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New Jersey's AnimeNEXT to Host Trigger's Akira Amemiya, Shigeto Koyama, Hiromi Wakabayashi
posted on by Kyle Hallmark
New Jersey based anime convention AnimeNEXT announced earlier this month that it will host Studio Trigger's Akira Amemiya, Shigeto Koyama, and Hiromi Wakabayashi at its 2016 convention. They will be joined by freelance animator Megumi Kouno.
Amemiya is a former GAINAX animator who worked on many Hiroyuki Imaishi titles such as Gurren Lagann and Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt. After joining Trigger, Amemiya made his directorial debut with Inferno Cop and co-directed Kill la Kill. Amemiya also directed Ninja Slayer From Animation, and he is co-directing Trigger's fifth anniversary project Space Patrol Luluco.
Koyama is an animator and designer at Trigger. He has worked on titles including HEROMAN, Eureka Seven, Gurren Lagann, Star Driver, Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt, Rebuild of Evangelion, Kill la Kill, and Big Hero 6. Koyama has also provided design work for the No More Heroes video game franchise. Last year, he directed his first short film "Obakechan" as part of Studio Khara's "Japan Animator Expo" project. Koyama previously appeared at FanimeCon in 2012, and he will appear at Kawaii Kon in April.
Wakabayashi is a former GAINAX member who has collaborated on several works with Hiroyuki Imaishi. His work includes design production for Gurren Lagann as well as the original idea, plot development, and directing participation for Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt. For Kill la Kill, Wakabayashi wrote the script for episode four, directed the second ending sequence, and assisted and oversaw the design team as its creative producer. He also participated in story development for Little Witch Academia and Inferno Cop. Wakabayashi will serve as the creative director for Space Patrol Luluco, and will appear alongside Koyama at Kawaii Kon next month.
Kouno is a freelance animator currently residing at A-1 Pictures. She has worked on titles such as The IDOLM@STER and Blood-C: The Last Dark. She also worked on Vividred Operation as a key animator, contributed storyboards for the show and directed and oversaw its transformation sequence animation. She also works as a designer for The IDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls.
The convention previously announced that it will host the voice actors Todd Haberkorn, Erica Mendez, Ellyn Stern, and Richard Epcar as guests. The convention will also host stand-up comedian Uncle Yo and Study of Anime founder Charles Dunbar.
AnimeNEXT 2016 will be held at the Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey from June 10-12.
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