Second Round of Guests of Honour Confirmed for Ai-Kon 2008
Winnipeg, MB - April 21, 2008 - North American voice actors -and
brothers - Christopher Ayres and Greg Ayres have been added to the
list of guests of honour for Ai-Kon 2008, which also includes Johnny
Yong Bosch and Laura Bailey.
Both of the Ayres brothers will host and participate in a variety of
events - including panels and autograph sessions - during the three
days of the convention, scheduled for July 25, 26 and 27 at the
Winnipeg Convention Centre.
CHRISTOPHER AYRES
Christopher Ayres has been working professionally in theatre,
television and film since the age of 6. He currently works as a voice
actor for ADV Films and FUNimation Entertainment, and recently started
working as an A.D.R. Director for ADV Films. His first project for the
studio was the hit anime musical comedy The Nerima Daikon Brothers,
and also served as the director for Xenosaga: The Animation, and
Magikano. Some of Chris' best known voice acting roles include Kei
Kourono in Gantz, Suitengu in Speed Grapher, Von Kampher in Trinity
Blood, Hayashimizu in Full Metal Panic!? Fummofu, Nakamaru in Maburaho,
Yaminami in Peace Maker, and Koji in Godanner. Chris also works as a
professional fight director and has enjoyed bringing his workshop
"Mock Combat for Cosplay" to many conventions. More information is
available at his personal website, www.christopherayres-va.com.
GREG AYRES
This summer marks Greg Ayres' second Ai-Kon appearance in as many
years. Best known for his roles as Son Goku in Saiyuki, Chrono in
Chrono Crusade, and Satoshi Hiwatari in D.N.Angel, Ayres' most recent
roles include Koyuki in BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad, Hideki in The
Nerima Daikon Brothers, Kaoru Yamazaki in Welcome to the NHK, Roan in
Ragnarok The Animation, Hajime Hario in Magikano, and Toyama "Yuki"
Yukinojo in The Wallflower. More information is available at his
personal web site, www.gregayres.com.
Other Ai-Kon 2008 guests of honour include voice actors Johnny Yong
Bosch, best known for his role as Adam Park (Black Ranger) in Mighty
Morphin Power Rangers, as well as the voices of Ichigo Kurosaki in
Bleach and Vash the Stampede in Trigun, and Laura Bailey, who
currently serves as the voice of Shin, the five-year-old, foul-mouthed
main character of Shin-chan, currently airing as part of Cartoon
Network's Adult Swim block. Bailey's other notable voice-acting roles
include Lust in Fullmetal Alchemist, Tohru Honda in Fruits Basket.
ABOUT AI-KON: Ai-Kon is Manitoba's largest anime convention. An
all-ages event, the goal of Ai-Kon is the promotion of Japanese/Asian
animation and culture to the public. Started by the University of
Manitoba Japanese Animation Club (UMAnime) in 2001, Ai-Kon took a
reorganizational hiatus in 2002, returning in 2003. Ai-Kon has since
become an autonomous event, run by an independent volunteer board.
"Ai" means "love" in Japanese, hence Ai-Kon's slogan "For the Love of
Anime".
In 2007 approximately 1,500 people attended Ai-Kon, and organizers
anticipate attendance numbers of 1,600 to 1,800 for this year's
convention. Ai-Kon was moved to a larger facility in 2005 increase
the comfort and enjoyment of those attending.
Ai-Kon weekend passes are $29 plus agency fees until April 30, $34
plus agency fees until June 30, and $39 plus agency fees after July 1
and available through TicketMaster. Individual day passes are
available only on their respective days. Children under 8 years of
age are free and must be accompanied by a paying adult. Full details
are available at the Ai-Kon web-site, http://www.ai-kon.org.
ABOUT ANIME: Anime is Japanese animation, and is known for its wide
range of styles and genres. Anime has grown exponentially in
popularity in North America in the last 10 years, with an
ever-increasing list of titles licensed for North American
distribution. Popular anime titles include Naruto, Bleach, Death
Note, Neon Genesis Evangelion, One Piece, and Sailor Moon.
brothers - Christopher Ayres and Greg Ayres have been added to the
list of guests of honour for Ai-Kon 2008, which also includes Johnny
Yong Bosch and Laura Bailey.
