Guests
Eric Vale
As one of the Illuminati’s secret leaders, Mr. Vale disguises his intentions towards global domination via mutant giraffes by distracting the world’s population with his voice acting ability. Known not only for rescuing small children holding even smaller kittens from burning buildings being blown about by stage six hurricanes, Vale has created a prolific body of work as a voice actor in roles such as Dragonball Z’s Trunks, Sanji in One Piece, and Yuki from the classic anime Fruits Basket. (We’d also mention his voice acting in Hetalia: Axis Powers and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, but we’re afraid of causing an international fainting crisis.)
Kyle Hebert
Kyle is a Los Angeles-based anime and video game voice actor whose credits include Wreck-It Ralph/Street Fighter (Ryu), Naruto (Kiba), Bleach (Aizen, Ganju), Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes (Super Skrull), X Men Arcade (all male voices) and Gurren Lagann (Kamina). He is best known as the Narrator and Teen Gohan from the Funimation dub of Dragonball Z. Other notable roles include League of Legends (Ezreal, Jarvan, Graves), Blue Exorcist (Bon Suguro), Guild Wars 2 (Great Ginz, Ogron, Hamar), Fullmetal Alchemist (Vato Falman), Tales of Symphonia (Richter Abend) and Star Ocean (Dias, Arumat, Crow). Kyle also provides voices in numerous video games such franchises as Sonic, Final Fantasy, World of Warcraft, Devil May Cry, Dynasty Warriors, Soul Calibur and Resident Evil. He is also the voice of filmmaker, Kevin Smith’s Smodco Internet Radio.
Christopher Sabat
Mr. Sabat is known for voicing the DBZ favorites (Vegeta and Piccolo), and countless others including Ayame in Fruits Basket, Alex Luis Armstrong in Full Metal Alchemist, and One Piece’s Roronoa Zoro (not to mention Lupin III’s Jigen!). Mr. Sabat has lent his voice to the anime favorites that shaped the childhood of many fans, and has continued to voice characters that capture their admiration and attention.
Johnny Yong Bosch & Eyeshine
Johnny got his start as Adam Park, the Black Ranger in the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers–a role that he played for three-and-a-half seasons on TV, two motion pictures and two special guest appearances in subsequent seasons. Johnny is also well-known for voice acting work in numerous anime titles, including Vash the Stampede in Trigun, Kaneda in Akira, Renton in Eureka Seven, Claus in Last Exile, Sakaki in Witch Hunter Robin, Kiba in Wolf’s Rain, Itsuki in The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Ichigo Kurosaki in Bleach, Lelouch Lamperouge in Code Geass, Izaya in Durarara, and Yukio in Blue Exorcist. Johnny’s voice can also be heard in numerous video games, including Nero in Devil May Cry 4 and voiceover work in titles like .hack//G.U., Persona 4, Disgaea 3, Tales of Symphonia, Eternal Sonata, Transformers: War for Cybertron, and Star Wars: The Old Republic.
Mari Okada
Ms. Okada was born in 1976 in Saitama, Japan. She made her debut as a television/cinema scriptwriter in 1996. She then worked as a freelance writer for original manga, game scenarios, and radio dramas--all spanning a variety of genres. After Ms. Okada took charge of the script for DT Eightron in 1998, she shifted her focus to writing for anime. Ms. Okada has worked on titles such as Black Butler and Toradora! and many other series such as True Tears, Canaan, anohana: The Flower That We Saw That Day , and Hanasaku Iroha ~ Blossoms for Tomorrow ~ . Her credits also include Lupin III: A Woman Called Fujiko, AKB0048, Aquarion Evol and Vampire Knight. Ms. Okada was the recipient of the 16th Animation Kobe Award in 2011.
Danny Choo
Danny Choo resides in Tokyo, and is the founder of media production company Mirai Inc., which focuses on sharing Japanese lifestyle with the world though web, TV, mobile, print, products and conferences. Danny is also the Director and Presenter for Culture Japan, broadcast weekly on Tokyo MX TV in Japan, across the whole of Asia on the Animax Network, and in the United States on MNET America. Danny also presents on a morning TV show in Japan called Check Time and Star Worlds Japan Mode.
RAM RIDER
RAM RIDER blazed up the Shibuya club and Oricon charts working as a remixer and composer with artists like Ayumi Hamasaki, Suzuki Ami, Sawa, Halcali, m-flo, Orange Range, Meg, and Speed. He has released three albums including Audio Galaxy: Ram Rider vs. Stars and Audio Galaxy: Ram Rider Strikes Back!!! in addition to hosting the Audio Galaxy radio show.
Noizi Ito
Anime Expo announces character designer and illustrator Noizi Ito as a Guest of Honor for AX2013! Ms. Ito began her career as a graphic designer, illustrator and character designer. Her work includes “Shakugan no Shana” by Dengeki Bunko, the “Haruhi Suzumiya” series by Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko, and most recently, “The Guided Fate Paradox” by Nippon Ichi Software, Inc.
