FanCons.com Press Releases


May 31, 2011

News for Anime Expo 2011:

Voice actress and singer Miyuki Sawashiro to appear at Anime Expo 2011

LOS ANGELES (May 31, 2010) -- Anime Expo, North America's largest anime and manga celebration, has announced voice actress and singer Miyuki Sawashiro as its newest Guest of Honor when it returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center from July 1 - 4, 2011. Sawashiro will participate in autograph sessions, an attendee panel and a fan meet-and-greet.

Sawashiro's voice is recognizable to fans from such popular anime series as "Beelzebub," "Angel Beats!," "Durarara!!," "PERSONA -trinity soul-," and "Arakawa Under the Bridge," in which she portrays the character Maria and also performs the theme song. In honor of Sawashiro's appearance, Anime Expo will present a special screening of "Arakawa Under the Bridge."

Over the last 10 years, Sawashiro has provided voice-over in more than 120 anime titles. She has also lent her talent to many video games and Drama CDs. Notably, she voiced Puchiko in the English dubbed releases of "Di Gi Charat - A Trip to the Planet" and "Leave it to Piyoko!" making her one of the few Japanese voice actors to have reprised a role in English in addition to the original Japanese performance.

Sawashiro joins the line-up of Anime Expo 2011 Guests of Honor that includes chart-topping Japanese pop trio Kalafina, Japanese TV Host and blogger Danny Choo, voice actor Vic Mignogna and video game developer Sohei Niikawa, as well as Anime Expo's first ever Virtual Guest of Honor, Digital Pop Idol Hatsune Miku. Themed the "Year of the Fan," Anime Expo 2011 will fully immerse guests into the world of Japanese animation, manga (comic books), music and fashion. Anime Expo is a non-stop marathon of Japanese pop culture that's been likened to Halloween in July.

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About Anime Expo

Held annually in Los Angeles, Anime Expo is North America's largest anime and manga event. Anime Expo gives fans the rare opportunity to meet and hear from some of the most famous anime, manga and musical artists from Japan and get into the action through everything from costume play, karaoke and video competitions to exclusive screenings, non-stop video gaming competitions and the wildly popular Masquerade, in which fans transform themselves into their favorite characters through creative costuming, accessories and make-up and put on their own show before an audience of thousands. AX 2011 will be held July 1 - July 4, 2011 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. To register or for more information, please visit www.anime-expo.org.

About the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation

The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA) is a non-profit organization whose mission is 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®. For more information, please visit www.spja.org.