Both of the Ayres brothers will host and participate in a variety of
events - including panels and autograph sessions - during the three
days of the convention, scheduled for July 25, 26 and 27 at the
Winnipeg Convention Centre.
CHRISTOPHER AYRES
Christopher Ayres has been working professionally in theatre,
television and film since the age of 6. He currently works as a voice
actor for ADV Films and FUNimation Entertainment, and recently started
working as an A.D.R. Director for ADV Films. His first project for the
studio was the hit anime musical comedy The Nerima Daikon Brothers,
and also served as the director for Xenosaga: The Animation, and
Magikano. Some of Chris' best known voice acting roles include Kei
Kourono in Gantz, Suitengu in Speed Grapher, Von Kampher in Trinity
Blood, Hayashimizu in Full Metal Panic!? Fummofu, Nakamaru in Maburaho,
Yaminami in Peace Maker, and Koji in Godanner. Chris also works as a
professional fight director and has enjoyed bringing his workshop
"Mock Combat for Cosplay" to many conventions. More information is
available at his personal website, www.christopherayres-va.com.
GREG AYRES
This summer marks Greg Ayres' second Ai-Kon appearance in as many
years. Best known for his roles as Son Goku in Saiyuki, Chrono in
Chrono Crusade, and Satoshi Hiwatari in D.N.Angel, Ayres' most recent
roles include Koyuki in BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad, Hideki in The
Nerima Daikon Brothers, Kaoru Yamazaki in Welcome to the NHK, Roan in
Ragnarok The Animation, Hajime Hario in Magikano, and Toyama "Yuki"
Yukinojo in The Wallflower. More information is available at his
personal web site, www.gregayres.com.
Other Ai-Kon 2008 guests of honour include voice actors Johnny Yong
Bosch, best known for his role as Adam Park (Black Ranger) in Mighty
Morphin Power Rangers, as well as the voices of Ichigo Kurosaki in
Bleach and Vash the Stampede in Trigun, and Laura Bailey, who
currently serves as the voice of Shin, the five-year-old, foul-mouthed
main character of Shin-chan, currently airing as part of Cartoon
Network's Adult Swim block. Bailey's other notable voice-acting roles
include Lust in Fullmetal Alchemist, Tohru Honda in Fruits Basket.
ABOUT AI-KON: Ai-Kon is Manitoba's largest anime convention. An
all-ages event, the goal of Ai-Kon is the promotion of Japanese/Asian
animation and culture to the public. Started by the University of
Manitoba Japanese Animation Club (UMAnime) in 2001, Ai-Kon took a
reorganizational hiatus in 2002, returning in 2003. Ai-Kon has since
become an autonomous event, run by an independent volunteer board.
"Ai" means "love" in Japanese, hence Ai-Kon's slogan "For the Love of
Anime".
In 2007 approximately 1,500 people attended Ai-Kon, and organizers
anticipate attendance numbers of 1,600 to 1,800 for this year's
convention. Ai-Kon was moved to a larger facility in 2005 increase
the comfort and enjoyment of those attending.
Ai-Kon weekend passes are $29 plus agency fees until April 30, $34
plus agency fees until June 30, and $39 plus agency fees after July 1
and available through TicketMaster. Individual day passes are
available only on their respective days. Children under 8 years of
age are free and must be accompanied by a paying adult. Full details
are available at the Ai-Kon web-site, http://www.ai-kon.org.
ABOUT ANIME: Anime is Japanese animation, and is known for its wide
range of styles and genres. Anime has grown exponentially in
popularity in North America in the last 10 years, with an
ever-increasing list of titles licensed for North American
distribution. Popular anime titles include Naruto, Bleach, Death
Note, Neon Genesis Evangelion, One Piece, and Sailor Moon.
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