Anime Expo 2011 Presents Good Smile Company President Takanori Aki As An Industry Guest

LOS ANGELES (May 30, 2010) — Anime Expo, North America's largest anime and manga celebration, has announced the President of Good Smile Company, Takanori Aki, as an industry guest. Mr. Aki will be holding an attendee panel at Anime Expo when it returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center from July 1 – 4, 2011.

In keeping with its mission to connect fans with creative leaders and the latest trends from Japan, this panel will give attendees insights into one of the country's most successful figure-making companies, famous for its “figma” (multiple articulated joint figures) and “Nendoroid,” (cute, pint-sized “chibi” figures).

Known as one of the most charismatic entrepreneurs in the industry, Aki is the force behind the “Black★Rock Shooter” Project. Expanding on an illustration by the artist huke, famed of his character design works for “Metal Gear Solid,” Aki created a line of sculpted figures and produced an original animation (OVA) based on huke's artwork. To date, more than 600,000 copies of the OVA and 160,000 “Black★Rock Shooter” figma and Nendroid figures have been sold. Growing the franchise, Aki introduces the video game, “Black★Rock Shooter THE GAME”, this summer in Japan.

In addition to Mr. Aki, Anime Expo 2011 has announced a line-up of Guests of Honor that includes chart-topping Japanese pop trio Kalafina, Japanese TV Host and blogger Danny Choo, voice actor Vic Mignogna and video game developer Sohei Niikawa, as well as Anime Expo's first ever Virtual Guest of Honor, Digital Pop Idol Hatsune Miku. 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 event. 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.