FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASENEW HOSTS JOIN AX IDOL SEASON 6 AT NOKIA THEATRE L.A. LIVE

Main Event Audience Member to Win Trip to Japan

Anaheim, California (March 7, 2008)

 

‹ Think you got what it takes to be the next AX Idol? Thousands will audition for the most coveted singing and voice acting contest at the nation¹s largest Anime/Manga convention and win amazing prizes! Anime Expo® 2008 will be held from July 3-6, 2008 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, CA. More information can be found on the website <http://www.anime-expo.org> .Anime Expo® 2008 attendees will experience something exciting and new when attending AX Idol at NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE in downtown Los Angeles. NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE is the preferred indoor venue for performers and fans alike, the 7,100-seat venue offers guests mid-sized intimacy, with no seat further from the stage than 220 feet, exceptional comfort and amenities never before offered to guests at similar theatres.Winner of the AX Idol Singing Contest will win:

· A Tour of Bang Zoom! Studios in Burbank, including: Studio Tour,

Sitting in on Anime Recording session, a private Audition with Casting Director, and a Walla Recording Session in a real anime or game.

· Recording of a demo song in the studio, produced by a professional

engineer.

Winner of the AX Idol Voice Acting Contest will win:

· A Tour of Bang Zoom! Studios in Burbank, including: Studio Tour,

Sitting in on Anime Recording session, a private Audition with Casting Director, and a Walla Recording Session in a real anime or game.

· Package tour to Japan courtesy of Destination-Japan.com

Also, attendees can get involved with the excitement of AX Idol with a chance of winning a trip to Japan by attending AX Idol 2008 and holding onto their ticket stub. A random ticket stub number will be announced on stage during the show and one lucky attendee will win a complete tour package including round-trip ticket from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Narita (NRT), Tokyo and hotel accommodations. Restrictions apply.

“AX Idol 2008 will give attendees a special opportunity to showcase their singing and voice acting talents in front of industry professionals for the chance to audition for Bang Zoom! Entertainment. It is my honor to be apart of such a great event that give our attendees the dream to become apart of the anime industry², states Erick Doan AX Idol and Game Show Manager.

Interested contestants must be registered Anime Expo® 2008 attendees and can register online at

 

www.anime-expo.org.This season¹s AX Idol will be hosted by voice legend Vic Mignogna and AnimeTV¹s very own Jonathan Meza. Mr. Mignogna is a professional music composer/producer and veteran actor most well known as the voice of Edward Elric in FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST. Currently he is playing roles that include Fai in TSUBASA CHRONICLE, Ikkaku in BLEACH, Yukito in AIR and Takanaga in THEWALLFLOWER. Mr. Mignogna is also known for such roles as Dark in DN ANGEL,

Kurz in FULL METAL PANIC, Broly in DRAGONBALL Z, Kougaijji in SAIYUKI, Tatsu in PEACEMAKER, Virgil Walsh in TRINITY BLOOD and many others. Mr. Mignogna

has voiced characters in more than 100 shows and many video games. Mr.

Meza is best known as one of the hosts of AnimeTV is a free fifteen (15) minute online video podcast program produced by Bang Zoom! Entertainment, Inc. More information can be found on the show¹s World Wide Web site, which is located at

 

www.goanimetv.com.Attendees, Press and Industry Members are also encouraged to view the video coverage site of the 2007 convention at www.AXBackstage.org.About Anime Expo®Located in Los Angeles, California – Anime Expo®, the nation¹s 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 2008 will be held July 3 July 6, 2008 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 (<http://www.spja.org> ).About Bang Zoom! EntertainmentHeadquartered in Burbank, California, Bang Zoom! Entertainment, Inc. is a leading full-service audio post production studio for feature films, television, interactive gaming, anime and direct to home entertainment content. Founded in 1993, the company offers a range of specialized services including a critically acclaimed staff of recognized voice talent, ADR,/Foley recording, sound design, and 2.0, 5.1 and 7.1 Dolby Digital and Pro Logic II mixing and encoding. Bang Zoom! Entertainment is also committed to developing a range of independent projects that contribute to the promotion of innovative cultural awareness internationally. For more information, visit

 

www.bangzoomentertainment.com.About NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVENOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE, is a world-class 7,100-seat venue for live performances located in downtown Los Angeles has already become the preferred indoor venue for performers and fans alike. The venue offers guests mid-sized intimacy, with no seat further from the stage than 210 feet, exceptional comfort and amenities never before included in similar theatres. There are four levels of concessions, as well as numerous spaces for meet and greets, pre and post party events for performers, bands, clients and VIPS throughout the venue.

NOKIA Theatre L. A. LIVE hosts over 120 music, family, dance and comedy acts, award shows, televised productions, conventions and product launches annually.

In the first four months since opening its¹ doors, NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE has hosted six nights of the Eagles and Dixie Chicks, Sugarland, Queens of the Stone Age, Neil Young, Anita Baker, the American Music Awards, Mary J.

