FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEANIME EXPO® 2008 GOING MAD

 

Nation¹s Largest Anime and Manga Convention Welcomes Celebrated and Elusive Madhouse Animator

 

 

 

‹Anime Expo® 2008 announces the 1st ever global convention appearance of Madhouse animator Hiromi Kato as an official Guest of Honor to this year¹s Anime Expo® 2008 held from July 3-6, 2008 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, CA. More information can be found on the website www.anime-expo.org <http://www.anime-expo.org

Mr. Kato learned about animation from renowned animator Yasuji Mori from the age of 16 at Nippon Animation Co., LTD after being deeply impressed by the NHK TV anime ³Mirai Shounen Conan² (FUTURE BOY CONAN).

 

Mr. Kato¹s first role as a key animator was for the title ³Peter Pan no Bouken² (ADVENTURES OF PETER PAN). He debuted as an animation director with ³Trapp Ikka Monogatari² (TRAP FAMILY STORY). He debuted as a character designer with ³Daisogen No Chiisana Tenshi Bush Baby² (THE BUSH BABY). He also designed characters for ³Ai to Yuuki no Big Girl Tonde Buurin² (SUPER PIG OF LOVE AND COURAGE), ³Hameln no Violin Hiki² (VIOLINIST OF HAMELN) and other titles while at Nippon Animation Co., Ltd. Mr. Kato was also involved in the planning of ³Tenshi ni Narumon!² (I¹M GONNA BE AN ANGEL!) as well as the production of ³Shoujo Kakumei Utena² (REVOLUTIONARY GIRL UTENA).

 

Mr. Kato is a current member of Madhouse Studios working as an animation director for BECK and PARADISE KISS as well as a character designer for CLAMP IN WONDERLAND 2.

 

Hiromi Kato joins up and coming director Masahiro Ando, legendary American voice actor David Hayter, famed POKEMON director Masamitsu Hidaka, the dynamic duo known as Jyukai, celebrated veteran voice actor Toshihiko Seki and the new Japanese ³It-Girl² Shokotan in Anime Expo® 2008¹s amazing line up of Guests of Honor.

 

 

 

www.anime-expo.org <http://www.anime-expo.org

Free shuttle services for all hotel attendees will be provided. Regular non-hotel attendees will have access to utilize the free shuttle services during designated hours as well. All schedules and routes will be posted in the lobby of each shuttle hotel. Frequency of service is pending local traffic, road conditions and can change without notice. Also, no shuttle service provided to the Holiday Inn City Center and the Figueroa Hotel (both are within walking distance of the Los Angeles Convention Center).

 

 

 

www.AXBackstage.org <http://www.AXBackstage.org

This year¹s Red & Black Sponsors are FUNimation and ImaginAsian Television.

Platinum Sponsor is Imagi Studios. Gold Sponsor is Digital Manga Publishing. Silver Sponsor is Gaia Online. Patron Sponsors are Central Park Media and COPIC Markers.

 

About Anime Expo®

 

 

www.anime-expo.org

 

 

www.spja.org <http://www.spja.org> ).