Anime Expo 2011: Year of the Fan

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Parent Category: Expos and Conventions

Category: Previews

Published on Monday, 27 June 2011 05:00

Written by L E Shannon

Anime Expo (AX 2011) returns to Downtown LA on July 1 - 4, 2011 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California.

Presented by The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA), and held annually in Los Angeles, Anime Expo is North America’s largest anime and manga celebration. "Anime Expo gives fans the rare opportunity to meet and hear from some of the most famous anime, manga and musical artists from Japan."

This year‛s theme the "Year of the Fan," Anime Expo 2011 fully immerses guests into the world of Japanese animation, manga (comic books), music and fashion. Anime Expo is a non-stop marathon of Japanese pop culture that’s been likened to Halloween in July.

Fans can "get into the action through everything from costume play, karaoke and video competitions to exclusive screenings, non-stop video gaming competitions and the wildly popular Masquerade, in which fans transform themselves into their favorite characters through creative costuming, accessories and make-up and put on their own show before an audience of thousands."

Guests of Honor:

• LASTEXILE production team
  • Koichi Chigira
  • Makoto Kobayashi
  • Takaaki Suzuki (GONZO)
  • Hiroyuki Birukawa (flyingDOG)
• Madhouse Studios‛ own
  • Tetsuro Araki
  • Masayoshi Tanaka
  • Kentaro Hashimoto
• Japanese TV Host / blogger Danny Choo
• manga artist Fred Gallagher
• Crypton Future Media CEO Hiroyuki Itoh
• voice actor Taliesin Jaffe
• Japanese pop trio Kalafina
• Vocaloid songwriter Onyx Kobayashi
• singing sensation Maon Kurosaki
• manga artist Izumi Matsumoto
• voice actor Vic Mignogna
• anime director Seiji Mizushima
• voice actor Toshiyuki Morikawa
• electronic dance act Nirgilis
• video game developer Sohei Niikawa
• stars of the Power Rangers series and movies;
• producer Wataru Sasaki
• voice actress / singer Miyuki Sawashiro

Also appearing is Anime Expo‛s first-ever Virtual Guest of Honor, Hatsune Miku. Created by Crypton Future Media, Inc. in 2007, Hatsune Miku’s voice is synthesized using Yamaha’s VOCALOID (= Vocal + Android) software application, to produce a fully synthetic voice with unprecedented quality and remarkable realism by typing in lyrics and setting a melody.

To date, her voice has been featured in more than 100,000 songs and videos created and shared by fans worldwide. She has been sampled in CDs, DVDs, games, novels, and figures and her sell-out, computer-graphic-driven live performances have become legendary. Attesting to her unique star power, Toyota selected Hatsune Miku to star in a U.S. ad campaign for the 2011 Corolla.

Live performances at the Nokia Theater are by Tune in Tokyo, Stephanie Yanez and Dig Jelly.

Other attractions are:

• AX Idol – Attendees get the unique opportunity to display their voice acting and singing talents in front of both fans and respected industry professionals.
• Battle of the Bands– Appearing are
  • Fault
  • Sounddrug
  • Little Alto
  • Dream Rush
  • Black Crystal
  • Midnight Shinigami

There will also be a Vocaloid-inspired fashion show sponsored by Q-Pop, featuring Japanese labels Sexpot Revenge, Algonquins, Super Lovers, and the Putamayo x Vocaloid Collaboration.

Anime Manga Trivia Battle – US Executives vs Japanese Executives
Industry professionals will gather to present their ideas in developing the next best online business model, discuss recent trends and the next step necessary to make anime and manga content more accessible to consumer demands.

Attendees grab Yes or No signs at the entrance, and tell the professionals if they are right or wrong. For every topic introduced, the audience will be asked if they agree or disagree with the professional's viewpoint.

The film and video screening rooms will again present hours of viewing fun for cinemavens and fans alike. New films premiering include

• Sony Pictures‛ Onigamiden
• Bandai‛s Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya and
• Mobile Suit Gundam 00 the Movie: A Wakening of the Trailblazer
• NIS America‛s Arakawa Under the Bridge
• Warner Bros.‛ Supernatural: the Anime Series
• Gonzo’s Last Exile: Fam, the Silver Wing (just licensed by FUNimation)

In addition, episodes can be seen of many old favorites, such as:

• Basilisk
• Black Cat 
• Bleach
• Dragon Ball Z
• Fruits Basket
• Full Metal Panic
• Initial D
• Inuyasha
• Patlabor
• Peach Girl
• Soul Eater
• Tenchi Muyo
• xxxHOLIC

as well as returning feature films, such as

• Cowboy Bebop
• Tokyo Godfathers
• Appleseed: Ex Machina
• Escaflowne: The Movie
• Neon Genesis Evangelion: 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone

and live action feature films Nana and Cutie Honey (don‛t let the gaggy title fool you - this is one kick-ass movie!)

There are also informative panels for fans:

• Office Party: A Kuroshitsuji / Black Butler Fan Panel
• Robotech Industry Panel
• NIS America Video Game Panel
• Right Stuf & Nozomi Entertainment Industry Panel
• So now you have an Anime Club (or web or something)

for aspiring talent:

• Acting Like a Pro
• Who Wants to Be a Voice Actor?
• Inside the Voice Actors Studio
• How to Create Animation on a Budget

For those with a more cerebral approach to anime:

• Researching Anime: Where Should I Start?
• AX Anime and Manga Studies Symposium
• Uncool Japan: The Trials and Tribulations of Japanese Pop Culture
• The Japan Exchange and Teaching Program

But there‛s more.

Attendees can participate in such entertainment as Dance, Karaoke and Last Comic Standing

Other activities:

• Console Gaming
• Table Top Gaming
• Model Contest
• Scavenger Hunt
• Otaku Parliamentary Debate

In addition to the Model Contest is the Art Show Contest. Unlike the Artist’s Alley, the Anime Expo® Art Show is a tradition running back well over ten years, providing artists a place where they can display their more intricate works. Large pieces, small pieces, 2D and 3D art -- all are welcome at the Art Show.

And it just isn‛t anime without Cosplay. "Whether they wear their costumes within the halls of Anime Expo or appear on stage before family and friends, all cosplayers are here to show off their passion for Japanese animation and culture."

The biggest cosplay event in all of Anime Expo is the Masquerade, where extravagant costumes and some of the best cosplay performances can be seen on stage.

There is never a dull moment at this four-day event.

And after this, your fireworks.

For more information, go to www.anime-expo.org.

AX 2011 Anime Expo
July 1 - 4, 2011

LA Convention Center
Nokia Theater
1201 So. Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015
213-741-1151

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