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Photos: Trolls, Princesses, Lolitas And A Unicorn At ‘Anime Boston’

Cosplayers at “Anime Boston.” (Greg Cook)
Cosplayers at “Anime Boston.” (Greg Cook)

“I feel at home here,” said Samantha Pringle-Johnson of Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood.

“Being an outsider all the time,” said her friend Glorya Stanford of Dorchester, “it’s nice to be with people like you who are all just weird.”

They’d both come costumed as the Batman character Harley Quinn to “Anime Boston,” the annual convention celebrating Japanese animation, comics, video games and pop culture—and all sorts of Western pop culture too—that takes over the Hynes Convention Center and Sheraton Boston Hotel this weekend.

Thousands visit the art displays, cartoon screenings, karaoke, costume contests, charity ball, table-top and video games, blood drive, appearances by cartoon and video game voice actors, and panel talks on topics like “the worst the animation industry has to offer,” “politics and philosophy in the films of Studio Ghibli,” “transforming animals of Japan,” and “Can monsters taller than skyscrapers send a serious message?”

But the highlight is the cosplay (short for “costume play”) of the attendees themselves. They arrive sporting fabulous costumes—from superhero spandex to Lolita fashion (Victorian-style concoctions of ruffles, frills and bows) to furry masks from sci-fi and fantasy. (Cosplayers are identified by the characters they’re dressed as in the photos below.)

Abby Plante, who came in from Blackstone for the convention dressed as Stitch from the Disney animated feature “Lilo & Stitch,” said, “I’m probably going to do this until I’m like 80.”

Greg Cook is co-founder of WBUR’s ARTery. Follow him on Twitter @AestheticResear. Friend him on Facebook.

