AM2 to Screen Southern California Debut of the Madhouse Masterpiece Mai Mai Miracle for Passport Holders Only

One of Japan's Most Celebrated Animation Houses Debuts the Anime Version of an Original Story by Award Winning Author Nobuko Takagi at This Summer's Most Anticipated Event Happening July 1-3, 2011 at the Anaheim Convention Center! Get your Passports Today and Experience the Difference!

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (May 31, 2011) – This summer's most anticipated animation, music and manga event's, AM2, proudly announces the Southern California EXCLUSIVE debut “Passport Only” screening of the anime masterpiece MAI MAI MIRACLE-written by the award winning author Nobuko Takagi and directed by celebrated anime director Sunao Katabuchi (BLACKLAGOON, PRINCESS ARETE; and Assistant Director to the Studio Ghibli title KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE). More info can be found at www.am2con.org.

Based on the idiosyncratic autobiographical novel “Mai Mai Shinko” by Nobuko Takagi, winner of the prestigious literature award-Akutagawa Prize. Madhouse, one of Japan's foremost animation studios (THE GIRL WHO LEAPT THROUGH TIME, PAPRIKA, etc.) put together a heartwarming story that revolves around the friendship between a young girl named Shinko, who has a strange curl on her head and calls it her “Mai Mai”, and her new friend, Kiiko, who is a transfer student from Tokyo. Together they embark on a journey of pure imagination and fantasy!

“AM2 will be the place to be this summer," states Chase Wang AM2 representative, “Passport holders will not only be able to obtain amazing discounts from Disneyland, Best Buy, Macy's and more! They will have exclusive access to screenings that are only accessible to them and them alone! Get your Passports today and experience the difference!”

Official Synopsis:
The story is set in 1955 in Kokuga, Hofu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture.

One thousand years ago it was the site of the ancient capital, Suo no Kuni, and traces of the Heian Period (year 794-1185) are passed down to us in the form of ruins and historical place names.

The protagonist is Shinko, a third grade elementary school student, who was born and raised in one of the town's venerable families. She is a little girl whose characteristic is a strange curl on her forehead (she calls it her ‘Mai Mai’), and her love for playing in the fields. On the other hand, her secret joy is to imagine and to daydream about the world of one thousand years ago. Her fantasies travel far into the days of the Heian Period…

One day, a girl called Kiiko transfers from Tokyo and enters Shinko's class. This girl from the big city has difficulty feeling at home in this small town, but gradually her friendship with Shinko deepens.

Before long, the two of them become engulfed in a strange incident of one thousand years earlier...?!

Attendees can avoid the anticipated huge lines at autographs, premiere screenings, workshops, main events, concerts and panels by purchasing a Passport fast pass for the event. The Passport fast pass will also provide holders with premier seating options at Main Events and at Concert events as well as major discounts with theme parks (i.e. Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm, etc.), retailers (i.e. Best Buy, Macys, etc.) and local restaurants (i.e. IHOP, Tony Roma's, California Pizza Kitchen, etc.). Bypass the lines and get your Passport today and experience the difference! Passports can be purchased at www.am2con.org

Current Guests of Honors include Akihiko Yamashita, Miho Shimagosa, Scandal, Sadie, Kanon Wakeshima, kanon x kanon, heidi., Gashicon, IBI and MINT with more to be announced soon!

AM2 current activities include Exhibit Hall, AMV's, Arcade, Summer Festival, World Cosplay Summit, Behind the Voice Actors Studio, Rum Party Pirates, Masquerade, Cosplay Chess, Dances, Fashion Shows, Table Top, Console Gaming, AniMaid Café, AniMaid Café Host Club, Workshops, Panels, Concerts and more!

Partnerships include Ani.ME. and Cure Magazine

Prize sponsors include Atlas Games, Cosplay Wigs USA, FUNimation, Gaia Online and TokyoPop.

Follow us on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/AM2Con

Follow us on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/AM2Con

Also, 25% of all official Passport sales will be donated directly to Japanese Disaster Relief efforts.

About AM2
Located in Anaheim, California – AM2, established in 2010, is a multi-day (3 days) event with no general attendance/badge purchase requirement and is aspiring to be a key meeting place for fans that share a common interest in Asian music, Animation/Anime, and Comics/Manga. Nominal fees are charged for certain activities that attendees choose to participate in. AM2 will be held on July 1-3, 2011 at the Anaheim Convention Center in sunny Anaheim, California. More information can be found at www.am2con.org