Anime Expo News

 Are you going to Anime Expo this year? Do you like making AMVs? This this will surely interest you! 

This past Wednesday the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA) announced that they will be awarding over $10,000 USD in cash and prizes to the winners of this year's Anime Music Video Contest. The Best of Show prize will be getting $2,500 and there will also be $1,500 for other individual categories. 
 
Contestants will be editing scenes of animation taken from Japanese media of their choice, such as television, movies, OVAs and video games. Their contest entries will be screened for an audience of over 4,500 fans to "see how well they stand up in competition". 
 
The official rules and entry forms are up on AX's website: Here. Get out your editing software out and star editing! 
Anime Expo will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center on July 1-4 
  
Want to know more about AMVs? Check out Anime Vice's 3-Minute Expert on Amazing AMVs.

Source: Anime Expo 

-- Geo (sora_thekey) long time user of the Whiskey Media Sites, and 24/7geek! -- Follow me on Twitter: @sora_thekey

2009 SPJA Industry Award Recipients Announced at the Nation¹s Largest Anime
and Manga Convention

LOS ANGELES, CA ­ July 3, 2009 ­ Following a highly energized Opening
Ceremony, an epic concert by the world famous visual kei band Moi dix Mois
and a rocking Battle of the Bands Event, Anime Expo® 2009 continues into its
second day with highly anticipated Main Events consisting of the Morning
Musume concert and the Anime Music Video Contest for the nation¹s largest
anime and manga convention, Anime Expo® 2009, from July 2 ­ July 5, 2009 at
the Los Angeles Convention Center. More information can be found at
www.anime-expo.org <http://www.anime-expo.org> .



The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA) also announced
this year¹s winners for the 2009 SPJA Industry Awards.  Winners and their
categories include:

Category 01: Best Voice Actor (Japanese)
Kappei Yamaguchi ­ DEATH NOTE - L

Category 02: Best Voice Actor (English)
Kyla Hebert ­ GURREN LAGAAN - Kamina

Category 03: Best Voice Actress (Japanese)
Junko Takeuchi - NARUTO - Naruto Uzumaki

Category 04: Best Voice Actress (English)
Michelle Ruff ­ BLEACH THE MOVIE: MEMORIES OF NOBODY - Rukia Kuchiki

Category 05: Best Casting Director
Jaime Simone - BLEACH

Category 06: Best Character Design
Masaru Kitao of Madhouse ­ DEATH NOTE

Category 07: Best Mechanical Design
Yoh Yoshirari ­ GURREN LAGAAN

Category 08: Best Male Character
L ­ DEATH NOTE

Category 09: Best Female Character
Rukia Kuchiki ­ BLEACH THE MOVIE: MEMORIES OF NOBODY

Category 10: Best Mascot Character
Mokona ­ xxxHOLIC

Category 11: Best Backround Design
Minoru Nakamura of Studio Pierrot - BLEACH

Category 12: Best Original Video Animation
LUCKY STAR OVA - Bandai Entertainment

Category 13: Best Feature Film
THE GIRL WHO LEPT THROUGH TIME - Bandai Entertainment

Category 14: Best Television Series
GURREN LAGAAN - Bandai Entertainment

Category 15: Best Original Score
DEATH NOTE Score ­ DEATH NOTE - Yoshihisa Hirano and Hideki Taniuchi

Category 16: Best Original Song
"Tonight, Tonight, Tonight" - Bleach - Beat Crusaders - Aniplex Inc. ­ BEAT
CRUSADERS

Category 17: Best Director (Japanese)
Tetsuro Araki ­ DEATH NOTE

Category 18: Best Director (American)
Karl Willems - DEATH NOTE

Category 19: Best Manga - Action
TSUBASA: RESERVOIR CHRONICLE - Del Rey Manga - Clamp

Category 20: Best Manga - Comedy
FAIRY TAIL - Del Rey Manga - Hiro Mashima

Category 21: Best Manga - Drama
MONSTER - Viz Media - Naoki Urasawa

Category 22: Best Publication
Shonen Jump - VIZ Media

Category 23: Best Full Motion Video in Video Game
FINAL FANTASY IV - Square-Enix


Over 40,000+ unique attendees are expected to attend this year¹s convention
and a incredible slate of fourteen (14) power-house Guests of Honors, 50+
Industry Guests, a full exhibit hall and 24 hours of pure anime fun!
Attendees will have the time of their lives at this year¹s highly
anticipated event.