Glorya Stanford (left) and Samantha Pringle-Johnson both came costumed as the Batman character Harley Quinn. Stanford was the “now generation” version and Pringle-Johnson was dressed as “kid Quinn.” (Greg Cook)
Glorya Stanford (left) and Samantha Pringle-Johnson both came costumed as the Batman character Harley Quinn. Stanford was the “now generation” version and Pringle-Johnson was dressed as “kid Quinn.” (Greg Cook)
Nelliel from “Bleach” (from left), Will of the Abyss from “Pandora Hearts,” and Abby Plante costumed as Stitch from the Disney animated feature “Lilo & Stitch.” (Greg Cook)
Nelliel from “Bleach” (from left), Will of the Abyss from “Pandora Hearts,” and Abby Plante costumed as Stitch from the Disney animated feature “Lilo & Stitch.” (Greg Cook)
A packed hall for the cosplay “Dating Game.” (Greg Cook)
A packed hall for the cosplay “Dating Game.” (Greg Cook)
Wolf O’Donnell, Peppy Hare and Fox McCloud from “Star Fox.” (Greg Cook)
Wolf O’Donnell, Peppy Hare and Fox McCloud from “Star Fox.” (Greg Cook)
Elsa from the Disney film “Frozen” attracts a crowd. (Greg Cook)
Elsa from the Disney film “Frozen” attracts a crowd. (Greg Cook)
A Tusken Raider from “Star Wars.” (Greg Cook)
A Tusken Raider from “Star Wars.” (Greg Cook)
Adventure Time” characters Marshall Lee (left) and Prince Gumball. (Greg Cook)
“Adventure Time” characters Marshall Lee (left) and Prince Gumball. (Greg Cook)
Lilith from “Borderlands.” (Greg Cook)
Lilith from “Borderlands.” (Greg Cook)
Witch from “Left 4 Dead.” (Greg Cook)
Witch from “Left 4 Dead.” (Greg Cook)
Zelda from “The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.” (Greg Cook)
Zelda from “The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.” (Greg Cook)
Survey corps from ”Attack on Titan.” (Greg Cook)
Survey corps from ”Attack on Titan.” (Greg Cook)
White Rabbit fixes the eyelashes of the Mad Hatter, a pair of genderbent characters from “Alice in the Country of Hearts.” (Greg Cook)
White Rabbit fixes the eyelashes of the Mad Hatter, a pair of genderbent characters from “Alice in the Country of Hearts.” (Greg Cook)
An original costume (left) and Bard from “Final Fantasy XIV.” (Greg Cook)
An original costume (left) and Bard from “Final Fantasy XIV.” (Greg Cook)
Pearl from “Steven Universe” (from left), Gray from “Fairy Tail,” and Saber from “Fate/Zero.” (Greg Cook)
Pearl from “Steven Universe” (from left), Gray from “Fairy Tail,” and Saber from “Fate/Zero.” (Greg Cook)
Cake (from left), Fionna and BMO from “Adventure Time.” (Greg Cook)
Cake (from left), Fionna and BMO from “Adventure Time.” (Greg Cook)
Jun Enoshima (left) and Kirigiri from “Danganronpa.” (Greg Cook)
Jun Enoshima (left) and Kirigiri from “Danganronpa.” (Greg Cook)
Kenney from “South Park.” (Greg Cook)
Kenney from “South Park.” (Greg Cook)
Lemongrabs from “Adventure Time.” (Greg Cook)
Lemongrabs from “Adventure Time.” (Greg Cook)
An original orange wolf character (from left), Vinyl Scratch from “My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic,” and Mightyena from “Pokemon.” (Greg Cook)
An original orange wolf character (from left), Vinyl Scratch from “My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic,” and Mightyena from “Pokemon.” (Greg Cook)
Noiz and Clear from “DRAMAtical Murder.” (Greg Cook)
Noiz and Clear from “DRAMAtical Murder.” (Greg Cook)
Monster and Wolf from “Halo: Reach.” (Greg Cook)
Monster and Wolf from “Halo: Reach.” (Greg Cook)
Bee from “Bee and Puppycat.” (Greg Cook)
Bee from “Bee and Puppycat.” (Greg Cook)
Kirakishou from “Rozen Maiden” (left) and Numbuh from “Codename: Kids Next Door.” (Greg Cook)
Kirakishou from “Rozen Maiden” (left) and Numbuh from “Codename: Kids Next Door.” (Greg Cook)
Rumia from “Touhou Project” and a friend. (Greg Cook)
Rumia from “Touhou Project” and a friend. (Greg Cook)
Beatrice and Battler from “Umineko.” (Greg Cook)
Beatrice and Battler from “Umineko.” (Greg Cook)
Finn and Princess Bubblegum from “Adventure Time.” (Greg Cook)
Finn and Princess Bubblegum from “Adventure Time.” (Greg Cook)
Brobot and God Tier Nepeta from “Homestuck.” (Greg Cook)
Brobot and God Tier Nepeta from “Homestuck.” (Greg Cook)
Toyosatomimi from”Touhou Project.” (Greg Cook)
Toyosatomimi from”Touhou Project.” (Greg Cook)
Chen, Yukari and Patchouli from “Touhou Project.” (Greg Cook)
Chen, Yukari and Patchouli from “Touhou Project.” (Greg Cook)
Trickster Roxy (from left), Vriska, Jane Crocker and Dave Strider from “Homestuck.” (Greg Cook)
Trickster Roxy (from left), Vriska, Jane Crocker and Dave Strider from “Homestuck.” (Greg Cook)
A fellow in a trenchcoat and Sakura from “Danganronpa.” (Greg Cook)
A fellow in a trenchcoat and Sakura from “Danganronpa.” (Greg Cook)
Lizzie from “Black Butler” (left) and Sarah from “Labyrinth.” (Greg Cook)
Lizzie from “Black Butler” (left) and Sarah from “Labyrinth.” (Greg Cook)
Roxy Lalonde, Kanaya, Terezi and Damara from “Homestuck.” (Greg Cook)
Roxy Lalonde, Kanaya, Terezi and Damara from “Homestuck.” (Greg Cook)
One chilled out unicorn. (Greg Cook)
One chilled out unicorn. (Greg Cook)

This article was originally published on March 22, 2014.

Headshot of Greg Cook

Greg Cook Arts Reporter
Greg Cook was an arts reporter and critic for WBUR's The ARTery.

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