Rie Tanaka Brings Her Famous Voice to New York Anime Festival

PROLIFIC JAPANESE VOICE ACTRESS TO ATTEND THE NEW YORK ANIME FESTIVAL AS A GUEST OF HONOR

The New York Anime Festival (NYAF) today announced famous Japanese voice actress Rie Tanaka will appear at its 2008 event as a Guest of Honor. Ms. Tanaka is most known around the globe for voicing Lacus Clyne in the anime series Gundam SEED, Chii in Chobits, and Suigintou in Rozen Maiden. The New York Anime Festival, an anime, manga, and Japanese pop culture convention from the creators of New York Comic Con, takes place September 26th through the 28th at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.

“We’re excited to welcome Ms. Tanaka into or show,” NYAF Show Manager Lance Fensterman said. “She’s given voice to some of the most popular and enduring anime characters in recent years, and we know she has an eager fanbase wanting to meet her in America.”

While Ms. Tanaka is most known for her roles in Gundam SEED, Chobits, and Rozen Maiden, she has contributed her voice to characters in over 50 animations, with some standouts including Simca in Air Gear, Yomi in Azumanga Daioh, Sei in Burst Angel, Hiroko Matsukata in Hataraki Man, Monica Lange in Macross Frontier, Tomoe Marguerite in My-Otome, Saki in Steel Angel Kurumi, and Minna-Dietlinde Wilcke in Strike Witches. In addition, Ms. Tanaka is also the voice behind songs featured in many of the series she’s worked on including Azumanga Daioh, Burst Angel, Chobits, and Gundam SEED.

Beyond question-and-answer and autograph sessions, Ms. Tanaka will perform a selection of her songs at the start of NYAF’s World Cosplay Summit Masquerade — a costume contest with prizes including a trip to Japan. Tickets to NYAF are on sale now at newyorkanimefestival.com.

ABOUT THE NEW YORK ANIME FESTIVAL

The New York Anime Festival takes place September 26-28, 2008 at the Jacob K. Javits Center in Midtown Manhattan and is organized by Reed Exhibitions, the creators of New York Comic Con. The New York Anime Festival showcases the best of anime pop culture, including the latest anime, manga, Japanese cinema, music, and games, and anime-influenced comics, animation, and films from around the world. The festival features exclusive and extensive screenings, a gala cosplay masquerade, sessions with the some of the biggest names in anime from Japan, Asia, and America, and explores the Japanese cultural experience with displays of both traditional and cutting-edge Japanese life. NYAF’s partners include Bandai Entertainment, BookExpo America, Dark Horse Comics, Del Rey Manga, Kinokuniya Bookstore, New York Comic Con, Samurai Beat Radio, Subway Cinema, TheOtaku.com, and TOKYOPOP. Further information can be found at newyorkanimefestival.com.

ABOUT REED EXHIBITIONS

The New York Anime Festival is operated by Reed Exhibitions, the world’s leading events organizer. In 2007, Reed brought together over six million industry professionals from around the world generating billions of dollars in business. Today, Reed events are held in 38 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia and organized by 39 fully staffed offices. Reed Exhibitions is part of Reed Elsevier Group plc, a FTSE-100 company and world-leading publisher and information provider. In 2006, Reed Elsevier made adjusted profit before taxation of £1,052 million on turnover of £5,398 million.