The Latest Industry News for the Exciting World of Production.

Anime Expo® -- North America's largest anime, manga and Japanese pop culture celebration -- officially kicks off Thursday, June 28 with a star-studded Red Carpet and Opening Ceremony at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Anime Expo Official Guests of Honor will greet fans on the red carpet at 6 p.m. with the Opening Ceremony to follow at 7 p.m.

Now in its 21st year, Anime Expo 2012 (AX) will present some of today's most exciting anime, manga, musical, game and fashion artists from Japan and the U.S.; main event concerts and contests such as the crowd favorite Masquerade; new and exciting interactive offerings and even Lounge 21, where over-21 attendees can enjoy wine, beer and cocktails.

Announced Guests of Honors include composer Yuki Kajiura/"FictionJunction;" anime-inspired heavy metal band ANIMETAL USA; Culture Japan's Danny Choo; Fate/Zero" creative team Hikaru Konda, Ei Aoki and Rikiya Koyama; Madhouse creative team Asaka Morio, Kunihiko Hamada and Takuya Tsunoki; animation director Tatsuo Sato; voice actors Ryo Horikawa, Nobuhiko Okamoto, Jamie Marchi, Monica Rial, Steve Blum, Joel McDonald and Ian Sinclair; Japanese pop star LiSA, Lolita fashion designer Cyril Lumboy, Lolita model Misako Aoki; Tokyo-based Gallery of Fantastic Art and popular cosplayer Jessica Nigri.

The following are highlights of the AX Main Events, all to be held in Hall G of LACC:

Day Zero: June 28, 2012
6:00 - 6:40 p.m. Red Carpet
7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Opening Ceremonies

Day One: June 29, 2012
5:30 - 6:30 p.m. ANIMETAL USA Concert
9:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. Anime Music Video (AMV) Contest

Day Two: June 30, 2012
7:00 - 8 p.m. Yuki Kajiura/"Fiction/Junction" Concert

Day Three: July 1, 2012
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. LiSA Concert
3:00 - 4:00 pm. Japan Fashion Mix at AX 2012: Fashion Show hosted by Misako Aoki and Danny Choo
with up-and-coming J-pop singer Kyoka
8:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. Masquerade

Day Four: July 2, 2012
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Art Auction
1:00 - 6:00 p.m. SPJA Charity Auction
6:00 p.m. Closing Ceremonies

About Anime Expo

Now in its 21st year, Anime Expo is North America's largest celebration of anime, manga and Japanese pop culture. AX 2012 will feature and exciting schedule of exclusive screenings; artists' panels; live concerts; cosplay; dance parties, karaoke, and video competitions; non-stop video gaming and unsurpassed shopping from more than 3,000 vendors. AX 2012 takes place June 29-July 2, 2012 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. To register or for more information, please visit www.anime-expo.org. Connect with Anime Expo on Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube.

About the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation

The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to popularize and educate the America public about anime and manga, as well as provide a forum to facilitate communication between professionals and fans. This organization is more popularly known by its entertainment property, Anime Expo®. For more information, please visit www.spja.org.


Contact:
Jim Yeager, Roberta Silverman
424-644-0225, 818-849-6347
jim@breakwhitelight.com, Roberta@breakwhitelight.com