3-Day Event in Anaheim this 4th of July Weekend Source: BAM! Marketing, Publicity & Promotions press releases Official Site: am2con.org Special Thanks to Chase Wang Located in Anaheim, California, AM² is a 3-day, 24 hour event with no general attendance/badge purchase requirement and is aspiring to be a key meeting place for fans that share a common interest in Asian music, Animation/Anime, and Comics/Manga. Established in 2010, AM² will be held on July 1-3, 2011 at the Anaheim Convention Center in sunny Anaheim, California. AM² current activities include Exhibit Hall, AMV`s, Arcade, Summer Festival, World Cosplay Summit, Rum Party Pirates, Cosplay Chess, Dances, Fashion Shows, Table Top, Console Gaming, AniMaid Café, Workshops, Panels, Concerts and more! Entrance to the event is free, but attendees can avoid the huge lines by obtaining a Passport fast pass for the event. The Passport fast pass will also provide holders with premier seating options at Main Events and at Concert events as well as major discounts with theme parks, retailers and local restaurants.
AM² representative Chase Wang stated, "We are on a roll with some amazing events that will not be found anywhere else including the concert acts, guests from Japan, an arcade, Summer Festival, cosplay events for amateurs and pros, the World Cosplay Summit and much more! Come and join the fun and have the time of your life!" He added, "Due to the nature of our event in which we will have many individuals attending, we are providing the option of the AM² Passport which will allow holders to bypass autograph lines, participate in Guest of Honor parties specifically for passport holders, enter the Exhibit Hall early, obtain premier seating in the Main Events Hall, receive amazing discounts from local retailers, theme parks and restaurants. Bypass the lines and get amazing privileges with the AM² Passport!" To clear up any miscommunication, rumors or misleading statements regarding the event, Chase Wang explained, "AM² is NOT the same as Anime Expo. AM2 is not affiliated nor does it share the same business practices as Anime Expo/SPJA. We, at AM², are here to support the industry and its participating retailers/representatives and will continue doing so. We encourage exhibitors and companies to check out both events and `experience the difference` of AM²." He added, "AM² is a free event and we are NOT charging attendees for attending any event... this includes Exhibit Hall, Workshops, Panels, Main Events, Concerts, Autograph Sessions, Arcade, Dance, Summer Festival, Screenings, Tabletop Game Room, Console Game Room, Cosplay Events, etc. The one exception is the AniMaid café, which is a fully paid event due to the food situation that is included. Please note that AM2 Passport holders will receive a discount." AM² 2011`s official mascot, Nyanchala/Nyan-Chan (in `chibi` form), is based on the common Japanese Maneki Neko (Lucky Cat). "As the Maneki Neko is to bring good luck to an owner, we believe that Nyanchala/Nyan-Chan is truly representative for our event and will bring a great experience for our attendees, exhibitors, participants, staff and volunteers", stated Chase Wang. More info on AM² can be found at the official website. Follow AM2 on Facebook and Twitter.
THE WORLD FAMOUS ANIMAID CAFÉ
Experience the service and feeling of Japanese maid cafes found in famed Akihabara, Japan with the world famous Animaid Café at AM². Over fifty lovely maids and gentle hosts entertain with live performances, fun interactive games, contests, prizes, merriment and fun while attendees feast upon Japanese style food and drink! Attendees can come and relax with cute maids and hosts as they serve delicious food with love. Enjoy dances on stage from your maids to popular Asian pop songs. Play games for a chance to win prizes. Everything from Hungry Hungry Hippos, Rock `Em Sock `Em Robots, to an intense game of Jenga with your cute maid or host. Beat the maids/hosts three times to win a personalized picture! It`s an entertainment café with an anime premise hailing all the way from the traditional Maid Cafes of Akihabara, Japan. Animaid Café leader `K-chan` states, "We are here to entertain and serve otaku like ourselves who would like to have the chance to experience the ultimate in modern customer service/entertainment experience. AniMaid Café has super `moe` (adorable) maids to serve their masters with love." With delectable Japanese food and drinks, the highly praised AniMaid Café will definitely be a huge hit and a hot ticket item and surely something you will not want to miss experiencing!
