June 23, 2005
News for Anime Expo 2005:
AX to send two cosplayers to the World Cosplay Summit
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
World's Largest Anime and Manga Convention And TV Aichi Teams Up to Send Winners to an International Cosplay Contest
Anaheim, California (July 23, 2005) -- Anime Expo® 2005 (AX2005), takes the hobby of cosplay ("Costume Play", is when fans dress up as favorite anime characters and enact scenes from anime, usually at conventions) to a higher level of competition and will award two Anime Expo® 2005 cosplayers to represent the U.S. at the World Cosplay Summit (WCS) in Nagoya, Japan during the Nagoya World's Fair. Hosted by the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation, AX2005 takes place July 1-4 at the Anaheim Convention Center and is expecting nearly 35,000 fans and anime industry professionals to attend. For more information, visit http://www.anime-expo.org.
Have you ever wanted to visit Japan? Do you have the desire to experience the unique blend of an ultra high tech society nestled within an ancient landscape dotted with temples and legends? Have you dreamed of cosplaying in the home of anime and manga?
Teaming up with TV Aichi (Nagoya, Japan), AX2005 will select representatives to compete against 7 other nations for 10 days. Competitors will arrive from the U.S., China, Germany, France, Italy as well as Japan to show how cosplay is now a world wide hobby. Cosplay Events Manager Kenji Ono states, "Anime Expo® is pleased to be apart of a new cooperative event with TV Aichi. Cosplay has been part of the fan community since the early days of Anime Expo®. With it's humble beginings as a local level event, cosplay is now rising up to the challenge of entering the international arena. I really hope this will enable more communication and exchange of ideas between the fan communities around the world. It's really wonderful to be a witness to this new chapter of cosplay history."
Last year's U.S. representatives, Stephanie Piper and Aimee Harris, were selected from Anime Expo® 2004. and enjoyed a 10 day stay in Nagoya, Japan courtesy of TV Aichi and their sponsors. "I think it was a really great experience for me. It was interesting to meet the cosplayers from Europe and Japan and see the difference in the anime they prefer. The European's all know each other, I felt like I was on the outside just a bit, but they were all really fun and friendly people. The World Cosplay Summit Events were way different from anything I'd ever done before, but I felt like a celebrity for a week, and it was very nice. I doubt I'll ever be treated so well in Japan if I just went on my own, I felt so spoiled. The Japanese cosplayers were very serious, but very nice so far as I could tell with my limited Japanese language skills. I'd do it again in a minute it was a great experience!" exclaimed U.S. representative Stephanie Piper when asked about her experience at the WCS.
Details can be located on:
http://www.anime-expo.org/2005worldcosplay_summit.shtml
The rules and requirements are listed on:
http://www.anime-expo.org/2005worldcosplay_rules.shtml
CD submissions have been extended to June 26 and mailing instructions can be found on the aforementioned website links. Prospective cosplayers who wish to enter can also enter via the "At-Con" (Anime Expo® 2005; July 1-4, 2005 at the Anaheim Convention Center) drop off for videos of their performance no later than Friday, July 1, 2005 7:00 pm PST, location for drop off is mentioned in the aforementioned website links as well.
Initial rounds will be held at the Anaheim Hilton in LP3 on Saturday, July 2, 2005 at 8:00 pm PST. There will be 2 categories-Solo/Individual and Group entries (Group entries have a maximum of 3 members).
Located in Anaheim, California - Anime Expo®, the world'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 2005 will be held July 1 – 4, 2005 at the Anaheim Convention Center. Sponsors include Viz Media L.L.C., Animerica, ADV Films, Geneon, Tofu Records, Newtype USA and Anime Network. Sponsor hotels include Anaheim Hilton, Anaheim Marriott, or Anaheim Coast Hotels. More information can be found at its 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®.
