We’re still processing our photos and uploading them to our photo galleries. Take a look see and check out all the action from the weekend!

Cosplayers from far and wide competed for prizes and glory in this year’s Masquerade. Representing popular animes such as Bleach and Naruto, actors performed complicated skits for the delight of the con’s attendees.

Watch our photo gallery for pictures from tonight’s Masquerade as they are uploaded.

The winners are:

Doc Holtz’s Best Use of Osteology Award - Dinah Wherever, Valeria Kuna
Tech Crew’s Choice - Xianghua, Amy White
Czarina’s Choice Award - Deka Ranger, Angela Prichett

Paul’s Maximum Fortitude Judge’s Award - Air Gear/Naruto
Telf’s Cabin Boy Fever Award - Amila
Cody’s Angry Pimp Hand Award - Bleach
Tristen’s Judge’s Award - Cell Block Tango

Novice Best Presentation - Turks
Novice Best Workmanship - Xianghua, Amy White
Novice Honorable Mention Workmanship - Yuuko, Lindsey Wagner
Best in Novice Division - Pirates and Ninjas

Journeyman Best Presentation - Nario, Jason Allen
Journeyman Best Workmanship - Dinah Wherever, Valerie Kuna
Journeyman Honorable Mention Workmanship - Astarothe Asran, Bethany Glaze
Best in Journeyman Division - Dinah Wherever, Valerie Kuna

Craftsman Best Presentation - Bleach
Craftsman Best Workmanship - Mateus the Corrupt, Bethany Mackley
Craftsman Honorable Mention Workmanship - Amila, Ilona Lawrence
Best in Craftsman Division - To Catch a Predator

Open Division Best Workmanship - Princess Sailor Moon, Kate Szkotnicki
Best in Open Division - Adventures in an Elevator

Best in Show - Naruto Girls

This is the challenge of the Iron Editor contest at Anime USA. Two well-known AMV editors come together with a common theme and various source material. In two hours, they must create a minute long music video that pertains to the theme and is also fun to watch.

This year’s theme was Girls Kick Ass. Editors had to use EX-Driver, ROD TV, Battle Vixens, Mezzo TV and Phantom Quest Corps. The suprise secret ingredient was Gunsmith Cats.

Throughout the event, random AMVs were shown and the audience was charged to name the animes within the music videos. In a rare occurrence, the creator on one montage was beaten at his own game, with audience members naming more animes within the video than he could.

Nat Bezner defended his Iron Editor title, making him a three-time champion of the contest. For his win, he is invite to return for next year.

Nearly 300 attendees stacked into Main Events for Anime USA’s first formal ball. With a 90-minute dance lesson beforehand, the Celestial Ball featured the waltz, foxtrot and rumba.

In a mashup of prom sequins and Japanese kimonos, con-goers swayed and danced to the sounds of classic anime songs such as Fly Me to the Moon from Neon Genesis Evangelion and Sore ga Ai deshou from Full Metal Panic Fumoffu!. Dance hosts, staff who were previously trained in ballroom dancing, were on hand to show dancers a few new moves.

The three-hour event was extremely successful, allowing attendees to get their first taste of ballroom dancing.

With a subdued opening, Anime USA announced its guests of honor for this year’s convention at Opening Ceremonies. Led by the Japanese bank BACK-ON and singer/songwriter Kristine Sa, each guest promised to meet with all of their adoring fans while educating attendees with their unique experiences.

“This is our third anime convention,” said MC TEEDA from BACK-ON. “We’re hoping to make this our best convention ever.”

Guests are diverse as podcaster Tee Morris to cosplayer Tristen Citrine. Each will hold various panels where fans can ask questions, get autographs and receive free swag.

It’s not an anime convention without voice actors. Voice actors Luci Christian, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Richard Epcar, Patrick Seitz, Ellyn Stern and Brett Weaver are among the guests of honor.

Find out more at http://www.animeusa.org/guests.php.

Come in your finest dress and find out tonight at 10 p.m. in Main Events. You might be surprised.

Attendees started to queue up for registration as early at 8 a.m. this morning, lining the balconies of the Hyatt Regency. Drawing odd looks from departing guests (most which attended a Siemens’s technology conference yesterday), otaku from around the D.C. area were excited for this year’s Anime USA.

Strange things already heard today:

“Is that your real hair? I didn’t know that dye could come in that color.”
“Thanks for the baby!”
“When I see that DVD, I just think LOLBoobs.”

More to come after opening ceremonies.

Irene, an lunch waitress from the second floor restaurant Cinnabar, just smiled as staffers flew through for a quick bite to eat. “I hope you have fun this weekend,” she said with a winkled smile. “I hear that something is going to happen.”

That something is Anime USA 2007. Staffers, attendees and even cosplayers arrived today to make sure last minute items are taken care of. Are the TVs in the Video Game Room all set? Do the dealers in the Dealers’ Room have badges? Why does the Celestial Ball staff need two and a half gallons of canola oil?

All these questions are to be answered tomorrow as the convention opens at 1 p.m. Hope to see you there!

We got your message loud and clear! Last year, the single largest question we got asked last year was why don’t we ever see the photos until way after the con? This year, we promise things to be different.

We have a new hosting site that not only can we upload pictures at the convention, you can also buy prints through the site! We are at the mercy of the hotel network during the Con, but if they don’t make it there right away, they will be there shortly afterwards!

But wait, there is more. We also have a photo booth that will be in operation for most of the Con. At the morning photo booth, you will be able to buy your prints on the spot while all afternoon sales will be online only.

The photo booth is located on the bottom floor outside of Main Events.

See you Friday!

Looking forward to Anime USA? Wet your appetite with some pictures from last year.