PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Kristyn Souder
Communications Director
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (267)536-9566
PRESS RELEASE
Zenkaikon Convention Returns to Lancaster in April
Over 3000 fans of anime and science fiction expected to attend.
Hatboro, PA – November 17, 2013: On April 25-27, 2014, Zenkaikon will hold its eighth annual convention at the
Lancaster County Convention Center in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. This will be the convention’s second time in the
Center after an extremely successful 2013 event which brought over three thousand fans of Japanese animation
(anime), comics (manga), gaming, and science fiction to downtown Lancaster. Zenkaikon expects to welcome
a similar attendance for its 2014 convention.
Many convention attendees don costumes of their favorite characters to attend the annual convention. Planned
convention events include a variety of educational panels and workshops hosted by volunteers and guests;
anime and live action screenings; a costume and skit competition (the "Masquerade"); a hall costume contest;
performances by musical guests; a live action role play ("LARP") event; video game tournaments and tabletop
gaming; a formal ball and informal dances; and an exhibit hall of anime-themed merchandise and handmade
creations from artists.
A number of Guests of Honor have already been announced for Zenkaikon 2014. Prolific voice actress Brina
Palencia, known for her many roles in anime and video games including Summer Wars (Natsuki), Black Butler (Ciel
Phantomhive), Hetalia (Chibitalia), and Borderlands (Mad Moxxi); and Doug Walker, best known as The Nostalgia
Critic who reviews movies and TV shows from childhood, will be hosting panels and meeting attendees. LA-based
Japanese rock band Lolita Dark, and steampunk band The Extraordinary Contraptions will each be performing
two concerts and participating in programming. The full list of currently-announced guests is available at the
convention's website.
Zenkaikon memberships are $45 through December 16, 2013, $50 through March 24, 2014, and $60 at the door.
Memberships include entrance to the convention on all three days. More information regarding registration,
guests, programming, and events is available at www.zenkaikon.com.
ABOUT ZENKAIKON ENTERTAINMENT, INC: Zenkaikon (www.zenkaikon.com) is run by Zenkaikon Entertainment Inc.
Zenkaikon Entertainment Inc. is a 501(c)3 non- profit organization dedicated to promoting knowledge and
enjoyment of Japanese art, animation, and culture as well as science fiction and fantasy literature and films of all
origins. The organization is run completely by volunteers, and the Zenkaikon convention is the organization's
primary annual event.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ZENKAIKON BACKGROUND Mission To promote knowledge and enjoyment of Japanese art, animation, and culture as well as science fiction and fantasy literature and films of all origins. Background Zenkaikon was created in 2006 through the merging of two Philadelphia-­‐area events -­‐-­‐ Kosaikon, an anime convention held at Villanova University, and Zentrancon, an anime and science fiction convention held on the University of Pennsylvania campus. In 2006, Zenkaikon held its first event at the Valley Forge Scanticon Hotel and Conference Center in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Approximately 450 fans attended to attend educational panels, watch anime and science fiction screenings, meet celebrity guests, and participate in video gaming. By 2008, membership had nearly tripled. Having outgrown their previous venue, the staff decided to expand into the Radisson Hotel Valley Forge, where they welcomed nearly 2000 members in 2009. In 2011, the convention grew again, using the combined spaces of both the Valley Forge Convention Center and Scanticon Hotel and Conference Center. Over 3000 members came to the convention's first year as a three-­‐day event. In 2012, due to construction at the Valley Forge Convention Center Complex, Zenkaikon held its annual convention at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center complex. At the conclusion of the 2012 convention, Zenkaikon announced it would move to the Lancaster County Convention Center for its 2013 convention. In 2011, Zenkaikon Entertainment, Inc. became a 501(c)(3) non-­‐profit educational organization. From it's founding, the convention and the organization have always been run "by fans, for fans" with an all-­‐volunteer staff. Convention Timeline Dates October 28, 2006 October Location Valley Forge Scanticon Hotel and Conference Center King of Prussia, Pennsylvania Valley Forge Unique Memberships 450 Guests 570 D-­‐Chan, Hsu-­‐nami, and Uncle Peter Fernandez, Corinne Orr, Prism, and Alex Strang 13, 2007 October 17–18, 2008 Scanticon Hotel and Conference Center King of Prussia, Pennsylvania Valley Forge Scanticon Hotel and Conference Center King of Prussia, Pennsylvania Yo 1,352 November Valley Forge 7–8, 2009 Radisson Hotel King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 1,988 March 18–
