Tuesday, June 26, 2007

ANIME EXPO® 2007 ANNOUNCES 2008 RED & BLACK PASS WINNER
Nation’s Largest Convention’s Also Provides Six (6) Additional Winners Free Passes to 2008 Convention

Anaheim, California (June 25, 2007) — Anime Expo® announces Mike Beaudoin as the official recipient of a pair of Anime Expo® 2008 Red & Black Pass. More information and images can be found on the website www.anime-expo.org .

What is a Red & Black Pass? These special passes provide the bearer not only free admission to Anime Expo® 2008, they are also escorted in first into the exhibit hall, all ticketed events and provided premier seating, and more. Red & Black Pass bearers will also be provided custom badges as well. These “golden tickets” are valued at over $1,000.00 U.S. each.

In addition, six (6) other winners have received a complimentary pair of regular attendee badges for the 2008 convention:

· Jennifer Chean
· Erina Adachi
· Mei Ki Wong
· Jose Mendoza
· Josh King
· Scott Riley

Winners were picked randomly from attendees that purchased a premier concert ticket from the online Premier Ticket System. Winners will be contacted by Anime Expo® 2007 contest officials.
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Monday, June 25, 2007

   theOtaku.com Gathering at Anime Expo!
A date, time and location has finally been set! We are going to hold our gathering at 2:30 PM on Saturday at the booth of our friends Manga Fighter (booth 654) in the Dealer's Hall of Anime Expo.

There will be a prize give away from both Manga Fighter as well as a few goodies from theOtaku.com!

We look forward to seeing you!
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Friday, June 22, 2007

NDAI VISUAL USA TO SCREEN FIRST HIGH-DEFINITION ANIME TITLE TO BE RELEASED ON HD DVD / DVD TWIN FORMAT IN NORTH AMERICA AT ANIME EXPO® 2007
"FREEDOM" to be screened throughout Expo in special high-definition theatre
using latest, state-of-the-art equipment


TORRANCE, Calif., June 22, 2007 - Bandai Visual USA Inc., a leading innovator in Japanese animation, today announced it will be continuously screening "FREEDOM," the first anime title to be released in North America on HD DVD, at Anime Expo® 2007 at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, Calif. June 29-July 2, 2007.

Bandai Visual USA will be screening "FREEDOM" volume 1 (episode 1) and volume 2 (episode 2) on a continuous basis in a specially built 30-seat theatre located within the Bandai Visual USA booth (#1605). There will also be special live demonstration of Web-enabled network functions contained in "FREEDOM" volume 1 at the selected screenings. The theatre will feature a Toshiba REGZA 1080p 47" LCD TV and a Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD player, as well as an impressive sound system.

"FREEDOM" volume 1, which will mark the first commercial availability of a high-definition anime title in North America, will also be available for purchase at the Bandai Visual USA booth. Shuhei Morita, the director of "FREEDOM," will be participating in a special "FREEDOM" panel on Friday, June 29, 6:00-6:50 p.m. in Live Programming Room #1. Also participating in the panel will be "FREEDOM" series planner Dai Sato ("Cowboy Bebop," "Ghost in the Shell: Stand-Alone Complex"). In addition, both Morita and Sato will be on-hand for the first screening on Saturday, June 30, at 10:20 a.m.

An autograph session with Morita and Sato will be held at the Bandai Visual USA booth on Sunday, July 1 at 4:30 p.m. The fans who purchase "FREEDOM" volume 1 and "FREEDOM" related products at the Bandai Visual USA booth will be eligible to get their copy and products signed by Morita and Sato.

"FREEDOM" volume 1 (SRP: $39.99) will be simultaneously released in HD DVD/DVD Twin Format (HD DVD layer & DVD layer on single side in one disc) in Japan and the U.S. on June 26, and will be the first introduction of the title in North America. "FREEDOM" will be released in HD DVD, including Web-enabled network function that allows viewers to watch extra features. The DVD has already sold more than 100,000 in Japan, and won top honors at the Tokyo International Anime Fair 2007 for its high-quality animation combining 2D and 3D graphics. The complete series to be released in 6 volumes. The official "FREEDOM" site can be found at www.bandaivisual.us/freedom/ .

