April 26, 2007
News for Anime Expo 2007:
Anime Expo 2007 announces Death Note guests
Nation's Largest Convention Obtains Guests of Honor and EXCLUSIVE FilmsAnaheim, California (April 23, 2007) -- "The human whose name is written in this note shall die." Famed director Tetsuro Araki and character designer Masaru Kitao announce their attendance at Anime Expo® 2007 as Official Guests of Honor. In addition, Anime Expo® has also obtained the rights to screen the blockbuster films, starring Tatsuya Fujiwara, from Japan DEATH NOTE (123 minutes) and DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME (140 minutes) on 35 mm print at the highly anticipated 2007 convention June 29-July 2 at the Long Beach Convention Center. More information can be found on the website www.anime-expo.org.
Born November 5, 1976, in the Saitama Prefecture and a graduate of the School of Literature at Senshu University, Tetsuro Araki gained mass fame and media attention as the director of the "Desu nôto" (2006 also known as DEATH NOTE) TV Series (produced by Madhouse, Nippon Television, Shueisha and VAP). Based on the Japanese manga series centering around a high school student who decides to rid the world of evil with the help of a supernatural notebook, dropped by a rogue Shinigami Death God, that kills anyone whose name is written in it.
The popularity of the TV series made a great synergy for two live-action films which topped the Japanese box office for two straight weeks as well as a video game entitled DEATH NOTE: KIRA GAME.
Mr. Araki made his debut as a storyboard artist and director for a short animated version of CARDCAPTOR SAKURA. Since then, he has engaged with a number of animated TV series as a "thoroughbred" Madhouse director including DI GI CHARAT NYO and GUNGRAVE. Mr. Araki came under the spotlight for his unique and sometimes "outrageous" sense of humor in the GALAXY ANGEL series. Mr. Araki also made his directorial debut with OTUGIJUSHI AKAZUKIN.
Masaru Kitao gained mass fame and media attention as the sole character designer of the "Desu nôto" (2006 also known as DEATH NOTE) TV Series characters (produced by Madhouse, Nippon Television and VAP). Mr. Kitao was responsible for such memorable characters from the TV series such as Light Yagami (Kira), L, Miss Amane, Ryuk and Rem. Mr. Kitao has been involved with many other acclaimed anime titles including Rozen Maiden, X, CARDCAPTOR SAKURA, CARDCAPTOR SAKURA: THE SEALED CARD (USA) and the classic anime METROPOLIS.
Exceeding 15 million copies sold, the manga best seller, DEATH NOTE has been adopted into a series of live-action feature films as DEATH NOTE part 1, 2 and (most recently announced to be produced) 3 which topped the box office for 2 straight weeks pushing THE DA VINCI CODE into 2nd place. Anime Expo® 2007 brings the two Japanese blockbuster films on 35 mm print to the viewing pleasure of its attendees.
DEATH NOTE (synopsis):
"The human whose name is written in this note shall die". Weary Shinigami the Death drops a notebook (the notebook of death that determined people's death) within the human world where a weary genius picks it up. Light Yagami (Fujiwara), an extremely bright and elite university student, ends up possessing the ultimate tool that should remain only in the hands of Gods. Light decides to create an ideal world and begins to hold the scales to judge criminals by his discretion. Meanwhile a mysterious detective named "L" begins to investigate the unresolved cases caused by the Light. The future of mankind is at the mercy of the crucial and fierce battles of the two men.
Tetsuro Araki and Masaru Kitao joins ORESKABAND and Mary Elizabeth McGlynn as Anime Expo® 2007 Official Guests of Honor.
All registrants who register before the end of March are automatically placed into the drawing. Those who have already pre-registered are also automatically entered into this drawing. Secure pre-registration can be done via online at https://secure.rhq.com/anime/anime2007/attreg/index.cgi.
Attendees interested in booking flights, car rentals and/or other hotels for Anime Expo® 2007 can do so via the AX Travel Store located at www.AXTravelStore.com.
About Anime Expo®
Located in Long Beach, 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 2007 will be held June 29 - July 2, 2007 at the Long Beach Convention Center in Southern California. SPONSORS: ADV Films, Bandai Entertainment, Copic Markers, Digital Manga, Gaia Online, Go! Media, Infinity Studios, Informasian TV (IaTV) and the Los Angeles Times. 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®/SPJA's 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.
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