************************************************************
AnimeNEXT Electronic Update June 22, 2007
************************************************************
[AT-A-GLANCE]
* ANIMENEXT 2007 JAPANESE GUESTS OF HONOR
* ANIMENEXT ADDITIONAL INDUSTRY GUESTS
* FEATURED PANELIST AT ANIMENEXT 2007
* RED VS. BLUE STAFF AT ANIMENEXT
* CONSTRUCTION AT ANIMENEXT 2007
* ANIMENEXT 2007 AT THE DOOR REGISTRATION
* EARLY PRE-REGISTRATION PICK UP
* OFFICIAL T-SHIRTS FOR ANIMENEXT 2007
* ANIME FEUD STILL RECRUITING PLAYERS
* PROGRAMMING SPOTLIGHT: ART SHOW
************************************************************
* ANIMENEXT 2007 JAPANESE GUESTS OF HONOR
AnimeNEXT is very happy to welcome Mr. Toyo Ikeda and Mr. Daisuke Gomi to AnimeNEXT 2007 as Guests of Honor. With the cooperation of GONZO in Japan, everyone at AnimeNEXT is excited to bring these talented individuals to the United States. In fact, Mr. Ikeda and Mr. Gomi are both involved in the production of Romeo x Juliet. So not only will you be able to see a performance by the Japanese band 12012 who perform the ending song for Romeo x Juliet, but you will also be able to meet some of the production staff behind the show.
Mr. Toyo Ikeda was originally influenced by the TV animation Sailor Moon. He entered Yoyogi Animation Institute after finishing college. Mr. Ikeda then went on to join Digimation K.K., in fact he is one of the first group of hires the company made. Later when Digimation merged with GONZO Inc., Mr. Ikeda participated in the production of the hit TV series Gatekeepers as Assistant Producer working under director Junichi Sato. Mr. Ikeda then went on to work with Mr. Sato again in 2003 on Kaleido Star as Associate Producer. Presently Mr. Ikeda is involved in production of GONZO’s latest hit in Japan, Romeo x Juliet.
Mr. Daisuke Gomi joined multi-channel satellite digital TV broadcaster DIRECTV JAPAN Inc. in 1998. Joined satellite TV access provider SKY Perfect Communications Inc. in 2000, where he was involved in the broadcasting of animation titles such as Initial D, Ghost in the Shell, Samurai 7, and various feature films and music performances. In 2004, he joins the newly established SKY Perfect Well Think Co., Ltd. as a producer and has been in charge of various films and animation/live-action TV series, including the new GONZO anime production Romeo x Juliet.
You can find out about all the guests at AnimeNEXT 2007 at http://www.animenext.org/guests
* ANIMENEXT ADDITIONAL INDUSTRY GUESTS
As AnimeNEXT 2007 is approaching more and more Industry wants to take
part and get involved. We are very excited to have the following
Industry personnel taking part in AnimeNEXT 2007; Eric Calderon of
GONZO, Rika Davis and Linda Tawara of Bandai and April Flores of Del
Rey Manga.
Eric Calderon has been in the international animation business for
over a decade. Eric began work at MTV Animation as a development
reader and story analyst for the animated series Aeon Flux. At the end
of 1999, Eric was the Director of Development for the entire MTV
Animation studio. From 2001 to the present, Eric has been in charge of
all creative business development for the groundbreaking Japanese
animation studio GONZO. As one of the biggest studios in, GONZO and
its holding company GDH have brought Japanese animation to the world
market like no other anime studio. Eric's largest project to date is
Afro Samurai which took a Japanese toy and comic into the global
scene, including a five-part mini-series airing on Spike TV, a video
game and a 300-page graphic novel.
Frank Pannone entered the anime industry in 1999 starting off at Central Park Media where he worked his way up the ranks from Web Grunt to running the publishing division. In 2003 he made the transition to Media Blasters and Kitty Media. In Frank's resume are such books as Record of Lodoss War: The Lady of Pharis, Alien Nine, Geobreeders, Skyscrapers of Oz, The Crimson Spell, Pilgrim Jäger, and Eiken.