20, 2011 Valley Forge Convention Center and Scanticon Hotel and Conference Center King of Prussia, Pennsylvania Greater Philadelphia Expo Center at Oaks Oaks, Pennsylvania 3,168 paid memberships (3,422 warm bodies) Lancaster County Convention Center Lancaster, 3061 paid memberships (3,376 warm bodies) May 11–
12, 2012 March 22–
24, 2013 2,736 Charles Batschelet, Jessi Bavolack, Michael Gans, CJ Henderson, Ikuzo! Studios, Michele Knotz, Matt Pascal, Raqs Attaq!, Laura Robinson, Wil Robinson, Bill Rogers, The Slants, Rose Thompson, Ultraball, and Uncle Yo Robert Axelrod, Johnny Yong Bosch, Stephanie Celeste, C. J. Collins, Eden Star, Eyeshine, Geek Comedy Tour, Gerry Giovinco, CJ Henderson, Hi5, Chris Kalnick, Mike Leeke, Kevin McKeever, Reni Mimura, Trina Nishimura, Jessi Pascal, Matt Pascal, Rich Rankin, Laura Robinson, Wil Robinson, Bill Spangler, Uncle Yo, Neil Vokes, Tommy Yune, and [geist] Kevin Bolk, Gelatine, Todd Haberkorn, James Harknell, Onezumi Hartstein, CJ Henderson, DJ Luminal, Sarah Martinez, Vic Mignogna, Rose Noire, Uncle Yo, and Greg Wicker The Asterplace, Daniel Coglan, Jillian Coglan, CJ Henderson, Hi5, Michele Knotz, DJ Kurono, KyoDaiko, Pennsylvania Jedi, Platform One, Sonny Strait, Uncle Yo, and Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia T. Campbell, John de Lancie, Eien Strife, Hi5, Richard Epcar, CJ Henderson, Cosplay Burlesque, Phil Kahn, Kuniko Kanawa, DJ Midget, Saber Guild Pennsylvania -­‐ Keystone Temple, The Slants, Ellyn Stern, Uncle Yo, and Greg Wicker Other Events In addition to its annual convention, Zenkaikon also participates in several other events throughout the southeastern Pennsylvania region. In 2008-­‐2009, Zenkaikon provided anime and Asian content to America's Video Game Expo (VGEXPO) at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Zenkaikon also continues to run an educational booth and Cosplay Fashion Show at Philadelphia's Sakura Sunday (part of the Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival of Greater Philadelphia). From 2011-­‐onwards, Zenkaikon has provided sponsorship of the anime programming room at Philcon, the nation's oldest science fiction convention in Cherry Hill, NJ. In addition, Zenkaikon has presented educational presentations at local libraries and bookstores to educate the public about anime, manga, cosplay, and Japanese culture. ZENKAIKON(2014(ANNOUNCED(GUESTS!
Jim$Cummings$[Actor]$
!
!“Tell!the!kid!he’s!got!it,”!said!the!legendary!
Mel!Blanc!with!a!smile,!after!listening!to!a!
young!man’s!first!demo!tape!of!cartoon!
character!voices.!!The!year!was!1984,!“the!
kid,”!was!Jim!Cummings.!!Since!then,!the!
kid!has!gone!on!to!give!life!and!voice!to!
some!of!America’s!most!beloved!animal!
characters,!even!a!few!of!the!late!Mel!
Blanc’s,!and!he!was!even!nominated!for!an!
Emmy!Award!for!his!work!as!the!lovable!
Tigger!on!Disney!Channel’s!My#Friends#
Tigger#and#Pooh,!in!which!he!also!voices!
everyone’s!favorite!bear,!Winnie!the!Pooh.!
!
Born!and!raised!in!Youngstown!Ohio,!
Cummings!spent!Saturday!mornings!
riveted!to!the!TV!screen!as!he!mimicked!
the!characters!in!his!favorite!cartoons,!all!
the!while!dreaming!that!one!day!he!would!
voice!them!himself.!!At!age!19,!he!moved!to!
New!Orleans,!where!he!performed!as!a!
drummer,!a!singer,!a!deck!hand!on!
riverboats,!and!even!designed!and!created!Mardi!Gras!floats,!all!the!while!absorbing!
the!rich!characters!and!accents!that!would!someday!find!expression!in!animation.!
!
Years!later,!Cummings!relocated!to!Southern!California!and!managed!a!video!store!
as!he!pursued!his!childhood!dream.!!He!gave!his!first!demo!to!a!customer!who!was!
also!a!movie!producer,!and!the!rest,!as!they!say,!is!history.!!In!1984,!Cummings!
landed!his!first!role!as!Lionel!the!Lion!in!Disney!Channel’s!Dumbo#Circus.!During!his!
illustrious!career,!he!has!worked!extensively!for!the!Walt!Disney!Studios!voicing!
classic!characters!such!as!Winnie!the!Pooh,!Tigger,!King!Louis,!Kaa!the!Snake,!Pete!
(formerly!PegWLegged!Pete),!and!more.!!His!many!other!credits!include!Darkwing!
Duck,!Bonkers,!Fat!Cat!and!Monterey!Jack!on!Chip#‘n#Dale:#Rescue#Rangers,!Don!
Kamage!on!Tailspin,!Dingo!on!Gargoyles,#and!too!many!others!to!mention!here.!
!
Cummings!has!done!scores!of!voices!for!Warner!Bros,!as!well,!including!Taz!the!
Tazmanian!Devil!himself,!Steven!Spielberg’s!Animaniacs,#Tiny#Toon#Adventures,#
Batman,#Pinky#and#the#Brain,#Tazmania,#Duck#Dodgers,!and!more.!!Other!credits!
include#The#Powerpuff#Girls#(Fuzzy!Lumpkins),#Sonic#the#Hedgehog#(Dr.!Robotnik),!
