goboiano
We’ve talked about anime trackers before (and even attempted to compare them), but this time we’re going to talk about a website calledGoBoiano.
I’m pretty confused about what GoBoiano is – yet another anime tracker (like Hummingbird)? A social network solely for anime fans? Yet another content aggregation platform (like Tokyo Otaku Mode)? There must be something about this that I haven’t seen yet.
For that, I’ve talked to their representatives (or mascot characters) Anni and Mei. Here’s the rundown of the email I had with Anni. Also, since I typed this on my mobile phone, I’ve done errors as well on my part;  I also emphasized some terms as well.
Jay: I’m Jay Agonoy and I write for Deremoe, an anime blog based in the Philippines. I would like to ask a few questions about GoBoiano, and I hope you and the GoBoiano team can answer it.
Anni: Thank you so much for the message! Anni here. No problem, I love answering questions and messages, but don’t ask Mei because she pretends to get angry. ;_; Really, she just wants to play video games and eat cake!
Jay: First, I’ve been curious about the website’s offerings – I’ve been looking at websites such as Hummingbird and Tokyo Otaku Mode which is an anime viewing tracker and a content provider respectively; and I can see GoBoiano as such, because as far as O (sic, supposed to be “I”)have learned your website gathers creators and fans. Was I correct about this, or did I miss important info?
Anni: To answer your first question, GoBoiano is an anime social platform! We’re building the resources to really connect together the anime culture community and allow them to have one core platform to create and interact with one another in a collaborative and intuitive manner. Creators, brands, sellers and everyday anime fans can connect with everything they love and create a close knit network of people with similar passions. That’s our goal! The team at GoBoiano is building an absolute ton of really cool products that will help us succeed in our mission!
Jay: Second, may we ask why the website is named as such? GoBoiano seems an unusual name or me to hear, and it speaks to me like, “go, boy!.”
Anni: GoBoiano was originally a night forum for anime so the name was Brotherhood of Insomniacs and Night Owls (emphasis mine) when the founders (Maj and Kais!) were still just fans with a passion, and as we evolved the name stuck as Boiano. A go was stuck in there too though!
Jay: …and finally, I don’t know how to ask this correctly but may I ask, how did you get your names? I’m curious.
Anni: I’m Anni and my sister is Mei, and together we make annimei (anime)! Fitting, right? Thanks for your email, be sure to get in touch if you have any other questions! Maybe Mei will come to the keyboard next time.
From the looks of it, this will compete against TOM, and we’re going to see how this goes in the next few months.
GoBoiano will have its closed beta by the 21st of November, and they have more information about the anime social network they are doing (and how to sign up for it) in this page. I’ll also take a look as well.