Anime Boston 2015 Announces More Guests
February 27, 2015 by Colin Solan
Filed under Animation, Anime, Convention News, Horror, Massachusetts, Movies, Other, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Television, Video Games
Anime Boston announces another round of guests including Yoko Shimomura, Christine Marie Cabanos, Ellyn Stern, Richard Epcar, Mona Marshall, and Michael Sinterniklaas! Meet them at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, MA on April 3-5, 2015! Tickets available now through www.animeboston.com.
Yoko Shimomura may be one of the most celebrated women in video game music today. Best known to US audiences for bringing us the music of Kingdom Hearts, she has many other instantly recognizable credits to her name including: Street Figher II, Parasite Eve, Front Mission, the Xenoblade Chronicles, Legend of Mana, and Radiant Historia.
She can be heard in the March 2013 release of Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX and the July 2013 release of Mario & Luigi: Dream Team. In August of that same year PRESS START (a video game orchestra 
concert) included music from her Xenoblades and Legend of Mana works in the Top 10 People’s Choice. Shortly afterward in 2014 her first independent live concert “Shimomura Yoko 25th Anniversary LIVE – THANKS!” was held at the FM Hall in Tokyo. Two extra performances were added, and all 3 critically acclaimed shows sold out! By March 2014, her second Best Of album, mem`oria, was released by Square Enix.
Her current projects span a wide variety of industries, and include composing the music for such highly anticipated titles as Final Fantasy XV and Kingdom Hearts 3 as well as teaching music and performing.
Christine Marie Cabanos is a voice over actress based out of Los Angeles. She is most known for her roles in Anime and Video Games. Some of her most notable roles include Azusa Nakano in K-On!, Madoka Kaname in Madoka Magica, Shiemi Moriyama in Blue Exorcist, Mako Mankanshoku in Kill La Kill, Silica Sword Art Online, Minori Kushieda Toradora!, Haruka in Oblivion Island, the titular character of Squid Girl in SQUID GIRL, Minawa Ando in Mahoromatic: I’m Home, General Pisti in Magi, Michi Kondo in Lagrange, Ruka Asato in Accel World, Reina and Mew in Pokemon Origins, Filia in Skullgirls, Marie Rose in Dead or Alive: Ultimate, Chiaki Nanami in Danganropa 2, Nepgear in the Hyperdimension Neptunia series and Keina Sawaya in Aterlier Meruru.
She’s also appeared in video games such as Time and Eternity, Fairy Fencer F, Tales of Xillia 2, Ragnarok Online 2 ,Witch and the Hundred Knight and Mugen Souls Z.
Ellyn Stern is a classically trained actress, voice actress, director and writer, whose career spans from film, to television, to stage. Ellyn is widely known for her voice work and the wide range of characters she has played. She has done hundreds of characters. She started in anime with the original Robotech series – in which she played numerous characters.
Ellyn is currently working on two different Disney shows.
Ellyn is featured in the new animated feature Wrinkles, starring Martin Sheen and Matthew Bodine.
VOICED:
Martha Vist Carbine in Gundam Unicorn, Dorothy in True Crimes: Hong Kong, Masaki Kurosaki and Ichigo’s Mom in Bleach, Miyuki Goto in Noein, Jack’s Mom in MAR, Haraway in Ghost in the Shell 2 – Innocence, Rosalind in Armitage III, Himeno in Fight!! Spirit of the Sword, Sayaka in Metal Fight Miku, Moru in Vampire Princess Miyu, Hiroshis Mom in Zenki. The Great Miracle in Zentrix, Parome in Genma Wars, Keiko Misaki in Patlabor 3, Mini Pato, Digimon, BoBoBo-Bo Bo BoBo, Mobile Suit Gundam – The Movie Trilogy, Bushido Blade 2, Lupin the Third, Fighting Spirit and Technoman, Veronica Vera and other characters in Shadow Hearts, to name just a few.
Other cartoons include Wings of Honnesmise, Samurai X, Little Punk, Honey Bee Hutch, Wisdom of the Gnomes, Macross I, II, III, Tom Sawyer, Captain Schnauzer, Gigi and many others.
