YouTube™ Content Creator Anna Akana Leads Workshop Showing Teens How To Stand-Up To Bullying For Canon Rebel With A Cause Campaign

MELVILLE, N.Y., Oct. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, is showcasing YouTube video creator and anti-bullying advocate Anna Akana as its latest Canon Rebel With A Cause. Since first sharing her personal story on YouTube after her sister's suicide as a result of bullying, Akana has used comedy as her own form of therapy. Her ability to put a unique spin on typically uncomfortable topics led Canon to select her as a Rebel With A Cause, in honor of the 25^th anniversary of the first EOS Rebel SLR camera. Anna's cause focuses on using comedy to build confidence in youth that have been bullied, and the video of her cause, shot entirely on Canon EOS Rebel T6i DSLR cameras, can be seen here: http://Canon.us/ubcq.

Along with The Groundlings comedy troupe, Anna worked with bullied teenagers ranging in ages from 13 to 17 to teach them how to use the power of comedy to face their fears and confidently use their personal experiences as the basis for their own comedic material.

"I was able to find peace and tackle my own anxieties through comedy, so it was amazing to work with teenagers to show them that humor is far more powerful than words of hate," said actress and filmmaker, Anna Akana. "I hope the video of our experience will inspire others to consider the impacts of bullying and help those who are bullied feel that they are not alone - and can overcome!"

"According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, Cyberbullying Research Center, more than 85% of students in the United States have been bullied at school, online or via text, so we wanted to give Anna, a modern day rebel, a platform and a camera to socialize the power of her voice," said Yuichi Ishizuka, president and COO, Canon U.S.A., Inc.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Jeff Sugar, MD, a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, worked with the youth in this video to provide counsel throughout the experience. Tapping into Dr. Sugar's expertise, Anna was able to help foster a supportive atmosphere while helping the teenagers involved overcome their bullying-focused experiences and come out on top…laughing. Once finished with the workshops, the teenagers got their chance at center stage for a stand-up routine in front of their families and friends.

In late 2015, Canon launched Rebel With A Cause, a campaign designed to profile modern day rebels who challenge convention in their own unique way, shown through the eye of a Canon EOS Rebel DSLR camera.  With American Daredevil Nik Wallenda, the first and only person to walk a tightrope across Niagara Falls and the Grand Canyon, an unexpected group of people were encouraged to check items off of their personal bucket lists. In February 2016, Canon continued Rebel With A Cause, with its second iteration featuring GRAMMY^® winning producer Swizz Beatz. Aiming to showcase artistic talent that may have otherwise fallen under the radar of the art community through #TheUnknowns, Swizz worked to curate an art show for the world to see on the facades of museums in New York City, followed by a gallery event at Sotheby's Auction House and an online auction. The campaign videos, both shot entirely on Canon EOS Rebel T6i DSLR cameras, can now be viewed here: http://canon.us/bkQln and here: http://canon.us/bsCZ2.

Concluding the yearlong Canon "Rebel With A Cause" campaign, one lucky consumer winner was chosen from an online contest searching for the next great inspiration. Photographer Guinnevere Shuster, an advocate for homeless sheltered animals, was selected as the winner and Canon will help bring her cause to life with a documentary production created, similar to those of the previous Rebels with a Cause. Guinnevere has photographed over 7,000 shelter animals and continues to strive to help find animals a loving and lasting home.

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions to the United States and to Latin America and the Caribbean (excluding Mexico) markets. With approximately $31 billion in global revenue, its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), ranks third overall in U.S. patents granted in 2015† and is one of Fortune Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies in 2016. Canon U.S.A. is committed to the highest level of customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 percent U.S.-based consumer service and support for all of the products it distributes. Canon U.S.A. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility. In 2014, the Canon Americas Headquarters secured LEED® Gold certification, a recognition for the design, construction, operations and maintenance of high-performance green buildings. To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company's RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss and follow us on Twitter @CanonUSA. For media inquiries, please contact [email protected].

† Based on weekly patent counts issued by United States Patent and Trademark Office.

About Anna Akana
Anna Akana started her YouTube channel in 2011, jumpstarting her career as an actress, producer, filmmaker and writer. Now with over 1.5 million subscribers, Anna has produced eight short films in the past two years, along with her weekly online show, which tackles meaningful messages shared through a comedic lens. Aside from her YouTube channel, Anna regularly performs stand-up, co-hosts the podcast "Explain Things to Me" (iTunes Best of 2015) and has several digital and long form projects currently in development. Most recently her digital series, "Miss 2059," a 12-episode comedy sci-fi adventure series, premiered June 21st on Verizon's go90 platform. Akana has also created the clothing company Ghost & Stars, and has a publishing deal with Random House/Ballantine, which will have her first book published in 2017. As a screen actress, Akana's other credits include: Freeform's "The Fosters," and films "Kids vs. Monsters," "Hello, My Name is Doris" and "Ant-Man." Upcoming, she can be seen starring alongside Bella Thorne and Halston Sage in Awesomeness Film's new thriller, "You Get Me," and Comedy Central's new original series, "Corporate."

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