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Anime Expo Hosts Zero Escape Games' Director Kōtarō Uchikoshi, Anime Producer Reo Kurosu

The organizers of the Anime Expo convention announced on Tuesday that it will host visual novel scenario writer and director Kōtarō Uchikoshi, and producer Reo Kurosu.

Uchikoshi will participate in a panel and will have autograph sessions throughout the weekend.

The convention will also run a Zero Escape Puzzle Hunt "live-experience puzzle game." The game will have no time limit, and will be open to participants between 12:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Participation in the game is free.

Uchikoshi co-wrote KID's Infinity visual novel series, including Never 7, Ever 17, and Remember 11. He debuted as a director in Spike Chunsoft's Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors, the first of the company's Zero Escape series, which includes Virtue's Last Reward and the upcoming Zero Escape: Time Dilemma. He also penned the scripts for the Punch Line anime, as well as its PS4/PS Vita game adaptation.

Kurosu worked in Aniplex from 2004 to 2011, and was an associate producer on the Fullmetal Alchemist: The Sacred Star of Milos anime film, a producer for the No. 6 and Saint Young Men anime, and collaborated with Cartoon Network as a co-producer on Demashitaa! Powerpuff Girls Z. He currently works at NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan, where he produced The Legend of Arslan and Berserk.

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; Mega Man co-creator and comcept founder Keiji Inafune; director Makoto Shinkai; Blue Exorcist creator Kazue Kato; My Hero Academia director Kenji Nagasaki, and English dub actors Justin Briner and Chris Sabat; 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; musician TeddyLoid; 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, OLDCODEX, and Dancing Dolls.

The convention will also host a P.A. Works 15th Anniversary Exhibit in the Entertainment Hall, presented by Horikawa. Additionally Anime Expo will host a "Cowboy Bebop Jazz Cat Experience" performance event, the world premiere of Shinkai's newest film your name. (Kimi no Na wa.), and the the premiere of the first English-dubbed episode of the One-Punch Man anime. Aniplex USA will also premiere the English dub of ERASED at the convention.