Guests

MAX has been a powerhouse in the Japanese music industry for nearly a decade. Nana, Reina, Lina, and Aki will be headlining our Saturday night J-Pop concert this year.

More details will be announced as they are available...

A veteran of the V/O biz, Steve Blum cut his teeth in the industry over a decade ago, on shows like the Guyver and Giant Robo, and since has voiced hundreds of diverse characters in productions representing every media imaginable!

Steve’s training was highly unorthodox by industry standards. Before voice acting became a full-time profession, Steve worked in a book store, a pet store, an auto-parts store, serviced fire protection equipment, ran a mailroom, drove a delivery truck, managed warehouses, became an International film and video sales/service coordinator, copywriter and marketing executive for a Sci-Fi film company, an ADR script writer, part-time musician…

But where’s the acting experience? All on the job. It started with a few monster growls, then a couple of old men’s lines, a hero or two… and the rest is history. More than 15 years later, he’s out there soiling microphones and barking, spitting, and yowling his way into your lives every day and actually making a living at it!

Steve is probably best known as “Spike” from Cowboy Bebop; “Tom” (the robot) from Toonami; “Roger Smith” from Big O; "Darcia" from Wolf's Rain; "Kurosawa" from Witch Hunter Robin; “Flamedramon”, “Guilmon” and a pile of other… well… “mons” (and kids) from 3 seasons of Digimon; …the voice of 7-11; and most recently, “Jamie” from Megas XLR. In the game world, he’s played Crash Bandicoot, Pitfall Harry, Ethan Hunt, Wolverine, Jabba the Hutt and tons of other weirdos we’ve all come to know and love.

Stay tuned… this bigmouth has only just begun to spew!

Beau does it all: television, films, stage, radio, and video games. You may have seen his Nexium (little purple pill) commercial earlier this year.

In the world of anime, Beau has voiced a multitude of characters including Jet Black in Cowboy Bebop, Ogremon, Sagitarimon and Parrotmon in Digimon, Michael in Argent Soma, Woolly Mammoth in Dino-Zaurs and Bear in Rave Master. He narrated the series Suicide Missions (renamed Dangerous Missions) for The History Channel, and has done numerous radio and television commercials (on-and off-camera), not to mention video games (Safari, Outlaws, Dynasty Warriors, Zino, Breakdown, Ace Combat 5).

Beau’s career in show business began in New York when he was cast in the National tour of The Great White Hope. His stage work includes MacBeth, Emperor Jones, Bell, Book and Candle, Street Scene, Dracula, A Christmas Carol, Taming of the Shrew, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Tempest (LA Shakespeare Festival), Detective Story at the Ahmanson Theatre, with Charlton Heston, Driving Miss Daisy and Man of La Mancha.

His television credits include guest starring roles on West Wing, JAG, The District, The Division, NYPD Blue, Touched By An Angel, Murder She Wrote, Baywatch, Matlock, Family Law (recurring as Judge Harrington), 7th Heaven, Walker Texas Ranger, Profiler, Mad About You, Murphy Brown, Diagnosis Murder, Married With Children, Evening Shade, and many others. He appeared for two years on General Hospital as Russell Stern and for six years as attorney Arthur Sturgis on Divorce Court.

The most notable television movies and mini-series Beau has appeared in are Gone But Not Forgotten, Silent Predators, Pentagon Wars, To Live Again, George Wallace, Terror in the Family, Armed and Innocent, and North and South, Book II.

Beau’s film credits include Halloween H20, My Favorite Martian, Leprechaun (6th) in the Hood, The American President, Gale Force, Final Voyage, Final Justice, Out For Blood, Night Shift, Ten to Midnight, Real Genius, The Blob, In the Army Now and Surface to Air, to mention a few.

Hi, my name is Brianne. People call me Bree. Some people call me Brie, like the cheese, but that’s OK, just as long as they call me… besides, I like Brie.. The cheese that is… Hehe.

