Fairy Tail Cast Comes To New York Anime Festival

Leads Of FUNimation Series Take Part In Anime Event At New York Comic Con

The New York Anime Festival (NYAF) and FUNimation Entertainment today announced that the leads of its new anime series Fairy Tail will be coming to this October's New York Anime Festival. The New York Anime Festival will take place October 13-16, 2011 at the Javits Center in Midtown Manhattan as part of the sixth annual New York Comic Con (NYCC). NYCC, which attracted 96,000 attendees in 2010, celebrates comics, television, movies, toys, games, and the popular arts from around the planet. NYCC's Anime Festival shines a specific spotlight on anime, manga, and Japanese pop culture. NYCC has already

announced guests including Kevin Smith, Felicia Day, and Robert Kirkman. Fairy Tail voice actors Todd Haberkorn, Colleen

Clinkenbeard, Cherami Leigh, and Newton Pittman are today announced as guests and will appear at NYAF at NYCC for panel sessions, autograph signings, and an introduction to a premiere Fairy Tail screening.

Todd Haberkorn leads the Fairy Tail cast as the voice of Natsu, Colleen Clinkenbeard provides the voice for Erza, Cherami Leigh is Lucy, and Newton Pittman is the voice for Gray. The series, currently broadcast in Japan, is based on a manga by the same name by Hiro Mashima. The Fairy Tail manga is published in America by Kodansha Comics. In the world of Fairy Tail, sorcerers band together in Guilds to take on paying assignments, including hunting monsters, finding lost items, and running odd errands, for non-magic users. The story follows Lucy, an aspiring wizard who wants to join the most prestigious Guild around, Fairy Tail. And, when she meets the (literally) fiery Natsu, she's well on her way to joining the ranks of Fairy Tail.

FUNimation is currently streaming subtitled episodes of the series at www.funimation.com/fairy-tail and will release the complete series on DVD and Blu-ray later this year.

"The New York Anime Festival is excited to welcome Todd, Colleen, Cherami, and Newton to New York City," NYAF and NYCC Show Manager Lance Fensterman said. "Fairy Tail already has a thriving fanbase in both America and Japan, and Todd, Colleen, Cherami, and Newton are an all-star cast! We're looking very forward to presenting a premiere Fairy Tail screeningin English -- and couldn’t be happier than to do so with the cast right here with the fans!"

For bios, headshots, and additional information on Todd Haberkorn, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Cherami Leigh, and Newton Pittman, please visit www.newyorkcomiccon.com.

Details around NYAF's Fairy Tail events and its full schedule will be announced later this summer. Tickets are available at www.newyorkcomiccon.com now. For the latest information, please follow @ny_anime_fest and@ny_comic_con on Twitter as well as read NYAF and NYCC's official blog, www.mediumatlarge.net.

ABOUT FUNIMATION ENTERTAINMENT:

FUNimation® Entertainment is the leading company for home video sales of Japanese animation in the United States. FUNimation has a proven formula for launching and advancing brands, and manages a full spectrum of rights for most of its brands including broadcasting, licensing, production, internet, and home video sales and distribution. For more information about FUNimation Entertainment and its brands, visit www.funimation.com.

ABOUT THE NEW YORK ANIME FESTIVAL:

The New York Anime Festival is a celebration of Japanese popular culture from the creators of New York Comic Con. NYAF conducts, promotes and is involved in anime and Japanese cultural activities year-round in New York City, including events at Kinokuniya Bookstore, Japan Society, and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's Sakura Matsuri. Our flagship event is the New York Anime Festival at New York Comic Con. Taking place at the Javits Center in Midtown Manhattan on October 13-16, 2011, the New York Anime Festival at New York Comic Con showcases the best of anime pop culture, including the latest anime, manga, Japanese cinema, music and games as well as anime-influenced comics, animation, and films from around the world. The festival features exclusive and extensive screenings, a gala cosplay masquerade, sessions with the some of the biggest names in anime from Japan, Asia and America, and explores the Japanese cultural experience with displays of both traditional and cutting-edge Japanese life. (www.newyorkanimefestival.com)

