Anime USA Welcomes Charlene Ingram of VIZ Media!

Charlene Ingram of VIZ Media

Charlene wants to bring the love of anime to fans everywhere!

We’re pleased to welcome Charlene Ingram, VIZ Media’s Senior Manager of Animation Marketing, to Anime USA. Charlene visits us straight from VIZ Media, a manga, anime, and Japanese-American entertainment company. She started out as a fandom personality with over 16 years of experience cosplaying. She then entered the industry as a brand manager for FUNimation Entertainment and eventually moved on to work at VIZ Media. Learn more about Charlene and meet her at Anime USA 2014!

Party with us at Anime USA 2014!

Join the party on Friday and Saturday of Anime USA

Join the party on Friday and Saturday of Anime USA

Join the party at Anime USA 2014. On the Friday and Saturday nights of the Convention, we’re hosting audio-visual shows like no other! DJs Mighty Mike Saga, Virtek, Zircon, Roger Shackelford, and Nicholai will be spinning everything from electro-industrial to house!

Learn more about this year’s DJs by visiting Who To See. ‘Hope to see you at our raves!

New for 2014: Childrens’ Events!

This year, we’re pleased to add a new track of programming and events geared toward children! We’d love to hear your feedback. Please let us know what you think at education@animeusa.org.

TitleDescription
Japanese Doll & Toy DisplayCome see a selection of Japanese dolls and toys showcasing traditional craftsmanship and costumes in our Art Show all weekend long.
Japanese Doll Workshops: Washcloth Ninjas, Hina, Kaede, & Anesama Dolls.Join Japanese doll instructor and enthusiast Anne Cox for three hands-on classes throughout the weekend, each focusing on a different type of Japanese doll. Attendees will be able to make a traditional doll to take home with them. Space in these free classes is limited and on a first-come, first-serve basis. Anne will also have a drop-in hall station for doll making throughout the day. Children attending these panels will need an adult to assist them. See various doll displays throughout the weekend!
Childrens' Activities with the Japan-America SocietyThe Japan-America Society will bring their popular Japan in a Suitcase children’s programming to Anime USA with a selection of fun games and activities for children of all ages.
Japanese GamesJoin some of our maids to learn several traditional Japanese games. Great for children, but fun for members of all ages!
Childrens' Aikido DemonstrationJoin DC Aikido for a demonstration of Aikido specifically geared towards children and young teens.

Anime USA 2014 Schedule Coming Soon

We’ve been working hard to finalize our full schedule of events for Anime USA 2014. Stay tuned. We’ll be posting it soon!

A sneak peak of panels and workshops you can expect to see at Anime USA 2014:

Fashion 101

Explore our 2014 theme with a brief look at the four areas of our themed programming—traditional Japanese fashion, contemporary Japanese fashion movements, cosplay and fan fashions, and character design. Preview the myriad panels and workshops offered, and learn about some of our fashion guests.

The History of Cross-Cultural Fashion Borrowing with Kass McGann

Ever seen those 18th century paintings of French women dressed as harem girls? What about the craze for all things Japanese in the 1890s? Did you know there was even a brief trend for ruffs and breeches in 16th century Japan? Cross-cultural fashion borrowing has been going on for as long as humans have had other cultures to borrow from. This lecture will explore the interesting and weird borrowings throughout history.

Character Design to Costume

Join one of Anime USA’s popular art guests Kevin Bolk and popular cosplayer and long-time Anime USA mascot Chiara Scuro for a look at how we’ve brought our mascot Kaede to life over the years. Learn what goes into the themed character designs each year, and how that is transformed into a costume for our convention.

Make It Work: Exploring Japanese Street Fashion on a Thrift Store Budget

Explore ways to make your own street fashion looks on a thrift store budget, including tips and tricks on finding the best deals. This panel will include some in-person demonstrations on easy ways to modify thrift store finds and refashion them into the look you want. Each outfit presented will be made for $20 or less. We’ll cover cutting, sewing, dyeing, repurposing, and many other ways to refashion discarded clothing into something fun and exciting. Let’s explore limitless creativity on a limited budget.

Anime USA Welcomes Cosplay Enthusiast, KO Cosplay!

KO Cosplay

And she makes a great Wartortle!

We are excited to announce KO Cosplay as our second Cosplay Guest! KO Cosplay is very well known for her video game, anime, and comic book cosplays; especially her trademark Crimson Viper from the Street Fighter series. She is very excited to attend Anime USA this year as one of our cosplay guests and share her knowledge of modeling for cosplay photography, gijinka cosplay designing, and building confidence through cosplay. Learn more about her by visiting Who To See.