She has voiced lead voices in many live action feature films that have been adapted into English including Academy Award winners Cinema Paradiso, Belle Epoque, Eat, Drink, Man, Woman, Kika, Mostly Martha, Babbette’s Feast, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Fencing Master, Widow of St. Pierre,and Amores Perros, Mission Kashmir, Iron Monkey, The Emperor and the Assassin, Onmyoji-Ying-Yang Masters, Le Femme Nikita, Tae Guk Gi, Shiri, to name a few.
DIRECTED
Ellyn has recently directed the dub of Star Wars into the Navajo language, the first time a film has ever been dubbed into any Native American language.
Other films she has currently directed into English: Farewell My Queen and Delicacy.
She also directed and voiced Jade Cacoon, Aero Wings 1 and 2, Super Magnetic Neo and Galerians. Other games include Inherit The Earth and Abby.
ON FILM
Ellyn starred in Jessie’s Girls, co-starred in Duchess and The Dirtwater Fox, co-starred in Fatal Charm, and Prisoner in the Middle aka Warhead.
On television she’s done numerous shows, American Carrott, Charlie’s Angels, and recurring characters on General Hospital, Santa Barbara and Days Of Our Lives.
RECENTLY
Ellyn co-stars in Milk and Honey with Debbie Allen, produced by Idris Elba.
Ellyn is also starring in Blood on Canvas, a legal drama.
Other recent films include starring in The Waiting Room, Eldad, Both Thumbs, Electronica 2, The Other Way and IMA.
Ellyn starred as the Queen in Exit the King by Ionesco, adapted and translated by Geoffrey Rush, who won a Tony for it on Broadway in 2009.
Ellyn also played Jacqueline Kennedy at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, in We’ll Never Be Young Again, the story of JFK’s assassination, in which the horror of that day is recalled. She also starred in Mrs. Warren’s Profession as Mrs. Warren, and starred in Apple, an award winning play.
She is set to star in the play Toyer, a psychological thriller.
Richard Epcar is one of the hardest working men in show business, having voiced over 400 characters in games, animation and anime.
Best known as the voice of Batou in Ghost in the Shell, The Joker in several Batman games including Injustice: Gods Among Us (Fighting Game of the Year!) and Ansem in Kingdom Hearts.
He’s voted one of the Top 20 Video Game Voice Actors of all Time and Top 20 Anime Actors of all time by IMDB!
Starting out in Robotech, you’ve heard him in Legend of Korra, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, Blood Lad, Lupin the Third, Monster, Naruto, Bobobo-Bobobo, Transformers, Bleach, Kenshin, GTO, Gundam Macross, Cyber Soldier 009, Lucky Star, Digimon, X-Men, Gundam Unicorn, Babylon 5 and Power Rangers to name a few.
He’s also in tons of games including Mortal Kombat as Raiden, Final Fantasy as Gaius, Saints Row, Arkham Origins, Skyrim, Infinite Crisis as the Joker, Call of Duty-Advanced Warfare, Fire Emblem: Awakening as Walhart, MK vs D.C. UNIVERSE as the Joker and Raiden, Stargate SG-1 as Gen. Hammond, Call of Duty: Black Ops, Star Wars, Transformers, X-Com, Command & Conquer, Dead or Alive 3-D, Starcraft as Dark Templar, Dead Space, Xenosaga as Ziggy, Marvel Heroes, World of Warcraft, League of Legends as Xin Zhao, Naruto, Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Warriors, Blue Dragon, Star Ocean, Splinter Cell, Guilty Gears, .Hack, Street Fighter, Medal of Honor, Space Seige, Spec-Ops, Bayonette, Catherine, Tekken, Ace Combat and Resident Evil.
Richard has voice directed many games including Arkham Origins, Dead Island: Riptide, Blue Dragon, Shadow Hearts II, Star Ocean 2 &3, Enemy Territory, Quake Wars, Unreal Tournament 3, Jackass the Game, Smackdown vs. RAW and Dead Head Fred and voice directed many shows including Ghost in the Shell 2, Robotech: Shadow Chronicles, Almost Heroes, Jungle Shuffle, The Reef, Grand Master, Noein, Digimon, Lupin the III, Fighting Spirit, Patlabor 3, Zentrix, Azumi I & II, Fearless, Better Blue, Iron Monkey, VR Troopers, Power Rangers, Ugly Better Webisodes and Old Boy to name a few.
On camera, Richard has appeared in many shows including Warehouse 13, Memoirs of an Invisible Man, Columbo, Diagnosis Murder, Matlock, Cheers, General Hospital and a lead in the soon to be released Broken Spirits.
