Animazement 2009 - New Guest Announcements!

2009 Japanese Guests of Honor 2009
Noriko Hidaka
Voice Actress
Her most famous roles include Near from Deathnote, Kikyo from InuYasha, Akane Tendo from Ranma 1/2, Satsuki Kusakabe in My Neighbor Totoro, Jean from Nadia: Secret of Blue Water, Erica Fontaine from Sakura Taisen (OAV), Bellemere from One Piece, Shiine from Akazukin Cha Cha, Noriko Hakushika from Yukan Club, Riko Hidaka/Shinesman Salmon Pink from Shinesman, and many more! 

IMDB Info on Noriko Hidaka
Wiki Info on Noriko Hidaka

Koichi Tsunoda
Animation Artist/Animation Director
Koichi Tsunoda has done work for children of all ages, including Wan Wan Chuushingura, Okami Shonen Ken, and Kaitei Sanmanri (30,000 Miles under the Sea). As an animation director he has directed Sangokushi, Mikuroido, Majingaa Z, Majingaa Z vs. Devil Man, “Majingaa Z vs. Ankoku Daishoogun, Saiboogu 009, Star Blazer, Transformer The Movie, etc. He did the original design on Oyayubi-hime, Dai Yamato, and saved as the assistant director for Galaxy Express 999, Yamato Forever. He was the art designer for 1000 nen Jyoo oo. Having retired, he is now teaches as a professor at Seian University of Art Design; University of Creation, Art and Music; and Toei Animation School. 

IMDB Info on Koichi Tsunoda

Masao Maruyama
President/Producer (Studio Madhouse)
In 1972, Masao Maruyama founded Mad House with Mr. Sugino, Mr. Hata and others. Since then, he has ensured the quality of anime produced by Mad House. He is involved in many phases of anime production ranging from music planning to actor casting. He is the producer of Yawara!, Card Captor Sakura, Hanada Shoonenshi and many more Mad House anime. 

IMDB Info on Masao Maruyama
Wiki Info on Masao Maruyama
Wiki Info on Mad House
Keiko Han
Voice Actress
Keiko Han is not only a voice actress but also and author and an instructor at Tokyo Media Academy. She has published five books about the western horoscope. Her numerous roles include: Sasha in "Yamato yo Eien ni" (Be Forever Yamato), Lala Sun in Mobile Suit Gundam, Prof. Uchikido in Pocket Monster, Atsuko Kawada in City Hunter, and Luna and Queen Beryl in Sailor Moon. 

IMDB Info on Keiko Han
Wiki Info on Keiko Han
Ryuusei Nakao
Voice Actor
Started acting in Ultra Q when he was a child. Radio personality, singer and voice acting such as Mayuri and Kurotsuchi Mayumi from Bleach, Farfarello from Weiß Kreuz, Freeza from Dragonball Z, Erik from One Piece, Kir from Jing: King of Bandits, Baikin-man from Anpan-man, and many more. 

IMDB Info on Ryuusei Nakao
Wiki Info on Ryuusei Nakao

Yasuo Yamaguchi
Producer
In 1963 he started as an assistant director at Toei/Tokyo Satsueejo, later transferring to the Production Department. He produced "Wolf Boy Ken", "Ge Ge Ge no Kitaroo", "Getter Robo" , "King Kong" etc, and became an anime picture producer, producing titles including "Candy, Candy", "Story of Maple Town", "Tatsu no ko Taro" etc. As chief of the production section, he produced "Sailor Moon". He is a founder of the Toei Animation Research Center. In 1996 he started researching the digital anime making process for the Japanese government. He is also an adjunct professor at Tokai University. 

IMDB Info on Yasuo Yamaguchi

Maya Yamao
Shamisen Player
Maya Yamao moved to France when she was eight years old. When the Kabuki group Sarunosuke Ichikawa came to France, she acted as Kogitsune (a little fox). It sparked her interest regarding traditional Japanese culture. After she completed her undergraduate studies from Tokyo Art University, she earned her Masters Degree from the same institution. Ms. Yamao plays the Shamisen, Okinawa Shamisen and Kokyuu, which are Japanese musical instruments similar to guitars. She teaches at her alma mater, Tokyo Art University, Surugadai University, Higashino High School and other institutions. She has played in Europe, Australia and the United States.

