Featured Guests

Vic has been acting for stage and screen since he was 8 years old. But he started his career in anime a little over ten years ago as Vega in Streetfighter II. Since then Vic has been in more than a hundred and fifty shows and video games, known for such roles as Edward Elric in Fullmetal Alchemist, Tamaki Suou in Ouran High School Host Club, Fai in Tsubasa Chronicle, Dark in DN Angel, Kurz in Full Metal Panic, Broly in Dragonball Z, Kougaijji in Saiyuki, Ikkaku in Bleach, Yukito in Air, Takanaga in Wallflower, Tatsu in Peacemaker, Luciano in Code Geass, Virgil Walsh in Trinity Blood, Hikaru in Macross and many more. Currently Vic is playing a lead in the new Pokemon production, as well as roles in the new Wolverine and Iron Man series on G4. He's also playing Zero in Vampire Knight, and Yoshimori in Adult Swim's Kekkaishi. He is also back in the role of Edward for Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, playing Death Scythe in Soul Eater, as well as Pokemon, Naruto, Bleach and several others. Vic has also voiced roles in a large number of video games including Soul Calibur, Disgaea, Persona III, Sonic Colours, Project Sylpheed, DBZ, Bleach, FMA and more. But even longer than his voice acting, Vic has been a professional music composer / singer / producer who has written and produced hundreds of pieces for TV, radio and CD. He sings the themes for shows like One Piece & DBGT, and has produced several CDs of his own original music, all available on iTunes. Finally, in addition to anime and music, Vic has a degree in film and is deeply involved as an actor and director in several web series like "Nuka Break", "Starship Farragut", and is executive producing a brand new TOS based series "Star Trek Continues". Vic works regularly writing, producing and directing video and film productions of all kinds.

Kyle Hebert is a Los Angeles-based anime and video game voice actor whose credits include Wreck-It Ralph/Street Fighter (Ryu), League of Legends (Ezreal, Jarvan, Graves), Naruto (Kiba), Bleach (Aizen), and Gurren Lagann (Kamina). He is best known as the Narrator and Teen Gohan from the Funimation dub of Dragonball Z. Other notable roles include Soul Eater (Masamune), Ouran High School Host Club (Kazukiyo Soga), Fullmetal Alchemist (Vato Falman), Tales of Symphonia (Richter Abend) and Star Ocean (Dias, Arumat, Crow). Kyle also provides voices in numerous video game franchises including Resident Evil, Sonic, Final Fantasy, World of Warcraft, Devil May Cry 4, Dynasty Warriors, and Soul Calibur. He writes and voices all the promos for filmmaker, Kevin Smith's Smodcast Internet Radio. For more info, visit www.kylehebert.com.

Mr. Popo and Tien Shinhan in "Dragonball Z", Holy Roman Empire in "Hetalia", Gluttony in "Fullmetal Alchemist", Face McShooty and Mal in "Borderlands 2", Jack the Ripper in "Soul Eater", Miyamoto and M1 in "Yu Yu Hakusho", Taruru in "Sgt. Frog", Boo and Whitey in "Shin Chan", Hanai in "School Rumble", Ukyo in "Ouran High School Host Club", Chamo in "Negima", Babbit in "Kodocha", Siegfried in "Kenichi", and Hanbei in "Sengoku Basara" represent some of Chris's favorite and best known roles.

You may have also heard him in: Case Closed, Gunslinger Girl, Basilisk, Suzuka, Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles, Black Cat, Darker Than Black, Bamboo Blade, Kaze no Stigma, Aquarion, One Piece, Big Windup!, D. Gray-Man, Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad, RIN, Speed Grapher, Oh! Edo Rocket, Summer Wars, Initial D, and Deadman Wonderland.

As an ADR Director, Chris has had the pleasure of casting/directing/asst. directing such titles as: Dragonball Z Uncut, Dragonball, Dragonball GT, Yu Yu Hakusho, Negima, Kodocha, Galaxy Railways, Baki the Grappler, School Rumble, Hell Girl, Kaze no Stigma, Bamboo Blade, Birdy the Mighty: Decode, Initial D, and Tsubasa Tokyo Revelations.

He has also had the opportunity to be a part of many popular video games. Some of his favorites were: voicing random ghouls and specters for Ghostbusters: The Video Game, as a contributing guitarist in Guitar Hero 3, and as Mega Man in Street Fighter X Tekken.

For additional information, visit "Chris Cason's Anime Chuckle Hut" on Facebook and @Casonworld on Twitter.

Chuck Huber has had to cancel his appearance at AMA this year due to a movie deal he is working on.

Danielle McRae is a voice over actress residing in Los Angeles, California. Being a huge fan of video games and anime, her passion has led her to pursue a voice acting career in the industry, which led her to voice in quite a few pretty big roles in video games.

