Convention Aims for a Powerful Presence in the Anime Community

Norwalk, CT, November 20: New York Comic Con (NYCC) 2007, taking place at the Jacob K. Javits Center in Manhattan on February 23-25, 2007, is poised to become a dominant player in the anime community. With more than 40 hours of anime content and over 10 anime guests, it seeks to expand upon its 2006 start and is confident that the 2007 show will be a destination for anime fans from both down the street and across the country. NYCC's complete anime schedule will be revealed early next year, but it is today pleased to announce Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - Solid State Society, Blade of the Phantom Master, and Shinobi will all be showcased at NYCC 2007. The three films will be screened at the Javits Center, with exact time and location information to be revealed with the full anime schedule in the coming months.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - Solid State Society (Bandai/Manga), from the acclaimed animation studio Production I.G. and with a score by composer Yoko Kanno, is a cyber terrorism thriller based on the characters and events of the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex television series. Its NYCC showing is its New York City Premiere. Blade of the Phantom Master (ADV) is a lavish Japanese-Korean co-production about a lone lawman in a corrupt world. It is based on an epic manhwa spanning over 10 volumes. Its NYCC showing will be introduced by ADV Co-Founder Matt Greenfield and Producer David Williams. Shinobi (FUNimation), a dazzling, live-action Japanese blockbuster, is a tale of unrequited love set in the middle of warring ninja clans. Its lead actor and actress, Jo Odagiri and Erika Sawajiri, both received Kinema Junpo Awards (the Japanese equivalent of the Oscar) for their performances. Shinobi is based on the Futaro Yamada novel The Kouga Ninja Scrolls, which also served as the basis for Basilisk, a new anime series also being released by FUNimation. Shinobi will be screened at NYCC in 35mm.

"These movies are superb, astonishing pieces of cinema," noted Greg Topalian, Event Director and Group Vice President for NYCC. "This type of programming certainly underscores how we hope to be an anime powerhouse in 2007 and beyond, and we will announce more entertainment events of this caliber in the near future."

"We are working hard to create a line-up of anime, manga, and manhwa programming both wide and deep," Peter Tatara, NYCC Director of Anime Programming, said. "We want to appeal to those who have just discovered the anime art form as well as the most die-hard otaku."

This announcement follows the news that NYCC 2007 will play host to the American Anime Awards, an inaugural program honoring distinguished creative and technical achievements in anime and manga released in North America.