G.P.Manga Blog

Anime Expo® Announces a Call for Artists

By LynneH on Registration

Nation’s Largest Anime and Manga Convention Announces Registration for Artist Alley Available Now

Anaheim, California (March 31, 2009) — Anime Expo® is proud to announce the launch of its online Artist Alley registration system for the nation’s largest anime and manga convention held July 2-5, 2009 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. More information can be found on the website http://www.anime-expo.org/exhibits/artist-alley/.

The Artist Alley at Anime Expo® is a venue for amateur and semi-professional artists to celebrate Japanese pop culture through fantastic works of art. Artists come from all over the country and beyond to share their original artwork, prints, crafts, clothing, comics and ‘zines. Don’t miss the chance to meet and support these amazing artists!

Students from the Manga and Animation Department at NEEC (Nihon Kogakuin College) will be returning to the Artist Alley for a limited time during the convention.

Contact the Artist Alley staff in the forums, or by emailing .

WARNING: It has come to our attention that there maybe individual(s)/companies that claim to represent Anime Expo® in terms of sales for Exhibit Hall Booth Space, Program Guide Listing, Program Guide Ads, Artist Alley Booths, Panel Rooms and others. Anime Expo® is not responsible for any claims, promises and/or contracts made by these 3rd party individuals/companies. We encourage all potential convention participants interested in any aspect of the convention (that especially involve financial obligations/commitments) to please verify all 3rd party claims of representing Anime Expo® via phone at 714-937-2994 or via e-mail at . Anime Expo® will not be held responsible for claims, promises and/or contracts made by any 3rd party individuals/companies that are not verified in writing by Anime Expo® to be an authentic representing individual/company for the convention.

Attendees, Press and Industry Members are also encouraged to view the video coverage site of the 2008 convention at www.AXBackstage.org.

Red & Black Sponsors include: FUNimation, Silver Sponsors include: Anime News Network and Digital Manga Press, Patron Sponsors include: COPIC and Central Park Media, Media Sponsors include: ImaginAsian TV, Animation Magazine, Anime Insider Magazine and Anime News Network.

About Anime Expo®
Located in Los Angeles, 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 2009 will be held July 2 – July 5, 2009 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Southern California. 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.

RIGHT STUF’S NOZOMI ENTERTAINMENT Launches Series Site for ARIA The NATURAL at aria.rightstuf.com

ARIA The NATURAL – Pt. 1 DVD Collection to be released January 27, 2009

GRIMES, IA, January 13, 2009 – Anime producer and distributor Right Stuf, Inc. and its Nozomi Entertainment division are gearing up for the January 27 release of the ARIA The NATURAL – Part 1 DVD Collection with the launch of an all-new set of “virtual postcards” at the series’ official site, aria.rightstuf.com.

At aria.rightstuf.com, visitors can:

• Read the latest news about ARIA’s North American release, plus reviews;
• Check out in-depth character profiles;
• Watch trailers for both ARIA The NATURAL and the anime’s first season, ARIA The ANIMATION; and
• Download new wallpapers and avatars featuring artwork from ARIA The NATURAL.

While supplies last, customers who pre-order the ARIA The NATURAL – Part 1 DVD Collection from RightStuf.com will receive an exclusive President Aria squeeze toy.

The ARIA The NATURAL – Part 1 DVD Collection will contain the first half of the ARIA anime’s second television season. (The box set with the remaining 13 episodes of the season will be available on March 24, 2009.)

“a whimsical ride” - Active Anime

“simply magical” - Protoculture Addicts

“anime’s answer to poetry” - DVD Talk

“a richly-realized sci-fi celebration of life” - Anime News Network

“the latest crown jewel in [Nozomi and Right Stuf’s] catalog and deservedly so.”
– AnimeOnDVD at Mania.com

“a major phenomenon among fans attendant to slice-of-life series.” – Otaku USA

Based on Kozue Amano’s best-selling ARIA manga, the ARIA anime consists of three television seasons – ARIA The ANIMATION, ARIA The NATURAL and ARIA The ORIGINATION – plus an OVA (original video animation). The entire anime adaptation features direction by Junichi Sato (Princess Tutu, Sgt. Frog, Sailor Moon/ Sailor Moon R) and animation by Hal Film Maker (Boys Be…, Pretear, Slayers Premium, Sketchbook ~full color’S~).

The ARIA The ANIMATION DVD Collection – containing the franchise’s complete 13-episode first season – is currently available from Right Stuf and Nozomi Entertainment and was voted a “Pick of the Week” by the readers of AnimeOnDVD at Mania.com.

