Anime Central 2003 - The Midwest Anime and Manga Convention

When: May 16-18 2003
Where: Hyatt Regency O'hare, Rosemont Illinois

More Location Information:
The Hyatt Regency O'hare is a World-class convention hotel, connected by skywalk to Rosemont Convention Center at O'Hare International Airport, just a 15-mile expressway or subway train ride from downtown Chicago with convenient access to all of metro Chicago's business, sporting, shopping and entertainment centers. Rooms go from $134 a night (Basic) to $500 a night (Presidential Suite). All prices in USD. You have until April 24th to book at the hotel.

Event Information:
Some of your favorite Japanese and American Voice Actors, Composers, Artists and series creators will be attending this years Anime Central Convention. Below is a complete guest list.

Japanese Special Guests:

- Kazuko Tadano
Ms. Tadano revolutionalized the way we saw magical girls with her character designs on the sensational Sailor Moon. She also served as animation director on many of the episodes of the first and second season, as well the Sailor Moon R movie. She was also responsible for the character designs on Dancougar, Crystal Triangle, Sotsugyou Graduation and Wedding Peach. Most recently she did the character designs on Petite Princess Yucie, a series by Gainax that includes an opening song by ACen Guest Yoko Ishida.

- Kouhei Tanaka
If you are an anime fan, chances are you have heard at least one soundtrack composed by the great Kouhei Tanaka. His works are numerous, but his most famous works include the original scores to Dragonball, Project A-ko, Sakura Taisen, Gundam G, Gundam MS 08 Team (movie), the original Patlabor OAVs, Otaku no Video, Gunbuster, Spirit of Wonder, Bastard!, Gatekeepers, One Piece, Tenchi GXP, Dragon Half and the Violinist of Hamelin. Mr. Tanaka also composes the songs to each one of the Sakura Taisen musicals and is a former student of Boston's Berklee College of Music.

- Maya Okamoto
She sings, she dances and she acts! She is Maya Okamoto, voice actress. As Sakura Taisen's Orihime Soletta, Ms. Okamoto has acted in games, anime and even on stage in the Sakura Taisen musicals. She is also known for her roles in Hummingbird as Reiko, Silent Moebius as Yuki, Touch as Natsuko, and Saber Marionette J Again as Marine. She will be best known to US fans as Minato Haruka from the hit series Nadesico. This will be her first U.S. convention appearance.

- Yasunori Ide
Joining Anime Central 2003's guest lineup in his first ever North American appearance is director Yasunori Ide. Mr. Ide started out as a storyboard artist and technical director for Riding Bean. He is most known for his recent work, as director of the Onegai Teacher series (and the upcoming Onegai Teacher 2 series). Fans may also recognize his other directing and scriptwriting efforts for Hanauyko Maid Tai, Burn Up W, and as an episode director for the fan favorite OAV series Bastard! among many other credits.

- Duel Jewel
A five-member visual-kei indies rock band from Japan, Dual Jewel will be gracing the concert halls of Anime Central as they continue their conquest of the US anime con circuit. Those familiar with the sounds of L'arc en Ciel, Luna Sea, Pierrot and such visual kei bands will be enamoured by the look and sound of this band that really knows how to treat its fans. 

- Horoaki Gohda
While his works in the industry are numerous, Mr. Gohda is best known for his work as director and storyboarder of the Oh My Goddess OAVs and movie. He also has animator credits in Mobile Suit Z Gundam, production credits for episode 8 of Bubblegum Crisis and animation direction credits for episodes 5 and 6 of Bubblegum Crisis as well as Madox-01. Lately, Mr. Gohda has been working as the character designer of the hit series Onegai Teacher, which will release domestically this May.

- Kazuyoshi Katayama
ACen is proud to announce the first American convention appearance by Kazuyoshi Katayama. Many may know him for his direction and writing on the anime classic, Appleseed. His other works include director of Argento Soma, Maris the Chojo, Sentimental Journey and Those who Hunt Elves. He also served as a production assistant on Nausicaa, animation director on Giant Robo and storyboarding and director on Super Atragon. Americans know him best as the director of the Big O, which was broadcast on Cartoon Network.

