Following on their success with the new New York Comic Con, Reed Exhibitions is planning the New York Anime Festival (NYAF), which will take place 7-9 December 2007 at the Jacob K. Javits Center in midtown Manhattan. The festival “will span the complete breadth of anime pop culture including exclusive and extensive screenings, a gala cosplay masquerade, and sessions with the biggest names in anime from Japan, Asia, and America. The event will also explore the Japanese cultural experience with a showcase of both traditional and cutting-edge Japanese cuisine, apparel, and lifestyles. Of course, NYAF will also feature the latest in manga, toys, costumes, video games, trading card games, DVDs, music, and much more on the show floor.”
Some of the commercial exhibitors already signed up include: ADV Films, Bandai Entertainment, Central Park Media, FUNimation Entertainment, Media Blasters, Random House, and TokyoPop. The cultural exhibitors scheduled to participate include: Arise (which sells and exhibits rare kimono), CHUU (which offers authentic Japanese kimono), Greentea Designs (which provides Japanese furnishings and accents to contemporary American life), Japan External Trade Organization (a Japanese government-affiliated organization that promotes trade and investment), and Kujaku Trading (a Japanese antiques dealer).
Guests of Honor include: director Kobun Shizuno, actor Peter Fernandez, actress Corinne Orr, animator Aimee Major Steinberger, musical group Unicorn Table, musical gropu HappyFunSmile, performance artist Voltaire, theatre company Samurai Sword Soul, comedian Uncle Yo, the Brooklyn Go Club, artist Chris Hazelton, author David Kalat, talk show GeekNights, professor Joanne Izbicki, writer/illustrator Juno Blair B, artist Lindsey Henninger, sake expert Timothy Sullivan, and actor Yoshi Amao.
Pre-registration tickets are available now, as well as much more information, at www.nyanimefestival.com.