Tickets are still available for at-door pricing!

Anime Expo® 2009 Official Guests of Honor include Yun Kouga, Hiroyuki
Imaishi, Daisuke Ishiwatari, Yosuke Kuroda, Moi dix Mois, Toshimichi Mori,
Toshiyuki Morikawa, Morning Musume, Yasuhiro Nightow, Atsushi Nishigori,
Satoshi Nishimura, Takashi Okazaki and Kari Wahlgren.

Attendees, Press and Industry Members are also encouraged to view the video
coverage site of the 2008 convention at www.axbackstage.org.

Red & Black Sponsors include: FUNimation, Silver Sponsors include: Anime
News Network and Digital Manga Press, Patron Sponsors include: COPIC,
Central Park Media and The Right Stuf, Media Sponsors include: ImaginAsian
TV, Animation Magazine, Anime Insider Magazine, Anime News Network and UTB
Hollywood.

About Anime Expo®
Located in Los Angeles, California - Anime Expo®, the nation¹s largest
anime/manga convention, serves to foster trade, commerce and the interests
of the general public and animation/ comics industry. This event serves as a
key meeting place for the general public to express their interest and
explore various aspects of anime/manga, as well as for members of the
industry to conduct business. AX 2009 will be held July 2 ­ July 5, 2009 at
the Los Angeles Convention Center in Southern California. More information
can be found at its website www.anime-expo.org.

About Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation
The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA) is a non-profit
organization with a mission 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®.   More
information can be found at its website www.spja.org.

The statements made in this press release that are not historical facts are
"forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements are based on
current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and
uncertainties. The Company cautions readers of this press release that a
number of important factors could cause Anime Expo®/SPJA¹s actual future
results to differ materially from those expressed in any such
forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation,
product delays, industry competition, rapid changes in technology and
industry standards, protection of proprietary rights, maintenance of
relationships with key personnel, vendors and third-party developers,
international economic and political conditions. The Company may change its
intention, belief or expectation, at any time and without notice, based upon
any changes in such factors, in the Company's assumptions or otherwise. The
Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any
forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date
hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

THQ*ICE TO SHOWCASE ŒDRAGONICA ONLINE¹ AT ANIME EXPO® 2009

Attendees of Convention Gain Entry into Exclusive Closed Beta Test

LOS ANGELES, CA ­ June 29, 2009 ­ Allowing anxious fans the chance to play
new content for the very first time, online game operator THQ*ICE LLC today
announced the consumer debut of Dragonica Online
(http://dragonica.thqice.com <http://dragonica.thqice.com> ) for North
America during the nation¹s largest anime and manga convention, Anime Expo®
2009, from July 2 ­ July 5, 2009 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. More
information can be found at www.anime-expo.org <http://www.anime-expo.org> .

Located in booth #428 in the H Hall, THQ*ICE is giving convention goers
access to one of the most highly anticipated free-to-play, massively
multiplayer online (MMO) games of 2009. While supplies last, fans that visit
the Dragonica Online booth will receive a special Activation Key that gets
them exclusive access to the game¹s Closed Beta Test in advance of its
launch this Fall. Throughout the show, THQ*ICE will be hosting a variety of
promotions including a raffle for limited-edition Dragonica Online wall
scrolls, a special Anime Expo-themed in-game item and more!