ABOUT REEDPOP:

ReedPOP is a boutique group within Reed Exhibitions which is exclusively devoted to organizing events, launching and acquiring new shows, and partnering with premium brands in the pop culture arena. ReedPOP is dedicated to producing celebrations of popular culture throughout the world that transcend ordinary events by providing unique access and dynamic personal experiences for consumers and fans. The ReedPOP portfolio includes: New York Comic Con (NYCC), Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2), Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) East & West, Star Wars Celebration, New York Anime Festival (NYAF), Singapore Toy, Game & Comic Convention (STGCC), and UFC Fan Expo. The staff at ReedPOP is a fan based group of professionals producing shows for other fans, thus making them uniquely qualified to service those with whom they share a common passion. ReedPOP is focused on bringing its expertise and knowledge to world communities in North America, South America, Asia and Europe.

Kevin Smith And Jason Mewes To Appear At New York Comic Con

Jay and Silent Bob Get Old Goes LIVE from IGN Theater on Friday, October 14th!!

Noted filmmaker, comic book writer, and internet radio personality Kevin Smith, who first appeared at New York Comic Con (NYCC) when the convention debuted in 2006, will return to NYCC in 2011 with television and film actor Jason Mewes. Smith and Mewes will appear together on Friday, October 14th at 7:00pm in the IGN Theater for a live performance of their popular podcast Jay and Silent Bob Get Old. Fans who are interested in attending the live performance must have a New York Comic ticket and also purchase an additional ticket to the podcast. All ticket prices are based on seating location: $50 for prime seats with a pre-signed item, $35 for second tier seating, and $10 for general admission. Tickets will go on sale June 15th and further information about ticket prices and seating locations will be available at the website. All NYCC Ultimate VIP ticket holders will be provided a free ticket to the live podcast

Beginning with the 1994 independent film Clerks, director Kevin Smith and longtime friend Jason Mewes have worked together on several films, often playing the fictional duo Jay and Silent Bob. The act has evolved intoJay and Silent Bob Get Old, a wildly successful weekly live show and podcast for Smith’s growing podcast network. The show, which is frequently broadcast from The Jon Lovitz Comedy Club, at Universal CityWalk, has also played to numerous audiences at various venues throughout the country. This will be the first-ever live performance of Jay and Silent Bob Get Old at a comic convention.

“I am enormously excited to announce this performance at New York Comic Con,” notes Lance Fensterman, Group Vice President for ReedPOP and Show Manager for NYCC. “Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes are insanely funny and their appearance at our show is nothing short of huge. We will not only have a packed house, and a terrific live performance for all our fans, but this sets the tone for the weekend. New York Comic Con is not just about ‘meet and greets’ but also about providing the very best in leading edge comedy and entertainment. This live performance of Jay and Silent Bob Get Old raises the bar considerably and is testimony to the type of entertainment that we will be hosting at NYCC in the future.”

Tickets for NYCC are now on sale via the website www.NewYorkComicCon.com. Limited 4-Day tickets are available. For further information about all ReedPOP shows and activity, please visit Lance Fensterman’s blog,www.MediumAtLarge.net. Convention organizers note that many guests will be announced over the next few weeks and months and fans should keep their eyes on NYCC’s website and blog for additional comics, entertainment and anime announcements.

Kevin Smith:

Smith has spent nearly twenty years as a writer/director making Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Jersey Girl, Clerks II, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Cop Out and his newest film Red State, which premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.

Mystifyingly, Smith also sports three DVD releases of his various college Q&A’s (An Evening with Kevin Smith; An Evening with Kevin Smith 2: Evening Harder; A Threevening with Kevin Smith) as well as an EPIX Original Q&A special Kevin Smith: Too Fat For 40.

