Many dreams were fulfilled with grand announcements on Friday morning. A spectacular array of famous Guests, a record-breaking opening attendance level, the largest Exhibit Hall to date packed full of an even larger list of anime dealers, more panels, more 35mm film movies, and simply more of everything stuffed into four whole days held at at a world-renowned vacation resort hotel and convention center... an amazing accomplishment to say the least.

AnimeExpo2000 Opening Ceremonies

Spotlights ON!  The AX2000 Opening Ceremonies starts with a roaring crowd and earth-shaking applause!

With a whopping 1800-seat capacity main events ballroom and luxurious accommodations for all the guests on stage, emcee Jeff Okamoto proudly announces full attendance of all the Guests of Honor (full details on Guests can be found in our Guests Gallery!): Mr. Kazuki Akane, Ms. Rica Fukami, Mr. Keiji Gotoh, Mr. Junichi Hayama, Mr. Kunihiko Ikuhara, Mr. Hirotsugu Kawasaki, Mr. Takuhito Kusanagi, Mr. Mahiro Maeda, Ms. Aya Matsui, Mr. Yutaka Minowa, Mr. Hideki Mitsui, Mr. Range Murata, Mr. Kazuto Nakazawa, Mr. Yasuhiro Nightow, Ms. Chiho Saito, Ms. Takada Akemi, and Ms. Yu Watase.

Amid thunderous and screaming applause for each glorious introduction of the Guests of Honor, another surprise announcement was made: Ms. Chiho Saito's birthday! upon which all 1800 members of the audience and staff sang "Happy Birthday!"
City of Hope Chairman John Taylor proudly reviews the extensive history of the SPJA, AX, and its Guests donating thousands upon thousands of dollars towards medical research that have helped cure the ailments of many children.	Ms. Takada Akemi is chosen to draw in the first eye of AX2000's daruma statue (a longtime AX tradition to wish for a successful convention).	Mr. Akira Kamiya, attending as industry panelist and Honorary AX2000 Chairman, proudly declares the grand opening of Anime Expo 2000!

Above and below: glorious photos of the huge donation display check to the City of Hope through care of the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation and its Guests of Honor with their signatures.

[Main] [Opening Ceremonies] [Guests of Honor] [Exhibit Hall 1] [Exhibit Hall 2] [Exhibit Hall 3] [Exhibit Hall 4] [Exhibit Hall 5] [Exhibit Hall 6] [Art Show] [Artist Alley 1] [Artist Alley 2] [Guest Reception 1] [Guest Reception 2] [Friday Night Dance] [Fan Fun] [Video Gaming] [Friday Discussion Panels 1, Panels 2, Panels 3] [Saturday Discussion Panels 4, Panels 5] [Sunday Discussion Panels 6, Panels 7, Panels 8, Panels 9] [Monday Discussion Panels 10] [Friday Cosplay Gallery 1, Gallery 2, Gallery 3, Gallery 4, Gallery 5, Gallery 6, Gallery 7, Gallery 8, Gallery 9, Gallery 10, Gallery 11, Gallery 12, Gallery 13, Gallery 14] [Saturday Cosplay Gallery 15, Gallery 16, Gallery 17, Gallery 18, Gallery 19, Gallery 20, Gallery 21, Gallery 22, Gallery 23, Gallery 24, Gallery 25, Gallery 26, Gallery 27] [Masquerade Competition] [Sunday Cosplay Gallery 28, Gallery 29, Gallery 30, Gallery 31, Gallery 32, Gallery 33, Gallery 34] [Monday Cosplay Gallery 35] [Miscellaneous Main Events] [5XL Concert] [Disneyland Resort Hotel by Day] [Disneyland Resort Hotel by Night and Entertainment Facilities] [Information Desk] [Merchandising] [Registration] [AX2000 Staff Dedication] [LLNN Commentary]