³This is the first time any U.S. anime convention has been incorporated and
immortalized in any MMO game,² states Ms. Liyin Liang Anime Expo Convention
Chairwoman. ³We are happy to work with THQ*ICE and have them bring such an
amazing and exciting game to our convention!²

³We are excited to officially unveil Dragonica Online to our fans at this
year¹s Anime Expo and let them experience new content for the very first
time,² said Aaron Dean, Marketing Manager for Dragonica Online. ³As part of
our commitment to our fans, everyone who stops by our booth will be able to
demo new game content, receive special prizes and have the opportunity to
get an Activation Key for our Closed Beta Test. We look forward to the event
and the chance to get feedback on their experience which we¹ll then use to
create the best game possible.²

Fans who are unable to attend Anime Expo but are interested in participating
in the Closed Beta Test can register at http://dragonica.thqice.com
<http://dragonica.thqice.com> for the chance to receive a Closed Beta Test
Activation Key.

Developed by Barunson Interactive, Dragonica Online is the first MMO to
merge 3D side-scrolling, fast-paced combat and a hilarious, yet devastating,
skill system. Join the quest to vanquish the threat of evil - explore a
fantastical world rife with monsters to battle, challenges to overcome and
adventures to discover. Choose your class, master powerful skills and grow
your character into a legendary hero.

Anime Expo® 2009 Official Guests of Honor include Yun Kouga, Hiroyuki
Imaishi, Daisuke Ishiwatari, Yosuke Kuroda, Toshimichi Mori, Toshiyuki
Morikawa, Morning Musume, Yasuhiro Nightow, Atsushi Nishigori, Satoshi
Nishimura, Takashi Okazaki and Kari Wahlgren.

Attendees, Press and Industry Members are also encouraged to view the video
coverage site of the 2008 convention at www.axbackstage.org.

Red & Black Sponsors include: FUNimation, Silver Sponsors include: Anime
News Network and Digital Manga Press, Patron Sponsors include: COPIC,
Central Park Media and The Right Stuf, Media Sponsors include: ImaginAsian
TV, Animation Magazine, Anime Insider Magazine, Anime News Network and UTB
Hollywood.

About THQ*ICE LLC <http://www.thqice.com>
THQ*ICE LLC is an online games operator specializing in casual massively
multiplayer online (MMO) games. As a joint venture between THQ Inc.
(NASDAQ: THQI) and ICE Entertainment, THQ*ICE combines THQ's product
development and retail publishing expertise with ICE's technology and
service operations experience. THQ*ICE is dedicated to building an online
platform of high quality games and premium content featuring free-to-play,
micro transaction models. Dragonica Online and its respective logo are
trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THQ*ICE LLC in the U.S.


About Anime Expo®
Located in Los Angeles, California - Anime Expo®, the nation¹s largest
anime/manga convention, serves to foster trade, commerce and the interests
of the general public and animation/ comics industry. This event serves as a
key meeting place for the general public to express their interest and
explore various aspects of anime/manga, as well as for members of the
industry to conduct business. AX 2009 will be held July 2 ­ July 5, 2009 at
the Los Angeles Convention Center in Southern California. More information
can be found at its website www.anime-expo.org.

About Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation
The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA) is a non-profit
organization with a mission 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®. More
information can be found at its website www.spja.org.

The statements made in this press release that are not historical facts are
"forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements are based on
current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and
uncertainties. The Company cautions readers of this press release that a
number of important factors could cause Anime Expo®/SPJA¹s actual future
results to differ materially from those expressed in any such
forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation,
product delays, industry competition, rapid changes in technology and
industry standards, protection of proprietary rights, maintenance of
relationships with key personnel, vendors and third-party developers,
international economic and political conditions. The Company may change its
intention, belief or expectation, at any time and without notice, based upon
any changes in such factors, in the Company's assumptions or otherwise. The
Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any
forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date
hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Granted, I'm still filling in interviews and the like, but hey...all in all, it could be a lot worse!