Anime Expo® 2008 Announces the 2008 SPJA Award Winners

Los Angeles, California (July 4, 2008) — At approximately 7:45 pm on July 3, 2008 Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation Chief Executive OfficerMs. Trulee Karahashi announced the winners of the fan voted SPJA Awards for 2008 at the Wachovia VIP Lounge at the Nokia Theatre Live L.A. Anime Expo® 2008 will be 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> .

Winners of the 2008 Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation Awards are:

Best Voice Actor (Japanese)
Tomokazu Sugita – The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya – Kyon

Best Voice Actor (English)
Alessandro Juliani – DEATHNOTE – L

Best Voice Actress (Japanese)
Aya Hirano – The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya – Haruhi Suzumiya

Best Voice Actress (English)
Laura Bailey – Shin-chan – Shin-chan

Best Casting Director
Kaeko Sakamoto – The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

Best Character Design
Shoko Ikeda – The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

Best Mechanical Design
Eureka 7 – (Staff includes Shoji Kawamori)

Best Male Character
Ichigo Kurosaki – Bleach

Best Female Character
Haruhi Suzumiya – The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

Best Mascot Character
Mokona – Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles

Best Background Design
Mobile Suit Gundam 00 – Sunrise

Best Original Video
Hellsing Ultimate – Geneon Entertainment

Best Feature Film
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time – Bandai Entertainment

Best Television Series
DEATHNOTE – Viz Media

Best Original Score
Naruto – Toshio Masuda & Musashi Project – Aniplex

Best Original Song
“Hare Hare Yukai” (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya) – Aya Hirano, Minori
Chihara, and Yuko Goto – Lantis

Best Director
Mary Elizabeth McGlynn – Naruto

Best Manga - Action
Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles – CLAMP – Del Rey Manga

Best Manga - Comedy
Negima! – Ken Akamatsu – Del Rey Manga

Best Manga - Drama
Eureka Seven – Jinsei Kataoka / Kazuma Kondou – Bandai Entertainment

Best Publication
Newtype – Kadokawa Shoten

AXBackstage offers visitors an insider's look at the hottest anime/manga titles, exclusive interviews with Guests attending this year's hottest convention, video coverage of convention activities, attendee and convention photos/images, news and related peripherals. In addition, visitors can download up to date information and change/corrections in scheduled events, activities and much more. AXBackstage has launched on the world wide web at www.axbackstage.org.

The full list of official Anime Expo® 2008 Guests of Honor include up and coming director Masahiro Ando, legendary American voice actor David Hayter, famed POKEMON director Masamitsu Hidaka, the dynamic duo known as Jyukai, renowned animator Hiromi Kato, celebrated veteran voice actor Toshihiko Seki, the new Japanese “It-Girl” Shokotan and the legendary character designer Takada Akemi.

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 videocoverage site of the 2007 convention at <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.