Hey guys! Who's gonna go to Anime Central 2004?? I heard it's going to be really good this year, with the classic "Got Soap?" shirts, and a whole lotta POCKY!!! I signed up the second registrations were open, which was like a month or two ago. I think it's in May, not sure of the exact date. I'm telling youse, this is THE event for all anime fans!! ACen even topples Anime Reactor and the New York convention! (forgot it's name.. ¬_¬') I can't wait!!

-- Anonymous, November 18, 2003

Answers

SWEET!!!!! I love Pocky!!!! I just got some fer my Birthday!!!! But ya know the best Japanese candy? Wata Pachii and Koala March (Koala March are those chocolate koala bears filled with stuff...Too Kawaii to eat often!!!! But don't let me change the subject, where do you sign up to go?

-- Anonymous, November 18, 2003

www.acen.org. By the way, they, supposedly will have a whole section of Japanese and oriental foods. One of my favorites is that gum-like product that isn't really gum.. it sort of melts in your mouth, but is chewy and chock full of flavor (Can't remember it's name.. ¬_¬''')! Also I heard they will have Qoo!!! The best damn juice drink in the world! The manufacturers of Qoo must be hopped up on potpourri or something cause this drink is like 100% flavor and 100% sugar!

P.S. If you register before December, it's only 30$!!! Heh. Someone told me it would be like 100$ to register.. I dunno what sort of cilantro they were on, but that would be so gay! And it wouldn't just be gay, it would be the other side of gay! It would put Elton John to shame!! Thankfully, not only will it NOT be 100$, but also, I will stop talking.

-- Anonymous, November 18, 2003

That gum you're talking about is Wata Gum. It's cola-flavored, and is like cotton candy but really gum, right? That's stuff's pretty cool, but I think cola flavored gum tastes odd. But that's what inspired Wata Pachii, which is the cotton candy thing with pop rocks! It's really great! I've gotta go to this thing! Gohan rocks!

-- Anonymous, November 18, 2003

Well, yeah, but the reason everyone's going isn't only for the AWESOME Japanese Delicatessins (hmm.. spelling?), but for the anime! They have live previews of upcoming animes, plus store upon store upon store of anime kiosks, selling just about ANY anime you're looking for, except for Pokémon, of course.. (just kidding, they EVEN have Pokémon!) Also, every year they have exclusive guests from well known businesses, and also anime authors, producers, and even original voice actors! Here is a list of the special guests from last year:

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. To find out more about the man and his music, view his webpage at http://taiki.ep.sci.hokudai.ac.jp/~sasaki/kouhei/ (Japanese only).

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 is most known for his recent work, as director of the Onegai Teacher series (and the upcoming Onegai Twins series). He also served as the director on Silent Moebius2 and Burn up. Fans may also recognize his other directing and scriptwriting efforts for Hanauyko Maid Tai and D4 Princess 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.

Hiroaki 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

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. We 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 visiting 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.

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. This will be Mr. Matsubara's second appearance at Anime Central.

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Brett Weaver

Brett Weaver has been in the anime voice acting since his friend Amanda Winn Lee dared him to audition. That was 8 years ago and Brett has been working ever since. Of the 46 shows (so far), he has voiced notable characters like Carrot from Sorcerer Hunters, Gai Daigoji from Nadesico, Tora in the soon to be released Ushio and Tora DVD, and Nabeshin in Excel Saga. If ya wanna see his complete resume and other strange activities at www.siteofdestiny.com. He always looks forward to meeting the people who are interested in anime and animation in general.

Laura Bailey

Laura Bailey is an actress for FUNimation Productions, Ltd. She has been active in the Dallas theater community for over 3 years. She has been seen on "Walker Texas Ranger" and numerous independent films. Laura's voice actor credits include the voice of Young Trunks and Erasa in Dragon Ball Z, Chi-Chi in Dragon Ball, Marlene Angel in Blue Gender, and Kayko Ukimura in Yu Yu Hakusho. Her most recent role is Tohru Honda, the main character in Fruits Basket. This is Laura's first Anime Central appearance.

Tiffany Grant

Anime Central 2003 welcomes Tiffany back to this year's event. Tiffany was the first ever voice actor hired by ADV Films, and is best known as Asuka from Evangelion and Chocolate from Sorceror Hunters. Tiffany has voiced characters in over a hundred titles.

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.

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 popular 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. He will even have manga classes at ACen designed to teach and inspire!

That's about all, I think. Oh, and they are finally releasing the Sailor Bubba bobblehead doll!!! Umm.. you'd have to have been at the 2002 and 2003 Acen conventions to understand it.. but it's hilarious! I saw a prototype of it at last year's convention, but they weren't selling them. This year's gonna be the best ever!

-- Anonymous, November 18, 2003

well... it would take about a week to get there... so yeah... *sigh*

-- Anonymous, November 19, 2003