- August 2-4, 2024
Guests
Below is the Otakon 2019 Guest Line-up! Stay tuned for Otakon 2019 announcements!
Hirokatsu Kihara
Writer, ProducerFormerly involved with the production desk at Studio Ghibli, Hirokatsu Kihara was involved in the hit anime Laputa: Castle in the Sky, My Neighbour Totoro and Kiki’s Delivery Service
Erika Harlacher
Voice ActressErika Harlacher is a Los Angeles based voice actress in anime, video games, and cartoons.
E. Jason Liebrecht
Actor, Voice Actor, Performing ArtistE. (Ernesto) Jason Liebrecht has been working as an actor & performing artist based in Austin, TX for over a decade. As a voice actor, he has voiced quite a range of characters.
Elizabeth Maxwell
Actress, Voice ActressElizabeth Maxwell is an accomplished actress, award-winning voice over artist, and life-long lover of all things geek.
Kari Wahlgren
Voice ActressFrom Animation to Anime to Video Games, Kari Wahlgren is one of the top voice actresses in Los Angeles. Her first role as Haruko in FLCL remains a fan favorite, and her voice can be heard in Emmy and Academy Award-winning animated films and TV shows.
Richard Epcar
Voice Actor, ActorLegendary Actor Richard Epcar – is one of the hardest working men in show business, having voiced over 500 characters in Games, Animation and Anime.
Ellyn Stern
Voice Actress, ActressEllyn began her acting career at the age of 12. She is a classically trained actress, voice actress, director and writer, whose career spans film, television and stage. She has voiced hundreds of characters in Games, Animation and Anime.
Serena Dejesus & Roxanne Modafferi
Professional Mixed Martial ArtistsSerena and Roxanne are best friends and training partners out of Syndicate MMA in Las Vegas, NV. Serena is the first pro MMA female fighter with autism and Roxanne is a two season The Ultimate Fighter contestant.
Eric Roth
Composer, Orchestrator, ProducerEric Roth is known for an original and expressive musical personality, recognized internationally as a composer/conductor, orchestrator/arranger and producer of concerts and recordings.
Sam Griffin
Guitarist, ComposerSam Griffin is an exceptional, diverse classical guitarist and composer who has been active in the music community for over 15 years.
Bradio
BandBRADIO is a funky band formed by Takaaki Shingyoji(Vo), Soichi Oyama(Gt), Ryosuke Sakai(Ba). Their music covers a wide variety of music genres such as Rock, Funk, R&B, Blues, and Latin. Those who love danceable funk music like Bruno Mars, Michael Jackson, Earth Wind & Fire must listen to BRADIO.
Kaoru Wada
Composer, Arranger, ProducerKaoru Wada is active in a wide range of musical fields, including anime, film, television, theatre and events, and has been involved in the musical side of well-known anime. He was born in 1962 in Shimonoseki city, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. From the age of 17, he taught himself composition, harmony and other music fundamentals.
Minmi
Singer, ProducerMINMI started to play the piano in her early childhood, and started performing at reggae and hip-hop club scenes in 1996. This is when she started to write her own lyrics and composing her music. Her debut single, “The Perfect Vision,” sold over 500,000 copies and her album sales have always been within the Top 5 ever since then.
EyeQ
Emcee, Entrepreneur, Event coordinatorEyeQ is an Orlando, FL based emcee, entrepreneur, event coordinator, content curator, and inspirational force of nature who consistently enraptures audiences around the US with his passionate live performances and powerful lyrics.
Fat Jon
Emcee, Producer and DJfat jon is a member of a progressive hip hop outfit hailing from Cincinnati, Ohio called the Five Deez. In this group, he is an emcee/producer and dj. They were first introduced to the world market with their debut 12" "Bluelight Special".
Marcus D
ProducerMarcus D is a hip hop producer from Seattle, who currently lives in Tokyo. He has collaborated with American hip hop legends like Del the funky Homosapien, Royce Da 5'9", Saigon, Planet Asia, Skyzoo, Crooked I, and Blu.
Shing02
Hip-hop ArtistBorn in Tokyo, raised in Tanzania and England, Shing02 came up in the independent SF Bay Area scene in the early '90s. Over the course of his independent career starting in 1995, he has collaborated with various musicians, most notably with the late Japanese producer Nujabes.
Substantial
MC, Producer, EducatorPrince George's County Maryland born MC, Producer and Educator, Substantial, first made his debut in 2000 while working with the late Japanese producer, Nujabes.