Blige, So You Think You Can Dance Tour, John Mayer, Bjork, John Fogerty, Tori Amos, and George Lopez.

In the center of the entertainment capital of the world, NOKIA Theatre L.A.

LIVE will be the heart and soul of the 4 million square foot L.A. LIVE sports, residential and entertainment district. Across the street from STAPLES Center, the world¹s busiest arena, and adjacent to the Los Angeles Convention Center L.A. LIVE will ultimately become the primary the ³content campus² and event center for southern California where people seeking entertainment offerings intersect with the sports and entertainment industries at work in an energetic, unique, urban environment covering more than 6 city blocks.

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®/SPJA¹s 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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Addendum A

AX Idol Rules 2008

1. No professionals may enter the competition. If you are found out to be a professional, you will be disqualified. A “professional” is monetarily compensated for his or her work as a singer or actor/voice actor.

2. Minors are not allowed. This competition is for those who qualify to be

18 and over.

3. Cosplay is allowed at the event but will not be considered in the scoring.

4. This year there will be a one hour check-in available before AX Idol Audition starts for those who want to ensure their audition spot. If your name is called at the audition and you are not present with a waiver form you will be passed. If you arrive late for the audition you may still tryout, time permitting. Those on the sign up list get first priority.

5. The deadline for online sign ups is June 1st at 12:00AM PST.

6. Past AX Idol singing and voice acting contestants who were finalist and competed on stage at AX Idol are not allowed to compete for one year.

However, they can compete once again after the one year limit is up.

7. Past AX Idol grand prize winners are not allowed to compete again.

Singing Rules

1. Singers can choose any song related to anime and/or video games. (J-Pop, J-Rock, English/Japanese are all fine. For example even Kingdom Hearts tunes will be allowed.)

2. During the tryouts, songs will only be at the most 1 minute long and must be memorized and sung acapella.

3. Finalists at the show will sing the same song but their time limit will be extended to 4 minutes.

4. Finalists will have the opportunity to perform their song with a karaoke track at the show, and must provide it themselves. The karaoke track must be given to the AX Idol Manager right after AX Idol Auditions are completed that day.

5. Finalist for the singing competition must provide a CD of the song he or she will be performing at AX Idol. Be prepared to provide this your CD of your song at the end of AX Idol Auditions when the finalists are announced.

Voice Acting Rules

1. Actors must have their anime monologues memorized completely at the tryout.

2. The monologue must not contain blatant vulgarity or foul language. (If unsure, please email your monologue before hand) and be taken from any anime.

3. Actors will have at the most 1 minute to perform their monologue at the tryouts.

4. Finalists will perform live on stage in an actual recording studio style anime clip, courtesy of Bang Zoom! Entertainment.

5. If your piece is not a monologue from an anime you will be disqualified.

PHOTO EDITORS, PLEASE NOTE: Photos are available to the media. Please call Chase Wang at (310) 869-8030 or send an e-mail to chase@bam-mp.com to request materials.

CALENDAR EDITORS, PLEASE NOTE:

The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Anime presents Anime Expo® 2008.

WHO: Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation

Industry giants

Guests from Japan and the U.S.

Exhibit Hall

Main Events

Concerts

Live Programming

Artist Alley

Screenings

Dances

Arcade

Red & Black Sponsors include: FUNimation and Imaginasian TV

Gold Sponsors include: Digital Manga Publishing

Silver Sponsors include: Gaia Online

Patron Sponsors include: COPIC and Central Park Media

WHAT: Nation¹s largest 24 Hour anime/manga convention serving over

44,000+ unique attendees in 2007.

WHEN: Thursday, July 3, 2008 through Sunday, July 6, 2008

WHERE: Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 South Figueroa Street; Los

Angeles, CA 90015

ADMISSION:

Registration Type Dates Price

Children ages 5 and under Anytime Free

4-Day Child (children ages 6-12) Anytime $30

Early Jan 1st to March 17th

4-Day Attendee $50

2-Day Attendee $45

1-Day Attendee $25

Regular March 18th to June 1st

4-Day Attendee $55

2-Day Attendee $45

1-Day Attendee $25

Late June 2nd to July 6th

4-Day Attendee $60

2-Day Attendee $45

1-Day Attendee $25

At the door* July 3rd to July 6th

4-Day Attendee $65

2-Day Attendee $50

1-Day Attendee $25

*At the door registration refers to badges purchased at the Los Angeles Convention Center during the convention. Those who choose to register at the Anime Expo® registration site will be subject to the fees listed in the ³At the door² category. However, online registrations made during the convention are considered ³Late² and will be charged according to the prices listed in the ³Late² category. Please note that you will save $5 by registering online!

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit the Anime Expo® 2008 website at:

http://ww.anime-expo.org

 

or call (310) 869-8030