May 15, 2006
News for Anime Expo 2006:
Anime Expo and Bandai Visual USA announce Yutaka Izabuchi
Mech Design Genius Izabuchi To Join Others as Official Guest of HonorAnaheim, California (May 15, 2006) -- Anime Expo® 2006 (AX2006) and Bandai Visual USA announces the attendance of Yutaka Izabuchi to the 15th year anniversary convention at the Anaheim Convention Center July 1-4, 2006. More information is available at http://www.anime-expo.org.
Mr. Izubuchi's debut into the world of animation started with his role as a contributing designer to the TV series Tosho DAIMOS (1978). He rose to the position of main mechanical designer in Mobile Suit GUNDAM - Char's Counterattack (1988) and Mobile Suit GUNDAM 0080 - War in the Pocket (1989). In other notable works, Izubuchi was the original character designer for the OVA series Record of Lodoss War (1990), while on RahXephon (2002) he worked as director, thus adding to his already prolific resume. He is the Mechanical Director for the Banda Visual USA Release of PATLABOR THE MOVIE (official site: www.bandaivisual.us/patlabor/).
Mr. Izabuchi joins, previously announced, CLAMP, Seiji Mizushima, Vic Mignogna, Laura Bailey, and Mick Takeuchi as Anime Expo® 2006 official Guests of Honor.
Individuals can now register via online (www.anime-expo.org) for Anime Expo® 2006. All attendees that register prior to June 1, 2006 will be automatically placed into the 2nd Annual Pre-Registration Contest to win DVD's, Posters and other amazing prizes.
About Anime Expo®
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).
About SPJA
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).
About Bandai Visual USA Inc.
Bandai Visual USA Inc. was established in 2005 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Bandai Visual Co., Ltd. with a mission to facilitate stronger, more active involvement in positioning, marketing and distribution of Bandai Visual programs in North America. From its base in Torrance, California, Bandai Visual USA seeks to form new alliances and reinforce existing ties in an effort to strengthen Bandai Visual's international presence as a producer and content provider in the ever expanding and diversified specialty programs market. Bandai Visual USA titles are released on DVD under its Honneamise label, named after the 1987 animation film that Bandai Visual first produced. PATLABOR THE MOVIE is the first title of the Honneamise label to launch throughout the US market and precedes the July 11, 2006 release of PATLABOR 2 THE MOVIE.
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