Stephanie Panisello
Voice ActressStephanie Panisello came to Los Angeles on vacation, and never left! Her thirst for adventure, passion for acting and love of video games has lead her to appear in over a dozen titles including: Doom, Evil Within 2, the Final Fantasy franchise, Blade 2: The Return of Evil, the Batman theme park ride Knight Flight as Poison Ivy, and the cinematic trailer for Shadow of the Tomb Raider as Lara Croft.
Shigeto Koyama
DesignerDesigner Shigeto Koyama began his career working on the series Diebuster with the historic Studio GAINAX, and went on to take part as a designer in a variety of projects under the direction of Hiroyuki Imaishi. Some of these titles include GURREN LAGANN, Panty&Stocking with Garterbelt, KILL la KILL, and Space Patrol Luluco.
Hiromi Wakabayashi
DirectorFormerly staff at the prolific Studio GAINAX, Hiromi Wakabayashi has worked in a variety of roles on GAINAX's greatest works, including Gurren Lagann and Panty&Stocking with Garterbelt. Since 2011, Wakabayashi joined Studio TRIGGER, and has been involved in a variety of roles in several works with director Hiroyuki Imaishi, including scripting the 4th episode, directing the 2nd ending sequence, and overseeing the design team for Kill la Kill as the series' creative producer.
Hiroyuki Imaishi
DirectorHiroyuki Imaishi, the acclaimed animation director and 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.
Diana Garnet
Vocalist, Voice ActressWashington D.C. native Diana Garnet is a rising star in the J-Pop and anime music scene, lending her dynamic, powerful vocals to many anime and game titles.
Nano
VocalistA Japanese bilingual singer born in New York. In 2010, nano began sharing English covers of Japanese songs on sites such as YouTube and quickly received positive response from viewers around the world.
Sayuri Hara
Voice ActressSayuri Hara is a voice actor from a voice talent management firm 81 Produce, born on November 10 in Tokyo. She won an award as a superior talent at the second 81 audition. Her TV anime debut was in 2009, as Specula Ex Machina in The Tower of Druaga: The Sword of Uruk.
Shoichi Hotta
ProducerShoichi Hotta was born in Tokyo in 1986. He was involved in animation projects at an ad agency and a videogram company. He worked as a producer on such anime titles as “Is The Order a Rabbit,” “HaNaYaMaTa,” and “Kakegurui - Compulsive Gambler.”
Yoshiaki Kyougoku
DirectorStarted 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 so on as key animator, animation director, and storyboard artist.
Michihiko Suwa
ProducerMichihiko Suwa was born in Toyota, in Aichi prefecture of Japan in 1959. After graduating from Osaka University with a degree in Environmental Engineering, 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.
Kikuko Inoue
Voice ActressKikuko Inoue is a veteran voice actress whose work has spanned over 20 years of anime. Inoue tends to play the "perfect girlfriend" or "motherly" role in many series. Some of her major roles in Anime include Mayumi Tachibana in MIX, 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.
Masao Maruyama
ProducerMaruyama-san is a Japanese animation producer, formerly the president of MADHOUSE, Inc, and currently the chairman of the board of directors of MAPPA Co., Ltd, as well as the president of Studio M2. He started his career in the anime industry at Mushi Production after graduating from college. He soon became independent and launched MADHOUSE, Inc.
Hiroshi Nagahama
DirectorNagahama started the 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.
Jez Roth
CostumerCirque du Soleil. Celebrities. One Piece. EDC. Red Carpets. After many years of competing at anime convention masquerades, winning Best in Show 16 times with tailored costumes and heavily choreographed skits, he moved to Las Vegas to work for The Venetian designing the Opera Gowns.
Tōru Furuya
Voice ActorTōru Furuya is an accomplished voice actor you will know for his work as Yamcha in Dragonball, Sabo in One Piece, Tuxedo Mask in Sailor Moon, Amuro Ray in Gundam, and Pegasus Seiya in Saint Seiya. We would like to thank Aoni for helping us to bring Furuya-san out.
Nobunaga Shimazaki
Voice ActorNobunaga Shimazaki is an accomplished actor associated with Aoni Productions. He won the Best Rookie Actor Award in the “7th Seiyu Awards.” You may know Shimazaki-san for his work as Yuno in Black Clover, Shidou in Date A Live, Satoru in Ace of Diamond, Ritsuka Fujimaru in Fate/Grand Order, Haruka in Free!, Manato in Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash, Tsuguhito Yuta in Kiznaiver, Eugeo in Sword Art Online: Alicization, and Yuki Soma in Fruits Basket (2019).
