping, But Not Far
“The Bird and The Worm” by The Used
Death Note
SharinganBlue

http://www.animemusicvideos.org/video/146967

Best Editing: Attack of the Otaku
“Game of Love” by Jenny Rom
Haruhi, Ouran High, Lucky Star
Chiikaboom

http://www.animemusicvideos.org/video/154127

Best Concept: ‘Bustin
“Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker Jr.
FFVII: Advent Children
Lauren Chicoine

http://www.animemusicvideos.org/video/156084

Judge’s Choice: Let Them Eat Rei
“Still Alive” by Jonathan Coulton
Neon Genesis Evangelion
thefinalact.net

http://www.animemusicvideos.org/video/155816