Five animes, one secret ingredient, two hours. What can you do?

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.