Please join us in welcoming Mona Marshall to her first Anime Boston! If you haven’t heard Mona Marshall’s voice, you might be living under a rock. Mona takes prolific to the extreme and we are super excited to have her attend Anime Boston 2015!
Mona’s voice may be best known to anime fans as: Haku in Naruto, Doraemon in Doraemon, Konekomaru Miwa in Blue Exorcist, Koushiro “Izzy” Izumi in Digimon Adventure, Motoko Aoyama in Love Hina, Ryoko in Tenchi Muyo! GXP, and Toboe in Wolf’s Rain. But that’s only just the beginning of her anime credentials. She’s had leading roles in anime such as: Armitage: Dual Matrix, Carried by the Wind: Tsukikage Ran, Chobits, El Hazard – The Magnificent World, Kyo Kara Maoh, Last Exile, Magic Knight Rayearth, Rozen Maiden, and Street Fighter Alpha. All told, Mona has been in over 150 anime titles!
Mona is also well known in the video game world lending her voice to such titles as: .hack//G.U, Brave Fencer Musashi, Drakengard, Eternal Sonata, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates, Grandia III, Guild Wars Factions, Persona 3, Ratchet & Clank, Star Ocean: Till the End of Time, Suikoden V, Tales of Vesperia, and Wild Arms 4.
If that’s not enough, Mona can be heard on several prominent non-anime titles as well. She is the current voice of Sheila Broflovski, Linda Stotch, Token and Bebe’s Mom, and various others on South Park. She can also be recognized as Moki in Fraggle Rock, Tracy Milbanks in James Bond Jr., and Kat in Rambo. Mona has also had roles in many other shows such as G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, Inspector Gadget, Jackie Chan Adventures, Jem and the Holograms, Rainbow Brite, The Smurfs, and Transformers.
Additionally, Mona was featured in Bang Zoom’s Adventures in Voice Acting and has her own TV Tropes page!
Michael Sinterniklaas is a veteran of the anime industry and has worked as a ADR Director, actor, voice actor, script writer, sound engineer, mixer and producer. In 2000, Michael founded NYAV Post, a bicoastal recording studio that has worked on over 400 anime and non-anime titles.
As a director, Michael has worked on several anime shows including: Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn, Berserk, Magic Users Club, Ah! My Goddess, Samurai Deeper Kyo, Slayers Revolution, Slayers Evolution-R, Giant Robot. He’s also directed several non-anime shows including Peter Rabbit, Kappa Mikey, Robotomy, The Venture Brothers, and the Oscar nominated movies A Cat in Paris starring Anjelica Huston, Marcia Gay Harden, Matthew Modine. As well as: Ernest and Celestine starring Forest Whitaker, Lauren Bacall, Paul Giamatti, William H. Macy, Megan Mullally, Nick Offerman, Jeffrey Wright and McKenzie Foy.
Michael is also an extremely prolific and talented actor. He’s probably best known as as Dean Venture in The Venture Bros, Leonardo in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2003), and Mikey Simon in Kappa Mikey, and even Funshine in The CareBears, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. He’s also voiced Netherlands in Hetalia, Xellos in Slayers Revolution and Evolution-R, Gasud in Jormungand, Jessie’s Seviper / Joshua / Kennedy in Pokémon, Man in Zetman, Lucemon in Digimon, Ivan Karelin / Origami Cyclone in Tiger & Bunny, Sarutobi Sasuke in Sengoku Basara, Sora and Utakata in Naruto, Jared / Jess in Speed Racer: The Next Generation, and Luppi / Nnoitra Jiruga in Bleach. He can also be heard as: Age in Patema Inverted, Masakazu Masaki in Time of Eve, and Takeru in FREEDOM. He has also appeared in video games such as: Final Fantasy XIII, Excom, GTA V, and the Lego Movie Game. Michael was also recently cast as a Marvel super hero but cannot disclose which one just yet…
Previously announced Guests of Honor include Greg Ayres, Christine Marie Cabanos. Richard Epcar, Kazuhiro Furuhashi, Lauren Landa, Cherami Leigh, LiSA, Cassandra Lee Morris, Haruo Nakajima, Yoko Shimomura, Ellyn Stern, Akira Takarada, and Koki Uchiyama.
View all of our Guests of Honor here.
