Anime USA

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Anime USA

Status	Active
Venue	Hyatt Regency Crystal City
Location	Crystal City, VA
Country	United States
Years in existence	1999 to Present
Attendance	Approximately 3,482 Paid Attendees^[1] + About 200 Staff, 50 Associates, 40 Guests, 50 Dealers, and 30 Press as of Anime USA 2006
List of events	Anime Music Videos, Artist Alley, Art Show and Auction, Autograph Sessions, Cosplay, Dance, Dealer Room, Game Shows, Human Cosplay Chess, Karaoke, LARP, Musical Performances, Original Animation Contest, Panels & Workshops, Video Game Room, Video Game Tournaments, and Video Rooms^[2]
Official Website

Anime USA (AUSA) is a fandom convention for anime, manga and Japanese culture enthusiasts. It is an annual three-day event held over a weekend in Crystal City, Virginia (as of Anime USA 2007), part of the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Anime USA is traditionally held the weekend before Thanksgiving day, with the exception being the 2004 convention, which was held on Halloween weekend. The event is organized by Anime USA, a non-profit organization incorporated in the state of Virginia, and operated and staffed entirely by unpaid volunteers. Anime USA's official tagline is "Of Otaku, By Otaku, For Otaku".

The convention features Japanese creators of anime and manga, cosplay, voice actors from anime and videogames, artists, vendors and exhibits, panels, workshops, and gaming. AUSA's events focus on aspects of anime, manga, videogames and Japanese culture. With the popularity of anime and manga growing in the United States, anime conventions have seen momentous growth in their attendance, and AUSA is one of a growing number in the area.

All staff are unpaid volunteers, although some tasks are supplemented by temporary workers (commonly called "gophers"). As of Anime USA 2005, approximately 400 staff were listed on the roster.

The 2006 convention was on November 17-19, 2006.

1 History
2 References
3 External links

[edit] History

[edit] Anime USA 2004

Anime USA 6 was held on October 29, 30 and 31, 2004 at the Sheraton Premiere in Tyson's Corner—for its third consecutive year—in Vienna, VA. It had a total attendance of 2,562 people; 227 were staff.^[3] The convention was held over Halloween weekend, and had its first unofficial use of a theme.

The convention had varying preregistration rates: $20.00 by March 31; $25.00 by June 30; and $30.00 by September 30. Registrations at the door costed $40.00 for the whole weekend.^[4]

Anime USA had another concert this year, this time featuring Camino.

33 special guests and escorts attended this year. Voice actors included Greg Ayres (Chrono, Chrono Crusade; Kaworu Nagisa, Neon Genesis Evangelion), Janyse Jaud (Kagura, Inuyasha), Monica Rial (Florette Harvenheit, Chrono Crusade; Maya Ibuki, Neon Genesis Evangelion), Carrie Savage (Arimi Suzuki, Marmalade Boy) and Doug Smith (Kintaro Oe, Golden Boy). Webcomic artists included Chisuji, Matt Boyd (Mac Hall) and Onezumi. Authors included Robert V. Aldrich. Industry executives included Steve Bennett (co-founder, Studio Ironcat), Jan Scott Frazier (president, Production I.G. USA), David Williams (producer/director, ADV Films) and Toshifumi Yoshida (producer, VIZ Media). Artists included Austell Callwood and Shawn the Touched. Professional Cosplayers included Big Danny T and Cody Surface.

[edit] Anime USA 2005

Anime USA 7 stormed the Sheraton Premiere in Tyson's Corner at Vienna, VA for the fourth time on November 18, 19 and 20, 2005. An estimated 2,800^[5] paid attendees entered, hosted by an estimated 400 staff. The second unofficial theme was Autumn.

Pre-registration rates were: $25.00 until May 31; $30.00 until August 31; and $35.00 until November 5. Rates at the door were $45.00 for the whole weekend, and $25 - $35 per day.