He’s published two books full of essays and blog postings (Silent Bob Speaks and The New York Timesbestselling My Boring-Ass Life), as well as Shootin’ the Sh*t with Kevin Smith – a collection of the best material from SModcast, Smith and producer Scott Mosier’s weekly podcast.

Aside from the films he’s directed, Smith has served as a producer on indie efforts including Bryan Johnson’s Lionsgate release Vulgar, multiple Academy Award winner Good Will Hunting, and a pair of Sundance-selected documentaries including Reel Paradise and Small Town Gay Bar.

One of the first filmmakers to venture into cyberspace, Smith has built his fan base primarily on the web, via the thirteen year old binary village at www.viewaskew.com. Smith took the cyberworld by storm when, in February 2007, SModcast debuted online. The back-and-forth banter of Smith and Mosier has kept on for over four years paving the way for the SModcast Podcast Network.

From its January 2010, launch, smodcast.com has grown into a full-fledged network, hosting a full week of original programming featuring SMonsters of Talk, who regularly claim the top slots on the iTunes as the Best Podcasts of 2007 and 2010. Audiences around the world have created a following for many other weekly shows which have also gone on to enormous success. In September 2010, SModcast officially began playing on SiriusXM's "The Virus" channel, alongside Opie & Anthony and Ron & Fez.

The success of SModcast brought to life Smith’s idea of a black box theater in Los Angeles where he and his team could perform live podcasts whenever they wanted. In July 2010 SModcastle – the world’s first live podcast theater – opened. SModcastle quickly became the house that ‘Babble-On’ built. Garman and Smith packed audiences in weekly, routinely selling out the 50 seat venue – a feat matched only by Mewes and Smith when they launched Jay & Silent Bob Get Old.

Smith’s podcasting success did not end with SModcastle. In May 2011 S.I.R.: SModcast Internet Radio, premiered with 24 hour a day, seven days a week programming featuring live and archived Smodcast Network programs. The S.I.R. suite of shows is available through www.smodcast.com and Stitcher’s free mobile and iPad™apps.

And if film and digital domination aren’t enough, there’s always retail: Smith owns a comic book store named Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash in Red Bank, New Jersey.

As for the hood ornaments he’s collected, there’s plenty of tin on display: the Filmmaker’s Trophy at Sundance for Clerks; the Prix de la Jeunesse and the International Critic’s Week Awards at the Cannes Film Festival, also forClerks. He also has an Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay for Chasing Amy, and a Humanitas Award for Good Will Hunting. Smith also received the Defender of Democracy Award from Norman Lear’s People for the American Way organization for his production of Dogma. Clerks II won both the prestigious Audience Award at the Edinburgh Film Festvial as well as the Orbit Dirtiest Mouth Moment at the MTV Movie Awards. For his writing in the comics field, Smith has received a Harvey Award, a Wizard Fan Award, an Eagle Award, and saw his Green Arrow: Quiver named as one of 2003’s Best Books for Young Adults by the American Library Association’s Young Adult Library Service. In the fall of 2002, the town of Paulsboro in New Jersey named a street after him: Kevin Smith Way. In 2004, the Video Software Dealers Association gave Smith the DVD Visionary Award, and in 2005, he collected the Independent Spirit Award from Britain’s Empire Magazine. In April of 2006, this award-whore was given UCLA’s Jack Benny Award for Comedy, and in 2008, Smith was given the Maverick Award by the Woodstock Film Festival, as well as the Vision Award from the DGA-affiliated Filmmaker’s Alliance.

But he’d chuck it all for his wife and kid. Smith married wife Jennifer in April ’99 and celebrated the birth of their daughter, Harley Quinn, in June of that same year. The wedding was not white, to say the least.

Jason Mewes:

A New Jersey born and bred actor, who burst onto the cinema screens in 1994, playing the voice half of the on-screen comedy duo of Jay and Silent Bob, Mewes' cult-fan's beloved character "Jay" in his long time friend's (Kevin Smith) award winning Clerks.

Mewes would continue on the role of "Jay" in a series of indie hits-Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, and later Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.

