Tag Archives: anime

Producer Shoichi Hotta to Guest at Otakon

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Shoichi Hotta

Shoichi Hotta, who produced “Laid-Back Camp” among other anime titles, will be a guest at Otakon 2019

Early in his career, Hotta, a Tokyo native, was involved in animation projects at an ad agency and a videogame company.  Then he entered the field of anime, working as a producer for such anime titles as “Is The Order a Rabbit,” “HaNaYaMaTa,” and “Kakegurui – Compulsive Gambler.”  In 2018, he planned and produced the hit series “Laid-Back Camp.”  He currently works at DeNA, Co Ltd, where he is active in producing and creating a number of video and media mix projects.

Otakon 2019 will be held July 26-28, 2019 at the Walter Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

Voice Actor Sayuri Hara to Be Otakon Guest

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Sayuri Hara

Voice actor Sayuri Hara, who plays Chiaki Ogaki in “Laid-Back Camp,” will be a guest at Otakon 2019.

Hara’s TV anime debut was in 2009, as Specula Ex Machina in “The Tower of Druaga: The Sword of Uruk.”  Her first regular cast member role was Rizumu Amamiya in “Pretty Rhythm: Aurora Dream” in 2011.  In addition to “Laid-Back Camp” (original title “Yuru Camp”), Hara’s main roles include Mio Honda from “The Idolmaster: Cinderella Girls” and Sanae Nakazawa in “Captain Tsubasa” (2018).

A voice actor from the voice talent management firm 81 Produce, Hara was born in Tokyo. 

Otakon 2019 will be held July 26-28, 2019 at the Walter Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

Director Hiroshi Nagahama to Be an Otakon Guest

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Hiroshi Nagahama

Director Hiroshi Nagahama will be a guest at Otakon 2019.

Nagahama was born in 1970 in the city of Saeki, in the Oita prefecture of Japan. He began his career at Madhouse, where he worked on “The Cockpit” and “Azuki-chan” before becoming independent.  He was the concept designer for “Revolutionary Girl Utena”; the story board, the director of animation, and the key animator for “Sexy Commando Gaiden: Sugoi Yo!! Masaru-san”; and the chief director of “Jubei-chan: The Ninja Girl, The Counter Attack of Siberia Yagyu.”

The titles where he was the director include “Mushishi: Detroit Metal City,” “The Flowers of Evil,” which was done entirely with rotoscoping, and “The Reflection” from 2017, which he co-created with Stan Lee.  In 2018, he participated as one of twelve directors in the short anime “Rinshi!! Ekoda-chan.”

His awards include the individual award from the 11th Animation Kobe.

Otakon 2019 will be held July 26-28, 2019 at the Walter Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

Director Yoshiaki Kyogoku Joins the Otakon Guest Roster

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Yoshiaki Kyogoku

Yoshiaki Kyogoku, the director of “Laid-Back Camp,” will be a guest at Otakon 2019, according to Otakorp Inc.

Kyogoku began his career as an animator attached to Production I.G. He participated in many productions such as “Seirei no Moribito,” “Sengoku Basara,” “Eden of the East,” and others as key animator, animation director, and storyboard artist. After that, he switched to become an episode director for “Kuroko’s Basketball,” “Tokyo Ghoul,” “StarMyu: High School Star Musical,” and others. In 2018, he made his debut as a director with the TV series “Laid-Back Camp.” 

Otakon 2019 will be held July 26-28, 2019 at the Walter Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

Voice Actor Toru Furuya to Be Otakon Guest

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Toru Furuya

Voice actor Toru Furuya, known for his roles in many classic anime titles such as “Dragonball” and “Sailor Moon,” will be a guest at Otakon 2019.

An accomplished voice actor, Furuya is known for his work as Yamcha in “Dragonball,” Sabo in “One Piece,” Tuxedo Mask in “Sailor Moon,” Amuro Ray in “Gundam,” Tooru Amuro / Bourbon in “Detective Conan,” and Pegasus Seiya in “Saint Seiya.”

Aoni helped bring this legendary voice actor to Otakon 2019.

Otakon 2019 will be held July 26-28, 2019 at the Walter Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

Producer Michihiko Suwa Joins the Otakon Guest List

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Michihiko Suwa

Producer Michihiko Suwa, who has been producing anime for three decades, has been confirmed as a guest for Otakon 2019. Among other projects, he is the supervisor for the current show “MIX.”

Born in the Aichi prefecture of Japan in 1959, Suwa graduated from Osaka University with a degree in Environmental Engineering. From there, he started working for Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation, or YTV, in 1983.  He transferred to the Tokyo branch in 1985, where he soon started producing anime. 