Manaka Iwami
Voice ActressManaka Iwami is an accomplished voice actress affiliated with Pro-Fit. She won the Best New Actress Award at the 13th Seiyu Awards. You may know Iwami-san for her work as Chiaki Hoshinomori in Gamers!, Maquia in Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms, and Tohru Honda in Fruits Basket (2019).
Makoto Furukawa
Voice ActorMakoto Furukawa is an amazing voice actor known for his work in anime and video games. You may know Furukawa-san for his work as Achilles in Fate/Apocrypha, Tada Banri in Golden Time, Yutaro Kindaichi in Haikyu!!, Seiji Shishikura from My Hero Academia, Miyuki Shirogane in Kaguya-sama: Love is War, Saitama in One Punch Man, Gustav in Seven Deadly Sins, Taiju in Dr. Stone, and Hatsuharu Soma in Fruits Basket (2019).
Chikahiro Kobayashi
Voice ActorChikahiro Kobayashi, born September 5, is active in a wide range of fields, mainly in the voice acting industry. His roles include Ranga in “That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime”. His other main roles include Saichi Sugimoto from "Golden Kamuy", Toby Selwyn from "Violet Evergarden", and Shirasakaki from "Mushibugyo".
Ryoma Ebata
Character DesignerRyoma Ebata, born in 1981, is the character designer and director of key animation for the Winter 2019 TV Anime “That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime”. For most of his career, he has worked as an animator, designer, as well as a Unit Director. The first time he was in charge of Character Designs was with “Busou Shinki”.
Atsushi Nakayama
DirectorAtsushi Nakayama, born in 1974, is Assistant Director for the Winter 2019 TV Anime “That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime”. He was Unit Director on “Knight's & Magic” and other shows, as well as Director of Photography for “Bludgeoning Angel Dokuro-chan”, “Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS”, and others.
Taku Takahashi
DJ, ProducerTaku Takahashi launched his career in 1998 as the DJ/Producer of the J-pop music group “m-flo”. The group quickly rose to prominence, and over the last decade have sold over 2 million copies of their 30 singles and 10 albums. Taku Takahashi is also well known for his solo work as a producer/ songwriter, remixing music for prominent artists such as Calvin Harris, The Ting Tings, Morgan Page, and SMAP, spanning various genres from all over the globe.
Jen Cohn
Voice ActressJen Cohn is best known for her role voicing ‘Pharah’ in Overwatch. She’s also the voice of 'Lord Zash' in Star Wars: The Old Republic, and of Zuko and Azula's mother ‘Ursa' in Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Steve Bennett
Manga ArtistSteve Bennett worked on anime in Tokyo with Noburu Furusei (New Dominion Tank Police, Lupin III, etc.) at Studio Aoehyma in the 1980s. He worked on series like Urusei Yatsura and Yamamoto, before returning to the States.
Kirk Thornton
Voice ActorKirk’s major roles include Brandon Heat in Gungrave, Hotohori in Fushigi Yūgi, Jin in Samurai Champloo, Hajime Saito in Rurouni Kenshin, Jet Link in Cyborg 009, Don Patch in Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo, and numerous Digimon.
Yoshihiro Watanabe
ProducerWatanabe is a producer at animation studio Orange Ltd. Currently assisting production of BEASTARS and developing future projects. Watanabe grew up in America but after college, for some weird fate, began working for studio Madhouse Inc.. After leaving Madhouse, Watanabe became freelance producer / coordinator and worked closely with studio P.A.WORKS.
Naoki Yoshibe
Animator, DirectorWorked at Kamikaze Doga Ltd. from 2011 to 2016. Directed opening sequence such as TV animated series "Jo Jo's Bizarre Adventure," "GATCHAMAN CROWDS," and music videos for Sumire Uesaka "Kakumei Teki Broadway Shugisha Doumei," Sound Horizon "Todaka No Hoshi."
Man-at-Arms
MetalsmithsYou know them best as the master craftsmen behind the hit Youtube series MAN AT ARMS:REFORGED. The masters at Baltimore Knife and Sword are returning this year and this time they're bringing a surprise for everyone!