Some of her most notable credits have been in League of Legends as Karma the Enlightened One, World of Warcraft: Cataclysm as Hagara the Stormbinder, Dragon Nest as Sidel, SkullGirls as Painwheel and a New Conglomerate solider in the popular video game, Planetside 2!

Danielle is currently hard at work on a couple of upcoming video game titles, such as Devil Gene R and Rival Threads: Last Class Heroes!

There are several other exciting upcoming projects that remain under wraps, but she's looking forward to announcing them as soon as she's able to!

Danielle is happy to be coming back to Anime Mid-Atlantic for her second year!

Doug Smith is an accomplished freelance artist and voice actor who has performed many roles for ADV and Funimation, including the lead, Kintaro Oe, in "Goldenboy". One of his lesser known but more powerful roles that of Squeebo, the poor blind orphan in the OVA series "Splendid Eyeball Gremulak", which, unfortunately for fans everywhere, doesn't actually exist.

Doug is a man of adventure, traveling the country and globe, working to hone his artistic skills and always in search of the elusive American Dream. There?s no place he won?t go, the jungle, desert, the highest mountain peaks, the depths of the ocean and the silent void of outer space to reach that elusive dream.

His artwork has been used for CD album covers, magazines, comics, posters, anime con program guides, badges, DVDs, TV and is currently working with Outlaw Entertainment L.L.C. illustrating / designing their titles. Doug is also the Art Director for non-profit Voices For, an organization which works with talented people in the anime/manga industry to create products, the profits of which are donated to charity. Be sure to stop by Doug's table, view his art and say hi and buy some art lest the CURSE OF THE PHAROA--- wait,? sorry. There's no curse. But please buy some art anyway. It will make you happy.

Straight from the pages of Otaku USA Magazine comes international Cosplay correspondent and Actress, Yunmao Ayakawa. Hailing from the Akihabara region of Tokyo, Japan, The multi talented Model, Actress, Artist, Game Character Designer, Journalist and Personality has gained worldwide fame as the region's spokeswoman and foremost authority on everything Otaku, as well as the Maid Idol industry. Her passion for Cosplay and geekdom has gained her spotlight rolls as correspondent for magazines, media websites and featured guests at events and TV shows around the world, while her love and knowledge of the Maid Idol industry has earned her a prestigious spot as a board member and Spokesperson of the Nihon Maid Association, She currently writes articles for Japan based periodicals like Manichi Newspaper, MSN.com (Japan), and Cosmode Magazine and in 2007 her coverage of Cosplay and Otaku Trends led to her Cosplay Café articles in Otaku USA magazine, making her the first Japanese Cosplayer to write articles for an American magazine. She is also the author of the first cookbook for Otaku styled healthy eating and her own comic strip called Yu Yu Maid which appears regularly in issues of Otaku USA magazine.

Media from around the world has sought Yunmao out for features and to host segments of TV shows surrounding otaku Cultures and cosplay. Yunmao has co-hosted shows like "Japanorama" (BBC) and "Otaku" (Spain) and has reported for "Moete Mucho," "MAiDiGi TV,"  "TV Mantan" and other Japanese variety shows. Yunmao has also appeared on America's Bizarre Foods with host Andrew Zimmern! Catching the acting bud, Yunmao had a starring role in the Japanese super hero TV series "CHOSOKU SENSHI G-FIVE". Magazines such as "Flash", "Sabra", "Arms Magazine", and "Position," have all showcased Yunmao as a feature model and she is a top idol download for Japanese cell phone screen savers, games and even hosts a "Dear Abby" style advice service via cell phones in Japan.

Yunmao is also an annual main attraction at events in Japan and around the world. In 2006 she made an impressive American debut at Anime Mid-Atlantic as the Japanese outlaw, Toki Takahasu, from Asu Rock's graphic novel, "Cove Pirate Mercenary." Her perky energy and unbeatable knowledge of cosplay, Maid Cafe's, and Otaku culture gained her instant popularity with American audiences and invitations to more events. Yunmao's summer schedule includes her role as Race Queen, model, costume designer and event spokesperson at car shows and raceways. On numerous occasions she has held the title of "Race Queen" in Japan's Super Taikyu race and continues in the circuit to this day. In 2011 Yunmao upped the ante and sang on a CD single with the Race Queen duo Noisy and in 2012 formed Speed Angels leading to an electronic dance EP single release.

DJ Asu Rock has been spinning the many sounds of Western Pop and Urban music for a grand portion of his life. In recent years he has been incorporating his love for Asian Pop Culture into his passion for DJing by spinning the sounds of Asian Pop Music - a brand of pop music from Japan, Korea, and China that is pushing its way to mainstream audiences all over the world.

