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Anime Expo to Host Mega Man/Mighty No. 9's Keiji Inafune
posted on by Karen Ressler
The organizers of the Anime Expo convention announced on Friday that it will host Mega Man co-creator and comcept founder Keiji Inafune at this year's event.
Inafune co-designed Capcom's Megaman (Rockman) character and worked as producer for many titles in the video game franchise. He worked at game developer Capcom for 23 years and contributed to more than 60 titles, including the Onimusha and Dead Rising games, before leaving in 2010. Inafune was also Global Head of Production, Head of Research and Development, and Head of Online Development at Capcom.
After leaving Capcom, Inafune founded the video game developer comcept in 2010. The company raised more than US$3.8 million for its Mighty No. 9 side-scrolling game in a crowdfunding campaign in 2013, and plans to release the game on June 21. Inafune also worked on the Azure Striker Gunvolt game.
Inafune also visited Anime Expo last year, when he unveiled comcept and Studio 4°C 's "Red Ash" project.
Anime Expo will celebrate its 25th anniversary this year from July 1 to July 4. The convention will also host Vampire Hunter D and Final Fantasy artist Yoshitaka Amano; director Makoto Shinkai; Blue Exorcist creator Kazue Kato; Your Lie in April manga creator Naoshi Arakawa; singer Michi; voice actress Chika Anzai; voice actor Junichi Suwabe; Monster Musume creator OKAYADO; Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto creator Nami Sano; BONES studio president Masahiko Minami; Castlevania: Symphony of the Night designer Koji Igarashi; Macross creator Shoji Kawamori; P.A. Works CEO, founder, and producer Kenji Horikawa; FLCL 2 guests Kazuya Tsurumaki and Mayumi Shintani; voice actor Tetsuya Kakihara; minori producer nbkz (Nobukazu Sakai); CLOCKUP illustrator Shigeo Hamashima; Anju Inami, Rikako Aida, Nanaka Suwa, Arisa Komiya, Kanako Takatsuki, and Ai Furihata from the Love Live! Sunshine!! idol group Aqours; and One-Punch Man anime director Shingo Natsume, voice actor Makoto Furukawa (Saitama) and opening theme song performers JAM Project.
Other musical guests include Eir Aoi, Luna Haruna, Minami, Sphere, T.M. Revolution, Yoko Ishida, DJ Kazu, FLOW, and OLDCODEX.
The convention will also host a P.A. Works 15th Anniversary Exhibit at this year's convention in the Entertainment Hall, presented by Kenji Horikawa. Additionally Anime Expo will host a "Cowboy Bebop Jazz Cat Experience" performance event, and the world premiere of Shinkai's newest film your name. (Kimi no Na wa.).
