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FUNimation has big plans for Anime Expo 2009
- By Phyl Good
- Published 06/29/2009
- Anime Conventions
- Unrated
Phyl Good
View all articles by Phyl Good
It’s hard to believe, but Anime Expo is almost here again!
FUNimation will be at the Anime Expo convention in Los Angeles, as always, on July 2-5, 2009, and the company has a lot of goodies in store. Friday’s going to be a very big day, so check early at their booth (#301) to be sure you know everything they’ve scheduled for the weekend.
Another incentive to check in early at the FUNimation booth is the limited edition Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood convention pin, designed especially for Anime Expo. But there are only 200 available! (That’s what “limited edition” means.) So you’ll need to get there early if you want one.
And then the fun really takes off. That day, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., you can come to the booth and meet one of the Guests of Honor, the creator of the Afro Samurai manga himself, Takashi Okazaki. He’ll be there to sign autographs for all his fans.
And later Friday afternoon, watch the world premiere of the English dubbed version of Hideaki Anno’s Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone. This is the sequel to the very popular 1990s animated series, Neon Genesis Evangelion.
Voice actor Brina Palencia (who plays Rei Ayanami) will be there with ADR Director Mike McFarland, both to introduce the film and to participate in a Q&A session afterward. The screening will be at 5:30, but if you visit FUNimation’s booth at 3:30 on Friday, you can get autographs then as well, from Brina and Mike. (Or try the next day, Saturday, July 4, from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.
)
The company could hold you in suspense all weekend about what’s coming in the future – but they’re much more merciful than that! Another big event on Friday evening, at 8:00 p.m. in LP Room 1, will be their Sneak Peek Panel. That’s when you can find out about all the new titles coming in the next little while. And the goodies just keep on coming, through Saturday. Back in LP Room 1, at 12:30 p.m., join FUNimation again for their Industry Panel, where they share news and other tidbits of information, and answer fans’ questions.
But another big treat, sure to be a high-demand event, will be the visit by Vic Mignona (voice actor for Fullmetal Alchemist, Ouran High School Host Club, and many more series) at the company booth, starting at 4:30 on Saturday.
However, you’ll have to make special arrangements if you want to meet him. You’ll need to be among the first 100 people who come to the FUNimation booth – after the hall opens on Saturday – and request tickets for a spot in the autograph line at Vic’s signing later that day.
These are some of the highlights, but don’t forget that there are going to be screenings (including Blu-Ray) of many popular anime episodes throughout the weekend. Of the many reasons to visit the FUNimation booth, early and often, that’s another – to check the schedules for all of these. You will also be able to purchase early releases of DVDs like the Gungrave boxed set and Kaze No Stigma, Season 1, Part 1.
This makes you wonder if you shouldn’t just take a tent and camp out at the booth, doesn’t it?
Anime Expo promises to be as much of an extravaganza as ever. And FUNimation will be right in the middle of it with lots of exciting events, screenings, and news.
For the full schedule of all events at this year’s convention, visit the Anime Expo 2009 Programming page.
Source: FUNimation press release
FUNimation will be at the Anime Expo convention in Los Angeles, as always, on July 2-5, 2009, and the company has a lot of goodies in store. Friday’s going to be a very big day, so check early at their booth (#301) to be sure you know everything they’ve scheduled for the weekend.
Another incentive to check in early at the FUNimation booth is the limited edition Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood convention pin, designed especially for Anime Expo. But there are only 200 available! (That’s what “limited edition” means.) So you’ll need to get there early if you want one.
And then the fun really takes off. That day, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., you can come to the booth and meet one of the Guests of Honor, the creator of the Afro Samurai manga himself, Takashi Okazaki. He’ll be there to sign autographs for all his fans.
And later Friday afternoon, watch the world premiere of the English dubbed version of Hideaki Anno’s Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone. This is the sequel to the very popular 1990s animated series, Neon Genesis Evangelion.
Voice actor Brina Palencia (who plays Rei Ayanami) will be there with ADR Director Mike McFarland, both to introduce the film and to participate in a Q&A session afterward. The screening will be at 5:30, but if you visit FUNimation’s booth at 3:30 on Friday, you can get autographs then as well, from Brina and Mike. (Or try the next day, Saturday, July 4, from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.
The company could hold you in suspense all weekend about what’s coming in the future – but they’re much more merciful than that! Another big event on Friday evening, at 8:00 p.m. in LP Room 1, will be their Sneak Peek Panel. That’s when you can find out about all the new titles coming in the next little while. And the goodies just keep on coming, through Saturday. Back in LP Room 1, at 12:30 p.m., join FUNimation again for their Industry Panel, where they share news and other tidbits of information, and answer fans’ questions.
But another big treat, sure to be a high-demand event, will be the visit by Vic Mignona (voice actor for Fullmetal Alchemist, Ouran High School Host Club, and many more series) at the company booth, starting at 4:30 on Saturday.
However, you’ll have to make special arrangements if you want to meet him. You’ll need to be among the first 100 people who come to the FUNimation booth – after the hall opens on Saturday – and request tickets for a spot in the autograph line at Vic’s signing later that day.
These are some of the highlights, but don’t forget that there are going to be screenings (including Blu-Ray) of many popular anime episodes throughout the weekend. Of the many reasons to visit the FUNimation booth, early and often, that’s another – to check the schedules for all of these. You will also be able to purchase early releases of DVDs like the Gungrave boxed set and Kaze No Stigma, Season 1, Part 1.
This makes you wonder if you shouldn’t just take a tent and camp out at the booth, doesn’t it?
Anime Expo promises to be as much of an extravaganza as ever. And FUNimation will be right in the middle of it with lots of exciting events, screenings, and news.
For the full schedule of all events at this year’s convention, visit the Anime Expo 2009 Programming page.
Source: FUNimation press release