King#of#the#Hill,#Bump#in#the#Night,#Adventures#of#Jimmy#Neutron:#Boy#Genius,#The#
Replacements,#The#Addams#Family,#Teenage#Mutant#Ninja#Turtles,#Star#Wars#Clone#
Wars,#The#Simpsons,#Barnyard,!and!Catdog.!
!
Not!limited!to!the!small!screen,!Cummings!has!acted!in!several!blockbuster!feature!
films!for!Dreamworks!including!Shrek,#Antz,#Kung#Fu#Panda’s#Furious#5,#Hook,#The#
Bee#Movie,#Balto,!and!more.!!His!credits!read!like!a!topWlist!of!animated!and!liveW
action!films.!Credits!include#Who#framed#Roger#Rabbit,#The#Little#Mermaid,#Aladdin,#
Tarzan,#Pocahontas,#The#Lion#King,#Babe:#Pig#in#the#City,#The#Hunchback#of#Notre#
Dame,“Brother#Bear#2,!and!The#Princess#and#The#Frog,!to!name!a!few.!
!
Cummings’!uncanny!ability!to!sing!in!character!and!voice!match!for!stars!who!are,!in!
his!words,!“great!actors,!just!not!great!singers,”!has!led!to!many!platinum!and!gold!
records!for!soundtracks!like!Anastasia,#The#Lion#King,#Fox#and#the#Hound,#
Pocahontas,#Hercules,#and!more.!!He!was!also!AC,!the!lead!singer!of!the!famed!
California#Raisins.!
!
As!of!late,!he!was!nominated!for!an!Annie!Award!for!his!performance!in!Gnomeo#and#
Juliet,!where!he!plays!the!amorous!garden!flamingo,!Featherstone!as!well!as!a!
Daytime!Emmy!award!for!his!role!as!Hondo!in!Star#Wars:#The#Clone#Wars.!He!can!
also!be!heard!in!the!recently!released!animated!Disney!Classic!Winnie#the#Pooh!in!
which!he!plays!both!Winnie!the!Pooh!and!Tigger,!too!!He!plays!the!evil!African!
Warlord,!Budzo,!in!the!just!released!feature!film,!Zambezia.!And!he!recently!voiced!
Karu!in!The#Legend#of#Korra.!
!
Cummings’!work!in!voice!over!includes!hundreds!of!television!and!radio!
commercials,!movie!trailers,!promos,!and!videogames.!!“Pretty!much!anything!
involving!microphones,!music,!noise!in!general,!and!padded!walls,“!jokes!the!affable!
actor,!and!“remember,!only!you!can!prevent!forest!fires,”!so!says!Smokey!the!Bear,!
aka!Jim!Cummings.!!No!matter!how!busy!Cummings'!schedule!may!be,!it!all!stops!
when!Famous!Fone!Friends!of!Make!a!Wish!Foundation!call!on!behalf!of!a!very!ill!
child!and!distraught!family!in!need!of!a!phone!call!from!their!favorite!cartoon!
character.!!“Just!bringing!a!respite,!however!brief,!and!perhaps!a!smile!and!giggle!or!
two,!means!so!much!to!the!child!and!their!family.!!I!consider!it!a!true!blessing!to!be!
able!to!do!that.”!
!
Cummings!is!a!proud!father!of!four!and!resides!somewhere!in!California!with!his!
beautiful!two!younger!daughters!Grace!and!Lulu!Rose…and!their!critters.!
!
Website:!imdb.com/name/nm0191906/!
!
$
Brina$Palencia$[Actress]$
!
Brina!Palencia!is!an!actress!working!in!the!
DallasWFort!Worth!Metroplex.!She!has!
voiced!numerous!characters!for!anime!and!
video!games.!Some!of!her!anime!highlights!
include!Natsuki!in!Summer#Wars,!Chibitalia!
in!Hetalia,!Ciel!Pahntomhive!in!Black#
Butler,!Holo!in!Spice#&#Wolf,!Yumi!Azusa!in!
Soul#Eater,!Sora!in!Oh#Edo#Rocket,!Rei!
Ayanami!in!Evangelion#1.0!and!2.0,!
Chiaotzu!and!Puar!in!Dragon#Ball#Kai,!Juliet!
in!Romeo#x#Juliet,!Miharu!in!Nabari#No#Ou,!
Tony!Tony!Chopper!in!One#Piece,!Tamama!
in!Sgt.#Frog,!Ennis!in!Baccano,!Mikoto!in!
School#Rumble,!Georgie!in!Shin#Chan,!Eve!in!
Black#Cat,!Moro!and!Zashikiwarashi!in!
xxxHolic.!
!
In!the!land!of!gaming!she!can!be!heard!as!
Mad!Moxxi!in!Borderlands,!Gerda!and!
Paper!Lad!in!Comic#Jumper,!
Moogle/Dungeon!Hero!X!in!Final#Fantasy#
Fables,!the!main!player!in!Mushroom#Men#
and#The#Maw,!and!various!characters!in!Duke#Nukem#Forever,!Guitar#Hero#III!and!IV,!
