Anime Expo announces Onyx Kobayashi, Toshihiro Fukuoka, and Danceroid as guests
LOS ANGELES (June 6, 2011) -- Anime Expo, North America's largest anime and manga celebration, has announced Vocaloid songwriter Onyx Kobayashi as its latest Guest of Honor, when it returns to the LA Convention Center from July 1 - 4, 2011. In addition, Anime Expo has added Toshihiro Fukuoka, the editor of two popular Japanese anime publications, and J-Pop dance group DANCEROID as Industry Guests.
A multifaceted artist, Onyx Kobayashi is responsible for the lyrics, music, illustrations and video for the Vocaloid songs including his hit "Saihate," which has been played more than 2 million times online. He will participate in a meet-and-greet, autograph session and a focus panel where he will discuss his work as a composer, designer and writer.
Toshihiro Fukuoka is the Chief Executive Editor of "ASCII Weekly Magazine" and an Editor at "Tokyo Kawaii Magazine," both from the ASCII Media Works publishing company. Mr. Fukuoka has played an active role in introducing Japanese anime and pop trends in these magazines including publishing a major feature on Hatsune Miku in "Tokyo Kawaii Magazine." In addition, he is now writing ""World Otaku Report" with Danny Choo. Mr. Fukuoka will moderate all the Vocaloid-related events during Anime Expo.
DANCEROID is a 5-girl dance group consisting of members I-Ku-Ra, Kozue Aikawa, Maam, COCO and Yuzuki. The group's videos have been played a combined total of more than 50 million times online. They are most famous for "Odottemita" (I danced). DANCEROID members I-Ku-Ra and Kozue will dance at Anime Expo as a part of one of the Vocaloid panels.
In addition to these new guests, the roster of Anime Expo 2011 Guests of Honor includes Japanese pop trio Kalafina, singing sensation Maon Kurosaki, Japanese TV Host and blogger Danny Choo, voice actress and singer Miyuki Sawashiro, voice actor Vic Mignogna, video game developer Sohei Niikawa and Crypton Future Media CEO Hiroyuki Itoh and Producer Wataru Sasaki. Hatsune Miku will also be at Anime Expo, as the convention's first ever Virtual Guest of Honor. Themed the "Year of the Fan," Anime Expo 2011 will fully immerse guests into the world of Japanese animation, manga (comic books), music and fashion. Anime Expo is a non-stop marathon of Japanese pop culture that's been likened to Halloween in July.
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About Anime Expo
Held annually in Los Angeles, Anime Expo is North America's largest anime and manga celebration. Anime Expo gives fans the rare opportunity to meet and hear from some of the most famous anime, manga and musical artists from Japan and get into the action through everything from costume play, karaoke and video competitions to exclusive screenings, non-stop video gaming competitions and the wildly popular Masquerade, in which fans transform themselves into their favorite characters through creative costuming, accessories and make-up and put on their own show before an audience of thousands. AX 2011 will be held July 1 - July 4, 2011 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. To register or for more information, please visit www.anime-expo.org.
About the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation
The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA) is a non-profit organization whose mission is 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®. For more information, please visit www.spja.org.