Anime Mid-Atlantic took place last weekend in Chesapeake, Virginia at the Chesapeake Conference Center. This year marked the conventions 10th year and many special events were held to commemorate that milestone.
The focus of the weekend was Saturday night's Fan Favorite Award Ceremony. Complete with red carpet, celebrity presenters, and real awards, this was where a years worth of work was displayed and favorites in many categories were honored. Awards for Best Comedy, Best horror, Best Classic Anime, Best musical score, and more were handed out. Musical guest, The Clockwork Dolls, performed as well as a Taiko drumming performance. Musical montages showing past convention years were shown periodically.
All the pomp and circumstance of a real ceremony was present, as presenters were dressed in suits and dresses and escorted by the convention's mascot, the Tenuki. Guests entered the awards in pairs and walked up the red carpet to the stage as music played welcoming them into the room. Greg Larson was the MC of the event and winners were brought out in a sealed envelope and announced on the stage where a clear trophy was handed out by the Tenuki. There was even a Kanye West spoof when "Cowboy Bebop" was beat out by "Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children" for Best Musical score. For a complete list of the winners, you can visit the AMA website at: http://www.animemidatlantic.com/amaawards.php
Convention chair, Edward Fortner, was in charge of the event and even presented some of the awards. According to Ezza Forner, his wife and con vice-chair, and James Bullock, also Vice-chair, Fortner was in charge of 75% of the leg work. He was in charge of the nominations while Ezza and Bullock took care of the actual stage event, such as the multimedia and technical issues. Bullock was in charge of live programming and designed the process of the ceremony.
Roughly a year ago, they sent out emails to previous and currents attendees, staffers, and guests with the nominees and asked them to vote on it. At the ceremony it was announced that they had over 2000 votes come in for the categories. "It's all about the ten years," Ezza Fornter said. They wanted this year to be special and really celebrate the anniversary. "No one really celebrates the tenth. We wanted to do something different to celebrate," she said.
Guests that were present for the awards, ran up to accept. These included Vic Mignogna who was award Best Voice Actor and AMA Guest Fan Favorite. Carl Macek (Robotech) was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award. Macek passed away only weeks prior to the vent and was honored with a video presentation. A teary eyed presentation was given by Fortner and fellow presenter, Rob Lance. "If it wasn't for these shows, people like me wouldn't be here," Lance said as he talked about Macek. The award was accepted by Steve Yun who said that Macek's wife wanted people to not mourn for her husband. "Do not get caught up by the sadness, celebrate what Carl had accomplished," he said.
Also in honor of the ten year anniversary, the Agents of Cosplay, a group of cosplayers that are long time regulars of the convention, gave an exhibition skit that showed off their love for all that is Anime Mid-Atlantic. At the end of the performances on Saturday, cosplay head, Tikki, presented them with the Chairman's award for their dedication to the convention. The agents won Best in Show at the convention five years in a row, and for the last two years have helped with judging the various contests and performing exhibition skits to kick off the Saturday masquerade. Tears were in Tikki's eyes as she thanked the agents for all their work.
The convention itself was spread between two buildings, the convention center and the Norfolk Marriott Chesapeake. Even despite temperatures in the nineties, convention goers trekked between the two buildings throughout the weekend. Artist alley, the dealers room and most of the panel rooms were housed inside the convention center while registration and video rooms were placed in the hotel.
This marked the first year that Cosplay Chess was performed at AMA. Held in a small panel room, a chess board made of live pieces was set up and performed for a packed room. Pieces fought for control of the board until finally one side came out victorious.
To find out more about AMA and to get ready for next year's convention, check out its website at: http://www.animemidatlantic.com/index.php
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