Stunt#Driver#2,!Ghostbusters:#The#Video#Game,!Donkey#Kong#Country#Returns,!and!
Street#Fighter#4.!
!
She!has!also!served!as!the!ADR!Director!for!Moon#Phase!(eps!21W26),!School#Rumble,!
Black#Blood#Brothers,!and!xxxHOLiC!(the!movie!and!eps!1W8),!Assistant!ADR!Director!
for!Tsubasa:#Reservoir#Chronicle,!D#Gray#Man,!The#Tower#of#Druaga,!and!Dragon#Ball#
Kai,!and!Music!Director!for!Sasami:#Magical#Girls#Club,!Negima!?,!My#Bride#is#a#
Mermaid,!Rosario#+#Vampire,!and!Dragon#Ball#Kai.!
!
On!camera!you!can!see!her!as!the!coWhost!for!GameStop!TV!alongside!fellow!voice!
actor,!Chris!Burnett.!She!has!also!had!guest!spots!on!the!national!television!series!
The#Good#Guys!and!Chase!and!has!worked!on!several!independent!features.!
Most!recently!she!has!been!producing!her!own!musical!comedy!web!series,!The#
Troubadoors,!which!stars!Brina's!beloved!online!personality,!Kagura4221973.!
!
Website:!imdb.me/brinapalencia!
!
Lolita$Dark$[Musical$Guest]$
!
Although!the!individual!
members!are!no!
strangers!to!the!
Japanese!rock!scene,!
Lolita!Dark!is!the!new!
threat!to!the!stale!Los!
Angeles!rock!scene.!
Vocal!powerhouse!Ray!
sought!a!way!to!
reinvent!her!art!form!
based!on!her!own!
sordid!and!colorful!past!
in!an!effort!to!help!
others!who!might!
identify!with!her!
personal!experiences,!
and!found!support!in!
drummer!Joey!and!
bassist!Rain.!As!a!
platform!to!try!the!
things!they!always!
wanted!to!do,!second!
vocalist!and!keyboard!player!May!rounds!out!the!group!alongside!guitarist!Patrick.!
In!a!fusion!of!past!meets!present,!Lolita!Dark!is!a!new!beginning!for!our!era.!
!
“Salvation…!Redemption…!Sanctuary...!to!unlock!a!path,!for!those!who!have!lost!
their!way”;!this!is!the!band!for!the!weary!traveler!of!the!world’s!long!and!often!dark!
roads.!Lolita!Dark’s!musical!journey!(1st!album!“Tokyo!Status”)!proves!that!you!
don’t!have!to!walk!alone.!
!
“To!help!those!who!are!helpless,!to!answer!the!silent!cries!of!the!voiceless”!–!
Melding!the!distinctly!unique!worlds!of!Japanese!rock,!goth,!and!steampunk,!the!
band!hopes!to!provide!an!outlet!for!their!fans:!a!way!out!of!the!darkness,!a!chance!to!
ascend.!Refusing!to!conform!to!society’s!standards,!Lolita!Dark!represents!the!
underdog!in!us!all.!But!rather!than!just!teaching!us!to!embrace!our!true!selves,!their!
music!seeks!a!higher!goal:!a!world!where!no!one!hides!in!the!shadows,!a!society!of!
openness,!a!place!where!everyone!can!just!be.!
!
From!their!innovative!music!to!their!stylistic!appearance,!Lolita!Dark!is!nothing!you!
have!ever!experienced!before.!They!are!ready!for!the!revolution.!Are!you?!
!
Website:!lolitadark.com!
The$Extraordinary$Contraptions$[Musical$Guest]$
!
A!chemist,!a!time!
traveler,!a!gentleman!
explorer,!and!a!mad!
genius!join!forces...!to!
save!the!world!with!
their!aural!odysseys!of!
steam,!strife,!and!
romance!!The!
Extraordinary!
Contraptions,!those!
dimensionWhopping!
rockWandWrollers!from!
Atlanta,!Georgia,!create!
a!total!art!centered!
upon!epic!songwriting!
and!superb!musicianship!as!they!spin!their!melodical!tales!from!a!time!that!never!
was.!They!effortlessly!fuse!the!steampunk!aesthetic,!a!DIY!work!ethic,!and!rock!and!
roll!sensibilities!to!offer!a!unique!experience!that!grows!and!evolves!with!each!new!
timestream!they!visit.!
!
Website:!theextraordinarycontraptions.com!
Uncle$Yo$[Comedian]$
!
Karl!"Uncle!Yo"!Custer!has!been!a!staple!at!
Zenkaikon!for!the!past!six!years,!having!
started!his!side!career!as!a!geekWspecific!
standWup!comedian!here!back!at!Valley!
Forge.!An!oldWschool!New!Yorker,!Yo!has!
appeared!in!several!web!series!including!
"DragonWBored"!and!"The!Justice!Lease."!
Yo's!weekly!podcast,!"We!are!the!Geek"!is!
centered!around!the!convention!FanW
lebrity!and!explores!the!geek's!roles!in!
today's!culture.!For!shows,!jabs!and!details,!
visit!his!website.!
