FanCons.ca Press Releases


April 2, 2007

News for Anime Expo 2007:

Anime Expo 2007 announces first guest of honor

Nation's Largest Convention Announces 1st American Guest of Honor for 2007 Convention

Anaheim, California (March 27, 2007) - Anime Expo® announces acclaimed voice actor, singer, writer and director Mary Elizabeth McGlynn as the 1st Guest of Honor for 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.

Ms. McGlynn has been involved in almost every aspect of Anime as a voice over actress, writer, singer and ADR director. She is well-known as an actress for many diverse roles such as "Kurenai" from NARUTO, "Julia" and "Twinkle Maria Murdock" from COWBOY BEBOP, "Helba" from .HACK, "Jagura" from WOLF'S RAIN and "Caroline" from VAMPIRE HUNTER D. Most notably, she portrayed "Major Motoko Kusanagi" in GHOST IN THE SHELL: INNOCENCE, SOLID STATE SOCIETY and GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX which she won the first ever American Anime Award for Best Actress.

As a director, Mary Elizabeth is currently directing all things NARUTO for Viz Media, Bandai and Cartoon Network which includes the series, the games and the movie. Among her many other directing credits are COWBOY BEBOP the series, COWBOY BEBOP: KNOCKIN' ON HEAVEN'S DOOR, WOLF'S RAIN, DIGIMON TAMERS, FRONTIER and the movie APPLESEED. She was also a co-writer for the American adaptation of METROPOLIS.

Mary Elizabeth has had the great honor of singing the music of Akira Yamaoka for the movie SILENT HILL as well as the games: SILENT HILL 3, SILENT HILL 4 and SILENT HILL: ORIGINS. For the gaming world she has directed the voice work for SPYHUNTER, TOKOBOTS, SUPERMAN, NINJA GAIDEN, BIOHAZZARD, CASTLEVANIA 1, CASTLEVANIA 2, DEVIL MAY CRY 3, DEVIL MAY CRY 3.5, DEVIL MAY CRY 4, DRAKENGARD as well as many other titles including the soon to be released COWBOY BEBOP: THE GAME.

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.