Suwa’s first title as a producer was “Robotan” in 1986, soon followed by his first major title, “City Hunter,” in 1987, where he was also involved in the planning of the series.  Since then, he has planned and produced numerous titles, many of which have become major hit series, such as “YAWARA!,” “The Kindaichi Case Files,” “Inuyasha,” “Kekkaishi,” and “Black Jack.”  One such series is “Detective Conan (Case Closed),” which started in 1996 and is still running, as one of the most well-known anime series in Japan, as well as one of the longest running of all anime series.  

Suwa has been active in producing many movie titles, including over 20 movies from the “Detective Conan” series, as well as “City Hunter: Shinuku Private Eyes,” which was released in February 2019, three decades after the conclusion of the anime series. 

His accolades include a special award from the 32nd Fujimoto Award for excellence in Japanese movie production in 2013, and being named We Love Toyota Special Supporter from his home town of Toyota in 2017.  While he continues to support current titles such as “Detective Conan,” and serves as a supervisor for “MIX,” this June, Suwa transferred to ytv Nextry Co. Ltd, the in-house production unit of YTV, where he is continuing his lifetime dedication to anime by launching new anime series. Otakon 2019 will be held July 26-28, 2019 at the Walter Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

Voice Actor Kikuko Inoue to Be an Otakon Guest

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Kikuko Inoue

Veteran voice actor Kikuko Inoue, known for her many signature anime roles, will be a guest at Otakon 2019. More recently, she plays Mayumi Tachibana in “MIX.”

Inoue’s work has spanned over 20 years of anime, often playing the “perfect girlfriend” or “motherly” role in many series. In addition to her role in “MIX,” some of her major anime roles include Macrophage in “Cells at Work,” Nurse Joy in “Pokemon,” Amelie in “Death Stranding,” Belldandy in “Oh My Goddess!”, Lust in “Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood” and Kasumi Tendo in “Ranma ½.”

Other roles include I-No in “Guilty Gear”; Alex and Luna Noa in “Lunar: The Silver Star”; Chianti in “Detective Conan (Case Closed)”; Aina Sahalin in “Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team”; Sanae Furukawa in “Clannad”; Minerva Orlando in “Fairy Tail”; Sheherazad in “Fate Grand Order”; Liete in “Grandia”; The Boss, Rosemarie, Sunny Emmerich, and Chico in the “Meal Gear Solid” series. Otakon 2019 will be held July 26-28, 2019 at the Walter Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C

Anime Fest @ NYCC x Anime Expo is Back in October

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ReedPOP has announced that Anime Fest @ NYCC x Anime Expo will be coming back for its second year! Anime Fest 2019 is a celebration for all things anime. Located just a block away from the Javits Center during New York Comic Con (October 3-6, 2019) it will be the NYCC home for exclusive and intimate anime panels and signings, interactive and immersive experiences, after hours parties, and a place to geek out and connect with other fans in.

This year features improvements on last year’s experience. Here are the details:

  • VENUE CHANGE: Anime Fest has moved from the Pier to the Hudson Mercantile in order to bring the event closer to the heart of show.  A big part of coming out to NYCC is planning ahead and the distance between locations and venues is important. NYCC already houses an amazing amount of anime content and this puts #AFNYCC right back into the middle of the action.
  • GUESTS & CONTENT: ReedPOP has worked to be more in sync with our other NYCC events so you’ll find more anime throughout all of the programming. In addition, Anime Fest will have exclusive panels and signings so fans can get up close and personal with talent. ReedPOP is working with Anime Expo to make sure the content this year is the best representation of anime content at NYCC in previous years.
  • TICKETS: The panels and signings with talent will be separately ticketed events. The other cool thing this year is that the 1st floor of Hudson Mercantile will function as an Anime Fest HQ. This community hub will be open to both NYCC badge holders and Anime Fest ticket holders alike, featuring interactive and immersive experiences and opportunities to connect with other fans.

VIZ Media Details Exciting New Anime and Manga Releases For June

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SAILOR MOON SAILOR STARS PART 1 Blu-ray & DVD Sets

Limited Edition Blu-ray MSRP: $79.99 U.S. / $93.99 CAN · Standard Edition Blu-ray MSRP: $69.99 U.S. / $81.99 CAN · DVD MSRP: $39.99 U.S. / $51.99 CAN
Available June 18th

Sailor Moon and the Sailor Guardians are about to face their greatest challenge yet—high school! But as the girls take their next big step in life and Chibi-Usa prepares to return to the future, a mysterious force frees the evil Queen Nehalennia! While the struggle to contain her old enemy will be difficult, it may be Mamoru’s year of studying abroad that hurts Usagi the most. But there’s even more to take Usagi’s mind off of long-distance love with the arrival of the villainous Sailor Anima Mates and the heroic Sailor Star Lights! Who could be behind this new wave of evil? And why are the Star Lights resistant to working with Sailor Moon? Usagi has her hands full, but she’ll always make time to write a love letter to her beloved Mamo.