In 2006, the View Askew team went back to the well and Clerks II hit movie screens. Once again Mewes reprised the role of the fast-talking, foul mouthed and over sexed but very likable "Jay" to go on to win MTV's Dirtiest Mouth Award in 2007.

Moving beyond "Jay", Mewes has completed various commercials, music videos, and animated features as Jason's unique voice has added color and dimension to a variety of entertainment media, including video games.

ABOUT REEDPOP: ReedPOP is a boutique group within Reed Exhibitions which is exclusively devoted to organizing events, launching and acquiring new shows, and partnering with premium brands in the pop culture arena. ReedPOP is dedicated to producing celebrations of popular culture throughout the world that transcend ordinary events by providing unique access and dynamic personal experiences for consumers and fans. The ReedPOP portfolio includes: New York Comic Con (NYCC), Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2), Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) East & West, Star Wars Celebration V, New York Anime Festival (NYAF) and UFC Fan Expo. The staff at ReedPOP is a fan based group of professionals producing shows for other fans, thus making them uniquely qualified to service those with whom they share a common passion. ReedPOP is focused on bringing its expertise and knowledge to world communities in North America, South America, Asia and Europe.

CONTACT: Roger Bilheimer
(203) 966-0792

Robert Kirkman Is First Guest Announced For 2011 New York Comic Con - Acclaimed Writer to be Guest of Honor at Expanded Show

Robert Kirkman, the Eisner Award-winning creator of The Walking Dead and Invincible, will be a Guest of Honor at this year’s New York Comic Con, which will take place at the Javits Center in New York City, Thursday, October 13 – Sunday October 16, 2011. Mr. Kirkman is the first guest to be announced for this year’s convention. Show organizers note that Mr. Kirkman will have a prominent role and will participate in panels as well as appear at the Image Comics booth. Further details about his participation will be posted on the NYCC website as soon as they become available.

Meanwhile, as previously announced, New York Comic Con will be extended by an extra day in 2011 in order to accommodate even more attendees. Nearly 100,000 fans, guests, and professionals attended the 2010 edition of the annual pop culture gathering. For the first time, the convention will be open to the public for three full days – Friday (10/14), Saturday (10/15), and Sunday (10/16). NYCC's additional day of convention activity will take place on Thursday (10/13) with academic programming beginning at 12 noon. The convention floor will officially open for professional hours and a new fan preview night for 4-day ticket holders and VIPs on Thursday from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM.

"Robert Kirkman is one of a handful of highly acclaimed and prestigious creators who raises the bar and sets a standard of excellence for our show," notes Lance Fensterman, Group Vice President for ReedPOP and Show Manager for New York Comic Con. "We are extremely grateful to him for agreeing so early to participate in our show. He is a superstar and we will have thousands of fans who will be incredibly anxious to see him. This is a terrific announcement as it signals the type of exciting guest appearances that we will be revealing in the coming months as we prepare for an even longer and more comprehensive New York Comic Con. The fun is just beginning!"

About Robert Kirkman: Robert Kirkman is a New York Times bestselling author known for being a cultural zeitgeist of the comic book industry. Following the grassroots success of the self-published Battle Pope (2000), Kirkman caught the eye of Image Comics founding partner Erik Larsen. After several short-term projects (SuperPatriot and TechJacket), he achieved superstar status in 2003 with Invincible and The Walking Dead. During a subsequent stint at Marvel Comics, he gained many new fans with the haunting and hilarious Marvel Zombies. MTV translated Kirkman's Invincible into a motion comic -- one of the first in a growing industry trend. Kirkman's SKYBOUND imprint, under the Image Comics umbrella, is committed to fostering up-and-coming talent in the industry, and all acquisitions are hand picked by Kirkman himself. Kirkman won the 2010 Eisner Award for Best Continuing Series for The Walking Dead. AMC's interpretation of the comic, helmed by Frank Darabont and Gale Anne Hurd, has received glowing reviews from critics and fans alike and continues to garner the highest ratings for the network, making it a game changer for groundbreaking television on cable.