About Anime Boston:
With nearly 25,500 attendees in 2013, Anime Boston is an annual three-day Japanese animation convention held in Boston, Mass. Anime Boston 2015 is scheduled for Friday, April 3 through Sunday, April 5 at the Hynes Convention Center and Sheraton Boston Hotel. More information about Anime Boston can be found at 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 parent organization of Anime Boston and is 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 www.neanime.org.
HavenCon 2015 Welcomes Janet Varney & Dante Basco
February 24, 2015 by Colin Solan
Filed under Animation, Convention News, Movies, Other, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Television, Texas, Top Stories
Press Release:
HavenCon is thrilled to welcome actors Dante Basco and Janet Varney! They will be with us both Saturday April 4th and Sunday April 5, 2015 to speak with fans as well as providing autographs.
JANET VARNEY
Janet Varney is a comedian, actor, writer and producer. In the animation world, she is lucky enough to be the voice of Korra on Nickelodeon’s hit series The Legend of Korra. She also spent seven wonderful years hosting TBS’s “Dinner and a Movie,” recurred on HBO’s Entourage, was a series regular on the beloved E! and Yahoo series Burning Love seasons 1 and 3, and has made guest appearances in hit shows including How I Met Your Mother, Key and Peele, Psych, Bones, on the panel of Chelsea Lately, as a regular co-host on HuffPost Live, and has appeared in films such as Still Waiting, Drillbit Taylor, and Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer. Janet is the host of the popular Nerdist podcast The JV Club and the co-founder, creative director and producer of SF Sketchfest, the San Francisco Comedy Festival, now in its 14th year.
DANTE BASCO
With a career spanning over two and a half decades, DANTE BASCO is a Hollywood actor who has become a cult classic and pioneering figure in Asian-American cinema. He was first introduced in Steven Spielberg’s fairytale movie Hook, as “Rufio,” the leader of the Lost Boys. He quickly jumped to leading roles like Newline’s Take the Lead, opposite Antonio Banderas, and The Debut, which became the voice of a Filipino American generation. 20th Century Fox executives were so mesmerized by the uniqueness of Dante’s look and ability that they gave him a development deal for his own series and he starred in a pilot for Touchstone/ABC, The Chang Family Saves the World, written and produced by John Ridley and directed by Paris Barclay. Ever versatile, he’s “Jake Long” in Disney’s animated series American Dragon: Jake Long as well as “Prince Zuko” in Nickelodeon’s phenomenal hit, Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Born and raised in the City by the Bay, Dante started out breakdancing with his three brothers at the age of 8, calling themselves “The Street Freaks”. Quickly they became one of the top groups in San Francisco, opening for acts like Ice-T and Vanity and performing during halftime shows for the 49ers and the Oakland A’s.
Dante and his family moved to Los Angeles in the mid-80s where he started to work immediately. By the age of 16, Dante was fencing against Dustin Hoffman and flying with Robin Williams in Hook. He’s found success on the small screen as well on from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and recurring on Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper and Moesha in the 90s to prominent spots on Nash Bridges, Touched by an Angel, and Providence in the early 2000s and hit shows today like CSI: Miami, Entourage and Hawaii Five-O.
A young man of many talents, Dante is the founder of on e of the largest weekly poetry venue in the country, “Da Poetry Lounge” in Los Angeles and he has also shared his spoken word poetry on Russell Simmons’ HBO Def Poetry Jam. He has also begun writing and producing his own features with his production company Kinetic Films, including Hang Loose, a (hilarious buddy comedy) with YouTube sensation KevJumba, winning the 2012 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival Special Jury Prizes for “Best Actor” and “Best Newcomer” respectively.
From breakdancing in the streets of San Francisco to starring in movies on the silver screen, Dante Basco has become one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood and truly an Asian American icon.
Pre-purchase an autograph from one of our special guests and be the first in line! Everyone who pre-registers for a VIP or 2-Day pass and pre-purchases an autograph will receive an exclusive #TeamAvatar badge! *If you have already purchased a VIP or 2 day pass and would like to upgrade to the #TeamAvatar badge, pre-purchase an autograph and we’ll take care of the rest! Register before March 1st and Save 25% on all passes with promo code TeamAvatar!
Purchase admission tickets and autographs at the link!
