Interview (141)
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Probably one of the most well known male cosplayer in the world, we caught up with KANAME☆ in Thailand for his fan event on November 23, 2013. Hear Kaname's thoughts on topics ranging from the current state of men cosplaying as well as helpful tips to encourage more men to cosplay.
Fresh off the release of their latest single, "W.W.D. II" on iTunes, we were privileged to have an opportunity to interview the up-and-coming Japanese pop group Dempagumi.inc while at Japan Expo 2013. Known for being former hikikomoris in Japan, these charming ladies have found a way to step out of their comfort zones to start walking on the path towards becoming an international success. Find out all about their aspirations, chock-full of colorful personalities, as we discuss their more recently released products including the Dempa Models x 100 Cosplay photo book and upcoming film Shiromajo Gakuen.
Noizi Ito Interview (The Guided Fate Paradox)
Written by Theodore Mak
Noizi Ito is a popular illustrator and character designer. Probably best known for designing the characters in The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya and Shakugan no Shana, we were lucky in 2010 to interview her during her first official visit to the United States. We caught up with her at this year's Anime Expo to talk a little about her first internationally released game, The Guided Fate Paradox.
At this year's Anime Expo, we got to speak briefly with Kazuchika Kise about his directorial debut with Ghost in the Shell: Arise. Mr. Kise has worked on a number of titles as a character designer and/or animation director on series including xxxHOLIC, Patlabor, Blood, and of course Ghost in the Shell. Hear what he had to say about some of the challenges working on Arise as well as the reasons behind the cosmetic change for of main character, Motoko Kusanagi!
Yoshiyuki Sadamoto (貞本 義行) Interview @ JX USA 2013
Written by Theodore Mak
Last month's Japan Expo USA was the organization's first time hosting an anime convention in the United States, and it was a resounding success! With their high-profile list of Guests of Honor, fans had a special opportunity to meet some of their favorite mangaka and video game professionals from Japan. Join us as we sit down for a memorable chat with renowned character designer and mangaka Yoshiyuki Sadamoto as we discuss some of the more philosophical aspects of Evangelion.
Yusuke Kozaki Interview @ Japan Expo USA 2013
Written by Theodore Mak
One of the first exciting guest announced for Japan Expo was character designer and mangaka Yusuke Kozaki who also goes under the pen name of KYMG. Like most American fans, I had first noticed his uniquely stylish art from the 2005 anime Speed Grapher. Mr Kozaki's presence in America was solidified with his video game character design work for the over the top stylish No More Heroes series and more recently, the best seller Fire Emblem Awakening. Apart from his character design works, Mr. Kozaki has created several short mangaka series in during his career including his more recent title, Donyatsu.
In the short time we were able to speak with him, hear a little about his art preferences, where the story for Donyatsu came from along with an inside look at the character creation process for Fire Emblem Awakening!
Tatsuro Iwamoto Interview @ Japan Expo USA 2013
Written by J. M. Alcala
Hosting its inaugural anime convention in the United States, Japan Expo USA treated its convention attendees to a number of high-profile Guests of Honor ranging from the video game industry legends to infamous mangaka from Japan. We had a special opportunity to sit down with the Art Director for the Ace Attorney series and Clover Studio's Okami, Tatsuro Iwamoto! Join us as we learn about which characters he loves to draw, what he thinks about his creations come-to-life and which character he identifies with the most!
Hosting its inaugural anime convention in the United States, Japan Expo USA treated its convention attendees to a number of high-profile Guests of Honor ranging from the video game industry legends to infamous mangaka from Japan. We had a special opportunity to sit down with Ace Attorney series and Lunar: the Silver Star Story composer Noriyuki Iwadare while he was here to perform a few concerts with his band in front of his many adoring fans. Find out what inspired the man's brilliant musical career and a little bit about his upcoming soundtrack for Ace Attorney 5: Dual Destinies, soon to be released in English later this year!
While at Anime Expo 2013, our incumbent editor-in-chief, Theodore Mak, got the privilege of interviewing renown anime director Makoto Shinkai to ask him a few words about his latest film Kotononoha no Niwa (trans. the Garden of Words). The film itself was recently released earlier this month by Sentai Filmworks in English on Blu-ray and DVD. Find out what the masterful visionary had to say regarding his newest forty-six minute film.
While at Anime Expo 2013, we got a chance to interview unique J-Pop artists STARMARIE whose group features three members Shino Takamori, Nozomi Kishita and Shiori Aoki. Known mostly for their dark, fantastical twist on the J-POP genre in Japan, these girls straddle both the lighter and darker sides of music with their original lyrics and creepy/cool-style dance moves. Fresh off the release of their second album, "Fantasy World 2," learn all about their individual personalities and backstories as we interview them after their US live debut concert.
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Porno Graffitti (ポルノグラフィティ) Interview @ Anime Expo 2013
Written by Theodore Mak
Watch our video as T-ONO's very own AJ sits down and interviews the legendary rock dual sensation, Porno Graffitti at Anime Expo in Los Angeles! Porno Graffitti has composed music for hit anime series such as Full Metal Alchemist, Great Teacher Onizuka, Bleach, and more recently Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic. Hear about how they started their career and a little about their thoughts on creating music for anime after 20 successful years.
As the universal phrase goes, "Rome wasn't built in day." Although the idiom was first coined by the French during the late 1100s, the meaning behind it has made it an ubiquitous metaphor that the fruits of labor pays off through hard work, persistence and dedication; three values that drive the up-and-coming Japanese animation studio, P.A. Works. Meet one of the chief visionaries, producer Nobuhiro Kikuchi, as he thoughtfully shares his own perspective and opinions chronicling the humble beginnings of the company to their rise in fame and prominence with the anime series True Tears, Angel Beats! and the recently released, Hanasaku Iroha.
The-O Network's Jason Young had a chance to interview the master magician behind the characters of Little Witch Academia, screenwriter Masahiko Otsuka whose directorial credits includes Gurren Laggan, Neon Genesis Evangelion and Studio Ghibli's Whisper of the Heart. Joined by special guest, Yoshiro Manabe of Ultra Super Pictures, learn more about Studio TRIGGER as well as the future of Akko and the rest of the Little Witch Academia universe as we sit down for this exclusive interview at acttil's special fan event.
Recently, Kylee Saunders had a chance to perform her first U.S. headliner at Yoshi's in Oakland, California on June 21, 2013. She performed a number of her hit songs including, "Crazy for You," "Vacancy" from the fantasy-mech anime series Xam'd: Lost Memories, and a surprise and heartfelt cover of Katy Perry's "Firework." Find out what she's been up to since our last interview with her back at the 2012 J-POP Summit Festival in San Francisco, along with her personal impressions of her freshman year at Stanford University.