Manga Creator Takeshi Obata Appears at NYCC 2014

Press Release:

VIZ Media the largest distributor and licensor of manga and anime in North America, and ReedPOP, the largest producer of pop culture events in the world, are proud to welcome one of Japan’s preeminent manga artists – Takeshi Obata – for his first-ever U.S. personal appearance. His visit is co-presented by The Japan Foundation.

The acclaimed artist of smash hit manga (graphic novel) series such as DEATH NOTE, BAKUMAN。, HIKARU NO GO, RALΩGRAD and ALL YOU NEED IS KILL will appear at several events during the 2014 New York Comic Con. Taking place October 9th- 12th at the Jacob Javits Convention Center, New York Comic Con is the East Coast’s biggest pop culture convention. Full details on the show are available.

During the convention, Takeshi Obata will appear in person on two panels, on Thursday October 9th as part of VIZ Media’s WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP panel and on Friday October 10th with an overview of his incredible catalog of works. He will make an exclusive signing appearance at the Javits Convention Center on Thursday Takeshi Obata will also make a pair of additional appearances around New York as part of ReedPOP’s New York Super Week on Friday October 10th at Kinokuniya Book Store and Saturday October 11th at Barnes & Noble.

Fans are invited to stop by the VIZ Media Booth (#1944) on Thursday October 9th for details and to secure advance tickets for the exclusive New York Comic Con Takeshi Obata signing, taking place the same day at 7:30pm at the Javits Center. Signing tickets will be distributed on a first come/first served basis promptly at 1:00 pm and again at 4:30pm. (There will be no advance line-up until 15 minutes before ticket time). Each attendee that secures a ticket will receive an exclusive shikishi signing board that Obata will autograph.

Fans may also select from a wide array of Obata manga titles available for purchase at the VIZ Media booth, including special advance copies of his newest work, ALL YOU NEED IS KILL, a deluxe omnibus manga treatment of the Hiroshi Sakurazaka’s hit sci-fi novel that inspired the action blockbuster Edge of Tomorrow starring Tom Cruise. It will debut under VIZ Media’s Shonen Jump Advanced imprint on November 4th. Other acclaimed Obata manga titles including DEATH NOTE, BAKUMAN。, HIKARU NO GO and RALΩGRAD will also be available for purchase.

VIZ Media, ReedPOP and The Japan Foundation welcome Takeshi Obata at the following NYCC panels:

THE FUTURE OF WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP Panel Featuring Takeshi Obata
Thursday, October 9th; 6:00pm – 6:45 pm; Javits Center – Room 1A10

Join the staff of VIZ Media’s WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP as well as editors from Japan’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine to welcome Takeshi Obata for an enlightening personal discussion on what’s new and what’s next for the long-running manga anthology which launched best-selling titles such as NARUTO, BLEACH, ONE PIECE, DRAGON BALL as well as Obata’s BAKUMAN。and DEATH NOTE series.

WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP PRESENTS: Manga Artist Takeshi Obata
Friday, October 10th; 5:00pm – 5:45pm; Javits Center – Room 1A10

Join special guest Takeshi Obata along with his editor, Koji Yoshida, for an insightful conversation about Obata’s beginnings as an artist, his extensive history working in the manga industry, and the creative process behind his works. Don’t miss this!

Takeshi Obata also will participate in a pair of special off-site signings as part of New York Super Week takes place October 3rd – 12th immediately preceding New York Comic Con and is a unique immersive pop culture event where the entire island of Manhattan becomes a playground for a colorful array of superheroes, villains, cosplayers, artists, celebrities and passionate fans of from all over the world that gather to take part in a variety of themed events all over the City including concerts, comedy shows, gaming events, lectures, podcasts, storytelling, Information & tickets to New York Super Week events are available now at:

Kinokuniya Book Store, 1073 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10018

Attend a special free evening event with Takeshi Obata, a pivotal figure from Japan’s vibrant manga industry, on Friday October 10th from 8:30 PM – 9:30 PM at Kinokuniya. All participants must secure a Super Week event ticket and will receive a free autographed Shikishi signboard with the on-site purchase of one of Obata’s works. (*Note: Obata will only sign the provided shikishi
Free tickets for this event can be secured at the link….

Takeshi Obata Barnes & Noble Signing Event

Barnes & Noble – Tribeca, 97 Warren St, New York, NY 10007

Barnes & Noble and VIZ Media welcome Takeshi Obata for another free exclusive appearance as part of New York Super Week on Saturday October 11th from 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM. All participants must secure a free Super Week event ticket in advance and will receive an autographed Shikishi signboard with the on-site purchase of one of Obata’s works. (*Note: Obata will only sign the provided shikishi and on-site purchased book)

More information on this event may be viewed at the link…

“We’re very honored to welcome Takeshi Obata, creator of some of the most popular and beloved manga worldwide, for these very special live events as part of the 2014 New York Comic Con,” says Leyla Aker, Vice President, Publishing, VIZ Media. “From the paranormal suspense of DEATH NOTE, to an insider’s story of the manga industry in BAKUMAN。, to the sci-fi thriller ALL YOU NEED IS KILL, Obata’s work has consistently drawn wide acclaim and captivated millions of readers around the world. Please join us to celebrate his first-ever U.S. appearance!”

