LOS ANGELES, CA ­ July 3, 2009 ­ Following a highly energized Opening Ceremony, an epic concert by the world famous visual kei band Moi dix Mois and a rocking Battle of the Bands Event, Anime Expo® 2009 continues into its second day with highly anticipated Main Events consisting of the Morning Musume concert and the Anime Music Video Contest for the nation¹s largest anime and manga convention, Anime Expo® 2009, from July 2 ­ July 5, 2009 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. More information can be found at www.anime-expo.org <http://www.anime-expo.org> .

The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA) also announced this year¹s winners for the 2009 SPJA Industry Awards.  Winners and their categories include:

Category 01: Best Voice Actor (Japanese) Kappei Yamaguchi ­ DEATH NOTE - L
 
Category 02: Best Voice Actor (English)
Kyla Hebert ­ GURREN LAGAAN - Kamina
 
Category 03: Best Voice Actress (Japanese) Junko Takeuchi - NARUTO - Naruto Uzumaki
 
Category 04: Best Voice Actress (English) Michelle Ruff ­ BLEACH THE MOVIE: MEMORIES OF NOBODY - Rukia Kuchiki
 
Category 05: Best Casting Director
Jaime Simone - BLEACH
 
Category 06: Best Character Design
Masaru Kitao of Madhouse ­ DEATH NOTE
 
Category 07: Best Mechanical Design
Yoh Yoshirari ­ GURREN LAGAAN
 
Category 08: Best Male Character
L ­ DEATH NOTE
 
Category 09: Best Female Character
Rukia Kuchiki ­ BLEACH THE MOVIE: MEMORIES OF NOBODY
 
Category 10: Best Mascot Character
Mokona ­ xxxHOLIC
 
Category 11: Best Backround Design
Minoru Nakamura of Studio Pierrot - BLEACH
 
Category 12: Best Original Video Animation LUCKY STAR OVA - Bandai Entertainment
 
Category 13: Best Feature Film
THE GIRL WHO LEPT THROUGH TIME - Bandai Entertainment
 
Category 14: Best Television Series
GURREN LAGAAN - Bandai Entertainment
 
Category 15: Best Original Score
DEATH NOTE Score ­ DEATH NOTE - Yoshihisa Hirano and Hideki Taniuchi
 
Category 16: Best Original Song
"Tonight, Tonight, Tonight" - Bleach - Beat Crusaders - Aniplex Inc. ­ BEAT CRUSADERS
 
Category 17: Best Director (Japanese)
Tetsuro Araki ­ DEATH NOTE
 
Category 18: Best Director (American)
Karl Willems - DEATH NOTE
 
Category 19: Best Manga - Action
TSUBASA: RESERVOIR CHRONICLE - Del Rey Manga - Clamp
 
Category 20: Best Manga - Comedy
FAIRY TAIL - Del Rey Manga - Hiro Mashima
 
Category 21: Best Manga - Drama
MONSTER - Viz Media - Naoki Urasawa
 
Category 22: Best Publication
Shonen Jump - VIZ Media
 
Category 23: Best Full Motion Video in Video Game FINAL FANTASY IV - Square-Enix
 

Over 40,000+ unique attendees are expected to attend this year¹s convention and a incredible slate of fourteen (14) power-house Guests of Honors, 50+ Industry Guests, a full exhibit hall and 24 hours of pure anime fun!
Attendees will have the time of their lives at this year¹s highly anticipated event.

Tickets are still available for at-door pricing!

Anime Expo® 2009 Official Guests of Honor include Yun Kouga, Hiroyuki Imaishi, Daisuke Ishiwatari, Yosuke Kuroda, Moi dix Mois, Toshimichi Mori, Toshiyuki Morikawa, Morning Musume, Yasuhiro Nightow, Atsushi Nishigori, Satoshi Nishimura, Takashi Okazaki and Kari Wahlgren.
 
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, Central Park Media and The Right Stuf, Media Sponsors include: ImaginAsian TV, Animation Magazine, Anime Insider Magazine, Anime News Network and UTB Hollywood.
 
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 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.