Anime Expo in Downtown LA!

From July 3rd-6th anime will take over Downtown LA with the annual Anime Expo, the nation's largest anime and manga convention. The convention, with previous years in Anaheim and Long Beach, celebrates the popularization and education of anime (Japanese animation) and manga (Japanese comics). Fans in regular dress and cosplay (short for "costume play" related to the performance and playacting as a character) alike will take over the Los Angeles Convention Center and the Nokia Theatre. Over 8,000 attendees are pre-registered for the event, with much more expected for this 4th of July Holiday weekend.

The holiday weekend of events includes many guests of honors in the industry including director Masahiro Ando, voice actor David Hayter, director Masamitsu Hidaka (Pokemon), J-Pop duo Jyukai, animator Hiromi Kato, voice actor Toshihko Seki, new Japanese "It-Girl" Shokotan, and character designer Takada Akemi. There will also be major seated events with Anime's answer to American Idol ("AX Idol") including both singing and voice acting, and the AMV's (Anime Music Videos).

ExperienceLA.com will be checking out this year's events. So stay tuned for more of our coverage of this year's Anime Expo at its 2008 home in Downtown LA!

-Charity Tran, ExperienceLA.com Web Coordinator