February 7, 2007

Finalists announced for American Anime Awards

Winners to be honored at NY City gala February 24

Norwalk, CT, February 7, 2007 – The New York Comic Con today announced finalists for the inaugural American Anime Awards. Over 43,000 fans cast their vote for the hottest manga and anime in North America. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony during the New York Comic Con Saturday night, February 24. The ceremony and gala that follows will be broadcast on Anime Network, America's #1 anime channel.

The American Anime Awards celebrates Japanese animation (anime) and comics (manga), which have grown into a global entertainment phenomenon. In North America manga and anime comprise a $4 billion industry. The American Anime Awards showcase the very best manga and anime to make its way to North America.

Over the month of January, North American anime fans voted on a web ballot devised by the most prominent anime and manga companies working in North America, including VIZ Media, TOKYOPOP, Media Blasters, Geneon, FUNimation, Del Rey, CPM, Bandai, and ADV Films. Representatives from Anime Insider magazine and the popular internet fan sites AnimeNewsNetwork.com and AnimeOnDVD.com also contributed nominees to the ballot. The pop culture business news site ICv2.com oversaw the online voting.

The top five finalists for the first American Anime Awards are as follows:

Best Actor
Johnny Yong Bosch (Akira, Bleach, Eureka 7)
Crispin Freeman (Hellsing Ultimate, Noein, Revolutionary Girl Utena)
Richard Hayworth (Rurouni Kenshin)
Yuri Lowenthal (Naruto)
Vic Mignogna (Fullmetal Alchemist, Macross)

Best Actress
Luci Christian (Princess Tutu)
Susan Dalian (Naruto)
Mary Elizabeth (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG)
Maile Flanagan (Naruto)
Michelle Ruff (Bleach, Lupin the 3rd)

Best Actor in a Comedy
Greg Ayres (Negima, Nerima Daikon Brothers)
Johnny Yong Bosch (Akira)
Liam O'Brien (Comic Party, DNA Squared, Girls Bravo)
Tony Oliver (Lupin III)
Dave Wittenberg (Zatch Bell)

Best Actress in a Comedy
Laura Bailey (Kodocha)
Luci Christian (Desert Punk, Negima, Nerima Daikon Brothers)
Debi Derryberry (Zatch Bell)
Hillary Haag (Paniponi Dash)
Michelle Ruff (Lupin the 3rd)

Best Cast
FLCL
Fullmetal Alchemist
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd GIG
Inuyasha
Naruto

Best DVD Package Design
Bleach Vol. 1
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children
Fullmetal Alchemist
Hellsing Ultimate 1--Limited Edition Steelcase
Naruto Uncut Box Set Vol. 1

Best Anime Theme Song
Asterisk (Bleach)
Heart of Sword--Yoake Mae (Rurouni Kenshin)
Rewrite (Fullmetal Alchemist)
Ride on Shooting Star (FLCL)
Rise (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex 2nd Gig)

Best Comedy Anime
Ah! My Goddess TV
FLCL
Kodocha
Ranma 1/2
Tenchi Muyo OVA

Best Anime Feature
Akira
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children
Fullmetal Alchemist--The Movie
Inuyasha Movie 4: Fire on Mystic Island
Pokemon Movie 8: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew

Best Short Series
Elfen Lied
FLCL
Gravitation TV
Hellsing Ultimate
Ranma 1/2 OAV

Best Long Series
Fullmetal Alchemist
Inuyasha
Naruto
Rurouni Kenshin
Samurai Champloo

Best Manga
Bleach
Death Note
Fruits Basket
Naruto
Neon Genesis Evangelion: Angelic Days

The American Anime Awards ceremony will take place during the evening of Saturday February 24 at the New Yorker Hotel in Midtown Manhattan. In attendance will be executives and creative personnel from every major anime studio and manga publisher active in the United States.

The American Anime Awards ceremony will be hosted by a group of the most prominent voice actors in the business, including Christine Auten, Jessica Boone, Shelley Calene-Black, Luci Christian, Alice Fulks, Hilary Haag, Taylor Hannah, and Serena Varghese. These "Babes of Anime" will be dressed in designs by Project Runway winner Chloe Dao, who will be on hand during the awards ceremony to present the award for Best Package Design. Many more actors, directors, and celebrities will be participating in the awards ceremony and the post-awards gala that follows.

Tickets to the ceremony and gala are sold out, but fans can enjoy both through a special broadcast event on Anime Network. American Anime Awards will premiere on Anime Network March 23 (broadcast) and April 12 (VOD). The two-hour program will include pre- and post-ceremony coverage and will feature the inaugural award ceremony, where anime professionals will be recognized for their outstanding achievements in the multi-billon dollar anime industry.

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