Through his Asian entertainment promotion house, Toramaru Entertainment, and event showcase, Pop Show Japan, DJ Asu Rock has been very influential within the Asian pop entertainment scene as a DJ, Illustrator, Promoter, and Manager of Japanese Idol/ columnist, Yunmao Ayakawa and pop rock group UNICORN TABLE whose latest Album, INTO THE FUTURE he Executive produced and designed the cover art for. Asu has DJ’d many Asian pop music events and performed on stage with some popular Japanese Acts, and brought many Japanese entertainers to Anime conventions, fashion shows, concerts, and other events around the nation. In 2006 Asu created a popular Asian Pop Music concert event called “Akiba Fest” to introduce U.S. audiences to pop singers from Japan via live performances. In 2007 he created one of the first Asian Pop Music radio mix shows and in 2009 took Asian Pop Music to the U.S. night life scene by creating POP SHOW JAPAN, an event platform that promotes monthly Asian Pop Music East-meets-West night club parties and other special events. In February 2011 Asu along with Jazz-Hop Lyricist, Substantial, had the privilege to have Pop Show Japan host PEACELAND: A World Without Words - the Official U.S. tribute event created to honor the late Samurai Champloo soundtrack producer, Nujabes.

DJ Asu Rock prides himself on keeping the dance floor jumping by utilizing the traditional tools of vinyl records and two turntables as he mixes and cuts music live while creating hot blends and remixes before the audiences' eyes. DJ Asu Rock will be "Impacting your Eastern eardrum" with the hottest Asian Pop Music as he DJ's special events and Parties thorough the weekend and hosts some informative panels on Asian Pop Music and DJing.

Returning musical cosplay concert "Eien Strife" is going to take the stage again and Anime Mid Atlantic 2013! Since the group's first adventure to AMA, they have been touring anime and gaming conventions all over the USA and are once again going to give attendees a show that they will never forget! Every performance by Eien Strife is a completely different experience and this coming show and Anime Mid Atlantic is going to be no different. Expect things to get a little "Darker" this year as they take the audience into the next chapter known as "The Shadows Path in the Forest".

While still a young college student and part-time hacker in 1998, Steve got his first job at an anime company as a digital animator. It was a dream come true for any fan who grew up on Robotech and Macross to be working somewhere in the anime industry. After slaving away through 80 hour work weeks and one really bad 100 hour work week where he started hallucinating from being awake too long, Steve called it quits and went back to Riverside where he got his B.A. in Creative Writing. Stay in school, kids!

Fresh out of college and eager to work in the anime industry again, Steve joined Harmony Gold to build the Robotech.com website, and has since co-produced and associate-produced several other projects as well, including the Macross restoration, the Robotech:Battlecry video game, the Robotech: Invasion video game, Robotech Remastered and Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles. Steve has also been featured in an anime documentary called Geeks, which he has still not had a chance to see.

Since its launch, Robotech.com has constantly been one of the busiest anime-related destinations on the internet, being the subject of a Conan O'Brien feature and mentioned on countless anime websites. You can email Steve at info@robotech.com to send him Robotech-related fan mail, complaints, constructive criticism and suggestions.

Charles Dunbar (also known by his internet handle "Anime Anthropologist") is a graduate of Hunter College of the City University of New York, where he received his BA in Anthropology and Religion in 2004, and an MA in Sociocultural Anthropology in 2010. His fieldwork of the past 2 years has revolved around anime convention participation, including perceptions, misconceptions, stereotyping, spending habits and convention culture. He's also addicted to the works of Hayao Miyazaki and has an obsession with mythology and folklore, especially where gods, ghost stories and shinigami are concerned. He currently rambles about these things on his website, Study of Anime.

Robert V Aldrich was born in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in 1980. Growing up around the entire Southeast, with a short stint in Salt Lake City, Utah, he now calls Raleigh, North Carolina home. He was briefly educated at North Carolina State University before pursuing other educational avenues in Louisville, Kentucky and currently Johnson City, Tennessee. A passionate martial artist and toy collector, Aldrich spends most of his days torn between writing, training, and playing too many video games.

Growing up on shows such as Transformers, Robotech, Voltron, and even the short-lived Dragon Warrior cartoon, Aldrich became a huge anime fan very early on. But while the remarkable story-telling and worlds of anime existed and endured through innumerable art forms, there was never any 'real' attempt at an original anime story within the literature world. Starting as a simple story to keep in touch with friends, Crossworld soon became the first anime-style novel published in the United States.

