New Event to Debut in December 2007

Norwalk, CT, April 1, 2007: Fans of anime and manga may now look forward to a brand new annual festival celebrating the very best of Japanese popular culture launching later this year in New York City. Reed Exhibitions, the organizer of New York Comic Con, has today announced the creation of the New York Anime Festival (NYAF) which will take place December 7-9, 2007 at the Jacob K. Javits Center in midtown Manhattan. "New York finally has an anime event of its own!" proclaims John McGeary, Show Manager for NYAF. Show planners note that the new event will be an extravaganza featuring the latest in anime, manga, Japanese cinema, music, and games, and the best of anime-influenced comics, animation, and film from around the world. Show staff also note that by being in New York City, NYAF will allow exhibitors to interact with one of the largest anime fan bases in the country and at the same time garner tremendous exposure by being in the media capital of the world.

"We are using our experience at New York Comic Con as our springboard," McGeary states. "We will continue to have strong anime programming at NYCC, but at the same time, we want to serve the anime community directly by giving them their own show. Anime has taken the nation by storm, and the professional and fan community in New York is looking for more. We want to give them as much as possible." By bringing professionals together with fans, convention organizers seek to create a productive and energized atmosphere that is modeled on NYCC. The professional element at NYAF will include book buyers, video retailers, libraries, booksellers, and other assorted industry professionals.

The festival will span the complete breadth of anime pop culture including exclusive and extensive screenings, a gala cosplay masquerade, and sessions with the biggest names in anime from Japan, Asia, and America. The event will also explore the Japanese cultural experience with a showcase of both traditional and cutting-edge Japanese cuisine, apparel, and lifestyles. Of course, NYAF will also feature the latest in manga, toys, costumes, video games, trading card games, DVDs, music, and much more on the show floor.

Festival organizers are anticipating that the early December date will be a major attraction to fans and other festival attendees as it is an exciting time to be in New York and see the city in the full splendor of the holiday season. McGeary states, "Our festival is a celebration of the anime art form, and so it seems only appropriate that we would have the show at a time when New York is abuzz with traditional holiday celebrations."

The website for NYAF is now live and tickets are available at www.nyanimefestival.com. Fans are also encouraged to sign up for a monthly newsletter by visiting the website.

The New York Anime Festival will be sponsored by ADV Films, Anime Insider Magazine, Anime Network, Anime News Network, AnimeNEXT, Diamond Book Distributors, ICv2, Newtype USA Magazine, Playthings Magazine, TOKYOPOP, and VIZ Media.

ABOUT REED EXHIBITIONS: New York Anime Festival is operated by Reed Exhibitions which is the world's leading events organizer. In 2006 Reed brought together over six million industry professions from around the world generating billions of dollars in business. Today Reed events are held in 34 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific, and organized by 37 fully staffed offices.

Reed organizes a wide range of events, including exhibitions, conferences, congresses and meetings. It's portfolio of over 460 events serves 52 industry sectors, including:

Aerospace and defense, building and construction, design, electronics, energy, oil and gas, entertainment, food and hospitality, gifts, healthcare, IT/telecoms, jewelry, manufacturing, marketing and business services, pharmaceuticals, property, publishing, security, sport and recreation, transport and logistics, travel.

Working closely with professional bodies, trade associations and government departments Reed ensures that each and every event is targeted and relevant to industry needs. As a result, many Reed events are market leaders in their field.

Reed Exhibitions is part of Reed Elsevier Group plc, a FTSE-100 company and world-leading publisher and information provider. In 2005, Reed Elsevier made adjusted profit before taxation of £1,002 million on turnover of £5,166 million.