You can find out about all the guests at AnimeNEXT 2007 at http://www.animenext.org/guests
* FEATURED PANELIST AT ANIMENEXT 2007
AnimeNEXT is very proud to have Mr. Kensuke Okabayashi as a featured
panelist to AnimeNEXT 2007. Mr. Okabayashi is the author of Drawing
Manga for Dummies. This is Mr. Okabayashi's first appearance at an
anime convention.
Born and raised in Princeton, New Jersey Mr. Okabayashi started drawing from an early age. Inspired by Japanese manga he traveled to Japan to shop his portfolio to publishing editors and artists from Shueisha Inc and Toei Animation Studio. While he was there he also met with legendary artist Matsumoto Leiji. Matsumoto offered him an assistant position. At this time Mr. Okabayashi turned his interests towards American comics. Inspired by artists such as Jim Lee, Travis Charest and Neal Adams he shopped his portfolio in New York. Mr. Okabayashi joined an independent studio in New York. Mr. Okabayashi then proceeded to earn a four year degree with honors from the School of Visual Arts in New York City.
Mr. Okabayashi then went on to land several freelance gigs with companies such as Diesel Clothing, Takara Toys USA, Wizards of the Coast and Canon. Mr. Okabayashi also now teaches a class on Illustration at Mercer College in New Jersey, as well as instructs several courses at the Art Alliance in New York City. His graphic novel JAVA! is now in comic stores nationwide. Mr. Okabayashi is also working on illustrations for Magic the Gathering.
Mr. Okabayashi will only be in attendance at AnimeNEXT on Saturday,
July 7, 2007.
* RED VS. BLUE STAFF AT ANIMENEXT
You have seen the videos on the Internet, or on XBox Live. Maybe you visit their web site every day. Or maybe a friend let you borrow their DVD. Well, now you can meet some of the staff behind the hit series Red vs. Blue at AnimeNEXT 2007. Look for Red vs. Blue/Rooster Teeth in our Dealers Room, and for panels featuring Gus "Simmons" Sorola and Kathleen "Tex" Zuelch.
Failing to complete his undergraduate studies at Rice University, Gustavo Sorola decided to strike it rich by getting a job at a startup technology company. Failing to strike it rich, Gus moved to Puerto Rico and proclaimed himself legally dead for one year for “tax purposes.” Failing to remain legally dead, he returned to the city of his birth, Austin, Texas. Gus now uses his technical knowledge to help ensure Rooster Teeth is able to deliver its content via the Internet. Gus loves kitties and his 1964 Chevy C10 that he named Michelle. Gus voices the characters “Simmons” in Red vs. Blue and “Mysterious Voice” in The Strangerhood.
Kathleen was born and raised in Southern California. After several years at KDOC her love for children’s programming motivated her to migrate into the animation industry. In 1997 Warner Bros. recruited Kathleen to provide production management for films such as Iron Giant, Osmosis Jones and ultimately producer of creature visual effects on "Scooby Doo, the Movie". She was the Associate Producer on Scholastic’s film “Clifford’s Really Big Movie”, and in 2006 completed work on the feature “Curious George”.
Kathleen has lent her voice to the Machinima hit Red vs. Blue as the character "Tex" for the past four years. She enjoys interacting with the fans via internet as well as the animation conventions the cast attends. Being a positive role model for kids is extremely important to her, and one of her goals is to give motivational talks to Junior High and High School students. She started a "Good Deed" program on the RedvsBlue site, inspiring the members to take the time to do unsolicited acts of kindness.
You can find out more about Rooster Teeth and Red vs. Blue at http://www.roosterteeth.com/home.php
* CONSTRUCTION AT ANIMENEXT 2007
There is construction going on and around the locations you have
gotten used to at AnimeNEXT 2007. Specifically, there is major
construction being conducted in the courtyard behind the Holiday Inn
Secaucus Meadowlands, the official hotel.