Taking inspiration from anime greats such as Yukito Kashiro and Masamune Shirow, as well as more traditional western writers like Robert Heinlein and Colleen Doran, Aldrich has fused the anime story-tellingstyle into western-style writing. With the re-release of Crossworld, as well as the launch of the weekly serial Teach the Sky, Robert V Aldrich hopes to contribute to the anime world by leading the way for an anime genre of literature.

Todd Rogers a Chicago native is history's first paid pro video game player. Todd is recognized throughout the world for his astounding world records setting scores including the longest standing held world record of 32 yrs. on the classic activision title Dragster, The longest marathoned nonstop game for 85hrs on the Atari 2600 Journey Escape, and for having the widest variety of world record titles on 24 unique different gaming platforms classic and Modern this is how Todd earned his title from the media as The King of Video Games.

He has competed at live events pitted against such celebrities such as: Michael Jordan, Mike Tyson, Bruce Jenner, Chuck Norris, Vanna White, Marina Sirtis, and many more he has never lost against any celebrity that he played against. Currently living in Central Florida he plays for various charities on a "beat the champ" contests where proceeds go to help benefit which ever charity he is playing for.

Todd has appeared in numerous books & magazines including Guinness Book of world records, How to master Home video games, Money Magazine, JoyStik Magazine Chief Magazine, and The Wall Street Journal. His movie appearances include Chasing Ghosts beyond the arcade, The King of Kong a Fist full of quarters, Goldie Hawn's Wild Cats, The Video Craze, & Bonus Life: Extended Play.

He has also illustrated for Gary Gygax's role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) in the mid-80s. Todd's artistic influences were Prince Planet, Speed Racer & The Incredible Hulk. Released earlier this year Todd was included in the Twin Galaxies collector trading card series set that is being sold.

In 2010 he was inducted into the Video Gaming Hall of Fame in recognition for his influence in the gaming industry. Being a part of the U.S. National Video Game Team back in 1986 Todd has rubbed shoulders with many video gaming developers and has changed how competitive gaming is viewed & played by the public.

Not easily missed with his outrageous outfits,Lord Ramirez is a presenter and educator at many Sci Fi, Anime, and Alternative conventions across the U.S. His bizarre set of skills allow him to fit right in wherever there is something strange, weird, and fun.

As a professional actor and stage combatant, he has dazzled crowds at Renaissance fairs, Busch gardens, and a lead cast member in a show at Caesars? casino in Atlantic City. He is also a former open professional ballroom dance finalist, teacher, and adjudicator.

His interest in Japanese culture began with his study of Karate at age five. Since then, that interest has led to immersing himself into many aspects of traditional Japanese culture, which he is very much interested in sharing.

At conventions, his topics vary wildly from costuming and makeup, dance, and traditional Japanese rope arts, which he has been studying and practicing for the past 19 years. You never know what he will teach next. But one thing is certain weird, strange, and fun, you can bet Lord Ramirez will have some knowledge to share!

Original Artist - Code Name: Leo "The BitMonkey" Saunders Occupation: "Systemized Organic War Machine"...and part-time hack artist Current Mission: Finding his attention span long enough to complete art work

Like most children born in the 70's, Leo Saunders was one of many European experimental government attempts at creating a new breed of soldier...They failed miserably! What was produced however was a towering inhumanly strong man-child with an odd fixation with the drawing and animated mediums of this thing most people call "ART". He went about his simple brutish way, producing small works here and there (none worth mentioning by his own admission) until one year he decided it may be fun to try and draw an online comic with a guy who dressed like Kagato from "Tenchi Muyo". To this day, Leo Saunders strives to put his ever distracted attention to the test to, one day, complete his life's dream: "To partner with Mr. T and save the world !"

Original Writer / Creator - Code Name: Eirik Blackwolf Occupation: "Weekend Warrior"...and sometimes jaded writer Current Mission: Trying to ride herd on himself and an art team to get stuff done!

Born in the wilds of L.A. (the part of Florida called "lower Alabama" by some) and barely escaping the roving gangs of wild homoredneckus, he travelled to Europe with the U.S. Military in 1985 to live the life of excitement and adventure for 10 years abroad where he honed his writing skills by finding clever ways to trick his superiors into believing he actually did something useful. It wasn't until his return to the States in 1997 that he encountered Leo at a convention where the collaboration of Chisuji was formed by persuading the prankish artist to play as Johnnie Cochran in a cosplay where the Chewbacca defense was used in order for Kagato to legally sue to have possession of the Master Key. And so from there, the ideas for the webcomic were formed, bringing the two together on many trials and tribulations to this day...

A graphic artist working in comics and video games. He has published two comics and has worked in anthology books. He has several flash games at haze-studios.com and has worked on XNA and Nintendo DS titles. He will be hosting a series of workshops at AMA covering video game design and how to draw manga.