North America’s largest anime, manga and Japanese pop culture celebration — officially kicks off Thursday, June 28 with a star-studded Red Carpet and Opening Ceremony at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Anime Expo Official Guests of Honor will greet fans on the red carpet at 6 p.m. with the Opening Ceremony to follow at 7 p.m.

Now in its 21st year, Anime Expo 2012 (AX) will present some of today’s most exciting anime, manga, musical, game and fashion artists from Japan and the U.S.; main event concerts and contests such as the crowd favorite Masquerade; new and exciting interactive offerings and even Lounge 21, where over-21 attendees can enjoy wine, beer and cocktails.

Announced Guests of Honors include composer Yuki Kajiura/”FictionJunction;” anime-inspired heavy metal band ANIMETAL USA; Culture Japan’s Danny Choo; Fate/Zero” creative team Hikaru Konda, Ei Aoki and Rikiya Koyama; Madhouse creative team Asaka Morio, Kunihiko Hamada and Takuya Tsunoki; animation director Tatsuo Sato; voice actors Ryo Horikawa, Nobuhiko Okamoto, Jamie Marchi, Monica Rial, Steve Blum, Joel McDonald and Ian Sinclair; Japanese pop star LiSA, Lolita fashion designer Cyril Lumboy, Lolita model Misako Aoki; Tokyo-based Gallery of Fantastic Art and popular cosplayer Jessica Nigri.

The following are highlights of the AX Main Events, all to be held in Hall G of LACC:

Day Zero: June 28, 2012
6:00 – 6:40 p.m. Red Carpet
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Opening Ceremonies

Day One: June 29, 2012
5:30 – 6:30 p.m. ANIMETAL USA Concert
9:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. Anime Music Video (AMV) Contest

Day Two: June 30, 2012
7:00 – 8 p.m. Yuki Kajiura/”Fiction/Junction” Concert

Day Three: July 1, 2012
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. LiSA Concert
3:00 – 4:00 pm. Japan Fashion Mix at AX 2012: Fashion Show hosted by Misako Aoki and Danny Choo
with up-and-coming J-pop singer Kyoka
8:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. Masquerade

Day Four: July 2, 2012
12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Art Auction
1:00 – 6:00 p.m. SPJA Charity Auction
6:00 p.m. Closing Ceremonies