!
Website:!www.uncleyo.com!
$
Jonathan$Maberry$[Author]$
!
Jonathan!Maberry!is!a!NY!Times!bestselling!
author,!multiple!Bram!Stoker!Award!winner,!
and!freelancer!for!Marvel!Comics.!His!novels!
include#Extinction#Machine,#Fire#&#Ash,#Ghost#
Road#Blues,#Patient#Zero,!and!many!others.!
Forthcoming!books!include!a!new!mysteryW
thriller!young!adult!series,!Watch#Over#Me,!
scheduled!to!debut!in!2014;!a!middleWgrade!
scienceWfiction!horror!series,#The#Nightsiders,!
and!the!first!in!a!new!series!of!adventure!
fantasies!inspired!by!the!Deadlands#roleWplaying!
game.!His!nonfiction!books!include!Ultimate#
Jujutsu,#The#Cryptopedia,#Zombie#CSU,#Wanted#
Undead#or#Alive,!and!others.!Jonathan’s!awardWwinning!teen!novel,!Rot#&#Ruin,!is!
now!in!development!for!film.!He’s!the!editor/coWauthor!of!VaWars,!a!vampireW
themed!anthology,!coWeditor!of!the!forthcoming!dark!fantasy!anthology,!Out#of#Tune;!
and!is!developing!other!anthology!projects!for!adults!and!teens.!He!was!a!featured!
expert!on!The!History!Channel!special!Zombies:#A#Living#History.!Since!1978!he’s!
sold!more!than!1200!magazine!feature!articles,!3000!columns,!two!plays,!greeting!
cards,!song!lyrics,!and!poetry.!His!comics!include#Captain#America:#Hail#Hydra,!
Doomwar,!Marvel#Zombies#Return!and!Marvel#Universe#vs.#The#Avengers.!Jonathan!
writes#Scary#Out#There,!a!weekly!blog!for!the!Horror!Writers!Association!that!
features!interviews!with!the!top!names!in!young!adult!horror!fiction.!Many!of!his!
short!stories!have!been!released!as!audio!collections!from!Blackstone,!including!Joe#
Ledger:#The#Missing#Files,#Tales#from#the#Fire#Zone!and#Hungry#Tales.!Jonathan!is!a!
Contributing!Editor!for!The!Big!Thrill!(the!newsletter!of!the!International!Thriller!
Writers),!and!is!a!member!of!Science!Fiction!&!Fantasy!Writers!of!America,!
International!Association!of!Media!TieWIn!Writers,!Mystery!Writers!of!America,!and!
Society!of!Children's!Book!Writers!and!Illustrators,!as!well!as!a!jurist!for!the!Edgar!
and!Stoker!Awards.!He!teaches!the!Experimental!Writing!for!Teens!class,!is!the!
founder!of!the!Writers!Coffeehouse,!and!coWfounder!of!The!Liars!Club.!Jonathan!
currently!lives!in!Bucks!County,!Pennsylvania!with!his!wife,!Sara!Jo!and!a!fierce!little!
dog!named!Rosie.!
!
Website:!jonathanmaberry.com!
!
!
CJ$Henderson$[Author]$
!
CJ!Henderson!is!the!creator!of!the!Piers#Knight!
supernatural!investigator!series,!the!Teddy#London!
supernatural!detective!series,!and!many!more.!
Author!of!some!70!books!and/or!novels,!hundreds!of!
short!stories!and!comics,!and!thousands!of!nonW
fiction!pieces,!this!incredible!powerhouse!of!ideas!
and!lover!of!bacon!is!beloved!for!his!intriguing!prose,!
his!precocious!wit,!and!his!ability!to!go!to!YouTube!
every!single!day!to!watch!Batman!Dog!and!laugh!just!
as!hard!as!he!did!the!first!time!he!saw!it.!He’s!been!a!
returning!guest!at!Zenkaikon!for!years!now,!and!is!
excited!and!eager!to!meet!the!attendees!of!Zenkaikon!
2014,!both!old!and!new.!
!
Website:!cjhenderson.com!
Gina$Biggs$[Webcomic$Creator]$
!
Gina!Biggs!has!run!the!comic!studio,!
Strawberry!Comics,!since!2004.!
Strawberry!Comics!is!an!allWfemale!
group!of!creators!banding!together!to!
help!promote!women!in!the!comic!
industry!as!well!as!the!neglected!and!
often!overlooked!genre!of!love!and!
romance!in!the!medium.!She!also!runs!
Filthy!Figments,!the!naughty!cousin!to!
Strawberry!Comics.!In!a!similar!vein,!
Filthy!Figments!promotes!women!
creators!who!wish!to!draw!erotic!
stories.!
!
Gina!is!most!wellWknow!for!her!longW
running!comic!series,!Red#String,!which!
began!in!2003!and!ran!for!ten!years,!
ending!in!2013.!The!first!three!volumes!
of!the!series!were!published!by!Dark!
