Anime Mid-Atlantic

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Anime Mid-Atlantic
Location Greater Richmond Convention Center
Richmond, Virginia
Years in existence 2001 to present
Attendance 2,968[1]
List of events Artist Alley, Art Auction, Anime Music Video Contest, Art Show, Cosplay, Hall Costume Contest, Video Game Rooms & Tournaments, Music Concerts, Panels & Workshops, Charity Auction, Video Programming, Karaoke and Rave/Dance.
Official Website

Anime Mid-Atlantic is a Japanese animation and cultural festival. It is held in Richmond, Virginia, USA, some Friday, Saturday and Sunday every June. Founded in 2001, Anime Mid-Atlantic's goal is to provide a place where anime and manga fans can gather together and share in their common interest in a festive and fun atmosphere. Those familiar with the convention often refer to it as AMA, for short.

Contents

[edit] Programming

Typical AMA programming includes:

  • Several video rooms in which live action Japanese films and anime are shown in various rooms on big screens throughout the convention. Fan-produced anime music videos, in which anime film clips are set against the background of a particular song, are also shown.
  • Panels and Workshops on subjects such as voice acting or how to draw manga. Expert guests discuss or show tricks of their trade and field questions from the audience.
  • A Dealers' Room in which commercial vendors such as publishers and retailers set up booths and sell their merchandise.
  • The Artist's Alley in which amateur artists may sign up for a table and display, advertise, sell, and auction their artwork.
  • A video game room in which attendees may play a variety of console, arcade, and computer games, and participate in tournaments.
  • Cosplay and live-action role-playing. Many attendees spend most of the convention in costume as their favorite anime, manga, or video game character. Those seeking recognition for their costumes may enter the more private Hall Costume Contest, or may opt for the "big stage" in the formal Cosplay event, held on Saturday night.
  • Musical guests, a mock-rave-style dance and a karaoke competition.

[edit] History

[edit] Anime Mid-Atlantic 2001

Anime Mid-Atlantic was launched as the first anime convention in Richmond, VA from June 15 to June 17, 2001. It was held at the Holiday Inn Select Koger Center and had 616 paid attendees, a total of 657 people.[2]

Special Guests included Steve Bennett (Studio Ironcat, co-founder), Austell Callwood (TenBu Productions, artist, writer), Nickey Froberg (cosplayer), Mike Hayes (Haze Studios, artist), Steve Pearl (NuTech Digital), Brett Weaver (Slayers Special, Jeffrey; Neon Genesis Evangelion, Touji Suzuhara), Doug Smith (Golden Boy, Kintaro Oe), Kara Dennison (Lingerie Senshi Papillon Rose, Papillon Cosmos) and Don Yee (Robotech, artist)[1]

[edit] Anime Mid-Atlantic 2002

The second consecutive year at the Holiday Inn Select Koger Center, Anime Mid-Atlantic 2 returned from June 14 to June 16, 2002. 968 guests attended, giving Anime Mid-Atlantic an outstanding record in growth of 57%.

The Special Guests had included Senno Knife (story writer, artist), Tsubaki Nekoi, Carl Macek (Robotech, producer), Humouring the Fates, Jan Scott-Frazier (consultant, translator), Terry Tymczyna (comic artist) and John Waltrip & Jason Waltrip (Prelude to the Shadow Chronicles).[1]

[edit] Anime Mid-Atlantic 2003

Anime Mid-Atlantic 3 was relocated to the Richmond Marriott West from June 13 to June 15, 2003. Approximately 1,150 guests attended.

Special Guests included Tiffany Grant (Neon Genesis Evangelion, Asuka Langley), Greg Ayres (Neon Genesis Evangelion, Kaworu Nagisa), Robert V. Aldrich (author), Robert DeJesus (studio capsule artist) and Kara Dennison (Lingerie Senshi Papillon Rose, Papillon Cosmos).[3]

[edit] Anime Mid-Atlantic 2004

Anime Mid-Atlantic 4 was held from May 28 to May 30, 2004. 1,729 people attended this year.

Special Guests included Monical Rial (Excel Saga, Hyatt), Amy Howard-Wilson (The Irresponsible Captain Tylor, Miranda), Doug Smith (Golden Boy, Kintaro Oe) and Robert DeJesus (studio capsule artist).[1]

[edit] Anime Mid-Atlantic 2005

Anime Mid-Atlantic 5 took place from June 17 to June 19, 2005, returning to the Holiday Inn Select Koger Center. An estimate of 2,000 people attended.

Special Guests included Mark E Rogers (author), Keith Burgess (Manga Entertainment), Chisuji (webcomic artists), 2wcOnline (artists, web comic creators) and Greg Ayres (Chrono, Chrono Crusade).[1]

[edit] Anime Mid-Atlantic 2006

Anime Mid-Atlantic 6 is the latest Anime Mid-Atlantic convention so far; it took place from June 16 to June 18, 2006. It featured its first step into a Convention center, Greater Richmond Convention Center, boasting 3,002 attendees.

Special Guests included Yasuhiro Koshi (Big Fighter Project), Yunmao Ayakawa (professional cosplay idol), Mari Iijima (singer, songwriter, actress), Kristine Sa (singer, songwriter), Michael Coleman (actor, voiceactor), Michael "Piano Squall" Gluck (anime and video game musician), Greg Ayres (Chrono, Chrono Crusade) Steve Yun (Harmony Gold USA), Tommy Yune (creative director), John Waltrip and Jason Waltrip (Prelude to The Shadow Chronicles), Kay Reynolds (author, editor), Austell Callwood (TenBu Productions), Keith Burgess (Manga Entertainment), Jonathan Brands (FUNimation Entertainment), Doug Smith (Golden Boy, Kintaro Oe), 2wcOnline (artists, web comic creators), Robert DeJesus (studio capsule artist), Robert V. Aldrich (author), Steve Bennett (artist), Chisuji (webcomic artists), X-Strike Studios (video game parodies) and Mark E. Rogers (author, illustrator).[4]

Also featured was Anime Mid-Atlantic's first music concerts. Piano Squall and Mari Iijima performed on June 16, and Kristine Sa performed on June 15.[3]

[edit] Anime Mid-Atlantic 2007

Anime Mid-Atlantic 7 has been announced to be held again at the Greater Richmond Convention Center from June 15 to June 17, 2007.

[edit] References

[edit] External links