Although Anime Expo may be the largest and best-known eastern media convention in North America, there are a multitude of events for lovers of Japanese culture that take place in Southern California. Anime Los Angeles, the first scheduled convention of the year, may be small in terms of attendance and location, but it still draws in 5,000 fans to the LAX Marriott.
A RECORD-BREAKING 61,000 anime and manga lovers from around the world attended the 22nd Anime Expo from July 4 to 7, 2013 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Highlights included a packed concert at Club Nokia with legendary Japanese rock band Porno Graffitti, “Attack on Titan” producer George Wada and Production I.G founder Mitsuhisa Ishikawa. In addition to cosplayers posing for photographers in the lobby, the event introduced its first Cosplay Participation Area where participants could pose in front of cosplay photo sets such as a classroom scene, sakura grove and spaceship interior. The convention also played host to the North American premieres of “Ghost in the Shell: Arise,” “Kick-Heart,” “Garden of Words” and “Star Blazers 2199.” The event was organized by the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation. Anime Expo 2014 will be held July 3-6, 2014.
Since 1987, Production I.G has been involved in the production of anime television series, original video animation, theatrical films, video game animated scenes, video game design and development, and music publishing and management. It is perhaps best known for its “Ghost in the Shell” series. Tokyo Journal sat down with founder Mitsuhisa Ishikawa, who put the “I” in Production I.G, prior to his press conference at the 2013 Anime Expo in Los Angeles.
Q: It’s great to see you again. It’s been a long time! Can you tell us how you got started in your career?
ISHIKAWA: When I was a student, I started out with a part-time job in the anime world at Tatsunoko Production. I didn’t expect to get into it at all. I just kind of got lost into it and found myself here. I was working on a program called “Golden Warrior Gold Lightan,” where a lighter turns into a robot.
Japanese comics are no laughing matter. Manga and anime have grown in global popularity and have captivated a legion of seriously devoted worldwide fans.
ANIME Expo 2013, North America’s largest anime and manga convention, will be held July 4 – 7, 2013 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Expo events include Masquerade, Anime Music Video Contest, Concerts, Battle of the Bands, and the AX Fashion Show. Running 24 hours a day, the convention offers all night video programming, tabletop gaming rooms, late-night dances, and open-mic Karaoke in the late evening/early morning hours. Attendees cosplay and many gatherings for fans of different anime and manga series will be held during the convention. Danny Choo (Culture Japan Director/Presenter) will emcee the event.
Japanese comics are no laughing matter. Manga and anime have grown in global popularity and have captivated a legion of seriously devoted worldwide fans.
Anime Expo (AX), North America’s largest anime, manga and Japanese pop culture convention, celebrated its busiest event ever in its 21-year history in 2012 with a record 49,400-plus unique attendees and a turn- stile attendance of over 130,000 during its four days at the Los Angeles Convention Center. It ran between June 29 and July 2.