Alodia Gosiengfiao
Alodia is an Ambassador and VJ for Animax-Asia, known as the "Ani-mates", and the co-host of ABS-CBN's prank show Laugh Out Loud. She also has been featured in various magazines, newspaper and TV shows locally and abroad. Her achievement in the cosplay community have led numerous companies in the Philippines to hire her as a celebrity endorser, and frequently attends numerous conventions as a guest and judge for cosplay competitions all over the world.
Kazuhiko Inoue
Mr. Inoue's roles include Anthony in Candy Candy, Joe Shimamura in Cyborg 009, Hatake Kakashi in Naruto and Naruto Shippuden, Hatori Sohma in Fruits Basket, Jerid Messa in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, Champ in Zillion, Prince Eric in The Little Mermaid, Flit Asuna in Gundam AGE, Dusty Attenborough in Legend of Galactic Heroes, Shingo Tachibana in Magical Angel Creamy Mami, Akira Yamamoto in Space Battleship Yamato, Keiichi Tamaru in The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, and Nyanko Sensei in Natsume's Book of Friends. Mr. Inoue has also acted in drama CDs, and worked as a narrator for television shows, in addition to dubbing American series for Japanese TV.
Keigo Sasaki
Mr. Sasaki's vast credits include Sengoku Basara 1 & 2 (Design Works) and Nightraid (Supervising Animation Director and Character Design), and most recently he worked on internationally popular Blue Exorcist and Blue Exorcist: The Movie as Supervising Animation Director and Character Designer. This will be Mr. Sasaki’s first time appearing at an anime convention in the US.
Kaya
Kaya debuted in 2002 as vocalist of Schwarz Stein, a band produced by ex-MALICE MIZER guitar legend Mana. After Schwarz Stein's disbandment in 2004, Kaya continued his career as a singer, making a formal debut as a solo artist in June of 2006. He then made his major label debut with Universal in 2008. While a Visual Kei artist, Kaya has not limited himself to a band style; his performances also incorporate elements such as dancers and drag queen, making his concerts “show-like.” Supported by fans around the world, Kaya has performed in North and South America, Europe, Russia and across the world. Recent years have marked a focus on gothic and decadence in Kaya’s "Return to Origins," his live performances expanding to include drums and guitar. Furthermore, Kaya began performing chanson in 2008, incorporating it vigorously into his life’s work. Kaya is also known around the world as a gothic lolita fashion icon, representing renowned brands such as BABY, THE STARS SHINE BRIGHT.
Moon Stream
Moon Stream is a new musical unit combining the forces of Japanese visual style rock with the sounds of the New York underground. Created in early 2011, Moon Stream is fronted by Satsuki (vocals, ex RENTRER EN SOI) and Tomo (guitar, echostream). These two veterans of the early Visual Kei explosion in Japan are now active on opposite ends of the globe. The first half of the band’s name “Moon” is derived from Satsuki’s own name, while the latter half, taken from Tomo’s band name “echostream,” fuses to create a fresh concept for a band unlike any other – channeling the energy of the moon as a powerful musical force. Displaying their visual and musical talent from signature rock sounds, ambient compositions, to dance rock music, their US debut launched Moon Stream into the sky.
Kazuhiro Furuhashi
Born in Hamamatsu City in Shizuoka Prefecture, Mr. Furuhashi began his career as an animator, and then moved to directing with the series Ranma ½. His directorial debut was the Ranma ½ Netto Utagassen OVA. Since then, he has worked on numerous other titles such as Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story, Hunter x Hunter, Le Chevalier D’Eon, Real Drive and Amatsuki. In 2010, he began directing Mobile Suit Gundam UC (Unicorn) and is currently working on episode 7, the final episode, for that series.
Megumi Han
Originally from Tokyo, Ms. Han (who is the daughter of Voice Actress Keiko Han) had her screen debut in 2008 in Sakura no Sono. In 2011, she achieved her goal as a voice actress and was given the lead role of Gon Freecss in HunterxHunter. Since then, Ms. Han has worked on other popular series such as Digimon and Yu-Gi-Oh. Recently, she received the main role of Akko Kagari in Little Witch Academia and Sumire Hanano in Chihayafuru 2. She is not only limited to anime, but also has lent her talents for computer games as well as voiceover for foreign dramas.
Starmarie
Featuring members Shino Takamori, Nozomi Kishita, and Shiori Aoki, STARMARIE recently released their second album "Fantasy World 2", and have also collaborated with Yanagi Nobuto and gothic lolita brand "Opera the☆Dream House". They will be making their US live debut at Anime Expo 2013! STARMARIE's singles “Mitsuboshi Restaurant Paul kara no Shoutaijyou” (“The Three-Starred Restaurant / Paul's Invitiation”) and “Mogura Mystery Tour” are now available on iTunes in the US.