Horse!Comics!and!the!entire!series!was!
eventually!rereleased!by!Gina!herself!in!
omnibus!editions.!She!is!the!creator!of!
the!collaborative!series,!Erstwhile,!a!comic!adapting!the!lesser!known!Grimm's!
fairytales.!Her!most!current!series!is!Demon#Aid,!a!story!of!a!demon!mediator!who!
finds!she!as!a!little!demon!problem!of!her!own.!You!can!find!out!about!all!of!her!
comic!works!at!Strawberry!Comics.!
!
Website:!strawberrycomics.com!
Doug$Walker$[Internet$Video$Creator]$
!
Doug!Walker!is!best!known!for!his!
character!The!Nostalgia!Critic,!who!
reviews!bad!movies!and!TV!shows!from!
childhood.!He!also!plays!the!roles!of!That!
Guy!with!the!Glasses,!who!answers!the!
weirdest!questions!fans!can!come!up!
with,!Chester!A.!Bum,!the!hyper!active!
bum!who!loves!every!movie!ever!made,!
and!Dominic,!a!bar!tender!who!has!talked!
with!the!video!game!world's!biggest!
stars.!He's!also!noted!for!having!a!long!
standing!"rivalry"!with!The!Angry!Video!
Game!Nerd.!His!online!shows!average!
one!to!two!hundred!thousand!viewers!a!
week.!His!fans!include!Roger!Ebert,!Paul!
Dini,!Mara!Wilson,!and!the!creators!of!
Animaniacs.!He's!appeared!on!PBS,!
Entrepreneur#Magazine,!The#New#York#
Times,!20/20,!Rifftrax,!and!was!awarded!
Entrepreneur!of!the!Year!at!the!4th!
Annual!Mashable!Awards!in!2010.!His!
image!even!appeared!in!the!anime#Zettai#
Karen#Children.!Often!his!convention!appearances!end!up!turning!into!comedic!
videos!featured!on!his!site,!so!don't!miss!your!chance!to!possibly!be!featured!in!one!!
!
Website:!www.thatguywiththeglasses.com!
$
$
!
!
Cosplay$Burlesque$[Performing$Arts$Group]$
!
Cosplay!Burlesque!is!a!
performing!arts!group!
of!burlesque!
performers!and!
cosplayers!dedicated!to!
combining!the!two!for!
your!entertainment.!
Their!mission!is!to!take!
the!characters!fans!
already!enjoy!and!make!
them!naughty!through!
a!humorous!and!
provacative!stage!show.!
There!is!no!fandom!that!
they!leave!untouched!in!
their!quest!for!great!
source!material.!They!
are!fan!fiction!come!to!
life!!
Greg$Houser$[Actor]$
!
Greg!joined!the!voice!
acting!ranks!through!
his!background!in!IT!
and!Engineering!(no,!
seriously).!He!has!
earned!advanced!
degrees!from!
Pennsylvania!State!
University!and!studied!
drama!with!the!Walnut!
St.!Theatre,!the!Wilma!
Theatre,!and!the!
People's!Improv!
Theatre.!Greg!has!been!
performing!behind!the!
mic!for!over!12!years!
providing!vocal!talent!
for!companies!such!as!AstraZenica,!DuPont,!Lockheed!Martin,!CBS,!Honda!of!
America,!and!the!NBA,!among!others.!In!the!anime!world,!he's!provided!voices!for!
titles!such!as!Evangelion,#Shiki,#Tales#of#Vesperia,#and!Ikki#Tousen.!
!
Website:!gregoryhouser.com!
Kuniko$Kanawa$[Cultural$Presenter]$
!
Kuniko!Kanawa!is!a!
certified!Kimono!
consultant,!Kimono!
model,!Edo!Tsumami!
Kanzashi!artisan,!and!a!
founder!of!the!
Washington!D.C.!
Kimono!Club.!
!
In!2007,!Kuniko!
officially!became!a!
certified!Kimono!
consultant!of!the!All!
Japan!Kimono!
Consultant!Association!
after!graduating!from!
Sodo!Reihou!Kimono!
College.!Since!attaining!
her!certification,!she!
has!been!offering!her!
Kimono!dressing!
service,!teaching!
Kimono!classes!and!workshops,!and!producing!informative!and!entertaining!
Kimono!Shows!which!feature!Kimono!dressing!demonstrations.!She!also!works!as!a!
Kimono!model,!utilizing!the!six!treasured!years!of!classical!Japanese!dance!training!
in!Hanayagi!style!under!the!exceptional!tutelage!of!Hanayagi!Wakana!sensei.!
!
In!the!same!year,!through!intensive!training!by!Kazuyo!Hozumi,!one!of!the!few!Edo!
Tsumami!designated!masters!in!Japan,!she!became!a!professional!Edo!Tsumami!
Kanzashi!artisan.!As!a!classically!trained!successor!of!this!disappearing!traditional!
handicraft,!she!creates!both!traditional!and!modern!designed!Tsumami!Kanzashi,!
including!custom!orders.!Her!beautiful!creations!can!be!purchased!on!her!website.!
