Anime Expo® 2008 Going Mad
Nation's Largest Anime and Manga Convention Welcomes
Celebrated and Elusive Madhouse Animator
Anaheim, California (May 29, 2008) —Anime Expo® 2008 announces the 1st ever
global convention appearance of Madhouse animator Hiromi Kato as an official
Guest of Honor to this year's Anime Expo® 2008 held from July 3-6, 2008 at
the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, CA. More information can
be found on the website <www.anime-expo.org> .
Mr. Kato learned about animation from renowned animator Yasuji Mori from the
age of 16 at Nippon Animation Co., LTD after being deeply impressed by the
NHK TV anime “Mirai Shounen Conan” (FUTURE BOY CONAN).
Mr. Kato's first role as a key animator was for the title “Peter Pan no
Bouken” (ADVENTURES OF PETER PAN). He debuted as an animation director with
“Trapp Ikka Monogatari” (TRAP FAMILY STORY). He debuted as a character
designer with “Daisogen No Chiisana Tenshi Bush Baby” (THE BUSH BABY). He
also designed characters for “Ai to Yuuki no Big Girl Tonde Buurin” (SUPER
PIG OF LOVE AND COURAGE), “Hameln no Violin Hiki” (VIOLINIST OF HAMELN) and
other titles while at Nippon Animation Co., Ltd. Mr. Kato was also involved
in the planning of “Tenshi ni Narumon!” (I'M GONNA BE AN ANGEL!) as well as
the production of “Shoujo Kakumei Utena” (REVOLUTIONARY GIRL UTENA).
Mr. Kato is a current member of Madhouse Studios working as an animation
director for BECK and PARADISE KISS as well as a character designer for
CLAMP IN WONDERLAND 2.
Hiromi Kato joins up and coming director Masahiro Ando, legendary American
voice actor David Hayter, famed POKEMON director Masamitsu Hidaka, the
dynamic duo known as Jyukai, celebrated veteran voice actor Toshihiko Seki
and the new Japanese “It-Girl” Shokotan in Anime Expo® 2008's amazing line
up of Guests of Honor.
Attendees that have pre-registered can also update their information and add
on orders for main event tickets via the Anime Expo® 2008 Online
Registration Area at <www.anime-expo.org> .
Free shuttle services for all hotel attendees will be provided. Regular
non-hotel attendees will have access to utilize the free shuttle services
during designated hours as well. All schedules and routes will be posted in
the lobby of each shuttle hotel. Frequency of service is pending local
traffic, road conditions and can change without notice. Also, no shuttle
service provided to the Holiday Inn City Center and the Figueroa Hotel (both
are within walking distance of the Los Angeles Convention Center).
Attendees, Press and Industry Members are also encouraged to view the video
coverage site of the 2007 convention at www.AXBackstage.org
<http://www.AXBackstage.org> .
This year's Red & Black Sponsors are FUNimation and ImaginAsian Television.
Platinum Sponsor is Imagi Studios. Gold Sponsor is Digital Manga
Publishing. Silver Sponsor is Gaia Online. Patron Sponsors are Central
Park Media and COPIC Markers.
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 2008 will be held July 3 – July 6, 2008 at
the Los Angeles Convention Center in Southern California. More information
can be found at its website (www.anime-expo.org).
About Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation
The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA) is a non-profit
organization with a mission to popularize and educate the American 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®. More
information can be found at its website (<www.spja.org>
).
The statements made in this press release that are not historical facts are
"forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements are based on
current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and
uncertainties. The Company cautions readers of this press release that a
number of important factors could cause Anime Expo®/SPJA's actual future
results to differ materially from those expressed in any such
forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation,
product delays, industry competition, rapid changes in technology and
industry standards, protection of proprietary rights, maintenance of
relationships with key personnel, vendors and third-party developers,
international economic and political conditions. The Company may change its
intention, belief or expectation, at any time and without notice, based upon
any changes in such factors, in the Company's assumptions or otherwise. The
Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any
forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date
hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Celebrated and Elusive Madhouse Animator
Anaheim, California (May 29, 2008) —Anime Expo® 2008 announces the 1st ever
global convention appearance of Madhouse animator Hiromi Kato as an official
Guest of Honor to this year's Anime Expo® 2008 held from July 3-6, 2008 at
the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, CA. More information can
be found on the website <www.anime-expo.org> .
