| You almost could call Anime Central "Sonoda-Con." Kenichi Sonoda has used Chicago as the backdrop - almost as a character - in his Riding Bean and Gunsmith Cats manga, and the city is also a big part of the anime for those two series. Like many Americans, Sonoda has developed a deep affection for Chicago. His Anime Central appearance was Sonoda's first visit to his favorite U.S. city in six years. |  |
| Hard-core anime fans know Tsukasa Kotobuki as the character designer for Saber Marionette J. Gamers recognize his work on Battle Arena Toshinden. Now, American fans get to meet the man behind the characters on Kotobuki's first visit to the U.S. |  |
| Royal Space Force - known to many Americans as Wings of Honneamise - was one of the anime series which drew fans deeper into fandom. The film's story about a nation, drawn into war but yearning for space travel, showed fans that there was more to anime than explosions and mecha, that a serious story could be told. Fumio Iida was an animation director on Royal Space Force, and came with Sonoda to Anime Central. |  |
| Inspired by manga, two American artists have made the transition from fan wannabe to solid professional. We've already met Fred Perry at several conventions; now it's time to meet Robert DeJesus at Anime Central. |  |
| Scott Frazier is an American, yet he nearly qualifies as a Japanese guest because of his years of experience in the anime industry. As a member of Studio IG, the production house that has worked on a number of major films, Frazier can tell Americans about the reality of the Japanese industry. |  |
| Here are two of the lead characters in the English-dubbed version of Neon Genesis Evangelion. Amanda Winn Lee (right) was a guest at Animazement; this is the first picture of Lee on his site without sunglasses. On the left is Spike Spencer, who was Shinji in the English-language EVA. Lee played against type in portraying Rei Ayanami. |  |
| Anime Central got off to a fast start with its own opening animation, a tradition established at the Japanese Dai-Con. The short film was animated by computer and gave some promise of what might be possible in a few years with the growing power of home PC's; will we have "desktop anime?" |  |
Anime Central Day One |
Anime Central Day Two |
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