From my introduction with voice, sounds and mimicking when I was young, I progressed into bolder areas in using my voice skills. Whether on the school PA system, or my local Ralph’s Market.

Flashing forward now a few years… I got my feet wet professionally, or I should say my vocal chords soaked, from a chance opportunity in which I got to play a little boy, his friend, and younger little sister that talked and sang in a Halloween TV special. Spooky as it may sound, I was returning home early from college with a 102.7 temperature and got a call from my sound engineer friend who said that I had to get over to his studio-pronto for a voice audition. Talk about the right place at the wrong time, I was sick as a dog, or maybe a cat with a hairball and wanted to get home ASAP. As I pleaded with him to “find someone else.” But, Steve, (I’m calling him by his real name since there’s no reason to protect the-non-innocent) asked me if I’d do him a favor and try my wacky personality and do some of my boy voices for him.

After bits and pieces of Dubbing and Walla sessions, I gradually got my foot further in the door (so they couldn’t shut it on my toe) and began to do real, actual, live (well, as live as animated can be animated) cartoon projects. I’ve played numerous little monster bits in “Power Rangers” and the lead of “Circuit”, the Robotic Owl as the Ranger’s sidekick.

I was the “Artful Dodger” in the animated series “Oliver Twist” and hit a home run when I landed the role of Tsukasa, Elk & Sconk in “. Hack//Sign”. I also played the part of Kenichi and the Robot Fifi in “Metropolis” and, every once in a while, I would work on live action projects that include the TV series “Touched By Angel” and “Walker, Texas Ranger”.

Johnny got his start as Adam Park, of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, and continued playing the character through three incarnations of the show: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Power Rangers Zeo, and Power Rangers Turbo. Later, he turned toward his less physical talents and was cast as the voice of $60 Billion Man, Vash The Stampede, in the American release of Trigun. To date, he can be found doing the voices in: Gate Keepers, Akira, Wolf's Rain, Witch Hunter Robin, Ghost in the Shell series, Heat Guy J, Please Twins, Last Exile and the list goes on and on. Not only acting and voice overs but he just finished his feature film directorial debut, Bloody Boy...

Jamie McGonnigal lives in New York City and enjoys his careers as Actor, Director and Producer. As a voice actor, he has worked on dozens of animated titles including Weiss Kreuz (Omi), Magic User’s Club (Takeo), Jungle Emperor Leo (Lemonade), World of Narue (Kazuto), The Weathering Continent (Tieh), Patlabor (Bud) and Arcade Gamer Fubuki (Sanpieta) and as an anime casting director, Jamie has worked on Weiss Kreuz and Jungle Emperor Leo. His life onstage around the country includes shows such as Into The Woods (Jack), The Mikado (Pooh-Bah), Little Shop of Horrors (Seymour) and dozens of new musicals including 108 Waverly (Matthew), Archie’s Girls (Archie), and Jack! (Il Dawg). In the past year, Jamie has become well-known in New York City for his work as a producer and director with his productions of Children of Eden (a benefit for The National AIDS Fund), Embrace! (a concert to benefit The Matthew Shepard Foundation), and SNOOPY! The Musical, starring Tony-Award Winner Sutton Foster (a benefit for The Pied Piper Children’s Theatre of NYC). In his efforts, Jamie has raised nearly half a million dollars in 6 months, for worthy causes around the country. He is currently the Founding Producer in charge of Programming for The New York Musical Theatre Festival. Visit www.JamieMcG.com for more information.

Xero Reynolds, aka "Xerjester", is a Texas-based comic artist and musician. He has been producing music for 6 years now, and extended his talents to score the anime soundtrack for Dementia7 Studio's "D7PEACEMAKER::STAGE1" on DVD, (of which he also performed the voice of Nathan Elliot). Both film and soundtrack premiered at AKON13. Xero's work is also being featured in a new animation, "The Nine". Xero has recently made his debut in the online manga community with his release of Konsekai:Swordwaltzer, a fantasy-action-drama that has been 7 years in the making. Check it and his other works out at www.xerjester.com.