Please note that this area is currently fenced off and is unavailable
for photo shoots. This courtyard formerly featured a metal sculpture.
Now the area is fenced off and the courtyard is inaccessible.
The restaurants past the courtyard are still accessible and will be
open through out the convention weekend. Please walk around the
fenced off area to access the restaurants and stores you normally use
during AnimeNEXT 2007, such as Houlihan's, Pizzeria Uno, Burger King,
Red Lobster, TCBY, Chili's, Nikko Sushi & Bento and Dunkin Donuts.
* ANIMENEXT 2007 AT THE DOOR REGISTRATION
AnimeNEXT 2007 registration is available at the door of the
convention. Registration is at the Box Office at the Meadowlands
Exposition Center. You may have to wait on line outside of the
exposition center.
Registration will be open the following hours:
Friday 9:00am – 10:00pm
Saturday 9:00am – 10:00pm
Sunday 9:00am – 3:00pm
At-door Registration prices are as follows:
Membership Type Adult Child(7-12)
Multi-day $50 $40
Friday only $25 $15
Saturday only $35 $25
Sunday only $25 $15
We only accept cash at the event.
* EARLY PRE-REGISTRATION PICK UP
AnimeNEXT will once again have early badge pick-up for pre-registered
attendees. On Thursday, July 5, 2007 those attendees who have
pre-registered for AnimeNEXT 2007 can pick up their badges for the
convention early from 7:00pm to 10:00pm at the Meadowlands Exposition
Center. Registration will only be open for pre-registered attendees.
New registrations may not be purchased at this time.
We also hope to allow pre-registered attendees to watch some anime in
the official AnimeNEXT hotel, The Holiday Inn Secaucus Meadowlands.
Look for information the evening of Thursday, July 5, 2007 and watch
some bonus anime as we set up our equipment for the evening.
* OFFICIAL T-SHIRTS FOR ANIMENEXT 2007
Remember to get your official AnimeNEXT 2007 T-Shirt while at the
convention. The 2007 T-Shirts feature full color artwork from the
AnimeNEXT official artist Lisa Lamhut and a design by Rene Jack.
These shirts will be $15.00 each.
AnimeNEXT will also have a special limited amount of AnimeNEXT Baby
Doll T-Shirts on sale at the convention. These shirts will feature
different Lisa Lamhut artwork than the standard T-Shirts and will only
be available in Girls Baby Doll sizes. These shirts will be $15.00 each.
You will be able to purchase the various AnimeNEXT T-Shirts at our
table in the Dealers Room through out the convention. We hope to see
plenty of people wearing these stylish T's!
* ANIME FUED STILL RECRUITING PLAYERS
We are still recruiting players for our Anime Feud game show. We are
still in need of a few fanboys for our Friday game, and some
Antagonists for Saturday. Antagonists must be cosplayers cosplaying
the bad guys of anime. If you are still interested in being a part of
this game show, you can write to gameshows@animenext.org.
* PROGRAMMING SPOTLIGHT: ART SHOW
Do you love viewing fanart of your favorite anime characters, or just
love seeing original artwork? Do you have a piece of art you are
dying to show off during the convention? Either way, you don't want
to miss our Art Show. The Art Show will take place in the MEC
throughout the weekend. View art, and even bid on pieces you would
like to take home, just please don't photograph or touch the art.
Over the years we have seen some extraordinary pieces in our Art Show,
and this year is sure to be another spectacular show! You can find more details at http://www.animenext.org/art-show
###
CONTACT INFORMATION
Shelly Berghold, Director of Publicity
AnimeNEXT 2007
C/o Universal Animation
publicity@animenext.org
www.animenext.org
###
PLEASE REDISTRIBUTE FREELY
************************************************************
AnimeNEXT Electronic Update June 22, 2007
************************************************************
