The AMV contest offers up four categories: drama, action, comedy, and AMTV - Pro for the hardcore video editors out there. Note that entering the fifth category, fun, does NOT make you eligible for the grand prize. You can submit digitally or by hard copy, so entering shouldn't be a problem for even the lowest of low-tech users. Unfortunately, there is no mention of a cash prize for this contest, although some third party sponsors may open up their own categories with just such a thing. Break out your best editing software, favorite anime, and coolest music and get going!

The cosplay contest has been making waves across the internet for its huge cash prize. Even if you don't hack the top, you can still nab $2,500 or $1,000 for second and third place. This is the largest cash prize given to cosplay contestants in North America, so if you needed a good deal-sealer for AX, this is it.

It's interesting that AX is reserving so much money for a cosplay masquerade, and more than a few net denizens have rumbled about it. While Anime Expo is the largest anime convention in California, there's no indication that the $25,000 it's putting towards the contest wouldn't be better spent elsewhere. It's entirely possible that such a large amount may draw bigger crowds than previous years, but that has yet to be seen. Whatever the effect, whoever wins better use the money for college or start up capital for an anime-themed business.

Official Press Release:

LOS ANGELES (February 3, 2011) -- Anime Expo, North America’s largest anime and manga event which attracts tens of thousands of elaborately costumed fans for one of the world’s largest masquerade events, will reward its most creative “cosplayers” with $25,000 in cash and prizes in 2011.  Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Anime Expo returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center and L.A. Live from July 1 - 4, 2011 with the biggest exhibition and program in its history.  A non-stop marathon of Japanese pop culture that’s been likened to Halloween in July, Anime Expo (AX) fully immerses guests into the world of Japanese animation, manga (comic books), music and fashion.

Anime Expo 2011, themed “The Year of the Fan,” will award a spectacular $10,000 cash prize to the “Best of Show” winner in the wildly popular Masquerade competition, in which fans transform themselves into their favorite anime and manga characters through creative costuming, accessories and make-up and put on their own show before an audience of thousands in the stunning Nokia Theater. The $10,000 award will make it the richest anime costume competition in North America.  Masquerade second and third place winners will receive $2,500 and $1,000 respectively, while winners of the Midnight Tea, Pop Shock Masquerade and other Anime Expo cosplay competitions will split close to $12,000 in cash and prizes.

“The fans who work so hard on their costumes and performances all year long and who make Anime Expo so exciting will be well rewarded in 2011,” said Marc Perez, Chairman and CEO of the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation, the non-profit that produces the event.  “In addition to the large awards in the formal Anime Expo competitions, we’ll have a roving team of judges giving on-the-spot prizes like tickets to exclusive events and valuable collectibles to outstanding cosplayers they see anywhere throughout the Convention Center.”

Anime Expo gives fans the rare opportunity to meet and hear from some of the most famous anime, manga and musical artists from Japan and get into the action through everything from costume play, karaoke and video competitions to exclusive screenings, non-stop video gaming competitions and the Masquerade. Returning this year, Anime Expo will incorporate an authentic Japanese Street Fair that will take over the LA Convention Center and LA Live area with music, martial arts demonstrations, games, food and much more.