Gainax and Aniplex Presents the US Premiere of Gurren Lagann the Movie –Childhood's End- at Anime Expo® 2009

U.S. Debut of Film to Appear at Nation's Largest Anime and Manga Convention Over the 4th of July Weekend

SANTA MONICA, CA (June 4, 2009) - Aniplex announces a partnership with GAINAX to present the US Premier Screening of GURREN LAGANN the MOVIE –Childhood's End- at Anime Expo® 2009 the nation's largest anime and manga convention occurring over the 4th of July week (July 2-5, 2009) at the Los Angeles Convention Center. More information can be found at www.Gurren Lagann-movie.net/gurren/ <http://www.gurren-lagann-movie.net/gurren/> and www.anime -expo.org.

GURREN LAGANN THE MOVIE – CHILDHOOD'S END - was re-created from the hit Japanese anime TV series “Gurren Lagann” for theatrical release in Japan and was broadcasted in the US in 2008 on the SciFi Channel. GURREN LAGANN the MOVIE –Childhood's End– is the first of two (2) films in which the title's sequel is currently on theatre screens in Japan.

Gurren Lagann the Movie –Childhood's End- is directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi, written by Kazuki Nakashima, Animation production by GAINAX (Neon Genesis Evangelion and FLCL) and shares the creative staff from the franchise TV series.

The movie will be presented with English subtitles-Thursday; July 2, 2009 at 7:30 pm PST. Please check Anime Expo® website (www.anime-expo.org) for screening schedule and location.

FILM SYNOPSIS
Gurren Lagann the Movie –Childhood's End-

This is the story of a man who has yet to realize what destiny holds in store for him….

Far in the future, human live underground quietly and restlessly for hundreds of years, suffering from frequent earthquake and land subsidence. In Giha Village, one of such underground communities, there are two young men. One is called Simon who is shy and naïve, the other is called Kamina who believes in existence of a “surface” world above their heads. Destiny of the two starts moving drastically when the ceiling falls, and a gigantic “Gunmen” and a beautiful girl Yoko with a superconductive rifle come from the surface. Kamina, Simon and Yoko get on “Lagann” that Simon digs out from the ground, and jump out to the surface!

However, the surface is not such a dreamland as Kamina imagined. The world is reined by the Spiral King and his army beastmen. Kamina and Simon, along with their comrades challenge the Spiral King to change the desperate world to the one with hope for the future by GURREN LAGANN!

About ANIPLEX Inc.

ANIPLEX Inc. (headquartered in Tokyo, Japan) is a leading provider of anime content and music production and distribution in Japan. Established as Sony Pictures Entertainment Visual Works Inc. in 1995, as a joint-venture between Sony Pictures Entertainment (Japan) Inc. and Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., it became ANIPLEX, Inc. in 2003 after the company became a subsidiary completely owned by Sony Music Entertainment Japan. ANIPLEX Inc. has introduced a variety of properties including such hits as “Gurren Lagann,” “Fullmetal Alchemist,” “Rurouni Kenshin (Samurai X),” “R.O.D –THE TV-,” “Blood+,” all of which are licensed and distributed worldwide. The company launched Aniplex of America in Los Angeles, CA in 2004 to handle licensing and co-production business in North and Latin America. In 2005, the company established A-1 Pictures, currently the largest and most technically advanced animation studio in Japan.

About Anime Expo®
Located in Los Angeles, California - Anime Expo®, the nation's largest anime/manga convention, serves to foster trade, commerce and the interests of the general public and animation/ comics industry. This event serves as a key meeting place for the general public to express their interest and explore various aspects of anime/manga, as well as for members of the industry to conduct business. AX 2009 will be held July 2 – July 5, 2009 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Southern California. More information can be found at its website (<www.anime-expo.org> ).

Anime Expo® 2009 Official Guests of Honor include Yun Kouga, Hiroyuki Imaishi, Daisuke Ishiwatari, Yōsuke Kuroda, Toshimichi Mori, Toshiyuki Morikawa, Morning Musume, Yasuhiro Nightow, Atsushi Nishigori, Satoshi Nishimura and Kari Wahlgren.