FanCons.ca Press Releases

News for Anime Expo 2007:

Anime Expo 2007 opens new cosplay event registration system

Highly Anticipated Main Event Brings Industry Specific Prizes from Notable Sponsors

Anaheim, California (May 17, 2007) -- Anime Expo® 2007 brings cos-play (costume play) to a new level of excitement. Cos-play is one of the most enduring traditions of Anime Expo® with both amateur and professional costumers hailing from around the world gracing the convention with their wonderful costumes and performances. This year's highly anticipated 2007 convention will be held June 29-July 2 at the Long Beach Convention Center. More information can be found on the website www.anime-expo.org.

The Anime Expo® Masquerade (sponsored by IaTV) is one of the most popular main events at the convention with Top Five (5) coveted awards (Best of Show, 1st Place, 2nd Place, 3rd Place and runner-up) and a year's worth of bragging rights to the winner(s).

This year, additional industry prizes will be awarded to contestants of the Masquerade:

• Square Enix-will be awarding The Best Final Fantasy XI costume with a custom FFXI themed PC
• Toei Animation-will be awarding The Best ONE PIECE costume with a GoH Autographed Toei Animation Prize Package
• Bandai Visual-will be awarding The Best Mecha costume with a Bandai Visual Prize Package
• ADV-will be awarding The Best ADV Character costume with a ADV Prize Package

Additional cos-play events for 2007 will consist of Chibi Masquerade, Pop Shock Masquerade, Masquerade Ball and this year's debut event Midnight Tea.

All online event registration, rules and guidelines regarding costumes, weapons and codes of conduct can be found online at www.anime-expo.org.

All registrants who register before the end of April 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.

###