Takeshi Obata was born in 1969 in Niigata, Japan and is the artist of the wildly popular SHONEN JUMP manga series DEATH NOTE, BAKUMAN。 and HIKARU NO
GO (all published by VIZ Media). He is the winner of the 2003 Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize’s Shinsei “New Hope” Award and the 2000 Shogakukan Manga Award.

Obata is also the artist of Arabian Majin Bokentan Lamp Lamp, Ayatsuri Sakon, Cyborg Jichan G., and his newest manga work, the sci-fi action series ALL YOU NEED IS KILL, which is based on Hiroshi Sakurazaka’s best-selling novel.

For more information on Takeshi Obata’s manga titles or other manga titles published by VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.

Sword Art Online Cast & Crew Appear at Anime Boston 2013

Press Release:

Anime Boston, the largest anime convention in the Northeast, announced another round of guests today.  Director Tomohiko Ito, producer Shinichiro Kashiwada and voice actors Cherami Leigh and Bryce Papenbrook will attend Anime Boston at the Hynes Convention Center, Boston, Mass. on May 24 through May 26, 2013.

Tomohiko Ito works at A-1 Pictures and is most recognized as the director of the hit series Sword Art Online. He made his directorial debut with the animated series Occult Academy.

Ito’s long list of credits includes Death Note, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, and Summer Wars to name a few.

This will be Ito’s first time appearing at an Anime Convention here in the U.S. Mr. Ito is looking forward to share his thoughts on Sword Art Online and more, here at Anime Boston.

As Aniplex’s producer, Shinichiro Kashiwada is involved as a chief producer for the hit animated series Sword Art Online.

He has also been involved with numerous titles including Puella Magi Madoka Magica TV series and Oreimo Series as an associate producer.

Cherami Leigh is an on camera and voice actor from Dallas.

In the anime world, she is the female lead Asuna in Sword Art Online.  She has appeared as Road in D. Grayman, Sae in Peach Girl, Yuti La in Heroic Age, Elizabeth in Black Butler, Patty in Soul Eater, Ayano in Kaze no Stigma, Natsumi in Sgt. Frog, Naomi in Witchblade, Yoshika in Strike Witches, Elicia Hughes in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood,  Setsuna and Akira in Negima, Mai in Ghost Hunt, Tamaki in Bamboo Blade, Himawari in XXXholic, Cecily in Sacred Blacksmith,  Liechtenstein in Hetalia, Lucy in Fairy Tail, Takeshita in B Gata H Kei, Kneesocks in Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt, Sunako in Shiki, Suzuha in Steins;Gate, Shana in Shakugan no Shana, Gaige in Borderlands 2.

She has been in over 75 commercials, and was a live national on-air DJ for Radio Disney. She has appeared in many films and television shows, including the soon to be released Beyond the Farthest Star and in the hit webseries Throwing Stones. She was also in the Emmy-award winning Temple Grandin, and has appeared on various network television shows.

Bryce Papenbrook has been a professional voice over artist since the age of eight. He has also been announced as Kirito, the male lead of Sword Art Online.

Papenbrook was introduced to the voice acting scene by his father, Bob Papenbrook, and has continued the trade in his footsteps. Bryce has performed in numerous video games, cartoons, and television shows.

Some recent roles include Rin Okumura in Blue Exorcist, Asbel Lhant in Tales of Graces F, Zidane Tribal in Final Fantasy Dissidia 012, Masaomi Kida in Durarara!!, and Guan Ping in Dynasty Warriors. Past leading roles include Shugo in .hack//Sign Legend of the Twilight, Jack in MAR, Jack Russell in Radiata Stories, Hanabusa Aido in Vampire Knight, and Isami Fujiwara in Noein.

Previously announced guests were Chris Ayres, Greg Ayres, Lauren Landa, David Matranga, ORIGA, Raj Ramayya, Stephanie Sheh, Tom Wayland, and Kari Wahlgren.

About Anime Boston: With more than 22,000 attendees in 2012, Anime Boston is an annual three-day Japanese animation convention held in Boston, Mass. Anime Boston 2013 is scheduled for Friday, May 22 through Sunday, May 24 at the Hynes Convention Center and Sheraton Boston Hotel. More information about Anime Boston can be found at http://www.animeboston.com.

About New England Anime Society: The New England Anime Society was founded in 2001. Based in Massachusetts, The New England Anime Society, Inc. is an organization dedicated to furthering public education and understanding of the Japanese language and culture through visual and written media. More information about The New England Anime Society is available at http://www.neanime.org.