Anime Expo 2011 Announces Anime Director Seiji Mizushima as Guest of Honor
LOS ANGELES (June 9, 2011) -- Anime Expo, North America's largest anime and manga celebration, has announced anime director Seiji Mizushima at its latest Guest of Honor, when it returns to the LA Convention Center from July 1 - 4, 2011. Fans will have an opportunity to see and hear from Mr. Mizushima during a meet-and-greet, autograph signing and focus panel.
Seiji Mizushima began his directorial career with the “Generator Gawl” series, which debuted in 1998. Since then he has gone on to direct hit anime series and movies including “Fullmetal Alchemist,” "Fullmetal Alchemist: The Movie - Conqueror of Shamballa," “Shaman King,” and “Slayers Next.” In 2010 he directed the first all-new Gundam movie in 19 years, “Mobile Suit Gundam 00 the Movie: A Wakening of the Trailblazer," a sequel to the successful "Gundam 00" TV series, which will be released by Bandai Entertainment this summer.
In addition to Mr. Mizushima, the roster of Anime Expo 2011 Guests of Honor includes Japanese pop trio Kalafina; singing sensation Maon Kurosaki; Japanese TV Host and blogger Danny Choo; voice actress and singer Miyuki Sawashiro; voice actors Vic Mignogna, video game developer Sohei Niikawa; Crypton Future Media CEO Hiroyuki Itōh and Producer Wataru Sasaki; Vocaloid songwriter Onyx Kobayashi and manga artists Izumi Matsumoto and Fred Gallagher. Anime Expo has also announced Hatsune Miku as its first ever Virtual Guest of Honor. Themed the “Year of the Fan,” Anime Expo 2011 will fully immerse guests into the world of Japanese animation, manga (comic books), music and fashion. Anime Expo is a non-stop marathon of Japanese pop culture that's been likened to Halloween in July.
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About Anime Expo
Held annually in Los Angeles, Anime Expo is North America's largest anime and manga celebration. Anime Expo gives fans the rare opportunity to meet and hear from some of the most famous anime, manga and musical artists from Japan and get into the action through everything from costume play, karaoke and video competitions to exclusive screenings, non-stop video gaming competitions and the wildly popular Masquerade, in which fans transform themselves into their favorite characters through creative costuming, accessories and make-up and put on their own show before an audience of thousands. AX 2011 will be held July 1 – July 4, 2011 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. To register or for more information, please visit www.anime-expo.org.
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 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®. For more information, please visit www.spja.org.