I was born on December 19, 1970 in Houston, TX. I grew up in Willis, TX where I attended public School. As a sophomore at Willis High School, I was encouraged by my English teacher, Mrs. Woods, to audition for a school play, Dracula. I received the role of the Count’s fly-eating sidekick, Renfield. On October 17, 1987 we held the one and only performance of the play. I have never been more nervous in my life. Before attempting this play, I couldn’t walk across the stage to receive an award without breaking into a sweat. I was uber-shy. All that changed when I stepped out into the stage lights as Renfield. The crowd responded to my character with such enthusiasm, they gave me a standing ovation during curtain call. That night my destiny was revealed. I began to pursue a career in Acting, and have never looked back.

Monica Rial is pleased to attend her 3rd Animefest! She is proud to keep Dallas peeps from experiencing Monica withdrawals. She has been with ADVFilms for 4 years where she has worked on such shows as Gasaraki, Princess Nine, Steel Angel Kurumi, Excel Saga, Full Metal Panic!, Noir, Rahxephon, Angelic Layer, Azumanga Daioh, Megazone, and Aquarian Age. She is also currently working with Funimation Studios on Kiddy Grade. Come by and say hi! Or Yay! Whatever makes you happy.

Vic is a professional music composer/ producer and veteran actor with ADV Films, most recently voicing characters in such anime series as Kurz in Full Metal Panic, Broly in Dragonball Z movie 8, Kougagai in Saiyuki, Mamoru in Raxaephon, Gawl in Generator Gawl, and Mythe in Playstation II game, Unlimited Saga. Vic has also done characters Princess Nine, Streetfighter, Sin, Spriggan, Gasaraki, Noir, Steel Angel Karumi, Orphen, Excel Saga, A.D. Police, Aura Battler Dunbine, Rune Soldier, Neo Ranga, Yu Yu Hakasho, Gamera, Those Who Hunt Elves, Nagica, Dirty Pair, Nuku Nuku Dash, Nuku Nuku TV, St. Seiya, Kino’s Journey, Dragonball GT, Angelic Layer, Gravion, Bastof Syndrome, Case Closed, Kitty Grade and many others. He has recently been cast as Edward in Full Metal Alchemist.

Mike got his start in anime as one of the first voice actors in Texas to be hired by FUNimation Productions in 1997. Notable roles include Master Roshi, Yajirobe, Android #8 and Pui-Pui in Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z, Baby and Baby-Vegeta in Dragon Ball GT, Goemon in Lupin The Third (Movie Specials), and Ritsu Sohma in Fruits Basket. He can also be heard as various roles in Yu Yu Hakusho, Blue Gender, and Kiddy Grade. As an ADR/Voice Director, Mike has worked on Dragon Ball Z, Yu Yu Hakusho, and directed most of the dub of the original Dragon Ball series. Most recently, he has added writing dub scripts to his list of acheivements, having worked on the uncut versions of Dragon Ball Z.

Mike is also an accomplished improv comedian, musician, and has appeared in numerous commercials and independent films, including The Rage Within, House Of The Generals, and the award-winning Schtickmen. For more information, check out his website at www.mikemcfarland.com.

Kyle Hebert- Best known as the voice of teen Gohan and the Narrator from Funimation's dub of Dragonball Z, Kyle's credits also include Yu Yu Hakusho (Karasu, Okubo), Blue Gender (Seno Miyagi), Fruits Basket (Takei) and various character roles on the new Adult Swim series, Case Closed. His voice will also be heard in Dementia 7 Studios' upcoming D7 Nightfall feature. His website, www.kylehebert.com , promotes voice actors, anime, cartoons, games, movies, and other aspects of fandom. Kyle has also launched a new DVD series, called The Dub Club, exclusively dedicated to anime dub voice actor interviews.