BEHIND THE VOICE ACTORS STUDIO PRESENTED BY MAJOR VOICE TALENT MANAGEMENT AGENCY ARLENE THORNTON
Move over James Lipton! Popular anime convention personality, Guyver, sits down with major Hollywood Voice Acting Heavy weights, JB Blanc (THE INCREDIBLE HULK, GARFIELD: A TAIL OF TWO KITTIES, AVENGERS, RESIDENT EVIL, NARUTO, BLEACH, BLUE DRAGON, HELLSING ULTIMATE, READ OR DIE, DANGAIZER 3), Dave Vincent (NARUTO, BLEACH, BLUE DRAGON, DURARARA!!), Neil Kaplan (TRANSFORMERS, DIGIMON) and Steve Staley (STARSHIP TROOPERS, GODZILLA, ADVENTURES OF ROCKY AND BULLWINKLE, MAGIC KNIGHT RAYEARTH, ANTZ, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER) for the one-on-one interview series, "Behind the Voice Actor`s Studio" at AM². Fans and those interested in getting into the voice acting industry are welcome to attend for FREE and learn about what happens behind the scenes and the experiences of some of the most successful voice actors in Hollywood. Chase Wang states, "Having such amazing Hollywood and anime voice talents come to AM² is truly a treat and an amazing opportunity for those that are interested in learning more about the industry as well as those that are fans of some of the most memorable animated voices!"
FOOD AND SUMMER FESTIVAL STAGE ACTIVITIES
AM² will be bringing more fun to its attendees with the announcement of some of the upcoming acts and activities that will appear on the Summer Festival stage as well as some of the food vendors and trucks attending this year`s event! Some activities planned to take place on the Summer Festival stage include (but are not limited to): • Cosplay Chess • Iron Cosplay • Rum Party Pirates • Sumo Wrestling Demonstration Some current performers on the Summer Festival stage include (but are not limited to): • Akai SKY • REOG Some current Food/Truck vendors include (but not limited to): • AhnJoo Truck • Kokoro • Lomoarigato • Tapa Boy • Temaki Truck • Waffles de Liege Truck
GUESTS OF HONOR
HANGRY & ANGRY CHARACTER AND FASHION DESIGNER GASHICON AM2 is proud to welcome Hangry & Angry character and fashion designer Gashicon, official Guests of Honor, and will showcase the highly coveted Hangry & Angry fashion line of the same name which features the infamous `gro-kawa` (grotesque and cute) themed line at a fashion show. Gashicon is the up-and-coming illustrator who is in charge of producing the Hangry & Angry characters and comics. With regular publications in visual-kei music magazines in Japan, the comic has successfully developed and popularized the unique world of Hangry & Angry to where it was highly involved with the hit anime-based live-action film DEATH NOTE. AM² attendees will be able to catch up with the latest Hangry & Angry fashions at this year`s event. J-ROCK SENSATION heidi. With Yoshihiko on vocals, Nao on guitar, Kohsuke on bass and Kiri on drums, heidi. (read as haiji) is considered one of the great Japanese Visual-Kei bands. They will be performing in their U.S. debut concert at AM² as official Guests of Honor over the 4th of July weekend in Anaheim, California! heidi. is associated with the J-Rock style of Visual- Kei and has released five albums, one mini-album, nine singles and has also sold out concerts in Japan. heidi. mesmerizes audiences with their unique style and visually stunning performances. Fans will also be treated to the latest hot looks from fashion power houses Sixh and Hangry & Angry before and after the concert.
IBI and MINT AM² is proud to welcome Sixh fashion designers IBI and MINT as official Guests of Honor to showcase their latest “ghost-kei” (gothic and host) themed line at a fashion show. Started by IBI, the fashion line Sixh unites visual-kei artistry with the imagery of popular host and hostess clubs. A new theme, ghost-kei, is created by combining the words “gothic” and “host” into “ghost”. MINT launches the line with the New Japan Mode Collection featuring its relaxed character, “MINT Neko”, and Sixh. flourishes from there. Without a doubt, Sixh.’s cool, carefree ideas are not restricted by ordinary rules of fashion or society. More information can be found at http://www.s-inc.com/sixh/ KANON X KANON Experience the rich and haunting sounds from Japan`s most entrancing `cello vocalist` Kanon Wakeshima and legendary Akiba-kei Otaku male sound creator and famed An Cafe bassist Kanon as they come to AM² as official Guests of Honor! Kanon Wakeshima took up the cello at age 3. Her incredible talent caught attention of Visual-kei star Mana (Moi dix Mois, ex-MALICE MIZER). Kanon`s rich, haunting sound fit well with the Gothic & Lolita street fashion culture for which Mana is very well known. Kanon Wakeshima will be performing a solo concert at AM². In addition, Kanon Wakeshima will be joined by famed An Cafe bassist, Kanon, to have their U.S. debut of the "2.5th-dimension phenomenal musical unit kanon x kanon" at AM² as well. The duo`s deep affection for anime and anime songs, mixed with their distinctive visual expression, is definitely something new. They are intangible products of thought, emerging from the 2.5th dimension that lies between the real world (3D) and the world of Anime (2D) to create Anime songs for all to enjoy including the opening song for Fuji TV`s highly popular anime SHIKI.