Mr. Kato learned about animation from renowned animator Yasuji Mori from the
age of 16 at Nippon Animation Co., LTD after being deeply impressed by the
NHK TV anime “Mirai Shounen Conan” (FUTURE BOY CONAN).
Mr. Kato's first role as a key animator was for the title “Peter Pan no
Bouken” (ADVENTURES OF PETER PAN). He debuted as an animation director with
“Trapp Ikka Monogatari” (TRAP FAMILY STORY). He debuted as a character
designer with “Daisogen No Chiisana Tenshi Bush Baby” (THE BUSH BABY). He
also designed characters for “Ai to Yuuki no Big Girl Tonde Buurin” (SUPER
PIG OF LOVE AND COURAGE), “Hameln no Violin Hiki” (VIOLINIST OF HAMELN) and
other titles while at Nippon Animation Co., Ltd. Mr. Kato was also involved
in the planning of “Tenshi ni Narumon!” (I'M GONNA BE AN ANGEL!) as well as
the production of “Shoujo Kakumei Utena” (REVOLUTIONARY GIRL UTENA).
Mr. Kato is a current member of Madhouse Studios working as an animation
director for BECK and PARADISE KISS as well as a character designer for
CLAMP IN WONDERLAND 2.
Hiromi Kato joins up and coming director Masahiro Ando, legendary American
voice actor David Hayter, famed POKEMON director Masamitsu Hidaka, the
dynamic duo known as Jyukai, celebrated veteran voice actor Toshihiko Seki
and the new Japanese “It-Girl” Shokotan in Anime Expo® 2008's amazing line
up of Guests of Honor.
Attendees that have pre-registered can also update their information and add
on orders for main event tickets via the Anime Expo® 2008 Online
Registration Area at <www.anime-expo.org> .
Free shuttle services for all hotel attendees will be provided. Regular
non-hotel attendees will have access to utilize the free shuttle services
during designated hours as well. All schedules and routes will be posted in
the lobby of each shuttle hotel. Frequency of service is pending local
traffic, road conditions and can change without notice. Also, no shuttle
service provided to the Holiday Inn City Center and the Figueroa Hotel (both
are within walking distance of the Los Angeles Convention Center).
Attendees, Press and Industry Members are also encouraged to view the video
coverage site of the 2007 convention at www.AXBackstage.org
<http://www.AXBackstage.org> .
This year's Red & Black Sponsors are FUNimation and ImaginAsian Television.
Platinum Sponsor is Imagi Studios. Gold Sponsor is Digital Manga
Publishing. Silver Sponsor is Gaia Online. Patron Sponsors are Central
Park Media and COPIC Markers.
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 2008 will be held July 3 – July 6, 2008 at
the Los Angeles Convention Center in Southern California. More information
can be found at its website (www.anime-expo.org).
About Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation
The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA) is a non-profit
organization with a mission to popularize and educate the American 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®. More
information can be found at its website (<www.spja.org>
).
The statements made in this press release that are not historical facts are
"forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements are based on
current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and
uncertainties. The Company cautions readers of this press release that a
number of important factors could cause Anime Expo®/SPJA's actual future
results to differ materially from those expressed in any such
forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation,
product delays, industry competition, rapid changes in technology and
industry standards, protection of proprietary rights, maintenance of
relationships with key personnel, vendors and third-party developers,
international economic and political conditions. The Company may change its
intention, belief or expectation, at any time and without notice, based upon
any changes in such factors, in the Company's assumptions or otherwise. The
Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any
forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date
hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.