Animation Asia Conference 2009 sets the tone with Opening Keynote Address by Tsuguhiko Kadokawa

Industry Showcase will provide platform for top Asian animation studios to introduce new IP and seek business partners

(Singapore, 5th November 2009) Tsuguhiko Kadokawa, Chief Executive Officer of Kadokawa Group Holdings will kick off Animation Asia Conference 2009 (AAC09) with a keynote address “Bringing Japan’s Content to the World- Think Globally, Act Locally”. The keynote aims to cover the emerging opportunities and challenges facing brands and content developers as consumers become more digitally savvy and spend more time on the internet.

AAC09’s topic - ‘Globalisation of Asia’s Soft Power’ has three central themes: Create, Manage and Engage. The conference targets creative studios, media owners, publishers, content owners, marketers, brand agencies and music labels. The conference seeks to provide a platform of exchange between the creative and brands seeking to engage the savvy consumer of the 21st Century.

“Animation Asia Conference offers attendees the unique opportunity to meet some of the greatest minds in the animation and creative industries. Our speakers have launched content related to some of the world’s biggest titles for animation and their business experience related to distributing content is something that any business professional will find useful. What better way to learn new business strategies by participating in a one-day conference where the case studies are related to animation, where it offers a wide appeal to consumers both young and old. Relevancy is extremely important to reach out to new customers, and a great way to stand out from the “marketing clutter”, is by producing content that engages and entertains. It is indeed a rare opportunity where the business and creativeminds meet and we look forward to seeing a great mix of delegates at our conference where new business opportunities and ideas can be developed into new content,” said Anna Teo, Conference Director for Animation Asia Conference.

Industry Showcase & Business Matching Session

AAC09 will feature an Industry Showcase and Business Matching segment where leading animation studios will showcase their new IP. The session was conceptualised to provide delegates a quick overview of what is available for possible investment, co-production, licensing or distribution opportunities. The works range from projects that are seeking distribution partners to those at its initial stages of concept.

Top Japanese production studios, Madhouse, Tatsunoko Production, Production IG, and Gonzo have confirmed their attendance. Other production studios from the region that will be showcasing their works include Peach Blossom Media (Singapore), Egg Story Creative Productions (Singapore), Border (M) Sdn Bhd (Malaysia), Sun Woo Entertainment (Korea), Tuldok Animation Studios Inc. (Philippines) and Main Motion Entertainment (Indonesia).

AAC09 Speakers and Topics

As AAC09 seeks to highlight upcoming trends from the animation industry and spur further growth beyond the current industrial scope, the speaker line-up features some of the top companies and names in the business.

• Mamoru Hosada (Director of Summer Wars’ and ‘The Girl Who Leapt Through Time’)
– ‘Insights into Creating Animation Blockbusters’

• Edmund Shern (CEO, Stormlion, Creator of Freedom Formula)
– ‘Sourcing for World Class Content Production’

• CK Phoon (Deputy Chairman, Imagi International Inc.)
– ‘Distribution of Animation Across Markets and Cultures’

• Shiro Sasaki (CEO, Flying Dog) – ‘New Dimensions in Storytelling
– Producing Successful Anime Soundtracks’

• Danny Choo (CEO, Mirai Inc.)
– ‘Japanese Culture Defined for a Global Audience’

• Kotaro Sugiyama (Senior Vice President, Dentsu Singapore) – ‘Branded Value
Creation through Branded Entertainment’

• Vince Shortino (President, Crunchyroll Kabushiki Kaisha)

• – ‘Building Audience Relationships’

One of the Fastest Growing Sub-sectors - Interactive & Digital Media

Interactive & Digital media – which includes video games, animation, online/mobile mediaand new forms of digital entertainment – has skyrocketed into a multi-billion dollar business. The global videogames industry is expected to swell from US$53.9 billion in 2009 to US$68.3 billion by 2012, with Asia registering the fastest growth, according to the PriceWaterhouse Coopers’ Global Entertainment & Media Outlook. The animation industry is estimated at US$160 billion as at 2008.

Animation Asia Conference is held in conjunction with Anime Festival Asia, South East Asia’s annual event that targets anyone that is interested in Japanese popular culture. AFA09 features “I Love Anisong” live music concerts, a Kids Land where there will be free workshops for children, an artist gallery showcasing works from local artists and an industry showcase from some of the top Japanese animation studios where visitors to the main hall can check out some of the newest content available from Japan.

Organisers for AAC09 has just announced that there will be student tickets sold at SGD$180. Regular tickets are priced at $300 with special group discounts available. Tickets to the conference also include general access for both days to AFA09.

AFA09 is organized jointly by I-Promo Events & Marketing, SOZO and Dentsu Singapore. More information on AFA09 available at www.afa09.com

About I-PROMO

I-PROMO is a multidimensional marketing agency specializing in strategic and signature events. I-PROMO conceptualizes, develops, manages, and implements corporate and lifestyle events. The company’s primary expertise lies in creating own branded, title events with local and regional sponsors and partners. With years of experience managing conventions, exhibitions, festivals, and gala events, I-PROMO produces events worthy of being called phenomenal rather than merely experiential.

As a subsidiary of Kingsmen Creative Limited, I-PROMO teams comprises of professionals with diverse talents such as conceptualization, marketing, sales, design, and construction. With streamlined operations and collaborative resources, I-PROMO consistently deliver results beyond the expectations of our clients.

I-PROMO’s pool of talent are able to execute opportune, current, relevant, competitive, and profitable events that are critically aligned to clients’ objectives. Over the years, the company have created events for the government and the arts, as well as the giants of retail, IT, finance, and petroleum industries.

About SOZO

SOZO represents a cutting edge entertainment and youth-marketing driven company. Made up of a diverse talented pool of industry professionals, SOZO is focused towards developing animation and entertainment content and service platforms geared at engaging young adults at both regional and global levels. SOZO’s main mission is focused on delivering highly entertaining pop culture experiences, contents and products that will constantly engage, thrill and excite this young and restless market.

About Dentsu Singapore

A wholly owned subsidiary of Japan’s Dentsu Inc. and an ‘Asian-born’ agency, Dentsu Singapore is a fully integrated communications agency, providing total communications solutions to both regional and local clients. The Dentsu network dates back to 1901 and has at its disposal powerful network support and resources. According to Ad Age Global, it is now the world’s number one agency brand and the biggest among all major networks in Asia. Dentsu for many years has also ventured into many successful anime franchises and has a dedicated entertainment and contents division overseeing its operations.

For media queries or request for images, please contact:

Florence Ang
Red Dawn Communications
Phone: (65) 6222 4704
Mobile: (65) 9691 1404
Email: florence@reddawnpr.com


Shaun Wang
Red Dawn Communications
Phone: (65) 6222 4704
Mobile: (65) 9273 6285
Email: shaun@reddawnpr.com