In collaboration with Toshiba America Consumer Products, L.L.C., visitors to the Bandai Visual USA booth can take part in a sweepstakes that has, among its prizes, a Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD player. Bandai Visual USA will also be distributing a special coupon good towards a free copy of "FREEDOM" volume 1 with the purchase of any Toshiba HD DVD player.

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 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, Imaginasian TV (IaTV) and the Los Angeles Times. More information can be found at its website (www.anime-expo.org).

Bandai Visual USA Inc. (www.bandaivisual.us.) was established in 2005 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Bandai Visual Co., Ltd., a leading company in animation industry in Japan, 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 has started marketing and distributing Japanese anime titles in 2006, under the concept of Bandai Visual's business model which has been successful in Japan for many years. Bandai Visual USA will expand its business enthusiastically by releasing "authentic Japanese" products with a tight relationship with its parent company and affiliates. Bandai Visual USA titles on DVD and next generation media are released under its Honneamise label, named after the 1987 animation film that Bandai Visual first produced.
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ANIME EXPO® 2007 EXCLUSIVE CONCERT MERCHANDISE AND MORE
Nation’s Largest Convention’s Provides Commemorative T-shirts and Other Memorabilia

Anaheim, California (June 21, 2007) — Anime Expo®’s line up of exclusive merchandise is available for preview online now. More information and images can be found on the website www.anime-expo.org .

Items consist of a commemorative concert t-shirt (Official Guest of Honors performing in concert), Baby t-shirts, an exclusive Attendee shirt (with art from FUNimation’s exciting title “Mushi-Shi” and more:

Costs are:
· Concert T-Shirt: $25.00
· Baby-T: $20.00
· Attendee Shirt: $20.00
· Pin: $6.00
· Keychain: $6.00
· Decals: $5.00

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ANIME EXPO® 2007 ANNOUNCES AMATEUR ARTIST COMPETITION
Nation’s Largest Convention’s Manga Café Holding First Contest

Anaheim, California (June 20, 2007) — Anime Expo®’s very own Manga Café (sponsored by Infinity Studios, LLC) will be holding its first amateur art contest from June 29th through July 1st. More information can be found on the website www.anime-expo.org .

Requirements to compete:

· Create two original characters - one bishoujo (beautiful girl) and one bishounen (pretty boy)
· The characters must advertise the Manga Café
· The art must be hand-drawn
· The art must be in color
· The drawing may be no larger than 8 1/2" X 11"
· The drawing must be created in the Manga Café during the convention


Three winning entries will be chosen, and those winning artists will have their work proudly displayed on both the Anime Expo® website and the Manga Café's Wall of Fame at future conventions. In addition, each winner will receive an import artbook of his or her choice.

The deadline for all entries to be received is July 1st at 5 PM at the Manga Café front desk. Winners will be announced July 1st at 6 PM, and those winners must be present at the announcement in order to claim their prizes.

Anime Expo®'s Manga Café will be open from 8 AM to 2 AM June 29th through July 1st and 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM PST on July 2nd.
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ANIME EXPO® 2007 ANNOUNCES AN OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME “GOLDEN TICKETS” FOR
Nation’s Largest Convention Hold Promotional Concert Drawing for 2008 Red & Black Passes

Anaheim, California (June 19, 2007) — Anime Expo® thanks all attendees for bearing with the Premier Ticket System with a special drawing for premier
ticket purchasers. A random drawing for each concert will be done for a pair of free full passes for Anime Expo® 2008. A grand prize drawing will be done for a pair of Red & Black Passes. More information can be found on the
website www.anime-expo.org .

What is a Red & Black Pass? These special passes provide the bearer not only free admission to Anime Expo® 2008, they are also escorted in first into the exhibit hall, all ticketed events and provided premier seating, and more. Red & Black Pass bearers will also be provided custom badges as well. These “golden tickets” are valued at over $1,000.00 U.S.

All attendees who purchased a Premier ticket automatically qualify for the drawing. Only attendees that purchase premier tickets via the Anime Expo® online Premier Ticket System will qualify (all other premier ticket purchases are not eligible for the drawing). Anime Expo® and SPJA staff are not eligible.
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Thursday, June 14, 2007

Need To Settle On A Time!
Hey everyone!

