Anime Festival Asia Powers up on Energy as date draws near!

(Singapore, November 5, 2009) Fans of Anime Festival Asia 09 can rejoice with the powerpackedline-up of new activities and programs that will take place on November 21 and 22,2009. Organisers have announced today details for: Finalists for the 2009 Cosplay Regional Championship, Official AFA09 merchandise shop, names of top animation studios participating at AFA09 Industry Showcase and the launch of SANYO’s new eneloopy battery kit.

COSPLAY FINALISTS SELECTED

The AFA Cosplay Committee has narrowed down its selection to 6 groups who will represent their respective countries for the top title as South-East Asia’s Best Cosplay group. The finalists include: The Endless Illusion - Indonesia, Sakai no Gumi - Malaysia, Ahlodia and Ashley - Philippines, ST Revolution - Singapore, 00 Emotions - Singapore and lastly Houshin Engi - Thailand. The winning team takes home the grand prize of a trip for 2 to Tokyo, Japan! For more Information about the participants please visit http://www.afa09.com/afa_cosplay_championship_09.html

AFA09 MERCHANDISE SHOP

Exclusive merchandise that will be available for sale at the AFA09 Merchandise Shop iincludes limited edition K-On! items, “I Love Anisong” concert T-shirts, and the Otacool books from Kotobukiya. Fans of anime music can purchase CDs of the respective artistes performing at the “I Love Anisong” concerts.

EXCLUSIVE MERCHANDISE AT AFA09

Bandai - Exclusive Tamashii Nations merchandise will be made available for the public. These include: Autumn Limited Chogokin Saint Seiya Be@rbrick, Limited GX 24N Tetsujin 28 Naked version, Limited Myth Cloth Appendix Gemini Saga Original Color Edition and Limited Saint Seiya Myth Cloth Emblem Set. The first 120 customers to buy either Soul of Chogokin GX-45, GX-47 or 49 will get a Mazinger Z Tote Bag for free. 100 Masked Rider TShirts will be given away with any purchase of any three SIC products.

Cospa – The exclusive Aquaplus Fiesta Bag is being made available to fans outside of Japan at AFA 09. The special set includes a Sasara and Maryan Senpai sports towel, Eruru hand towel, Konomi and Tamaki Bathroom poster and a special Aquaplus 2008 commemoration book! Spending $30 worth of merchandise at COSPA’s booth at AFA 09 will allow one to be eligible for the COSPA NIJIGEN JANKEN PON game. Prizes include: Tshirts, towels and cushion covers.

Bushiroad - Bushiroad will present limited exclusive goods for the first time in South East Asia. There will be a limited number of The IdolM@ster sets and Da Capo sets for sale. For every 15 dollars spent, shoppers will receive a special promo card (Tenshin Rahman no Haruka). Character Operating System (CHAOS) and ALICE CROSS are two popular card games in Japan and will be taught at AFA09 by specialized players. Weiss Schwarz seiiyuus Izumi Kitta and Nakamoto Nobuhisa (the Mash) will also be making an appearance at the Bushiroad booth.

Takashimaya Singapore Limited – For the first time, anime merchandise will be made available exclusively at AFA09. There will be products from popular series such as Code Geass, Shakugan no Shana, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Lucky Star, Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood, D.Gray Man, Tora Dora and many more. There will also be a full range of products for Domo-Kun, including Kid-size T-shirts and other exclusive
merchandise!

TOP ANIMATION STUDIOS AT AFA 09

Six of Asia’s top animation studios: Tatsunoko Production, Madhouse, Production IG, Imaginary Friends Studios, Stormlion and Egg Story Creative Productions will take up booths at AFA09 and the public will have the opportunity to view past, existing and future works produced by these top studios.

