Nation's Largest Anime and Manga Convention Brings Together Industry Experts
and Professionals for Key Note Engagements and Panels
Anaheim, California (June 15, 2009) -- The industry comes together as Anime
Expo® 2009 and the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation announce
the key note speakers and panel topics for the 2009 SPJA Industry Conference
held during the nation's largest anime and manga convention, Anime Expo®
2009, July 2-5, 2009 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. More information
can be found on the website www.anime-expo.org.
This year's key note speakers include Austin Osueke-CEO/Publisher. eigoMANGA
(July 2, 2009; LP3; 11:00am), Shawne Kleckner-President/CEO, Right Stuf,
Inc. (July 3, 2009; LP3; 11:00 am) and Kun Gao-CEO, Crunchyroll (July 4,
2009; LP3; 11:00 am). Key points regarding the state of the digital, anime
and manga industries will be addressed during these key note engagements.
Industry Conference panel include the following topics:
· Making Mangas and Animes into Hollywood Features (July 2, 2009; LP3;
11:30 am)-Top panelists involved in many of the biggest manga and
anime-to-live-action Hollywood feature deals, experts in this field will
talk about the advantages and pitfalls of this challenging task of
maintaining the manga creator's vision while making a successful movie or TV
project that translates into those mediums.
and Professionals for Key Note Engagements and Panels
Anaheim, California (June 15, 2009) -- The industry comes together as Anime
Expo® 2009 and the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation announce
the key note speakers and panel topics for the 2009 SPJA Industry Conference
held during the nation's largest anime and manga convention, Anime Expo®
2009, July 2-5, 2009 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. More information
can be found on the website www.anime-expo.org.
This year's key note speakers include Austin Osueke-CEO/Publisher. eigoMANGA
(July 2, 2009; LP3; 11:00am), Shawne Kleckner-President/CEO, Right Stuf,
Inc. (July 3, 2009; LP3; 11:00 am) and Kun Gao-CEO, Crunchyroll (July 4,
2009; LP3; 11:00 am). Key points regarding the state of the digital, anime
and manga industries will be addressed during these key note engagements.
Industry Conference panel include the following topics:
· Making Mangas and Animes into Hollywood Features (July 2, 2009; LP3;
11:30 am)-Top panelists involved in many of the biggest manga and
anime-to-live-action Hollywood feature deals, experts in this field will
talk about the advantages and pitfalls of this challenging task of
maintaining the manga creator's vision while making a successful movie or TV
project that translates into those mediums.
· Can Manga Be Created in the USA and Become Commercially Successful?
(July 3, 2009; LP3; 11:30 am)-Manga and Anime are such an exploding art form
that they have influenced new generations of Americans to the degree that
many create their own mangas. Can America start a future manga-movement?
Experts in this field hold forth on this question with surprising
conclusions. Examples of work being created in the USA will be presented
including those by inspired university students.
· Digital Distribution the Wave of the Future (July 4, 2009; LP3; 11:30
am)-Anime can now be easily found legally online, what does the future hold
for this new medium of entertainment delivery? Security? Will this be an
answer to solving the industry's issue with online piracy? Experts leading
the way will discuss the evolution of anime in the digital world, the
challenges they face and how they intend to move towards the future.
In attendance as panelists will include industry experts from the anime and
manga industries, as well as high profile Hollywood professionals including
Northrop Davis (Professor/Producer/ Screenwriter), Jason Hoffs (VIZ
Productions), Ken Holinsky (MX Media, LLC), Robert Le (Artist), Joshua Long
(Producer), Nobuo Masuda (Bandai Entertainment), Robert Napton (Bandai
Entertainment), Luis Reyes (Nexon America), Justin Sevakis (Anime News
Network) and more.
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 Anime Expo®
Located in Los Angeles, California - Anime Expo®, the nation'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 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.
(July 3, 2009; LP3; 11:30 am)-Manga and Anime are such an exploding art form
that they have influenced new generations of Americans to the degree that
many create their own mangas. Can America start a future manga-movement?
Experts in this field hold forth on this question with surprising
conclusions. Examples of work being created in the USA will be presented
including those by inspired university students.
· Digital Distribution the Wave of the Future (July 4, 2009; LP3; 11:30
am)-Anime can now be easily found legally online, what does the future hold
for this new medium of entertainment delivery? Security? Will this be an
answer to solving the industry's issue with online piracy? Experts leading
the way will discuss the evolution of anime in the digital world, the
challenges they face and how they intend to move towards the future.
In attendance as panelists will include industry experts from the anime and
manga industries, as well as high profile Hollywood professionals including
Northrop Davis (Professor/Producer/ Screenwriter), Jason Hoffs (VIZ
Productions), Ken Holinsky (MX Media, LLC), Robert Le (Artist), Joshua Long
(Producer), Nobuo Masuda (Bandai Entertainment), Robert Napton (Bandai
Entertainment), Luis Reyes (Nexon America), Justin Sevakis (Anime News
Network) and more.
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 Anime Expo®
Located in Los Angeles, California - Anime Expo®, the nation'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 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.