With so much going on at AX we want to know what your schedules are like. Is there a particular day that would be best for a gathering? Leave a comment and let us know what day and time you think would be best for our site gathering!
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ANIME EXPO® 2007 ANNOUNCES: AVAILABLE NOW!
Anaheim, California (June 12, 2007) — Premier tickets for super group S.K.I.N. (group composed of: Yoshiki, Gackt, Sugizo and Miyavi), the J-Rock
concert of the century, is now available online for online purchases along with other amazing concerts (i.e. ORESKABAND, SOS Brigade, Halko Momoi, Anna Tsuchiya and Chiaki Ishikawa) to take part at 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 .

The concert will occur on June 29, 2007 at the Long Beach Sports Arena as a Main Event during Anime Expo® 2007. Premier tickets for the S.K.I.N. concert will be sold at $50.00 U.S./each (All 2007 registered attendees with a valid confirmation number can purchase a Premier ticket regardless if it is for a one-day admission into the convention or four). Premier tickets
allow attendees to sit in the “Premier” area, which is floor seating, close to the stage. In addition, attendees with Premier tickets do not need to wait in any extended lines to obtain their tickets or to gain entrance into the arena. Only 1 (one) ticket per registered attendee will be provided, no exceptions. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. No group
orders. Premier tickets can be ordered online after noon PST on June 12, 2007 at:

https://secure.rhq.com/anime/anime2007/concertreg/index.cgi


Attendees will need to provide the pre-registration confirmation number for Anime Expo® 2007.

Individuals that do not purchase Premier seats can access the “General Seating” tickets (over 6,000 seats), which are free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Anime Expo® 2007 Ticketing Office will be distributing tickets during the convention during the following times:

Thursday, June 28: 4PM - 8PM
Friday, June 29: 8AM - 4PM
Saturday, June 30: 8AM - 4PM
Sunday, July 1: 8AM - 4PM
Monday, July 2: 8AM - 11AM

More information on ticketing can be found at:

http://www.anime-expo.org/?q=programming/main_events/ticketing_policy

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Monday, June 11, 2007

ANIME EXPO® 2007 ANNOUNCES DOLLS & MODELS
Anaheim, California (June 11, 2007) —Care for some FREE Pocky? Free plushies? Enter the Anime Expo® Model contest? These are some of the activities that are available at 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 .

Anime Expo® 2007 will be a place of fun, frolic and giving as the American Red Cross will be accepting blood donations at the Summer Festival area starting at 3:00 pm through 9:00 pm. Blood donors will receive a free box of Pocky (limited quantities) in addition to having the satisfaction that they may have helped to save a life.

The AniMatsuri (Summer Festival) is back again and Anime Expo®’s Summer Festival will also be providing a 4-6” free plushie to all children
attendees (ages 12 and under), a valid Anime Expo® child’s pass must be presented. Attendees who attend the Summer Festival will see the new
additions of craft booths and a “Lucky Lottery” game! Attendees will be able to paint their own Japanese Fan/Lantern, make their own Washi egg and
decorate their own Kokeshi doll. There is also a new chopsticks skills game called “A Few Loose Marbles” that will test the hands of the most avid “Mr. Miyagi” impersonators. Summer Festival hours are 5:00 pm through 11:00 pm (Friday-Sunday; June 29-July 1).

The Anime Expo® Model Contest is a tradition running back well over ten years. The Model Contest provides model builders a place to gather and compete with one another on any anime based model subject which includes but is not limited to GUNDAM, MACROSS, EVANGELION, GHOST IN THE SHELL, anime figurines, etc. Contestants will compete against each other in various categories for prizes and the ever prestigious Anime Expo® Model Contest Trophies:

Anime Expo® 2007 Modeling Competition Categories include:

· Best Mechanical Kit
· Best Mechanical Custom
· Best Character Kit
· Best Character Custom
· Best of Show

Additional rules and information can be found on the Anime Expo® Model Contest website link at:

http://www.anime-expo.org/?q=professional/artist/model_contest
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Friday, June 8, 2007

“GALAXY ANGEL RUNE” voice actress Yuuna Inamura, “FREEDOM” series planner Dai Sato and director Shuhei Morita all to appear in-person
TORRANCE, Calif., June 8, 2007 – Bandai Visual USA Inc., a leading innovator in Japanese animation, today announced further details of its participation at Anime Expo® 2007 at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, Calif. June 29-July 2, 2007. More information can be found on the website HYPERLINK "http://www.anime-expo.org" www.anime-expo.org.