LAUNCH OF NEW SANYO ENELOOPY KIT

In a bid to encourage consumers to reduce energy wastage, SANYO Energy (S) Corporation will launch a new ‘eneloopy’ battery checker during AFA09. This ‘eneloopy’ kit comes in a pack which includes two AA-sized rechargeable eneloopy batteries and a battery checker that takes the form of their iconic dog mascot, eneloopy. First available in Singapore at AFA09, the launch of the eneloopy kit at AFA also marks the celebration of SANYO’s sales achievement of 100 million cells, worldwide. A two-metre long, one-of–a-kind dog-shaped eneloopy projector will be specially flown in from Japan for AFA09.

“To remain competitive in the digital age, we need to continuously engage the increasingly technologically savvy public. Anime Festival Asia 09 provides the perfect platform for Sanyo to reach out to our target market and inculcate in them the importance of conserving our resources,” said SANYO Energy’s Senior Manager, Mr Takehiro Matsui.

SANYO is currently hosting an online eneloopy contest on the Anime Festival Asia 09 website. Participants stand to win complimentary passes to Anime Festival Asia 09 and eneloopy premium packs. For more contest details regarding please visit http://www.afa09.com/eneloopy/eneloop_giveaway.html.

BUSINESS AND ANIMATION

This latest move by Sanyo demonstrates the importance that businesses are placing with the animation industry. Animation has become an increasingly profitable business. This is because animation has a marketing reach that extends across wide range of age groups. Young children, teenagers, young adults and families are constantly exposed to animation content through mediums such as television, print and online on a daily basis.

In response, many companies are employing animation to market their services and products. Animation is increasingly seen as a key source of marketing potential.

The organizers of the Anime Festival Asia 09 have recognized this increasingly close relationship between animation and business. The result has been the organization of the Animation Asia Conference09 which is going to be held in conjunction with Anime Festival 09 and falls on Friday the 20th of November.

Besides attracting broadcasters looking to purchase new animation content, the conference also targets to draw marketers and advertisers. Through panel discussions and business networking sessions, it would a great opportunity for delegates to better understand the various industries and develop better strategies in their branding and marketing campaigns. For more information regarding AAC, please visit http://www.afa09.com/aac.html

JAPANESE KARAOKE COMES TO SINGAPORE

For the first time, the Joysound Karaoke Commander console will be in Singapore at AFA09! Containing the latest songs from the music industry in Japan, including anime songs, the Joysound Karaoke Commander has something to offer for everyone! The console also includes the Afureko system that allows users to voice over scenes from the favourite anime and rates their performance as well! Come to the XING booth at the Industry area of AFA09 and try out the system for yourself!

About Sanyo

SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. (SANYO) is a global leader in providing solutions for the environment, energy and for lifestyle applications based on its Brand Vision ‘Think GAIA’. SANYO Energy (S) Corporation is a part of SANYO’s component group. SANYO Energy (S) Corp. is based in Singapore and markets high quality battery products in the regions of ASEAN, Indian Subcontinent, Middle East and Africa. For more information, please visit http://www.sanyo.com

About Bandai

Bandai is the third largest producer of toys in the world. Originally called "Bandai-ya", Bandai was founded by Mr Naoharu Yamashina in 1950. The origin of the word "bandai" comes from an old Chinese expression: "bandai fueki", meaning 'everlasting' or 'eternal'. Bandai’s
founder, Mr. Yamashina, felt that these words expressed his wish that Bandai be a company which, in his words, "makes products that please people of all generations, irrespective of the times - a firm that will develop and grow forever and ever". Today, Bandai has gone on to become firmly established as Japan's leading general toy manufacturer, and the company continues to blaze new trials in various fields of entertainment.

About Animax

Animax is the first pan-regional 24-hour cable and satellite TV channel dedicated to the fastest growing youth entertainment genre – Japanese anime. Watched by over 50 million viewers in 2007, Animax Asia is now seen in over 29 milllion homes and 20 countries across Asia. Wholly-owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, Animax Asia broadcasts six dedicated, highly customized services for Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Philippines.

Organisers of AFA09

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.

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Florence Ang
Red Dawn Communications
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Email: florence@reddawnpr.com


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