Anime Expo 2012 Welcomes Voice Actress Monica Rial as Official Guest of Honor

LOS ANGELES (May 21, 2012) – Anime Expo (AX), North America's largest anime, manga, and Japanese pop culture celebration, today announced “Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt” voice actress Monica Rial as an Official Guest of Honor, when it returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center from June 29 – July 2, 2012. Rial, who is the voice of Stocking, will participate in a meet-and-greet, autograph signing and a focus panel with Jamie Marchi, the voice of Panty.

Monica Rial has been working in the anime voice over industry for over 13 years. She has lent her voice to over 250 anime including “Baccano!” (Chane), “Black Butler” (Mei Ren), “Black Cat” (Kyoko), “Negima!” (Konoka/Kazumi/Satsuki), “Soul Eater” (Tsubaki), “Witchblade” (Maria), and many more. She can be heard on the Cartoon Network in “ShinChan” (Ai), “Fullmetal Alchemist” (Lyra/Dante), “Fullmetal Alchemist - Brotherhood” (May Chang), “Case Closed” (Amy), and “Trinity Blood” (Vanessa). You can also catch her on Nicktoons and The CW as Bulma in “Dragon Ball Z Kai.“ Rial is also an ADR script adaptor and occasionally a director for FUNimation Entertainment.

Monica Rial joins the previously announced Anime Expo 2012 line-up that includes composer Yuki Kajiura/"FictionJunction," anime-inspired heavy metal band ANIMETAL USA, Culture Japan's Danny Choo, popular voice actors Jamie Marchi and Steve Blum, Japanese pop star LiSA, dolldelight designer Cyril Lumboy and the Gallery of Fantastic Art.

About Anime Expo

Now in its 21st year, Anime Expo is North America's larges celebration of anime, manga and Japanese pop culture. Anime Expo gives fans the rare opportunity to meet and hear from some of the most famous anime, manga, musical, game, and fashion artitsts from Japan. 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.