-  Satoru Akahori
Anime writer extraordinaire, Mr. Akahori is the brains behind many of the comedies that anime fans enjoy today. Bakuretsu Hunters, Saber Marionette, Sakura Taisen, Master Mosquiton, Lamune &40, KO Seiki Beast, Maze, Bakuen Campus Guardress are just some of the works of this incredibly prolific creator. This will be Mr. Akahori's first convention appearance.

- Takeshi Honda
Animator and character designer for many famous animations, Mr. Honda will be best known for his work as Animation Director for the sensationally popular Neon Genesis Evangelion. He was also the character designer for Metal Fighter Miku, as well as the art director for the second volume of the Ah! My Goddess OVA. U.S. fans can also look forward to Mr. Honda's character designs and art direction for the movie "Millenium Actress," directed by Perfect Blue director Satoshi Kon, soon to be released in US theaters by Dreamworks. This will be Mr. Honda's first appearance at a US convention.

- Yoko Ishida
Continuing her tour of the US anime con circuit, Yoko Ishida will be joining us at Acen 2003. She will be promoting her new album, as well as holding a concert and joining in the Parapara festivities. Her credits to date include Sailor Moon R's "Otome no Policy" and "Ai no Senshi," "White Destiny" from Pretear and "Towa no Hana" from Ai Yori Aoshi. She also is the featured singer on the Pioneer Eurobeat Parapara MAX CD's. Ms. Ishida is appearing courtesy of Pioneer USA.

- Hidenori Matsubara
Character designer and art director for Ah! My Goddess and Sakura Taisen, Mr. Matsubara also worked as Art Director for series such as Silent Moebius II, Otaku no Video and parts of Bubblegum Crisis. Mr. Matsubara will be teaching a drawing class at ACen 2003.

American Special Guests:

- Monica Rial
Monica is an actress for ADV Films and is making her Anime Central debut this year as well. Monica's most notable roles are of Kirika in Noir, Hyatt in Excel Saga, Haruka Shitow in RahXephon, as well as roles in shows such as Princess Nine, Gasaraki, Steel Angel Kurumi and others.

- Christopher Patton
Christopher has been acting for ADV Films since answering a casting call in 1998. His most recent role to date is of the main character in RahXephon, Kamina Ayato. Some of Christopher's other notable roles include Yu Ominae in Spriggan, Yushiro Gowa in Gasaraki, and additional roles in such anime as BGC2040, Princess Nine, and many others. Christopher is making his first Anime Central appearance.

- Johnny Yong Bosch
New to Anime Central 2003, Johnny is most well known for his role as the Black Ranger in the American sentai show adaptation Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers. However, lately Johnny has done anime voice acting work, including the lead role of Vash The Stampede in Trigun, and Kaneda in Pioneer's Special Edition release of Akira.

- Richard Cox
Also new to Anime Central 2003, Richard is best known for lending his vocal talent to the characters of Male Ranma of Ranma 1/2, and the title role in the new anime hit Inu-Yasha.

- Fred "Piro" Gallagher
Impresario, artist, and primary creative force behind the amazingly popular webcomic, Megatokyo, soon to be published in book form by I.C. Entertainment (formerly Studio Ironcat). A great Iron Guest alumni competitor, Fred makes a triumphant return to Anime Central 2003 for more merriment talking MT and webcomics in general.

- Robert Dejesus
An Indiana-born, self-taught artist, Robert has worked on AP comics like Ninja High School, created the PSM magazine mascot Banzai Chibi Chan, and has formed his own company, Studio Capsule, to be involved in creating a line of underground doujinshis, animations, portfolios and other sorts of Studio Capsule memorabilia.

- Scott Frazier
Veteran animator, former head of a Thailand animation studio, former producer for Production IG, consultant & guru to the masses, Scott has more interesting stories about what it's really like to work in anime production than anyone in the English speaking world.

- Bruce Lewis
Manga & graphic artist, Starblazers/Yamato guru, and spiritual guide of the publishing circle Cheap Disposable Entertainment, and soon to be author of his own comic design and creation book. His manga classes at ACen designed to teach and inspire. Come participate in this year's comic production workshops!

As you can see, that is a pretty impressive guest list, unfortunately since it is so far away I am not able to attend. But, if you are able to attend and can give us a brief summary of what went down, please email me at Kevin@Saiyanz-Rage.net thanks.