Chris Patton has been voicing roles for ADV Films for over five years. Roles include: Sasame in Pretear, Sousuke Sagara in Full Metal Panic, Ayato Kamina in RahXephon, Eiji Shigure in Gravion, Gourry in Slayers Premium, Shun/Andromeda in Saint Seiya, and the just-recently-announced Kyouta in Aquarian Age. Some of his other favorite roles for ADV have been Rei Otohata in Super Gals, Daley Wong in Bubblegum Crisis 2040, Ohjiro Mihara in Angelic Layer, Key in Excel Saga, Seishiro Natsume in Princess Nine, Eutus in Abenobashi, Muille Fuille in the Sorcerer Hunter OVAs, Flame Soul in Orphen II: Revenge, and Saburota Takasuge in Nadesico: Prince of Darkness. Animefest was Chris's first convention, and he considers it his "convention home". He's thrilled to be back in 2004!

Greg Ayres is not your average voice actor. The once “Fanboy” turned VA started working for ADV Films two years ago, and in that time managed to snag two of his favorite roles in anime. He was thrilled to voice the role of his favorite character Son Goku in Saiyuki, then just one year later Kaworu Nagisa in the Director's Cut of Neon Genesis Evangelion. Other roles include Toga in Gravion, Bomb in BASTOF Syndrome, Yuya Asou in SuperGals, Mannen in Pretear, and Shinji Kazama in Full Metal Panic. He can also be heard in other anime titles such as The Legend of the Mystical Ninja, Steel Angel Kurumi, Those Who Hunt Elves II, Panyo Panyo DiGi Charat, Dragon Knight Wheels of Time, Oh Super Milk Chan, and Aura Battler Dunbine. To find out even more information visit Greg’s web site at www.gregayres.com.

Stephanie has been involved in acting, dancing and live performance since she was 5 years old. Her most recent voice acting credits are Goku in Dragon Ball GT and in Dragon Ball. She has also voiced young Gohan, East Kai and Baby Trunks on the very popular Anime Dragon Ball Z. She has contributed voices and sung themes in Fruits Basket, Yu Yu Hakusho, and Kiddy Grade. As a seasoned vocalist, she sings regularly with The Project Band, Vince Vance and the Valiants, The Bulletproof Brass Band and also sings jazz at various venues all over the DFW area. Stephanie writes and produces her own parodies, sings various jingles and uses her voice for audio books and novelty toys. Additionally, her voice has been featured on a variety of albums by well known artists. She enjoys teaching kids dance classes and spending time with her family. This is Stephanie’s third year at AnimeFest and is very excited to be back! Her website is: www.stephaniesvoice.com.

Robert DeJesus

Robert is an Indiana born, self-taught artist. February, 1990 he got his first art career break when he sent an eight page short story to Antarctic Press' anthology, Mangazine. From that he was asked to work on other assorted AP comics, such as Ninja High School, Mangazine, Not Ninja High School, Again and SB Ninja High School. After working for Antarctic Press for about four years, Robert went on to do freelance work. He teamed with other artists such as Adam Warren on Bubblegum Crisis and Dirty Pair, Phil Foglio's Xxxenophile card game and co-produced a portfolio 'zine with Steve Bennett. His art has also attracted invitation from overseas by a couple of grand Japanese artists, Kenichi Sonoda (Gunsmith Cats, Riding Bean), and KoKoMai (character designer for Japan's Playstation, Crime Crackers) to do work for their own personal dojinishi circles. But it doesn't end there, Rob has done much work for many comic companies, major magazines, an animated TV show, a major toy manufacturer and a very well known video game developer.

Robert's biggest claim to fame has to be designing a certain teenage, spiky red hair, high school uniform wearing, video game otaku named Banzai Chibi Chan. For two years Robert designed and drew the magazines' easily excitable, video game addicted mascot for Playstation Magazine, 100% Independent. His work includes a collaboration with Studio Udon and Marvel comics. Released during the weekend of it's opening movie debut, he worked on two childrens books based on Spiderman. His most recent project was a pin-ups for past issues of Anime Invasion.