Kuniko!occasionally!participates!in!craft!shows!and!currently!offers!beginner's!
workshops!at!the!JapanWAmerica!Society!of!Washington!D.C.!
!
In!early!2013,!she!founded!the!Washington!D.C.!Kimono!Club.!The!Club!welcomes!
anyone!who!loves!Kimono!and!Japanese!seasonal!cultural!events.!Members!can!
participate!in!Japanese!seasonal!cultural!events!in!Kimono,!attend!Washington!D.C.!
Kimono!Club!workshops!at!a!discounted!price,!participate!in!Kimono!shows!and!
dressing!demonstrations!as!a!model,!and!participate!in!the!Ms./Mrs./Mr.!Kimono!of!
the!year!contest.!For!more!information!about!the!club,!please!visit!her!website.!
!
Website:!atelierkanawa.com!
Bill$Rogers$[Actor]$
!
Since!his!debut!in!Assemble#Insert!
back!in!2001,!Bill!has!been!providing!
voices!to!some!of!your!favorite!
characters!in!some!of!your!favorite!
shows.!If!you’ve!watched!Ikki#Tousen,#
The#Third,#Shingu,#KO#Beast,#His#and#
Her#Circumstances,#Magical#Witch#
PunieaChan,#Joe#vs.#Joe,#Madara,#To#
Heart,#Kujibiki#Unbalance,#Queen’s#
Blade,#Gokudo,!or!Comic#Party!you’ve!
probably!heard!his!voice.!But!he!is!
best!known!for!his!work!in!
Gravitation!(Touma!Seguchi),!
Boogiepop#Phantom!(Yamamoto),!and!
Genshiken!(Tanaka!Souichiro).!He!can!
also!be!heard!on!Saturday!mornings!
as!the!voice!of!Brock!in!Pokémon!(as!
well!as!over!40!creatures!that!appear!
in!the!show).!
!
In!the!world!of!video!games,!Bill!has!
lent!his!voice!to!the!XWBox!game!Bullet#
Witch.!On!the!Wii!console!he!voiced!cartoon!legend!Heathcliff!in!Heathcliff:#Fast#and#
the#Furriest!as!well!as!supplying!the!voices!for!Red,!Yellow!and!other!fun!characters!
in!the!M&M#Adventure!and!M&M#Kart#Racing.!On!mobile!devices!he!can!be!heard!in!
Dungeon#Hunter#4!and!Gangstar:#Vegas!by!Gameloft.!He!has!also!voiced!various!
Pokémon!in!the!game!Poképark!and!it’s!sequel!Poképark:#Wonders#Beyond.!But!fans!
best!know!him!as!the!legendary!Lucario!in!the!smash!hit!Super#Smash#Bros.#Brawl.!
!
Outside!of!the!anime!&!video!game!field,!Bill!has!worked!with!English!dubbing!
groups!for!live!action!and!animated!programs!from!Italy,!Korea,!India!and!Turkey.!
He!has!also!been!seen!on!stage!in!various!theatre!productions!and!has!worked!on!
numerous!independent!films.!He!can!also!be!heard!in!audiobooks!The#Privilege#of#
the#Sword!and!The#Fall#of#the#Kings!available!on!audible.com.!
Marc$Swint$[Actor]$
!
Native!to!Philadelphia,!Marc!Swint!
is!a!newWmedia!generation!voice!
actor,!writer!and!producer.!For!
more!than!ten!years!he's!pinballed!
as!a!voice!talent,!working!in!small!
machinima!and!indie!film,!doing!
medium!flash!animation!and!indie!
games,!and!one!large!anime!
project:!Mass#Effect:#Paragon#Lost#
as!the!voice!of!Mason.!More!
commonly!known!as!"The!
Engineer",!he!works!on!podcasts!
and!webWshows!(Anime#Abandon!
with!Bennett!The!Sage,!The#Spoony#
Experiment,#BadCall#TV)!wearing!
the!hats!of!"acting!monkey",!
"graphics!guy",!"joke!writer!dude"!
and!"oh!no,!oh!no,!it's!broke!please!
fix!it!demon."!
!
During!Toonami's!offWair!days,!
Marc!provided!the!voice!of!
Toonami!Aftermath's!T.O.M.!for!a!short!series!of!bumps!and!wrote!and!directed!
Aftermath's!short!video!event!"The!Reveille"!run!during!#BringBackToonami.!
Greg$Wicker$[Game$Show$Host]$
!
Greg!Wicker!(or!"Greggo"!as!he's!
fondly!known)!has!been!producing!and!
hosting!game!shows!at!anime!
conventions!since!1999,!when!he!
premiered!Anime!Match!Game!at!
Project!AWKon!in!Dallas.!Since!then,!
Greggo!has!done!animeWthemed!
versions!of!several!classic!game!shows,!
created!a!few!games!of!his!own,!and!
even!had!an!original!project!that!very!
nearly!turned!into!an!actual!television!
show!on!Anime!Network.!These!days!Greggo!is!concentrating!on!perfecting!his!craft!
and!making!game!shows!available!for!conventions!everywhere,!bringing!his!rapier!
wit!and!friendly!personality!with!him!wherever!he!goes.!
