Finalists Announced for First Ever American Anime Awards

FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR FIRST-EVER AMERICAN ANIME AWARDS



Winners to Be Honored At NY City Gala February 24



Norwalk , CT , February 8, 2007 – The New York Comic Con today announced finalists for the inaugural American Anime Awards. Over 43,000 fans cast their vote for the hottest manga and anime in North America . Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony during the New York Comic Con Saturday night, February 24. The ceremony and gala that follows will be broadcast on Anime Network , America 's #1 anime channel.



The American Anime Awards celebrates Japanese animation (anime) and comics (manga), which have grown into a global entertainment phenomenon. In North America manga and anime comprise a $4 billion industry. The American Anime Awards showcase the very best manga and anime to make its way to North America .



Over the month of January, North American anime fans voted on a web ballot devised by the most prominent anime and manga companies working in North America, including VIZ Media, TOKYOPOP, Media Blasters, Geneon, FUNimation, Del Rey, CPM, Bandai, and ADV Films. Representatives from Anime Insider magazine and the popular internet fan sites Anime NewsNetwork.com and Anime OnDVD.com also contributed nominees to the ballot. The pop culture business news site ICv2.com oversaw the online voting.



The top five finalists for the first American Anime Awards are as follows:



Best Actor

Johnny Yong Bosch (Akira, Bleach, Eureka 7)

Crispin Freeman (Hellsing Ultimate, Noein, Revolutionary Girl Utena)

Richard Hayworth (Rurouni Kenshin)

Yuri Lowenthal (Naruto)

Vic Mignogna (Fullmetal Alchemist, Macross)



Best Actress

Luci Christian (Princess Tutu)

Susan Dalian (Naruto)

Mary Elizabeth (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG)

Maile Flanagan (Naruto)

Michelle Ruff (Bleach, Lupin the 3rd)



Best Actor in a Comedy

Greg Ayres (Negima, Nerima Daikon Brothers)

Johnny Yong Bosch (Akira)

Liam O'Brien (Comic Party, DNA Squared, Girls Bravo)

Tony Oliver (Lupin III)

Dave Wittenberg (Zatch Bell)



Best Actress in a Comedy

Laura Bailey (Kodocha)

Luci Christian (Desert Punk, Negima, Nerima Daikon Brothers)

Debi Derryberry (Zatch Bell)

Hillary Haag (Paniponi Dash)

Michelle Ruff (Lupin the 3rd)



Best Cast

FLCL

Fullmetal Alchemist

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG

Inuyasha

Naruto



Best DVD Package Design

Bleach Vol. 1

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children

Fullmetal Alchemist

Hellsing Ultimate 1--Limited Edition Steelcase

Naruto Uncut Box Set Vol. 1



Best Anime Theme Song

Asterisk (Bleach)

Heart of Sword--Yoake Mae (Rurouni Kenshin)

Rewrite (Fullmetal Alchemist)

Ride on Shooting Star (FLCL)

Rise (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig)



Best Comedy Anime

Ah! My Goddess TV

FLCL

Kodocha

Ranma 1/2

Tenchi Muyo OVA



Best Anime Feature

Akira

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children

Fullmetal Alchemist--The Movie

Inuyasha Movie 4: Fire on Mystic Island

Pokemon Movie 8: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew



Best Short Series

Elfen Lied

FLCL

Gravitation TV

Hellsing Ultimate

Ranma 1/2 OAV



Best Long Series

Fullmetal Alchemist

Inuyasha

Naruto

Rurouni Kenshin

Samurai Champloo



Best Manga

Bleach

Death Note

Fruits Basket

Naruto

Neon Genesis Evangelion: Angelic Days



The American Anime Awards ceremony will take place during the evening of Saturday February 24 at the New Yorker Hotel in Midtown Manhattan. In attendance will be executives and creative personnel from every major anime studio and manga publisher active in the United States .



The American Anime Awards ceremony will be hosted by a group of the most prominent voice actors in the business, including Christine Auten, Jessica Boone, Shelley Calene-Black, Luci Christian, Alice Fulks, Hilary Haag, Taylor Hannah, and Serena Varghese. These “Babes of Anime ” will be dressed in designs by Project Runway winner Chloe Dao, who will be on hand during the awards ceremony to present the award for Best Package Design. Many more actors, directors, and celebrities will be participating in the awards ceremony and the post-awards gala that follows.



Tickets to the ceremony and gala are sold out, but fans can enjoy both through a special broadcast event on Anime Network. American Anime Awards will premiere on Anime Network March 23 (broadcast) and April 12 (VOD). The two-hour program will include pre- and post-ceremony coverage and will feature the inaugural award ceremony, where anime professionals will be recognized for their outstanding achievements in the multi-billon dollar anime industry.