MA – An Evening with Dante Basco
February 23, 2015 by Colin Solan
Filed under Animation, Massachusetts, Movies, Other, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Signing and Appearance Profiles, Television
Actor and poet Dante Basco (Avatar: The Last Airbender, Hook) appears at Boston University on Friday February 27, 2015 at 7:00 PM!
Press Release:
The BU Filipino Student Association is proud to present round two of our year-round lecture series. Our key speaker is Dante Basco!
FSA plans on holding a lecture series featuring prominent Filipino-American speakers who have risen to success in their respective fields, such as Dante Basco. Dante Basco is a Filipino-American Actor known for his roles as Rufio in Hook and Prince Zuko in Avatar: The Last Airbender.
He will be allotted an hour and fifteen minutes for his lecture with additional time for the audience to ask questions and potentially meet the speaker personally. This lecture series is a great opportunity to educate the BU community about how the speaker’s Filipino upbringing has impacted their decisions and morals in the stories he shares. As a prominent Filipino in the entertainment business, we can attract a broad array of students who are interested in hearing his story as well.
We hope that this event will show attendees a glimpse of what our Filipino heritage means to us–that it is not only one of which to be proud, but one whose ideals of love and unity we strive to share with as many as people as possible.
Tickets are free and available at the link! **SOLD OUT**
Boston University – CAS Room 313 **NEW LOCATION** CAS Room 522
685 Commonwealth Ave Boston, MA 02215
CA – Avatar: The Last Airbender/Legend of Korra Retrospective Panel
February 23, 2015 by Colin Solan
Filed under Animation, Anime, Art Show, California, Comic Books, Movies, Other, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Signing and Appearance Profiles, Television, Top Stories, Video Games
Creators Bryan Konietzko and Michael DiMartino appear on a panel at Gallery Nucleus on Saturday March 21, 2015 at 2:00 PM for the closing of the Avatar: The Last Airbender/Legend of Korra retrospective exhibit to answer questions from fans and talking about their experience working on the shows for the past ten years.
Artists will be available for signing after the panel.
$5 Admission or FREE when you purchase any Korra / Avatar related books or prints from the gallery.
Gallery Nucleus
210 East Main Street, Alhambra, CA 91801
626.458.7477
CA – Legend of Korra/Avatar: The Last Airbender Art Exhibit
February 6, 2015 by Colin Solan
Filed under Animation, Art Show, California, Comic Books, Cosplay, Movies, Other, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Signing and Appearance Profiles, Television, Top Stories, Video Games
Press Release:
Gallery Nucleus and Nickelodeon Studios are proud to present an official art exhibition paying tribute to The Legend of Korra and Avatar: The Last Airbender.
On display will be behind-the-scenes production art and tribute art by select illustrators as well as artists from the TV show. We will also be accepting open submissions from the fans!
Learn more about how to submit your artwork to this exhibition and the OPEN CALL for entries HERE (submission closed on FEB. 20)
OPENING NIGHT
Cosplay is highly encouraged! Open to the Public, All Ages Welcome, No RSVP needed.
ADMISSION
$5 or FREE when you come in costume
OPENING RECEPTION HIGHLIGHTS
Meet the creators of the TV show: Bryan Konietzko and Michael DiMartino as well as other key creatives from the show on opening night on Saturday March 7, 2015 from 6:00 – 10:00 PM.
First 40 people in the door will receive a FREE game download code postcard for the Legend of Korra game!
First 100 people in line to purchase any new exclusive releases will receive a ticket to get their items signed by Bryan Konietzko and Michael DiMartino (limit 1 item per person, wristbands will be given to the first 100 in line) No holding place in line for friends or family. Wristbands will be handed out at random times throughout the day as line forms.