Join Kaya for Private Tea Party at Anime USA 2014

Kaya

Kaya of Schwarz Stein is hosting a private tea party for you!

Kaya of Schwarz Stein will be hosting a exclusive authentic Japanese-style tea party for attendees of Anime USA 2014. This tea party will include various teas, delicious pastries and other edibles, and an karaoke-style mini performance in an intimate setting. Only 60 slots will be available for this event. Join Kaya’s Tea Party by visiting our Registration page.

Thursday Night Programming Details

Here’s what’s going on Thursday night at Anime USA 2014. Membership not required: these events are free and open to the public! This is a great chance for you to check out Anime USA.

TimeTitleDescriptionLocation
7:00pm – 8:00pmSocial Issues In CosplayWith the growth of the cosplay community both online and offline, cosplayers have been noticing greater amounts of issues with their hobby. This can include harassment on many levels (Fat-Shaming, Racial Hate, Fandom Hate, ect.), the growth and issues of online popularity, as well as the growth of competition through craftsmanship and other means. This panel is to help cosplayers and non-cosplayers have a open discussion about these growing issues, spread awareness of cosplay issues and find either immediate or long term solutions to them.Panel 2 (Washington 1)
8:00pm – 9:00pmMaid Café Meet & GreetMeet the maids of My Cup of Tea Maid CaféPanel 2 (Washington 1)
7:00pm – 8:00pmI Workout: A Cosplayer's Guide to FitnessHave you ever wondered how to get that superhero body but have no idea even where to start? I this panel, I will walk you through the basics of how to get into a workout routine, how to analyze your body type to determine what workout regimen would best benefit you, and how to eat a nutritious diet.Panel 3 (Washington 2)
8:00pm – 9:00pm50 Years of Anime OpeningsIt's the first night of the con, so why not relax, unwind, and take a look at how far anime has evolved, using only the openings as a lens. Selections taken from every decade of television anime will highlight emerging trends, experimentation, and elements of style incorporated by content creators for growing audiences. Panel 3 (Washington 2)
9:00pm – 10:00pmMasquerade MagicFrom concept to reality.  Have an awesome idea for a skit and don’t know how to make it come to life? Talk to some veteran cosplayers and find out how to make your dreams a reality. This panel will discuss how to make that cosplay skit dream a plausible reality.Panel 2 (Washington 1)
9:00pm – 10:00pmGuided tour of the HotelTake a guided tour of the Washington Marriott Wardman Park, the hotel that hosts Anime USA!Panel 3 (Washington 2)
10:00pm – 11:00pmAnime ParliamentWelcome to the highest court in the anime multi-verse. Anime Parliament ® is where you can step forward as a character or fan, and institute the changes you feel should be made. Come and state your case! But remember: be ready for a debate, because you’ll certainly get one.Panel 2 (Washington 1)
11:30pm – 12:30amThat Shouldn't Fit (Hentai Panel) [18+]Exactly what it sounds like. Heh. Heh. Heh.Panel 2 (Washington 1) [State-issued ID or Anime USA age-verification wristband required for entry]
11:30pm – 12:30amWild World of go Nagai [18+]This is an established panel on the life and times of Go Nagai. Topics covered include Early life, Clips from his shows and art from his Manga. Talks about how he became and maintained being a pioneer in manga/animePanel 3 (Washington 2) [State-issued ID or Anime USA age-verification wristband required for entry]

Model in the MIKA TAKEUCHI Fashion Show

Mika Takeuchi

Mika Takeuchi

Mika Takeuchi is the new upcoming Japanese fashion designer inspired by Japanese sub-culture. Her creation of Neo Gothic collection is a mixture between gothic, Lolita and her own individual style.

Takeuchi used to work under h.NAOTO for 10 years and was in charge of designs for FRILL, h.jelly, Melt etc.
A balance between the world of gothic, lolita, and punk come together to make distinctive, chic, and elegant designs.

Takeuchi has specially been invited to show case her 2014 AUTUMN/WINTER collection world of Neo-Gothic in Anime USA in Washington D.C. It will be her very first international show in the US!

This is a chance to participate in the very first show of the brand MIKA TAKEUCHI. Selected models will be able to wear the newest AUTUMN/ WINTER 2014 collection!

All models participating in this show will receive a 20% discount off any MIKA TAKEUCHI items collection after the Anime USA show at Jhouse-Rock booth.

Don’t miss this amazing chance to have fun and experience the new world of Neo-Gothic and feel free to invite your friends or even apply to be a model in the fashion show with your friends!

Click here to learn more and apply!