For more information about Robert Kirkman's SKYBOUND imprint at Image Comics please visitwww.skyboundent.com.

Tickets for NYCC are now on sale via the website www.NewYorkComicCon.com. Limited 4-Day tickets are available. For further information about all ReedPOP shows and activity, please visit Lance Fensterman's blog,www.MediumAtLarge.net. Convention organizers note Mr. Kirkman is the first of many guests to be revealed and fans should keep their eyes on NYCC's website and blog for additional comics, entertainment and anime announcements in the coming weeks.

ABOUT REEDPOP: ReedPOP is a boutique group within Reed Exhibitions which is exclusively devoted to organizing events, launching and acquiring new shows, and partnering with premium brands in the pop culture arena. ReedPOP is dedicated to producing celebrations of popular culture throughout the world that transcend ordinary events by providing unique access and dynamic personal experiences for consumers and fans. The ReedPOP portfolio includes: New York Comic Con (NYCC), Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2), Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) East & West, Star Wars Celebration V, New York Anime Festival (NYAF) and UFC Fan Expo. The staff at ReedPOP is a fan based group of professionals producing shows for other fans, thus making them uniquely qualified to service those with whom they share a common passion. ReedPOP is focused on bringing its expertise and knowledge to world communities in North America, South America, Asia and Europe.

Contact: Roger Bilheimer

bilheim@aol.com

Myth's of the Kitchen

Myth #1: Adding salt to water makes it boil faster.

Reality: Salt actually raises water's boiling point, thus taking it slightly longer to boil, but the amount of salt a home cook would likely add is too small to make a noticeable difference. Salt will, however, add flavor to almost anything you're cooking, so it's worth the extra millisecond or two.

Myth #2: Boiling drains away all nutrients from vegetables.

Reality: While it's generally a tastier bet to steam veggies to your desired level of crispness, boiling them doesn't leach out all their benefits. Some vitamins are water soluble and may diminish, but many important minerals and fiber remain.

Myth #3: Adding oil to pasta water keeps strands from sticking together.

Reality: Oil can help keep pasta water from boiling over because it sits on the surface, but it makes it more difficult for sauce to adhere. Your best bet for non-sticky pasta is to use a large pot with plenty of water (five to six quarts for one pound), bring it to a fast boil, add all the pasta at once and stir frequently with a wooden spoon or fork.

Myth #4: Don't wash mushrooms because they'll soak up too much water and lose flavor.

Reality: Yes, mushrooms are porous, but they're also 90% water. A rinse isn't going to make a noticeable difference in the flavor of the end product, and you'll be assured that they're grime free.

Myth #5: Leaving an avocado pit in guacamole keeps it from browning.

Reality: The pit will keep any part of the guac it's touching from browning, but not through any magical chemical reaction; it's just blocking air from reaching the the dip and oxidizing. Tight plastic wrap against the surface works just as well, and covers a much larger area.

Myth #6: Baking soda and baking powder keep forever.

Reality: This one's only partially false. A box of baking soda will keep fresh 'til the cows come home. Baking powder, on the other hand loses its potency after it's opened. Count on three to six months of effective leavening, check the expiration date, and store the can in a cool, dry place that isn't the fridge. If you're worried that your soda has lost its sizzle, add one teaspoon to 1/3 cup of hot water. If it doesn't bubble, buy a new can.

Myth #7: Unrefrigerated butter will make you sick.

Reality: Salted butter won't spoil as quickly as other dairy products would if left at room temperature, as salt staves off the growth of the bacteria that causes spoilage. While of course it will spoil eventually, if you like your butter on the spreadable side, leaving it covered on the counter or in a butter bell is perfectly safe.

Myth #8: A potato will soak up excess salt in a soup or stew.

Reality: The potato will draw in some liquid, but it won't specifically attract salt or do much to counteract the flavor. Your best bet is to add more liquid, some sugar or an acid like vinegar to balance the brine.

Myth #9: All alcohol burns off during cooking.

