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New Jersey's AnimeNEXT to Host Studio Trigger's Yoh Yoshinari, Shuhei Handa

New Jersey-based anime convention AnimeNEXT announced on Monday that Studio Trigger's Yoh Yoshinari, Shūhei Handa, Shigeto Koyama, and Hiromi Wakabayashi will be guests at this year's convention.

According to AnimeNEXT's website, Yoshinari will visit the convention to promote his Little Witch Academia television series. The anime premiered on January 8; Netflix is streaming the series in Japan but it has not announced the series for North America.

Yoshinari debuted as a chief key animator on Neon Genesis Evangelion. His many credits include mechanical designer on Gurren Lagann, concept artist on Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt, and set design on Kill la Kill. He made his directorial debut with the Little Witch Academia film, for which he also served as original creator and character designer. The film inspired a sequel, Little Witch Academia: The Enchanted Parade, and a television anime.

Handa joined the anime industry as a GAINAX animator and moved to Studio Trigger for the Anime Mirai 2013 project. He has served as chief animation director for Space Patrol Luluco and character designer for the Little Witch Academia television anime. His other credits include Kill la Kill, Kiznaiver, and One-Punch Man.

Koyama debuted as the mechanical designer for Gainax's Gunbuster 2: Diebuster OVA sequel, and is currently an animator and designer at Trigger. He has worked on titles including HEROMAN, Eureka Seven, Gurren Lagann, Star Driver, Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt, Rebuild of Evangelion, Kill la Kill, and Ancien and the Magic Tablet. He designed the character Baymax in the Big Hero 6 film.

Koyama is returning from last year's event.

Wakabayashi is a former GAINAX member who has collaborated on several works with Hiroyuki Imaishi. His work includes design production for Gurren Lagann as well as the original idea, plot development, and directing participation for Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt. For Kill la Kill, Wakabayashi wrote the script for episode four, directed the second ending sequence, and assisted and oversaw the design team as its creative producer. He also participated in story development for Little Witch Academia and Inferno Cop, and served as creative director for Space Patrol Luluco.

Wakabayashi is also returning from last year's event.

This year's convention will be held from June 9-11 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.