Wiki Info on Shamisen

Cristina Vee
Voice Actor
Cristina “Vee” Valenzuela has actively pursued her life long dream of becoming a voice actress since the age of 16. Her voice talent was discovered by Bang Zoom! Entertainment at Anime Expo 2004, where she was invited to audition for the role of Fuu in “Samurai Champloo”. Since then, she has been continually invited back to the Burbank studio where she has recorded for both anime and foreign films. She recorded her first re-occuring character in the shoujo-mecha drama “Kannaduki no Miko” as the bully schoolgirl Misaki. In 2005, she auditioned for Broccolli International’s DUP USA song group where she landed the role of the adorable Puchiko and performed with Stephanie Yanez and Karen Hsin. She is also known for her voicing of Rachel in Haré+Guu, Aika Sumeragi in AIKa R-16: Virgin Mission, Kanaria in Rozen Maiden: Träumend, and Nanoha Takamachi in Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha. 

Official Cristina Vee Website
Kyle Hebert
Voice Actor
Kyle Hebert is an LA-based anime and video game voice actor, currently heard on Cartoon Network as Sosuke Aizen and Ganju Shiba on "Bleach", as well as Kiba on "Naruto". He is best known as the Narrator and teen Gohan on "Dragonball Z". Other credits include Megaman Star Force (Omega-Xis),"Ghost in the Shell: Solid State Society (Munei), "When They Cry" (Tomitake), "Fullmetal Alchemist" (Falman), "Fruits Basket" (Takei), "Eureka 7" (KenGoh), "Yu Yu Hakusho" (Karasu), "Ergo Proxy" (MCQ), and many more. Video game voiceover credits include "The Spiderwick Chronicles", Bleach Wii/DS", "Devil May Cry 4", ".hack GU Part 2-3", "Digimon Data Squad", "Baten Kaitos: Origins", "Dragonball Z", and "Naruto". You can also download his internet radio show dedicated to news on everything geeky ("The Big Bald Broadcast") from his official website. 

Official Kyle Herbert Website

Kara Edwards
Voice Actreess
Kara Edwards began her career in anime as the voice of Goten and Videl in DragonBall Z. Since then, she has voiced characters in Dragonball, Yu Yu Hakusho, Ragnarok, School Rumble, and Solty Rei. In addition to her work in anime, Kara works on a variety of projects aimed at young children, including the voice of Razzles in the pre-school hit Raggs on PBS. A voice actor for 13 years now, Kara works from her studio in Tampa, FL and can be heard internationally on the radio, web, and TV. Kara is thrilled to attend Animazement for the third year in a row, and looks forward to meeting as many people as possible! 

Official Kara Edwards Website

Caitlin Glass
Voice actress and ADR director of FUNimation Entertainment
A voice actress and ADR director, Caitlin has been working in the anime industry since 2004. When she was still a college student, Caitlin was hired by FUNimation while on a tour of the studio. After her first small parts on /Case Closed/, she went on to play Winry in Fullmetal Alchemist, Triela in Gunslinger Girl, Hiyono in Spiral and Takane in Burst Angel. More recent roles include: Vivi in One Piece, Miria in Baccano, Sara in StrAIn, Dianiella in Heroic Age, Yakumo in School Rumble, Nerine in Shuffle!, Kaori in Kanon, as well as roles in Negima, Tsubasa: RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE, Black Cat, Witchblade, BECK, Solty Rei, Hell Girl, Ragnarok, and Welcome to the NHK, among others. 
In 2008, Caitlin directed the widely popular fan-favorite, Ouran High School Host Club, as well as playing Haruhi Fujioka. She is currently directing Murder Princess and Gunslinger Girl- Il Teatrino. Other directing credits include Suzuka and FUNimation’s new dub of One Piece. 

Official Caitlin Glass Blog