Reality: If you heat a booze-based concoction for a few hours, the alcohol level will significantly lessen, but a quick flambe, simmer or bake only knocks the potency back by 50% or less. So, while a slice of rum cake won't get you tipsy, it's still a good idea to warn folks who don't normally consume alcohol.

Myth #10: Cold water boils faster than warm water.

Reality: Well, no. Cold water heats more quickly than warm water because the rate of heating depends on the difference in temperature between the liquid and its surroundings, but once it's caught up to the temp of the warmer water, it will take just as long to reach the boiling point.

Myth #11: Salting meat before cooking it makes it tougher.

Reality: If you crusted a steak in salt and let it sit for a very long time, then perhaps some moisture would be drawn out, but that wouldn't even necessarily be a bad thing. Meat should be patted dry before cooking so the surface doesn't simply steam. Salt seasons meat and makes for a much better flavor, so go ahead and shake it up -- preferably with a larger-grained Kosher salt.

Myth #12: Salting beans before cooking makes them tough.

Reality: No matter when salt is added in the cooking process, it won't affect tenderness. It will, however, enhance flavor. Season away!

Myth #13: You can't deep fry in olive oil.

Reality: It's not as cost-effective as canola or safflower, so restaurants don't tend to use olive oil, but it's perfectly fine to use at home. It does lose a bit of its flavor at higher heats and has a lower smoking point than some other oils, so some experimentation may be needed, but many folks swear by the flavor. Save the extra-virgin for finishing dishes or cold techniques, and stick to regular or virgin for cooking.

Myth #14: Rinse pasta to remove the starch.

Reality: Starch helps sauce adhere to pasta. For optimum coverage, cook pasta to just slightly under-done, and save a mug full of the pasta water. Mix this into the sauce and finish cooking the pasta in this mixture. Only rinse pasta if you're going to use it in a cold salad.

Myth #15: Throw spaghetti against the wall to test for doneness.

Reality: That's a cute idea, but you'll just end up with sticky walls, and you still won't know if your pasta is done. Most commercial boxes suggest a time range. Lift out a piece with a slotted spoon at the low end of the range and take a nibble. If it sticks to your teeth, it still needs time. If it's firm, but almost springy and not at all brittle, then drain and mangia!

Myth #16: Searing meat seals in juices.

Reality: Searing a steak doesn't "seal" in juices, but it does a lot to lock in great flavor. When meat meets high heat (between 300-500F), proteins on the meat's surface recombine with sugars to kick off the Maillard Reaction, which is what brings that savory flavor to a browned crust.

Myth #17: Storing bananas in the fridge ruins them.

Reality: Way back when the original Chiquita banana jingle was written, warning customers not to refrigerate their 'nanners, it was because they were sold green and wouldn't reach a state of ripeness in the cold. Modern day bananas can be ripened quickly in a paper bag, or more slowly in a fridge. The skin may darken a bit, but the fruit will be just fine.

Myth #18: Salads and sandwiches containing mayonnaise aren't safe for picnics.

Reality: Commercial mayo contains an acid level that actually allows it to act as a preservative for other ingredients in a salad. It's much more likely that the chicken, ham or eggs would spoil than the mayo. Still, for safety's sake pack chicken salad and the like in a cooler that stays below 40F.

Myth #19: Slightly pink pork will make you sick and kill you.

Reality: We're not saying you should go hog wild on pork sashimi, but trichnosis is largely a thing of the past, due to changes in pig feeding techniques. A temperature of 137-141F would be sufficient to kill off the larvae that cause the disease, but a pork roast cooked to a 160F internal temperature will still have a slightly pink center. It's safe to pig out.

Myth #20: Microwaves cook food from the inside out.

Reality: Nope. The microwaves don't so much conduct heat, as excite fat and water molecules more or less evenly throughout the food, depending on its density and composition. Some foods, burritos for example, contain more water internally than on the surface, so they may seem as if they're heating from the center, but that's not actually the case.