Masquerade

The Masquerade is a Saturday night theatrical performance in which groups of fans display their costuming skill and perform short skits based on their favorite Anime or Video Game. These skits can be dramatic, comedic, dance-based or just plain wacky! A panel of staff and celebrity judges present awards to the best performances and costumes. Advanced registration is required for this popular event. The Masquerade is just as fun to watch as it is to participate in!

Hall Costume Contest

Another opportunity for competition, this contest allows cosplayers to sign up ahead of time to have their craftsmanship evaluated by a panel of experienced judges. Advanced registration is required; no entries will be accepted at the door. Prizes for the best costumes and costume designs will be announced at the Masquerade on Saturday night.

Returning this year, Hall Costume Contest participants will have the opportunity to participate in a Fashion show exhibition held during the Masquerade Intermission.

Staff-Vote Costume Contest

Here it is once again - Anime Boston's own version of a Hall Costume Contest, and when we say 'hall' we mean in the hall!

During the three days of the convention, selected staff members will be circulating the halls with Staff Vote tickets which they will hand out to any exceptional cosplayers they see. If you collect three staff vote tickets, you can turn them in at Masquerade Headquarters to receive a prize ribbon. There is a limit of one ribbon per costume, but the same cosplayer may win multiple ribbons for different costumes.

(Masquerade Headquarters will be open Friday 9 AM - 8 PM, Saturday 9 AM - 2PM, and Sunday 10 AM - 3 PM to claim your prize ribbons).

No signup is required for the Staff-Vote Hall Costume Contest, and every costume at the convention is automatically eligible. Come on, cosplayers! Show us what you've got!

Emergency Cosplay Repair Station

Located at Masquerade Headquarters, the Emergency Cosplay Repair station provides a wide variety of craft supplies for cosplayers to use to repair damage done to costumes, hair and makeup during the convention. It may be used free of charge by any convention attendee.

Anime Dating Game

The Anime Dating Game is a hilarious cosplay game show event in which cosplayers compete in-character to win a date with a fabulous anime bachelor or bachelorette. The prize, a popular anime character like Faye Valentine (Cowboy Bebop) or Edward Elric (Fullmetal Alchemist), sits on one side of the stage and asks questions of three or four contestants, also popular anime characters, who sit on the other side of a screen so that the prize can't see who they are.

Catch the Barrel

Catch the Barrel is a cosplay game played every year in the halls of Anime Boston. It does not require you to sign up in advance and anyone may play, but you must be in full costume to participate - cosplayers in street clothes and those in partial costume (i.e., just wearing a jacket or a headband over plain clothes) may not play. Attendees dressed as non-Japanese characters may also participate. (A ninja headband is NOT full costume).

Cosplay Chess

Chess is back and better than ever at Anime Boston 2010! Cosplay Human Chess is a cosplay gameshow event in which a giant chess-board is set up on stage and convention attendees in costume serve as the pieces, moving, fighting and dying live on stage at the direction of two chess masters. The theme for this year's Cosplay Human Chess Match teams is: Past vs. Future.

Cosplay Panels

Panels and workshops run by experienced, award-winning cosplayers provide tips, demonstrations, techniques and anecdotes sure to improve anyone's cosplay.

Cosplay Scavenger Hunt

Anyone can play this relaxed in-the-halls scavenger hunt. Pick up a Scavenger Hunt Form from the Info Desk, which contains a list of cosplayers to look for and get signatures (or photos) from. Can you find all four members of a bishounen quartet? How about a cyborg vampire? A male Duo Maxwell cosplayer? You can play alone or on a team. The first five to complete the hunt and return completed forms to the Info Desk win a prize; the very first gets a Clue for the Cosplot Clue Board

Cosplot 2010

Anime Boston has a continuing storyline uniting its cosplay programming. This plotline consists of a series of performances by Anime Boston attendees as well as staff, in costume and in character, enacting skits, competitions and battles to create a story connecting the Anime Dating Game, the Masquerade, Catch the Barrel and Cosplay Human Chess. The theme for this year's Cosplot is: Mad Science - Time Travel.