Complimentary refreshments available
Hourly raffle giveaways at 8pm, 9pm, 10pm (Winners need not be present to win. Winning #s will also be announced on our Facebook and twitter)
Original tribute artwork by artists from the TV show and comics will be on display and for sale
The Art of The Legend of Korra book, Seasons 1, 2, and 3 as well as the comic books will be available in our shop. (See below for event exclusives)
RECEPTION SCHEDULE / ARTISTS SIGNING
(5:00 pm – 6:00 pm) press / vip hour
(6:00 pm) doors open
(6:00 pm – 9:00 pm) Signing for first 100 people w/ creators Bryan Konietzco and Michael DiMartino
(8:00 pm) raffle prizes (you do not need to be present to win)
(9:00 pm) raffle prizes (you do not need to be present to win)
(10:00 pm) final raffle prizes / reception concludes (you do not need to be present to win)
Other exhibiting and tv show artists will be present (look for people with name tags)
EXHIBITING ARTISTS
Alan Wan
Angela Song Mueller
Anthony Wu
Artgerm
Bobby Rubio
Bryan Konietzko
claire hummel
Dan Matutina
Dave Filoni
David Au
Dean Kelly
Elsa Garagarza
Emily Tetri
Ethan Spaulding
felt mistress
Frederic Stewart
helen chen
Jed Henry
Joaquim Dos Santos
joey chou
Johane Matte
Justin Oaksford
Justin Ridge
Kenji Ono
Lauren MacMullan
Leonard Peng
Mayumi Nose
Melissa King
Natasha Wicke
Owen Sullivan
perry maple dixon
Ricardo Delgado
Sachin Teng
Simona Candini
Will Ruzicka
William Nanqing Niu
Young-Ki Yoon
…more to be announced!
EXCLUSIVE LIMITED EDITION RELEASES
Aang Statue $149.95 limited edition of 750 (Released for the first time on opening night, if arrives as scheduled)
Naga Plush $34.95 (Released for the first time on opening night)
The Art of Legend of Korra Book 3 $39.95
More to be announced…
Gallery Nucleus
210 East Main Street, Alhambra, CA 91801
626.458.7477
RI – RISD Animation Lecture
January 26, 2015 by Colin Solan
Filed under Animation, Comic Books, Movies, Other, Rhode Island, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Signing and Appearance Profiles, Television, Top Stories
Animation artists Bryan Konietzko and Phil Rynda speak at the Rhode Island School of Design on Wednesday, February 4, 2015 at 7:30pm!
Press Release:
The Illustration Department is very pleased to announce a joint talk by award-winning artists Bryan Konietzko and Phil Rynda. The lecture is free and open to the general public, though seating is limited, so please arrive early!
***
Bryan Konietzko will give a slide lecture at RISD’s Main Auditorium on Wednesday, February 4th, at 7:30pm. He will discuss the artwork and development that went into the five-year production of Legend of Korra, as well as provide advice for getting into and thriving within the animation industry.
***
Phil Rynda will talk about his career in animation as well as his character design process. Specifically Phil will talk about how and why he puts “character” and personality before design. He will show examples from his own work as well as other examples. All to be followed by an open Q+A.
Rhode Island School of Design
17 Canal Walk Providence, RI 02903
SF – Salute to NewsRadio
December 16, 2014 by Colin Solan
Filed under Animation, California, Movies, Other, Signing and Appearance Profiles, Television
Dave Foley, Maura Tierney, Stephen Root, Vicki Lewis, Khandi Alexander, and Andy Dick appear for the NewsRadio 20th Anniversary reunion on Saturday, January 24, 2014 from 1:00 – 2:30 PM! Presented as part of SF Sketchfest.
Press Release:
Celebrate 20 years of the hilarious, irreverent sitcom set in the world of AM radio as the cast of “NewsRadio” come together at SF Sketchfest! Dave Foley (coffee-addicted news director Dave Nelson), Maura Tierney (obsessive overachiever Lisa Miller), Stephen Root (eccentric billionaire station owner Jimmy James), Vicki Lewis (quirky secretary Beth), Khandi Alexander (Three-Card Monte loving news anchor Catherine Duke) and Andy Dick (bumbling news reporter Matthew Brock) will take the Marines’ Memorial stage for an afternoon of stories, reminiscing and questions. $30 All Ages
Marines Memorial Theatre (MMT)
609 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
CA – Talkin’ Toons w/ Korra
October 27, 2014 by Colin Solan
Filed under Animation, California, Movies, Other, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Signing and Appearance Profiles, Television, Top Stories
Voice actor Rob Paulsen welcomes JANET VARNEY, star of The Legend of Korra, to Talkin’ Toons LIVE on Tuesday November 11, 2014 at 8:00 PM at the Hollywood Improv!
Press Release:
The world-famous Hollywood Improv is proud to invite you to join Emmy and Annie award winner Rob Paulsen as he talks about his experiences in voice acting!
