FanCons.co.uk Press Releases


May 4, 2006

News for Anime Expo 2006:

Anime Expo heads Anime Explosion! panel at LA film festival

Preceding the Screening of FIRE BALL

Anaheim, California (May 4, 2006) -- U.S. audiences have more opportunities than ever to watch animation on theater screens, televisions, DVD's and the internet. The explosive growth of anime and manga has accompanied and arguably has even fueled this rise in animation programming. Anime Expo® 2006 (AX2006) Chairwoman Joyce Lim and Publicity Head Chase Wang, lead the Animation Explosion! panel (Saturday, May 6, 2006 from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm) at the Director's Guild of America Atrium (7920 Sunset Boulevard; Los Angeles, CA 90046) during The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (May 4 through 11, 2006-www.vconline.org). The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival was established in 1983 as a vehicle to promote Asian Pacific American and Asian international cinema. Anime Expo® 2006 (www.anime-expo.org) and the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Anime (www.spja.org) joins Visual Communications as official sponsors along with Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (www.cape-usa.org).

Ms. Lim and Mr. Wang join other experts from both sides of the Pacific to discuss the art, culture and commerce of animation, focusing on how Asian animation has affected consumer tastes, artistic styles and production here in the U.S. Other panelists include:

  • Ramin Zahed, Editor-in-Chief, Animation Magazine (Moderator)
  • Eric Calderon, Vice President of Creative Affairs, GDH International
  • Leo Chu, Head of Animation, Spike TV
  • Steve Galloway, Vice President, Film & TV, TOKYOPOP
An anime themed reception sponsored by Anime Expo® 2006 and the SPJA will follow the panel preceding the screening of FIRE BALL (a anime film by Toon Wang). To purchase tickets call: (213) 680-4462 x.59, or visit the VC FILMFEST website: www.vconline.org.

Located in Anaheim, California - Anime Expo®, the North America's 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 2006 will be held July 1 - 4, 2006 at the Anaheim Convention Center. More information can be found at its official website (www.anime-expo.org).

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 official website (www.spja.org).

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