DJ$Zing$[Musical$Guest]$
!
An!old!school!DJ!by!
heart!with!over!a!
decade!of!experience!
under!his!belt,!Zing!
delivers!a!professional!
new!school!experience!
while!sticking!to!
traditional!old!school!
roots.!Representing!his!
global!online!show!
"The!Centrifugal!Force"!
and!his!upcoming!label!
Neos!Imperalis,!tried!
and!tested!all!over!the!
East!Coast,!he's!sure!to!
deliver!a!musical!experience!everyone!will!enjoy!and!talk!about.!
Trifecta$[Musical$Guest]$
!
Like!the!paints!on!a!
palette!used!to!create!a!
magnificent!painting,!
Trifecta!is!the!
culmination!of!2!and!
sometimes!3!very!
different!artists,!each!
with!very!different!
musical!backgrounds.!
By!combining!their!
talents!as!individual!
performers!into!one!
entity,!they!seek!to!
bring!a!fresh!new!take!
on!the!world!of!dance,!
theater,!and!musical!genres.!Behind!the!DJ!booth!is!Jesse!James!Felice.!Be!sure!to!
catch!Jesse’s!performance!as!he!and!Violinist!Johnny!Benson!perform!under!the!
name!TRIFECTA!at!Zenkaikon’s!Friday!night!ball!and!dance.!
!
About+Jesse+James+Felice:++
+
Jesse’s!quest!for!world!domination!and!great!dance!music!led!to!the!production!of!
his!first!mix!during!the!summer!of!2002.!In!2008,!he!quit!his!government!job!and!
focused!primarily!on!DJing.!He!worked!for!the!top!DJ!company!in!Virginia,!and!
ultimately!went!into!business!for!himself.!Jesse!has!performed!at!weddings,!clubs,!
burlesque!shows,!museums,!private!events,!charities,!and!conventions!including!TW
Mode,!AUSA,!and!twice!at!Katsucon.!For!the!past!3!years!he's!performed!at!Anime!
Mid!Atlantic’s!dances,!which!were!put!on!the!international!map!when!Jesse!was!
featured!on!Anime!News!Network!for!his!work!with!Actor/Director!Richard!Epcar!
for!Jesse’s!“elecTRONic!Mayhem”!and!“elecTRONic!Mayhem!Uprising”!shows.!
Christopher!MacDonald,!Chairman!of!Anime!News!Network,!called!Jesse’s!work!
“Awesome.”!
!
Other!accolades!include!Jesse’s!invitation!to!tour!with!a!DJ!that!has!been!involved!
with!DJs!Tiesto!and!Eric!Prydz.!He!has!been!reviewed!by!author!Robert!V.!Aldrich!
and!Suzie!Del!Vecchio,!a!singer!signed!and!touring!with!world!renowned!DJ!Paul!
Oakenfold.!Suzie!had!this!to!say,!"Jesse's!work!is!beautiful."!In!his!review!author!
Robert!V.!Aldrich!wrote,!"You!know!that!one!song!you!leave!the!club!thinking!about,!
that!one!song!that!has!you!saying!'man,!who!did!THAT!mix?';!that's!Jesse!James!
Felice.!Each!of!his!mixes!is!a!unique!experience,!a!vibrant!reminder!of!the!beauty!of!
music.!His!work!is!a!dialogue!and!an!exploration!that!DJ!and!audience!take!together,!
perfectly!set!so!that!the!music!becomes!a!modem!for!a!larger,!grander!experience.!
Any!fan!of!music,!regardless!of!their!preferred!genres,!owes!it!to!themselves!to!
check!him!out.!For!music!that!is!as!innovative!as!it!is!entrancing,!you!will!find!no!one!
better."!
!
About+Johnny+Benson:++
+
At!four!years!of!age,!Johnny!Benson!took!to!the!Meyerhoff!concert!stage.!From!there!
he!was!hooked.!At!twelve,!he!became!the!youngest!member!of!F.A.M.E.,!ultimately!
touring!abroad!with!them.!Johnny!was!classically!trained!in!the!renowned!Suzuki!
program!and!the!conservatory!theory.!He!studied!abroad!at!the!University!of!
Austria,!performing!with!world!renowned!musicians,!in!the!concert!halls!of!Grazz,!
Vienna,!Salzburg,!Munich,!&!Oberzeiring.!He!has!also!performed!with!several!
symphony!orchestras!here!in!the!United!States.!With!his!clear,!electric!violin!in!
hand,!Johnny!Benson!brings!his!versatile!violin!skills!to!the!group.!It!doesn't!matter!
if!it's!a!classical!aria!or!a!metal!riff,!Johnny!continues!to!push!his!violin!to!new!levels,!
determined!to!leave!you!breathless!!
!
!
ZENKAIKON PRESS PHOTOS
TO REQUEST HIGH RESOLUTION COPIES, PLEASE CONTACT [email protected] Filename: zenkaikon13_1.jpg Description: Zenkaikon 2013 member dressed as Terriermon from Digimon. Photo by Mark Weinhold. Download Web Version: http://www.zenkaikon.com/sites/default/files/
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