Since 2003, Anime Boston has taken Boston’s shores by storm.  This year, more than 17,000 fans attended, keeping it the largest anime convention in the Northeast, according to group organizers.

          And as a newcomer to the April convention, I was amazed at what it was. The first thing I noticed while walking through the halls of the Hynes Convention Center was that almost everyone was dressed in costume. The strange thing about this, though, was that not everyone was dressed up as anime characters. As a matter of fact, I ran into not only Carmen Sandiego and Waldo, but even Finn from “Adventure time with Finn & Jake,” a show on Cartoon Network that had not yet even premiered.

          Continuing my day, I discovered the game room -- a massive space full of video game consoles, tables, and chairs. Later, I stopped by the marketplace, and it was amazing. However, it’s not for anyone with empty wallets. The products here were not inexpensive. They ranged from $2.50 figurines to $400.00 “Gundam” statues. I bought two plushies, a ring, a figurine, and six trading cards. All of that massed up to $51.50! Not very cheap in my opinion, however, most of this was hard-to-find stuff.

           The final event of the first night was the Video Game Orchestra. They performed songs from the Mario, Resident Evil, and Blue Dragon series. The cost for getting into Anime Boston isn’t super low-priced at $50 for those 13 and older, but for all three days, it’s worth it. But only if you’re a true anime fan. Still, if you go even without anime experience, you will discover the nerd in you.