News
Otakon Announces Guests of Honor
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Hikaru Midorikawa (for real, this time!), Ian Kim, Shin Kurokawa, Adam Warren, Scott Frazier, and more...
Excerpted from the post by Thomas Heaton to the Otakon ML:
The Guest Relations Department would like to announce it's first in hopefully a long line of really great Japanese Guests of Honor:
Hikaru Midorikawa - Aoni Productions
Hikaru Midorikawa is perhaps one of the most popular Voice Actors in Japan today. His roles include Heero Yuy from Gundam Wing, Tamahome from Fushigi Yuugi (Mysterious Play), Zelgadis from Slayers, and many others. He's lent his voice to many anime and video games over the years, and OTAKON is pleased to have him take time out of his busy schedule to attend our convention.
American Guests:
Fred Perry
Website: http://www.cheetaholics.net/
Fred Perry has been involved in the American manga industry for a long time now. He is probably best known for his work on the Gold Diggers and Legacy manga series'. Few equal Fred in his artistic ability, and he is an all around great guy. When not doing guest-type events, he can be found roaming the Artist's Alley or playing video games...
Scott Frazier
Website: http://sockfairy.com/scott/
Scott's importance to the American anime community is hard to deny. In 1989 became the first foreigner to work in the production department of an anime studio. He's worked on such anime as Bubblegum Crash, Moldiver, and Genocyber in his many years in the field. After a stint working for the US leg of Production I.G, he moved on to work for Trimedia East, the makers of RETAS, an award-winning software that aids in 2D animation.
Gilles Poitras
Website: http://www.sirius.com/~cowpunk
Normal guy by day, Anime lecturer by night, Gilles Poitras is one knowledgeable anime fan. He has written much about anime, including the Anime Companion and Anime Essentials. Don't miss him as he comes back to OTAKON. You may actually learn something about anime...
Scott Houle
Have you ever had aspirations of being a voice actor? Well this man can help. He runs Coastal Carolina Studios and will be bringing up one of his studios so you can "Dub Yer Own Anime". Scott has been involved in many projects from Blue Submarine No. 6 to the Virtua Fighter TV series. Be sure to check it out!
Pamela Weidner
Although most of her time is taken up Editing and Directing for Coastal Carolina Studios, Pamela has had her hand in many voice acting roles. She was the Voice for Skuld in Oh My Goddess!, Sheena from Shinesmen, and Miyu in Vampire Princess Miyu. She will be helping Scott Houle with the "Dub Yer Own Anime" panel.
Adam Warren
Fan Site: http://www.adamwarren.com/
Even with artistic contributions to Spin magazine, and a new writting gig on Wildstorm Comic's Gen 13, Adam Warren can't forget his roots... manga. Along with Toren Smith, Warren produced one of the earliest American adaptations of an anime or manga. The Dirty Pair has since spawned multiple volumes, and Warren also helped to produce the American Bubblegum Crisis comic. He keeps busy writing these days, but you will most likely find him wandering about the Artist Alley.
Steve Bennett
Website: http://www.ironcat.com
"You know him, you love him!" If you don't know who this man is you have either: A) Never attended an anime convention before or B) Been too busy in the video rooms. Never to disappoint, Steve has been a vital part of anime fandom since he hit the scene as a founder of Studio Ironcat. Ironcat is responsible for the translations of various manga like Futabakun-Change!, Vampire Princess Miyu, Crusher Joe, and Cutey Honey. You cannot miss him, just look for the entourage.
Ian Kim
Website: http://www.emikogenesis.com, http://www.genesischronicles.com
Ian is the designer of several Otakon shirts and program books (including this year's). He is also the sole artist/writer for Genesis Chronicles, a non-existent comic that has been under development for over seven years. He will be more than happy to share his thoughts on life, love, and anime, whether you are an Emiko fan (i.e. a pink-hair otaku with inhuman patience), or someone that shares a keen interest in creating and drawing anime. Approach with a sense of humor. ^_^
Shin Kurokawa
Website: http://www.animeigo.com
AnimEigo's "translator in chief" can be found roaming the halls of most any anime con. Rumor is that Shin does more goofing off than actual work, but translations do get in. He's a great guy to talk to, so take teh chance and talk to him. He doesn't bite.
And our favorite Mascot:
Hiroko-chan
Age: late teens
Blood type: AB
Hair: Red, long
Eyes: Blue/Green/depends on her mood. ^_^
Hiroko-chan joined the OTAKON staff in 1995 and as our friendliest, cutest member she has been our mascot ever since. She made her first public appearance on the OTAKON 1995 flyer/t-shirt, and while she has changed her look a little over the years, she remains the same girl no matter who draws her. Her name comes from the anime _Otaku no Video_, but don't confuse her with Misty May. Hiroko-chan likes anime, cute guys, and Mint Chocolate chip ice cream.