MEGALOBOX Blu-ray & DVD Sets

Limited Edition Blu-ray MSRP: $69.99 U.S. / $81.99 CAN · Standard Edition Blu-ray MSRP: $44.98 U.S. / $52.99 CAN · DVD MSRP: $39.99 U.S. / $51.99 CAN
Available June 25th

Bored, resigned, and unfulfilled, a young man with neither name nor past survives by fighting in underground matches of a sport called “Megalobox,” a form of boxing that utilizes powered exoskeletons. Calling himself JNK.DOG, he feels trapped in a world of crime, poverty, and ecological collapse. All that changes when he has a chance encounter with Yuri, the reigning king of Megalobox. Now, obsessed with proving himself, JNK.DOG becomes a man driven to do whatever it takes to fight his way to the top of the rankings and take on the champion.

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN DVD SET 38

DVD MSRP: $39.99 U.S. / $51.99 CAN
Available June 11th

It’s the final NARUTO SHIPPUDEN box set! The Fourth Great Ninja War is over, and now the Hidden Leaf Ninja return to their daily lives. Some tackle dangerous work—like Sasuke, who tries to uncover the truth about mysterious exploding humans. Others, like Shikamaru, face the difficulty of adjusting to a post-war life. And for Naruto and Hinata, it’s wedding bells!

EVANGELION ILLUSTRATIONS 2007 – 2017

MSRP: $34.99 U.S. / $46.99 CAN · Available June 11th  

NEON GENESIS EVANGELION is one of the most enduring and significant touchstones for anime, manga, and pop culture fans over the past two decades, thanks to the groundbreaking television series and beautifully animated movies. This book collects ten years’ worth of illustrations that showcase the wide effect NEON GENESIS EVANGELION has left on not just the animation industry, but on popular culture in general. Included are illustrations for film posters, CD albums, bullet train designs, video game collaborations, and much, much more.

EVANGELION ILLUSTRATIONS 2007 - 2017

KOMI CAN’T COMMUNICATE

by Tomohito Oda
MSRP: $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN / $6.99 Digital · Rated ‘T’ for Teens 
Available June 11th  

Socially anxious high school student Shoko Komi’s greatest dream is to make some friends, but everyone at school mistakes her crippling social anxiety for cool reserve. Luckily she meets Tadano, a timid wallflower who decides to step out of his comfort zone in order to help her achieve her goal of making 100 friends.

KOMI CAN’T COMMUNICATE

DRAGON BALL COMPLETE BOX SET

by Akira Toriyama
MSRP: $139.99 U.S. / $179.99 CAN · Rated ‘T’ For Teens
Available June 4th  

The DRAGON BALL COMPLETE BOX SET contains all 16 volumes of the original manga that kicked off the global phenomenon. Also includes an exclusive double-sided poster and collector’s booklet featuring fun DRAGON BALL trivia and guides as well as an interview with its legendary creator.

DRAGON BALL Z COMPLETE BOX SET

by Akira Toriyama
MSRP: $219.99 U.S. / $279.99 CAN · Rated ‘A’ For All Ages
Available June 4th  

The DRAGON BALL Z COMPLETE BOX SET contains all 26 volumes of the manga that propelled the global phenomenon that started with DRAGON BALL into one of the world’s most recognizable and best-selling manga. Also includes an exclusive double-sided poster and collector’s booklet featuring fun DRAGON BALL Z trivia and guides as well as an interview with Akira Toriyama.

POKÉMON THE MOVIE: THE POWER OF US—ZERAORA’S STORY

by Kemon Kawamoto
MSRP: $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN · Rated ‘A’ For All Ages
Available June 11th  

Ash and Pikachu arrive in Fula City at the start of its renowned Wind Festival and meet Margo, the mayor’s daughter, and Dr. Hawthorn, a scientist. Through the magic of Dr. Hawthorn’s virtual reality technology, our friends experience the history of the city firsthand and meet Mythical Pokémon Zeraora and Legendary Pokémon Lugia. Why did one of them fly off, never to be seen again…? And will it return in the feature film, POKÉMON THE MOVIE: THE POWER OF US?!

Otakon Adds Hiroyuki Imaishi as a Guest

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Acclaimed animation director Hiroyuki Imaishi has been confirmed as a guest for Otakon 2019.

Imaishi, the co-founder of Studio Trigger, began his career at the historic Studio Gainax (“FLCL,” “Gurren Lagann”), making his industry debut on the critically-acclaimed anime series “Neon Genesis Evangelion.” Imaishi went on to work on a variety of hit titles at Gainax, and in 2007 made his directorial debut on the massively popular and award-winning series “Gurren Lagann.”

In 2011, Imaishi left Gainax to establish Studio Trigger, and directed Trigger’s debut series, the critically acclaimed “Kill la Kill.” Continuing in his dynamic high-octane animation style, Imaishi, along with his core creative team, went on to direct the first feature film from Studio Trigger, “Promare,” a spiritual successor to his work on these former titles.

Otakon 2019 will be held July 26-28, 2019 at the Walter Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

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