Anime USA

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Anime USA
Status Active
Venue Hyatt Regency Crystal City
Location Crystal City, Virginia
Country Flag of the United States United States
First held 1999
Attendance 3,482 in 2007
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 many from local anime clubs, such as the Northern Virginia Anime Association. 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. Anime USA's events focus on aspects of anime, manga, video games 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 Anime USA is one of a growing number in the area.

Contents

[edit] History

Originally started in 1999 the attendance was small, only 350 people. As of 2004 attendance has passed 2,300 people.[1] The Hyatt Regency convention space Anime USA currently operates from was previous used by two other notable conventions Katsucon and Otakon.

[edit] Event history

Dates Location Atten. Guests
October 15–17, 1999 Crowne Plaza Washington National Airport Hotel
Arlington, Virginia[2]
September 8–10, 2000 Holiday Inn Rosslyn Westpark Hotel at Key Bridge
Arlington, Virginia		 200[3]
October 12–14, 2001 Holiday Inn
Arlington, Virginia		 475[4]
October 11–13, 2002 Sheraton Premiere in Tyson's Corner
Vienna, Virginia		 800 Hiroshi Aro, Steve Bennett, Al Bigley, Keith Burgess, Kelli Shayne Butler, Austell Callwood, Christina Chen, Jo Chen, Amy Howard-Wilson, Andy Lee, Hidenori Matsubara, Scott McNeil, Mustard Seed Comics, Tantara "Tani" Person, Pop Mhan, Ryuhana Press, Jan Scott-Frazier, Kelli Shayne Butler, Patrick Strange, Temple Studios, and Terry Tymczyna.[5]
November 21–23, 2003 Sheraton Premiere in Tyson's Corner
Vienna, Virginia		 1,500 Steve Bennett, Austell Callwood, T. Campbell, Christina Chen, Jo Chen, Greg Eatroff, Sanford Greene, Amy Howard-Wilson, Shimpei Itoh, Carol Jacobanis, L. Jagi Lamplighter, Andy Lee, Jamie McGonnigal, David Newbold, Mio Odagi, Otaku Duet, Chris Patton, Christian Savage, Jan Scott-Frazier, Patrick Strange, Shawn the Touched, and Terry Tymczyna.[6]
October 29–31, 2004 Sheraton Premiere in Tyson's Corner
Vienna, Virginia		 2,339 Robert V. Aldrich, Greg Ayres, Steve Bennett, Eirik Blackwolf, Austell Callwood, Camino, Ron Chiu, Harknell, Janyse Jaud, Shizumi Manale, Onezumi, Monica Rial, Leo Saunders, Carrie Savage, Jan Scott-Frazier, Joe Silver, Doug Smith, Shawn the Touched, David Williams, and Toshifumi Yoshida.[7]
November 18–20, 2005 Sheraton Premiere in Tyson's Corner
Vienna, Virginia		 2,800 Robert V. Aldrich, Greg Ayres, Eirik Blackwolf, Matt Boyd, Ron Chiu, Kara Dennison, Caitlin Glass, Hilary Haag, Ya Ya Han, Mohammad "Hawk" Haque, Jezeroth, Pop Mhan, Vic Mignogna, M.o.v.e., Nen Daiko, Ananth Panagariya, Chris Patton, Monica Rial, Kristine Sa, Leo Saunders, Takafumi Sekiguchi, Joe Silver, and David Williams.[8]
November 17–19, 2006 Sheraton Premiere in Tyson's Corner
Vienna, Virginia		 3,482 Robert V. Aldrich, Greg Ayres, Eirik Blackwolf, Jo Chen, Karen Dick, Ricky Dick, Crispin Freeman, Marty Gear, Caitlin Glass, Dave Lister, Chris "Kilika" Malone, MAX, Pop Mhan, Tee Morris, Nen Daiko, Chris Patton, PLID, Monica Rial, Rosiel, Leo Saunders, Patrick Seitz, Brian Wilson, and X-Strike Studios.[9]
November 16–18, 2007 Hyatt Regency Crystal City
Arlington, Virginia		 Back-On, Capital Area Budokai, Jo Chen, Luci Christian, Tristen Citrine, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Richard Epcar, Mohammad "Hawk" Haque, Chris Hazelton, Chris "Kilika" Malone, Haruka Miyabi, Tee Morris, Nen Daiko, Ananth Panagariya, Kristine Sa, Patrick Seitz, Ellyn Stern, Amanda Tomasch, Brett Weaver, E. K. Weaver, and Michael Wetterhahn.[10]
October 10–12, 2008 Hyatt Regency Crystal City
Arlington, Virginia[11]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Faiola, Anthony. "We're Playing Their Toons", Washington Post, 2004-12-06, p. C01. Retrieved on 2008-01-26. 
  2. ^ Anime USA 1999 Information. AnimeCons.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
  3. ^ Anime USA 2000 Information. AnimeCons.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
  4. ^ Anime USA 2001 Information. AnimeCons.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
  5. ^ Anime USA 2002 Information. AnimeCons.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
  6. ^ Anime USA 2003 Information. AnimeCons.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
  7. ^ Anime USA 2004 Information. AnimeCons.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
  8. ^ Anime USA 2005 Information. AnimeCons.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
  9. ^ Anime USA 2006 Information. AnimeCons.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
  10. ^ Anime USA 2007 Information. AnimeCons.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.
  11. ^ Anime USA 2008 Information. AnimeCons.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-26.

[edit] External links