The Guest Relations Department would like to announce it's first in hopefully a long line of really great Japanese Guests of Honor:
Hikaru Midorikawa - Aoni Productions
Hikaru Midorikawa is perhaps one of the most popular Voice Actors in Japan today. His roles include Heero Yuy from Gundam Wing, Tamahome from Fushigi Yuugi (Mysterious Play), Zelgadis from Slayers, and many others. He's lent his voice to many anime and video games over the years, and OTAKON is pleased to have him take time out of his busy schedule to attend our convention.
American Guests:
Fred Perry
Website: http://www.cheetaholics.net/
Fred Perry has been involved in the American manga industry for a long time now. He is probably best known for his work on the Gold Diggers and Legacy manga series'. Few equal Fred in his artistic ability, and he is an all around great guy. When not doing guest-type events, he can be found roaming the Artist's Alley or playing video games...
Scott Frazier
Website: http://sockfairy.com/scott/
Scott's importance to the American anime community is hard to deny. In 1989 became the first foreigner to work in the production department of an anime studio. He's worked on such anime as Bubblegum Crash, Moldiver, and Genocyber in his many years in the field. After a stint working for the US leg of Production I.G, he moved on to work for Trimedia East, the makers of RETAS, an award-winning software that aids in 2D animation.
Gilles Poitras
Website: http://www.sirius.com/~cowpunk
Normal guy by day, Anime lecturer by night, Gilles Poitras is one knowledgeable anime fan. He has written much about anime, including the Anime Companion and Anime Essentials. Don't miss him as he comes back to OTAKON. You may actually learn something about anime...
Scott Houle
Have you ever had aspirations of being a voice actor? Well this man can help. He runs Coastal Carolina Studios and will be bringing up one of his studios so you can "Dub Yer Own Anime". Scott has been involved in many projects from Blue Submarine No. 6 to the Virtua Fighter TV series. Be sure to check it out!
Pamela Weidner
Although most of her time is taken up Editing and Directing for Coastal Carolina Studios, Pamela has had her hand in many voice acting roles. She was the Voice for Skuld in Oh My Goddess!, Sheena from Shinesmen, and Miyu in Vampire Princess Miyu. She will be helping Scott Houle with the "Dub Yer Own Anime" panel.
Adam Warren
Fan Site: http://www.adamwarren.com/
Even with artistic contributions to Spin magazine, and a new writting gig on Wildstorm Comic's Gen 13, Adam Warren can't forget his roots... manga. Along with Toren Smith, Warren produced one of the earliest American adaptations of an anime or manga. The Dirty Pair has since spawned multiple volumes, and Warren also helped to produce the American Bubblegum Crisis comic. He keeps busy writing these days, but you will most likely find him wandering about the Artist Alley.
Steve Bennett
Website: http://www.ironcat.com
"You know him, you love him!" If you don't know who this man is you have either: A) Never attended an anime convention before or B) Been too busy in the video rooms. Never to disappoint, Steve has been a vital part of anime fandom since he hit the scene as a founder of Studio Ironcat. Ironcat is responsible for the translations of various manga like Futabakun-Change!, Vampire Princess Miyu, Crusher Joe, and Cutey Honey. You cannot miss him, just look for the entourage.
Ian Kim
Website: http://www.emikogenesis.com, http://www.genesischronicles.com
Ian is the designer of several Otakon shirts and program books (including this year's). He is also the sole artist/writer for Genesis Chronicles, a non-existent comic that has been under development for over seven years. He will be more than happy to share his thoughts on life, love, and anime, whether you are an Emiko fan (i.e. a pink-hair otaku with inhuman patience), or someone that shares a keen interest in creating and drawing anime. Approach with a sense of humor. ^_^
Shin Kurokawa
Website: http://www.animeigo.com
AnimEigo's "translator in chief" can be found roaming the halls of most any anime con. Rumor is that Shin does more goofing off than actual work, but translations do get in. He's a great guy to talk to, so take teh chance and talk to him. He doesn't bite.
And our favorite Mascot:
Hiroko-chan
Age: late teens
Blood type: AB
Hair: Red, long
Eyes: Blue/Green/depends on her mood. ^_^
Hiroko-chan joined the OTAKON staff in 1995 and as our friendliest, cutest member she has been our mascot ever since. She made her first public appearance on the OTAKON 1995 flyer/t-shirt, and while she has changed her look a little over the years, she remains the same girl no matter who draws her. Her name comes from the anime _Otaku no Video_, but don't confuse her with Misty May. Hiroko-chan likes anime, cute guys, and Mint Chocolate chip ice cream.