Amano’s 12-volume ARIA manga and its two-volume prequel, AQUA, are both published in North America by TOKYOPOP. In Japan, the ARIA manga was originally serialized in MAG Garden’s Comic Blade magazine.

Visit aria.rightstuf.com for more information about the ARIA anime and for the trailer, downloads and more.

About ARIA The NATURAL – Part 1 (Season 2, Part 1 - TV)

Akari, Aika and Alice are three girls who share a single dream: to become the most talented gondoliers in all of Neo-Venezia! Every day they train toward their goal, exploring all the wondrous sights that the water-covered planet Aqua has to offer. Whether it’s spending a wild day at Carnevale, sharing a beautiful sunset, or even crossing paths with the mysterious spirits that dwell in Aqua’s shadows, for these three friends, each day is a new adventure! Contains episodes 1-13 of the second ARIA television season.

DVD Features:
Scene access, Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo audio for Japanese dialogue, English subtitles and English on-screen translations. PLUS: Japanese ARIA The NATURAL promotional video, interview with Director Junichi Sato, interview with Yui Makino (opening theme’s vocalist), ARIA and the World of Sound, Cast Reflections on ARIA The ANIMATION, clean ending 1, Nozomi trailers, and a Guidebook.

* Cover Art: http://outgoing.rightstuf.com/sleeves/rsdvd0903.jpg
ARIA The NATURAL © 2006 Kozue Amano / MAG Garden - ARIA Company.
* To view this image, cut and paste the URL into your Web browser.

** Product specifications and content may be subject to change.

---

ABOUT RIGHT STUF, INC.
Currently celebrating its 21st year in business, Right Stuf, Inc. was one of the first players in the U.S. Japanese Animation ("anime") industry, as both an anime producer/distributor and a retailer. Right Stuf works to promote knowledge of its own products, as well as the anime and manga industry, in general, through its online storefront at RightStuf.com and a variety of media including podcasts and special publications.

Nozomi Entertainment, Right Stuf’s production division, is dedicated to the highest quality releases. True to the Japanese word that inspired its name, Nozomi’s focus is on “what fans want.” By focusing on a limited number of anime properties each year, the Nozomi production team ensures each release receives the care and attention to detail it deserves.

From anime classics like Astro Boy, Kimba and Gigantor to modern comedies, dramas and favorites such as The Irresponsible Captain Tylor, His and Her Circumstances, Gravitation, Comic Party, Shingu: Secret of the Stellar Wars, Ninja Nonsense, To Heart, The Third: The Girl With the Blue Eye, Emma: A Victorian Romance, Maria Watches Over Us and ARIA, Right Stuf and Nozomi Entertainment produce quality programming for fans of all ages and interests. For more information, visit www.rightstuf.com and www.nozomient.com.

Good news for all you Miyazaki fans: Studio Ghibli's "Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea" (崖の上のポニョ, Gake no Ue no Ponyo) is planed for a US summer box-office release.

The story centers around 5-year-old Sōsuke who finds fish-princess 'Ponyo' after she runs away from her father; a charming twist to the classic "Little Mermaid" story.

As a fan of Japanese culture there are several blogs, podcasts, and sites I like to visit on a regular basis. One of my top favorites would have to be Tofugu.com (and with their witty humar, why not?). Well, I've been a bit behind on my feeds lately and only just stumbled upon this today. It's their to 10 picks for online resources to help you learn Japanese. And to top that, 39 free Japanese courses you can take through edufire.com. How cool is that? Free lessens and helpful resources. Those guys rock!

Ok, so maybe you won't be able to learn ALL Japanese from just these resources, but it's a great start while school is out. Go on over and check them out. If you have any interest in learning a new language, Japanese would be a great one. Maybe then you'll know what Otaku means ;-)

*Yes, I know most of you know what Otaku means. I only used it for example!

I just wanted to post and wish you all a Merry Christmas.

GPManga will be taking the rest of winter off to get the new site uploaded and spiffy. Feel free to drop us a line if you have any questions or suggestions. We will definitely be checking our emails ^_^

In the mean time, here's a Christmas video complements of Youtube and Tofugu.com!

For those of you DIEING for the Vampire Knight anime to be released in English, I have a treat for you. Ok, not so much as a treat but an appetizer: the tantalizing and haunting music of Vampire Knight. The opening theme, "Futatsu no Kodou to Akai Tsumi" by On/Off, and the ending theme "Still Doll" by Kanon Wakeshima--this one is my fave!.

The single for both these songs is available at Amazon.com, but I really don't know anybody who would want to spend $13 on a single...

Enjoy!

"Futatsu no Kodou to Akai Tsumi" by On/Off


"Still Doll" by Kanon Wakeshima