Sakuracon 2015 Wrap-up: News, Cosplay and More
by The Anime News Network Editorial Team,
Overview
The Pacific Northwest's largest anime convention returned to the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle on Easter weekend this year from April 3-5. Organized by the Asia-Northwest Cultural Education Association (ANCEA), the event drew close to 23,000 individuals or a turnstile attendance of approximately 60,000.
Guests for Sakura-con 2015 included American voice actors A Certain Scientific Railgun S).
The convention also brought guests from fan-favorite franchises like Masaki Asai.
Despite a forecast of rain, and this being Seattle after all, the weekend was dry and even warm at times despite the brisk morning winds.
Opening Ceremonies
Opening ceremonies was book-ended by performances from OKK Taiko, who offered Japanese dance accompanied by drumming, and Mary Mariko's Kabuki Academy with its shamisen and vocal cover of "Let It Go" from Frozen. Director and actor Christopher Bevins introduced the guests one at a time, with most Japanese guests coming on to introduce themselves, but one of the biggest crowd-pleasers was the Consul General of Japan in Seattle, Masahiro Omura. He appeared with his staff in full samurai armor, and thanked audiences for a chance to wear "something fun" to work instead of a suit.
Industry s
Tetsuya Kawakami will design the characters.
Aniplex of America also hosted the premiere of the first three episodes of Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works' second season at Sakura-Con.
dub cast stars:
- Xanthe Huynh as Yuna Yuki
- Erika Harlacher as Mimori Togo
- Erica Mendez as Fu Inubozaki
- Brianna Knickerbocker as Itsuki Inubozaki
- Sarah Anne Williams as Karin Miyoshi
- Carrie Keranen as teacher
- Johanna Luis as students
PonyCan also announced its plans to localize the following shows this year:
- Sound! Euphonium (now streaming)
- Rokka: Braves of the Six Flowers (July 2015)
- Lance N' Masques (2015)
- Garakowa (Vitreous Flower & Destroy the World) film (2015)
Yen Press
The North American manga and light novel publisher got excited fans going during its on Saturday when it announced both announced 13 titles slated for release in either print or digital venues.
- Yowamushi Pedal by Wataru Watanabe (print)
- Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun by Izumi Tsubaki (print)
- Akira Hagio (print)
- Tsuyoshi Watanabe (print)
- Pinakes (print)
- Satsuki Yoshino (digital)
- Ato Sakurai (digital)
- Dan Ichikawa (digital)
- Karino Takatsu (digital)
- Unknown by Tsumuji Yoshimura (digital)
- Chisaki Kanai (digital)
- Higasa Akai (digital)
- Hikaru Tanaka (digital)
Funimation unveiled the dub NIS America released the game series in North America, but Funimation is replacing much of the cast for its anime release. The show stars:
- Greg Ayres as Monokuma
- Bryce Papenbrook as Makoto Naegi
- Felecia Angelle as Aoi Asahina
- Lindsay Seidel as Celestia Ludenwerg
- Jamie Marchi as Junko Enoshima
- Kara Edwards as Chihiro Fujisaki
- Carli Mosier as Toko Fukawa
- Christopher Bevins as Yasuhiro Hagakure
- Austin Tindle as Kyotaka Ishimaru
- Caitlin Glass as Kyoko Kirigiri
- Justin Cook as Leon Kuwata
- Monica Rial as Sayaka Maizono
- Rachel Robinson as Sakura Ohgami
- Christopher R. Sabat as Mondo Owada
- Josh Grelle as Byakuya Togami
- Tyson Rinehart as Hifumi Yamada
The company also Ultimate Otaku Teacher anime series and the Love:Redux live-action series.
Saturday's industry s came to a close with video game and visual novel localization company Sekai Project at 9 p.m. Staff remarked that when they held their first at Sakura-Con, only five people were in attendance; all of which were friends of the staff. This year's had a larger turn-out by far, thanks to the company gaining traction with more fan-favorite properties like The Fruit of Grisaia.
The company's biggest Anime Expo in Los Angeles from July 2-5. The staff commented that despite Hasekura rarely attending such events, the author was impressed with the for the three-part visual novel game World End Economica.
The company also announced it will release:
- Machina of the Planet Tree -Planet Ruler (Seiju no Kishin) role-playing game by Denneko Yugi
- Shizuku no Oto horror game
- November Boy Korean &TEAM ANAGO
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