Guest of Honor, artist Yoshitaka Amano has attended several conventions in the US before, but this will be Amano’s first time attending Anime Expo.
As a Japanese artist, character designer, and illustrator, Amano also works in the grounds of scenic art and stage costumes. Hired at Tatsunoko Production at the age of 15, he has created characters for some of the most prominent TV animations in Japan. He then became an independent artist in 1982. He is most well-known for his work as a character designer, title logo designer, and image illustrator for the Final Fantasy series. Since his debut, Amano’s career as an artist has flourished, producing paintings with his unique, mysterious touch in solo shows in cities such as New York, Paris, and London.
Amano will participate in a panel, as well as autograph sessions. Schedule TBA in Spring 2016.
MICHI, the first Anisong artist from Okinawa, aims to share her love for anime with the world–her personal motto is “Anime is a universal language.” Her debut single, “Cry for the Truth/Secret Sky”, was featured as the main theme song for Rokka -Braves of the Six Flowers-.
MICHI will be heading to Anime Expo 2016 for her first North American convention appearance! In addition to her panel and autograph sessions, MICHI will be performing on the Community Stage.
Coming from Koza, the heart of the Okinawan music scene, she developed a straightforward and carefree singing voice. With a rare expressiveness and innocence that fans love, MICHI is paving the way for a new generation of anisong artists.
MICHI’s second single, “Checkmate!?” can be heard in Dagashi Kashi’s opening theme. Her third single, “Realistic!” will be featured as the ending theme for P.A. Works’ upcoming series, Kuromukuro.
Naoshi Arakawa will be making his first overseas convention appearance. He will participate in a Q&A panel as well as autograph sessions. (Schedule TBD.)
Manga artist Naoshi Arakawa made his debut in 2007 with Tsumetai Kousha no Toki wa Tomaru(The Time Stops on a Frozen Campus), a manga adaptation of the mystery novel by Mizuki Tsujimura. After finishing his original soccer series in 2010, Sayonara Football, he started his most renowned work, Your Lie in April—a series about the lives of young, talented classical musicians. In 2013, Your Lie in April won the Kodansha Manga Award and was then adapted into an anime series the following year. A live-action movie will also be released later this fall. He is currently preparing to launch a brand new series in Monthly Shonen Magazine.
Voice actress Chika Anzai started her career in 2009, when she played Nagisa Mikogami in the anime series Animal Detective Kiruminzoo.
She went on to voice many characters after that, and in 2014, Anzai landed her first lead role as Chaika Trabant in Chaika – The Coffin Princess. The following year, she gained much attention for her role as Reina Kousaka in Kyoto Animation’s Sound! Euphonium. Then, in 2016, Anzai voiced one of the main heroines, Mary, in Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash. She can also be heard as Asuha Chigusa in upcoming anime series Qualidea Code, which will start airing in July.
Keep checking back as we will continue to update this with more new guest announcements! And don’t forget to purchase your badge for Anime Expo 2016 today!
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