About Rob Paulsen:
Born in Detroit, Rob Paulsen spent his childhood in Livonia and Rochester, attending Junior and Senior high school in Grand Blanc, Michigan. Rob loved cartoons like most kids but aspired to be a professional hockey player. “Fortunately, thanks to some big, strong, kid from Winnipeg who drilled me so hard my ears are still ringing, I learned around age 18 I had neither the talent nor the temperament to make a living playing hockey. So, I turned to my other passions: singing and acting.”
The goal of bringing absolute believability to a fictional character, live-action or animated, is what every actor strives for. Those who are committed to their career and who combine experience, passion and skill are likely to succeed.
Those gifted with exceptional talent who focus on maximizing their potential by finding their own niche, quickly break away from the pack. After years of honing their craft and consistently delivering memorable performances in which the character impacts an indelible image on the viewer, the public and the industry take notice, singling out the best.
“I’m getting paid to do what I got in trouble for in the 7th grade,” jests Rob, who won a Daytime Emmy in 1999 as “Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program” for Pinky and The Brain (Warner Bros.) Though nominated twice previously, the victory was especially sweet due to some formidable competition – fellow nominees Louie Anderson, Ernest Borgnine, Dennis Franz and Jeffery Tambor. In addition to his Emmy, Rob won back-to-back Annie Awards in 1997 and 1998. “I absolutely love what I do and thank my lucky stars for twenty-five years of full-time employment in this business,” he says.
“It’s a treat to portray a complex character,” Rob explains about Pinky, a goof-ball mouse with funny teeth, a head filled with clouds and an inane imagination that is punctuated with a staccato laugh. “Besides … where else could I find a job where emotional outbursts and odd exclamations like ‘Egad!,’ ‘Narf!,’ ‘Poit!,’ ‘Splonk!,’ and ‘Zort!’ are allowed and in fact, encouraged?” With over 2,000 half-hours of animation to his credit, Rob’s versatility shines in his starring roles as the voices of Yakko, Pinky and Dr. Scratch ‘n’ Sniff in the Peabody and two-time Emmy award-winning series “Animaniacs.”
Some of Rob’s other well-known animated characters include Raphael of the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” Arthur in “The Tick,” the title role in “The Mask” (for a WHOLE lot less dough than Mr. Carrey, thank you), the title role in “Mighty Max,” Carl Wheezer in “Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius,” Jack Fenton in “Danny Phantom,” Bobble in the “Tinkerbell” series of DVDs and hopefully more to come.
Paulsen’s extensive credits include on-camera roles in numerous motion pictures including Body Double, Stewardess School, Eyes of Fire, The Perfect Match, and Warlocked. His television acting credits include guest-starring roles on MacGyver and St. Elsewhere. Additionally, he is one of the most sought-after voice actors in the commercial arena, performing in over 1000 commercial spots.
As passionate about “paying it forward” as he is about his lucrative career, Rob supports various charitable organizations, particularly those benefiting children and military veterans. Rob’s volunteer work with GOALmodels has been particularly rewarding. GOALmodels, a high school program in Reseda, California, is designed to inspire 9th graders to set goals and overcome obstacles in life. Blending his life experiences with passion for his work, his presentations are informative, entertaining and inspiring. In his leisure time, Rob enjoys golf, riding his motorcycle and occasionally lacing up his skates for another chance to relive his past glory on the rink. He spends the majority of his free time with his wife, Parrish, and their two Yorkshire terriers, Pooshie and Tala.
Hollywood Improv
8162 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90048
Dark Horse Panel & Signing Schedule for NYCC 2014
October 3, 2014 by Colin Solan
Filed under Animation, Anime, Comic Books, Convention News, Horror, Movies, New York, New York Comic Con, Other, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Television, Top Stories, Video Games
Press Release:
Come and check out the Dark Horse booth, #1636, at NYCC 2014! A list of the Dark Horse exclusives at NYCC can be found at the link…
All creators signing in our booth offer their autographs for FREE. FREE prints, comics, or posters are provided for most of our signings (while supplies last). You may purchase or bring items to be signed; however, we may restrict the type or number of items to be signed as necessary.
CA – Prince Zuko’s Tea Party
August 25, 2014 by Colin Solan
Filed under Animation, California, Movies, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Signing and Appearance Profiles, Television
Dante Basco, best known for his roles as Prince Zuko on Avatar: The Last Airbender and as Rufio in Hook, celebrates his birthday at Nirvana Tea & Herbs on Wednesday August 27th starting at 1:00 PM!
Nirvana Tea & Herbs
1035 Gayley Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 208-7112