Bandai Visual USA, exhibiting throughout the show at booth #1605, will be offering “FREEDOM” volume 1, which will mark the first commercial availability of a high-definition anime title in North America. Shuhei Morita, the director of “FREEDOM,” will be participating in a special “FREEDOM” panel on Friday, June 29, 6:00-6:50 p.m. in Live Programming Room #1. Also participating in the panel will be “FREEDOM” series planner Dai Sato (“Cowboy Bebop,” “Ghost in the Shell: Stand-Alone Complex”). Behind-the-scene-stories will be revealed as part of the panel, which will be followed by a question-and-answer session. Fans can submit questions for Mr. Morita at HYPERLINK "http://www.bandaivisual.us/freedom/bonus/bonus03.html" www.bandaivisual.us/freedom/bonus/bonus03.html.

“The “FREEDOM” panel at Anime Expo® 2007 will be a memorable experience for all who attend,” said Tatsunori Konno, president and CEO of Bandai Visual USA. “This is the first HD DVD anime title to be released in North America and we will have its esteemed director Mr. Morita there in-person for this important moment in U.S. anime history.”

Bandai Visual USA will also be part of the “Galaxy Angel Rune” panel on Friday, June 29, 3:00-3:50 p.m. in Live Programming Room #2. Participating in the panel will be “Galaxy Angel Rune” voice actor Yuuna Inamura, who will also make appearances at the Bandai Visual USA and Broccoli International USA booth to sign copies of “Galaxy Angel Rune” volume 1, which is being made available for purchase before the official July 10 release date. Ms. Inamura’s appearance is sponsored by anime content developer Broccoli Co. Ltd.

Bandai Visual USA will be unveiling its new license titles and showing clips at a special Bandai Visual USA panel on Friday, June 29, 2:00-2:50 p.m. in Live Programming Room #2.

“FREEDOM” volume 1 (SRP: $39.99) will be simultaneously released in HD DVD/DVD Twin Format (HD DVD layer & DVD layer on single side in one disc) in Japan and the U.S. on June 26, and will be the first introduction of the title in North America. “FREEDOM” will be released in HD DVD, including HDi network function that allows viewers to watch extra features. The DVD has already sold more than 100,000 in Japan, and won top honors at the Tokyo International Anime Fair 2007 for its high-quality animation combining 2D and 3D graphics. The complete series to be released in 6 volumes. The official “FREEDOM” site can be found at HYPERLINK "http://www.bandaivisual.us/freedom/" www.bandaivisual.us/freedom/.

Anime fans will also be able to purchase popular Bandai Visual USA titles such as “Gunbuster,” “Gunbuster 2” volumes 1-3, “Demon Prince Enma” volumes 1-2, “The Wings of Rean” volume 1, “Patlabor The Movie” and “Patlabor 2 The Movie” and “Galaxy Angel Rune” volume 1 (before its official July 10 release date). Bandai Visual USA will be giving away an assortment of free prizes, such as posters, lucky charms and branded file folders to fans who purchase a DVD (while supplies last).

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, Imaginasian TV (IaTV) and the Los Angeles Times. More information can be found at its website (www.anime-expo.org).

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).

Bandai Visual USA Inc. (www.bandaivisual.us.) was established in 2005 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Bandai Visual Co., Ltd., a leading company in animation industry in Japan, 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 has started marketing and distributing Japanese anime titles in 2006, under the concept of Bandai Visual’s business model which has been successful in Japan for many years. Bandai Visual USA will expand its business enthusiastically by releasing “authentic Japanese” products with a tight relationship with its parent company and affiliates. Bandai Visual USA titles on DVD and next generation media are released under its Honneamise label, named after the 1987 animation film that Bandai Visual first produced.

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.
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