FanCons.co.uk Press Releases


December 8, 2005

News for Ohayocon 2006:

OhayoCon announces final additions to guest list

OhayoCon 2006 announces its final round of guests! Spoony Bards are set to open Saturday concert headlined by Peelander-Z! Plus voice actors Chris Sabat and Tiffany Grant, director Matt Greenfield, and artists Dave Merrill and Shaindle Minuk join Ohayocon to make an amazing guest list even greater still!

Columbus, November 30, 2005 - Central Ohio's premier anime convention has previously announced the following guest list for OhayoCon 2006: voice actors Monica Rial, Greg Ayres, Johnny Yong Bosch, Laura Bailey, Mike McFarland, Scott McNeil and directors Toshifumi Yoshida, Jeff Thompson, Jan Scott Frazier, guest artists Robert and Emily Dejesus and musical guests The Spoony Bards and Peelander-Z.

Christopher Sabat lives in an animated world. He has directed over 600 episodes of various cartoons and anime and videogames and voices some of the worldís most popular anime characters including Vegeta and Piccolo in Dragonball Z, Kuwabara and Gama in Yu Yu Hakusho, and Jigen in Lupin III, Ayame in Fruits Basket, Alex Luis Armstrong in Full Metal Alchemist and many others. He has also starred in best-selling videogame titles such as Deus Ex: Invisible War, Budokai, BloodRayne, SpikeOut, Blowout, and Roadkill. Chris owns an interactive production company called OkraTron 5000, Inc where he lends his production talents to movies, television and interactive media as a producer, voice director, sound designer and an audio editor.

Tiffany Grant is thrilled to be attending OhayoCon for the sixth straight year! Best known as Asuka from Neon Genesis Evangelion, Tiffany was the first voice actor hired by AD Vision back in February 1994. Since then, she has voiced characters in well over 680 TV episodes, OVAs & movies including Satella in Chrono Crusade, Kome in Blue Seed, Madame President in Golden Boy, Becky in Gun Smith Cats, Chocolate in Sorcerer Hunters, Dug Fin in Dragon Half, Kaorin in Azumanga Daioh, Bonta-kun in FMP? Fumoffu, Shizuru in Godannar, Marta in Full Metal Alchemist and Kuriko in Maburaho.

Matt Greenfield, co-founder of ADV Films (A.D. Vision, Inc.), has, as a writer, producer and director, helmed well over 550 TV episodes and feature films including such fan favorites as Gunsmith Cats, Golden Boy, Blue Seed, Martian Successor Nadesico, Gasaraki, RahXephon, Noir, Princess Nine, Dragon Half, the legendary Neon Genesis Evangelion, the classic Megazone 23 OVA series and the live-action Gamera: Guardian of the Universe. Matt's recent and current projects include, Chrono Crusade, Fuccon Family, Gantz, and Godannar.

David R. Merrill invented Anime Hell, draws the webcomic JESUS CHRIST CONQUERS THE MARTIANS at www.misterkitty.org, is Chairman Emeritus of Anime Weekend Atlanta, appears in the films OTAKU UNITE and INDIANA JONES AND THE WRECK OF THE EDMUND FITZGERALD, writes reviews and commentary for www.animejump.com, and has been involved in anime fandom since before you were born and has the Beta deck to prove it. A native of Atlanta GA, he now lives in Toronto with his wife Shaindle Minuk.

Shaindle Minuk is a graduate of the animation program at Sheridan College, but decided soon after finishing her training (and getting a taste of life in the animation field) that she preferred writing and drawing comics. In the mid-1990's she self-published 14 issues of the comics "zine" NEGATIVE BUTTHEADS, which she used to hone and refine her skills in the comics medium.
Since then Shain has been published in a number of small-press comics, co-written and co-produced a stage play for Toronto's Summerworks festival, sculpted heads and feet for a mascot company, and is a freelancer working in the broadcast industry. Currently, Shain is writing about herself in the third person. She lives in Toronto with Dave, her husband.

The Spoony Bards have, since meeting at Anime Central 2004, come to be known for their ability to assemble any available combination of vocal and instrumental talents to create a relaxed musical atmosphere at anime conventions. Eight of their members - Natalie Abdo (vocals, flute), Alisa Chomhirun (violin), Andrew Estrada (keyboard), Veronica Henry (vocals), Dave Kitsberg (guitar), Chris Macnider (violin), Stephen Poon (guitar, vocals), and Jeremiah Roque (keyboard, melodica) ó will be making an appearance at Ohayocon. Hailing from different parts of the country with a repertoire ranging from Beck and Bubble Bobble to Wolf's Rain and Zelda, this network of musicians has grown in reputation and number, having played videogame and anime music by request for days at a time at conventions. Count on the Spoony Bards to provide a fun, spirited atmosphere during your stay at Ohayocon!

PEELANDER-Z, the Japanese Action Comic Punk Band, was formed by Peelander Yellow, Peelander-Blue, and Peelander-Red (claim they are from Z area in the Planet Peelander!!) in 1998, and came into action based in NYC. These three dress up in color-coordinated costumes about as if they came out of Japanese Animation (claim those are not costumes, but the skin!!!) put on a fun entertainment. Yes, their performance is not just playing music. Have you heard of human bowling, wrestling and kung-fu action, or funny dance at the punk rock shows? Peelander-Z knows how to entertain the audience by dragging them into the show. One experience would capture you!! Peelander-Z is the best of the universe! Peelander-Z has been appearing not only on the major music festivals like Bonnaroo Music Festival and SXSW, but also on the TV programs like Upright Citizens Brigade on Comedy Central and MXC: Most Extreme Challenge on Spike TV, The Lounge and Uncle Morty on ImaginAsian TV. And theyíve had the grea t shows with the awesome national bands, such as Buckethead, Particle, and more!

Columbus, Ohio - OhayoCon LLC would like to present OhayoCon 2006 at the beautiful Hyatt Regency and Greater Columbus Convention Center. OhayoCon is a Japanese pop culture convention that brings the best of animation, gaming, costuming, comics, industry and Japanese culture to the public. This year events will include panels hosted by company representatives, American voice actors, fans and experts on all parts of Japanese culture. Look forward to karaoke, game shows, anime and live action video rooms along with Ohio's largest cosplay fashion show and masquerade.

More great news, this year OhayoCon is proud to be working with GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association) and the Origins International Game Expo to host table top gaming tournaments. Donít fear OhayoCon still offers the best in console gaming, DDR, fighting Games and much more! For more information about OhayoCon, please visit our website (http://www.ohayocon.com).

Pre-Registration has been extended to December 12th!
$45.00 at door
January 6-8, 2006
Hyatt Regency and Ohio Convention Center
Columbus, OH