Source: Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation press release Official Site: anime-expo.org Special Thanks to Jim Yeager and Roberta Silverman Anime Expo 2012 (AX) -- North America’s largest anime, manga and Japanese pop culture celebration -- will present the highly-anticipated premiere of TOTAL ECLIPSE (???? ???????? ??????????, Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse, 2012) on July 1 -- the same day the anime debuts on TV in Japan. Kouki Yoshimune, the anime’s executive producer will appear in a special panel discussion in conjunction with the screening. In addition vocalists featured on the show, Minami Kuribayashi and ayami, will perform in live concert at Anime Expo when it returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center from June 29 – July 2, 2012. "The stars were truly in alignment to allow Anime Expo to give our attendees the chance to see the first episode of MUVLUV (????) on the very same day fans in Japan will view it,” said Marc Perez, CEO of the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation, the non-profit that produces Anime Expo. TOTAL ECLIPSE is produced by Kouki Yoshimune whose previous productions include MUVLUV Series. Based on the popular MUVLUV PC Game and visual novel, the anime’s main story takes place in Alaska and its main character, Yuuya Bridges, is Japanese-American. The simultaneous Japanese and American debuts echo the global essence of the anime’s narrative. Minami Kuribayashi has performed songs for many anime series, including CARNIVAL PHANTASM, INFINITE STRATOS. KATANAGATARI, MEDAKA BOX, MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM AGE, and RUMBLING HEARTS. The singer ayami performed on the opening theme song “Freedom” for BATTLE SPIRITS: HEROES as a vocalist with the musical group RAMM. The TOTAL ECLIPSE production team joins the previously announced Anime Expo 2012 line-up that includes composer joins the previously announced Anime Expo 2012 line-up that includes composer Yuki Kajiura/"FictionJunction;" anime-inspired heavy metal band ANIMETAL USA; Culture Japan’s Danny Choo; Fate/Zero” creative team Hikaru Konda, Ei Aoki and Rikiya Koyama; Madhouse creative team Morio Asaka, Kunihiko Hamada and Takuya Tsunoki;, animation director Tatsuo Sato; voice actors Ryo Horikawa, Nobuhiko Okamoto, Jamie Marchi, Monica Rial, and Steve Blum; Japanese pop star LiSA, Lolita fashion designer Cyril Lumboy, Lolita model Misako Aoki; Tokyo-based Gallery of Fantastic Art and popular cosplayer Jessica Nigri.

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About Anime Expo

Now in its 21st year, Anime Expo is North America’s larges celebration of anime, manga and Japanese pop culture. Anime Expo gives fans the rare opportunity to meet and hear from some of the most famous anime, manga, musical, game, and fashion artitsts from Japan. AX 2012 will feature an exciting schedule of exclusive screenings; artists’ panels; live concerts; cosplay; dance parties, karaoke, and video competitions; non-stop video gaming and unsurpassed shopping from more than 3,000 vendors. AX 2012 takes place June 29-July 2, 2012 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

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 America 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 spja.org.