Kenji Kamiyama Announced as Second Guest of Honor for AnimeNEXT's 2010 Convention

New York, NY and Somerset, NJ - May 19, 2010 - AnimeNEXT, the largest independent, fan based anime convention in the New York metropolitan area, announced today that it is welcoming Japanese director Kenji Kamiyama to its 2010 convention. Mr. Kamiyama is the director of such anime as Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex and Eden of the East.

Mr. Kamiyama works at Production I.G where he contributed the screenplay for Blood: The Last Vampire and worked as the animation director for Jin-Roh. In 2002 he made his directorial debut with MiniPato, followed by Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG and Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. Solid State Society, OAV. This last series sold over 1.4 million DVDs in Japan. In 2007 after almost six years of work on the Stand Alone Complex world, he directed the TV series Moribito - Guardian of the Sacred Spirit. In 2009 Mr. Kamiyama created and directed the anime TV series Eden of the East, as well as the two Eden of the East movies that followed.

In 2004 Mr. Kamiyama won the “Best Individual/Individual Achievement” award at the 9th Animation Kobe for his work on the TV series Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG. Later in 2007, he received the Package Work Award for his work in Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. Solid State Society. In 2009, he won the TV Feature Award for Eden of the East.

This is the first time that Mr. Kamiyama is attending AnimeNEXT. Mr. Kamiyama wil be contributing to panels and discussions at the convention that attendees may participate in.

Robert Rustay, the Convention Chairman for AnimeNEXT 2010 and Board Member of Universal Animation, the not for profit corporation which owns and operates the convention, said "The convention and corporation is very proud to be able to welcome Mr. Kamiyama to AnimeNEXT 2010. He is a profound director and creator who has contributed significantly to the anime industry with several modern classics. Everyone at AnimeNEXT is flattered that he wil be in attendence and contributing to the convention. We are certain that all the AnimeNEXT fans will be excited by his attendence as well."

Mr. Kamiyama joins several other guests that will be in attendence at the 2010 AnimeNEXT convention in Somerset, NJ on June 18 -20, 2010; such as J-Rock band Stereopony, Designer GASHICON, Voice Actors Kyle Herbert, Stacie Renna, Greg Ayres and Tony Oliver and many other industry and fan guests. Please visit www.animenext.org for more details and information on how to attend the convention.

About AnimeNEXT
AnimeNEXT is the largest independently organized anime convention in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area. AnimeNEXT 2010 will be held at the Garden State Expo Center in Somerset, New Jersey on June 18-20. The convention features Japanese creators of anime and manga, voice actors from anime series, Japanese musical acts, artists, vendors and exhibits, panels, workshops, and gaming. Events all focus on aspects of anime, manga, and Japanese culture. With the popularity of anime and manga growing in the 1990's and 2000's, anime conventions have seen positive growth in their attendance; AnimeNEXT is no exception.

About Universal Animation, Inc.
Universal Animation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the appreciation of Anime and Manga in the United States. Founded in 2002 in NYC, Universal Animation is responsible for planning the AnimeNEXT Anime Convention and MangaNEXT Manga Convention, which are held annually in the Tri-state (NY/NJ/CT) area. Universal Animation is an independent organization with no affiliation to any commercial entities. The Board of Directors is composed of professionals in many disparate industries, including Finance, the US Government, Education, and Information Technology.