Studio Capsule

Now, with the help of his wife/partner in crime, Emily, they have started thier own company, Studio Capsule. Capsule will be involve in creating a line of underground doujinshis, animations, portfolios and other sorts of Studio Capsule memorabilia. Find out everything that's new with either Studio Capsule or Robert DeJesus www.robertdejesus.com

Doug Smith is an Artist who has done art for "Inquest Magazine". Doug has also been a graphic designer as well as a voice actor for ADV. He designed the cover for the "JPop Music CD" and various art for other conventions. In fact, he may have designed the badge you will be wearing. Be sure to swing by his table and check out his art. Don't be surprised if you see his work in the art show?

SquirrelWorks was founded by BoxerStudios' Chris Moujaes and Senior Year's Aaron Romo - two online entertainment pioneers who merged their popular websites into one, exciting online community: www.SquirrelWorks.com. Chris & Aaron are producers of popular online web comics Coz/Effect & Fairview High, featured exclusively on the SquirrelWorks Network, which enjoy visits in excess of 1-million hits a year. Their successes and pioneering knowledge of the online entertainment field have lead their jointly-owned studio to be recruited by media companies such as America Online, Inc. to pitch original online cartoon properties for mass release.

Krista is an artist, author and graphic designer who has been involved in amateur and professional web-based creations for nearly a decade. Always a lover of good storytelling, she became involved in writing anime fanfiction when she discovered that some fantastic stories involving her favorite series were being published by talented authors on the internet. Her own fanfic contributions, which have earned some popular and critical success, can be found at www.akane.org/fanfiction.

As AnimeFEST's Fanfic Contest Coordinator, Krista is pleased to help in AnimeFEST's efforts to bring recognition and appreciation to talented anime fanfic authors.

Krista is also known as the creator, artist and co-author of the Babylonian Mythology-based webcomic Utukki (www.utukki.com), which she produces with co-author and partner-in-crime, Michelle Thatcher.

Among the first American artists to work professionally in the shoujo manga style, Bruce Lewis is a professional illustrator, designer, and writer with over a decade of experience in the comics field. A fan of anime and manga since 1969, Lewis is among the earliest proponents of Japanese pop cultural style in the U.S,, and is cited in Antonia Levy's SAMURAI IN OUTER SPACE and Frederik R. Schodt's DREAMLAND JAPAN: WRITINGS ON MODERN MANGA. His pro credits include writing and drawing several of the American versions of Robotech, Gall Force, and Star Blazers comics over the years, writing about anime and manga for Animerica, Anime/UK, Anime/FX, and MangaMax magazines, doing television storyboarding, sportswear design, and many other odd things.

Lewis is a co-founder and partner in Cheap Disposable Entertainment, Inc., a comics publishing company which released its first comics anthology (Juku: A Comics Album) last year. (The 244-page book, created by the comics circle Juku: A Comics Band, contains two of Lewis' comics, "It Happened in the Seventh Grade" and the novella-length "Dairooster 5!".) In addition to all this, he has a busy freelance career; his most recent work is as the touch-up artist, letterer, and designer for Viz' new English-language adaptation of Koshi Rokdo's hit EXCEL SAGA manga.

Bruce Lewis is currently producing several new comics stories for Juku's followup album, and with his wife Mundee is busy creating and promoting the Kuro Neko? line of sportswear for their new company, Fashion Neko. He is also writing his first "real" book, a guide to creating comics in the manga style due out in 2004. Bruce Lewis' hobbies are collecting old books, playing golf, muddling about with cooking, and traveling. His favorite color is blue, he drinks Scotch, and he loves kittens, rockets, and plaids. You can see his work at your neighborhood bookstore or on the Web at www.cheapdisposable.com