The convention also hosted a musical performance by M.O.V.E. on Friday, November 18, 2005 at 8:30 PM.^[6]

Anime USA's special guests consisted of Robert V. Aldrich (author), Greg Ayres (Chrono, Chrono Crusade; Kaworu Nagisa, Neon Genesis Evangelion), Erik Blackwolf, Matt Boyd (writer of Mac Hall), Marcus Shanks (web comic colorist from Chisuji), Kara Dennison (Papillion Cosmos, Lingerie Senshi Papillon Rose), Caitlin Glass (Winry Rockbell, Fullmetal Alchemist), Hilary Haag (Rosette Christopher, Chrono Crusade), Ya Ya Han (professional cosplayer), Mohammad "Hawk" Haque (co-author of Applegeeks), Jeseroth (professional cosplayer), Pop Mhan (professional cosplayer), Vic Mignogna (Edward Elric, Fullmetal Alchemist), M.O.V.E., Nen Daiko (taiko drummers), Ananth Panagariya (co-author of Applegeeks), Chris Patton (Greed, Fullmetal Alchemist), Monica Rial (Florette Harvenheit, Chrono Crusade; Maya Ibuki, Neon Genesis Evangelion), Kristine Sa (Vietnamese pop singer), Leo Saunders and Ronzo Murphy (web site pencilers from Chisuji), Takafumi Sekiguchi (CEO and founder of CuriousFactory, Inc., Joe Silver (web comic inker from Chisuji) and David Williams (producer from ADV Films).

[edit] Anime USA 2006

Once again, Anime USA 8 was held at the Sheraton Premiere in Tyson's Corner in Vienna, VA on November 17, 18 and 19, 2006. Now official, the convention's theme was Going to Tokyo.

Regular pre-registration rates was $30.00 until June 30, 2006 and $35.00 until October 31, 2006. At the door, registrations cost $45 for the whole weekend, $30.00 for Friday only, $35.00 for Saturday only, and $25.00 for Sunday only. Anime USA moved to a totally online system for registration (both pre-registration and at-door registration).

Anime USA had the "Japanese Musical Guests of Honor" to be MAX.^[7] They performed on the night of Saturday, November 18. PLID, a band consisting of Chris Patton (Greed, Fullmetal Alchemist), Eric Dano, and Frank Ortiz performed on Friday night. Finally, Nen Daiko—a traditional taiko group— performed on Sunday at noon.

As always, this year's convention was host to plethora of guest voice actors, many of which are veterans to Anime USA. They include: Greg Ayres (Chrono, Chrono Crusade; Kaworu Nagisa, Neon Genesis Evangelion), Crispin Freeman (Alucard, Hellsing), Caitlin Glass (Winry Rockbell, Fullmetal Alchemist), Chris Patton (Greed, Fullmetal Alchemist), Monica Rial (Florette Harvenheit, Chrono Crusade; Maya Ibuki, Neon Genesis Evangelion), and Patrick Seitz (Isshin Kurosaki, Bleach. Alongside them will be authors Robert V. Aldrich (CrossWorld) and Tee Morris. Featured Artists Jo Chen (prestigious cover artist) and Pop Mhan (BLANK) have been announced, as well as cosplayers Ricky & Karen Dick, Marty Gear, Jace Moore (Jace Moore needed to cancel) and Rosiel. Finally, the web comics Dave Lister, Chris Malone, and as always, Chisuji, attended.

At closing ceremonies it was announced that 3,471 paid attendees attended Anime USA 2006 and confirmed at closing ceremonies was that Anime USA is moving from Tyson's Corner, VA to Crystal City, VA in 2007. The Hyatt Regency in Crystal City was announced as Anime USA's new venue. Also Anime USA announced that they caught a thief who was trying to bring stolen projectors into the dealer's room in 2006 and when Fairfax County police raided his car, they found a lot more electronics packed into his car. They said that the person was turned over to the police and that the police will be searching his house. This announcement had many people clapping and many seemed surprised.

Christian Brock, treasurer of Anime USA 2006 posted on the Anime USA forums that actually 3,482 paid attendees was the final attendance count with approximately 200 staff, approximately 50 Associates, approximately 40 guests (includes their security entourage), approximately 50 dealers, and approximately 30 press.

The breakdown for Anime USA 2006's paid attendance is:

**Anime USA 2006 Attendance Breakdown**
Attendance Type	Count
Three-Day Regular	2,204
Three-Day Child	6
Three-Day Silver	242
Three-Day Sponsor	50
Friday	91
Saturday	705
Saturday-Child	35
Sunday	133
Sunday-Child	16

[edit] Anime USA 9

This article or section contains information about scheduled or expected future events.
It may contain information of a tentative nature and the content may change dramatically as the event approaches and more information becomes available.

Anime USA 9 will be held on Thanksgiving weekend again for 2007 but the venue has changed. Anime USA is moving to Crystal City, VA in the Hyatt Regency Crystal City.