FUNimation Planned Events for Otakon 2004 (Baltimore, MD, this weekend). FUNimation Productions, Ltd., the foremost of producer and distributor of anime in North America has many planned events at Otakon 2004 that won’t cost you an arm and a leg. We have many activities in store at the FUNimation Island #335: Free posters from Fullmetal Alchemist, Fruits Basket, Kiddy Grade, and Tenchi Muyo! GXP. Check out our convention exclusive Fruits Basket Kyo and Yuki fleece and Kyo knit caps. You can only buy them here! To celebrate the August 24th DVD release date for Case Closed, we will be holding a scavenger hunt for fun and hourly prizes! We’re talking free FUNimation DVDs and Fruits Basket hats people! Screening trailers for our current shows and preview upcoming shows like Yu Yu Hakusho, Dragon Ball GT – The Lost Episodes, Case Closed and Kiddy Grade to upcoming Fullmetal Alchemist, Spiral and Gunslinger Girl. Need your gaming fix? Check out the playable demo of the Playstation 2 game Fullmetal Alchemist – The Broken Angel by Square Enix, Inc. Voice Actor Signings - Score Entertainment are bringing fan favorite voice actors Chris Sabat (Piccolo, Vegeta, Yamcha on Dragon Ball Z/GT, Kuwabara on Yu Yu Hakusho, Ayame on Fruits Basket) and Chuck Huber (Hiei on Yu Yu Hakusho, Android 17 from Dragon Ball Z/GT) to Otakon! They will have special autograph signing sessions at the FUNimation booth on (get times and dates) Want to play? Score Entertainment will have demo available at the FUNimation island to learn how to play the Dragon Ball GT and Yu Yu Hakusho TCG. Score Entertainment will be hosting the Yu Yu Hakusho TCG Storyline III Event on Saturday. For more information stop by the FUNimation booth for details or go to: http://www.yuyuhakushotcg.com/dspNewsDetail.cfm?nid=6185 Fullmetal Alchemist Events We have a full schedule of Fullmetal Alchemist activities planned for the weekend. Fort Worth, TX (July 22, 2004) FUNimation Productions, Ltd., the foremost of producer and distributor of anime in North America has many planned Fullmetal Alchemist™ events at Otakon 2004 that won’t cost you an arm and a leg. Want your cosplay photo taken for a Japanese anime magazine? A Fullmetal Alchemist cosplay gathering photo shoot will be held at 12 p.m. (noon) on Saturday at the FUNimation island in the Exhibit Hall. Reporters and photographers from NewType Japan, Animage, Animedia, Nikkei Entertainment and Studio Voice will be covering this event. We will have prizes for best technical costume, farthest traveled and several more fun categories. Be sure to visit the FUNimation booth to say hello to Alphonse Elric. A life-size statue of Alphonse will be making his appearance all convention long. L’Arc~en~Ciel has provided several anime theme songs to some of the most popular anime programs. Fullmetal Alchemist will air Saturdays on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim on November 6, 2004 at 11:30 p.m. (ET, PT) with the L’Arc~en~Ciel song as the opening theme song. L’Arc~en~Ciel has just finished their sold-out Japan arena tour. Their popularity in the US will be proven when they take the stage in the USA for the first time as the headlining performer at Otakon 2004. As a special treat, the first episode of Fullmetal Alchemist will be premiered right before the L’Arc~en~Ciel concert at 1st Mariner Arena. Doors open for the concert at 4 p.m. At approximately 4:15, the premiere screening of the first episode will begin. If you couldn’t make it to the concert, don’t worry. On Saturday from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. in Video Room 1, there will be another premiere screening of the first episode of Fullmetal Alchemist and a first look at one of our new properties. What show is it? It’s a mystery. Also be on the look out for limited edition Fullmetal Alchemist and L’Arc~En~Ciel image cards that can be found all through the convention center. How many cards does it take to make a complete set? Lots. Industry Panel FUNimation will hold their industry panel on Sunday 11:00 AM in Panel Room 2. It’s been a big year for FUNimation, with the title announcements like Fullmetal Alchemist, Spiral, Kodocha and more plus the broadcast premiere of Case Closed, available on DVD August 24th. Last year at our panel, we had people dancing in the aisles- what will it be this year? How many titles will we announce? You’ve got to come by to find out. Come by for the news, and stay for the prizes! Video Rooms You can watch many of our shows at Otakon. Otakon 2004 will be held from July 30th to August 1st in Baltimore, MD. For more information, go to www.otakon.com. One bit of fair warning, wear comfortable shoes.