Guests
Looking for information on our awesome guests? Then you've come to the right place. We have a menagerie of guests lined up in a variety of areas. Take a look at our list of guests below to begin planning who you want to meet, get an autograph from, take a picture with, or glomp (note: no glomping the guests).
Click on one of the guest names below to read more about them.
Voice Actors:
Chris Cason
|
Robert Axelrod
|
Spike Spencer
Wendy Powell
Internet Guests:
Doug Walker
|
LittleKuriboh
Artists:
Alan Evans
|
Trevor Mueller
Entertainers:
August Hahn
|
Uncle Yo
|
Kobudokan
|
Bristol Renaissance Faire
|
Dan Keding
Chris Cason:
For over ten years, Chris Cason has participated in almost every facet of anime production. He has been associated with numerous projects (exclusively for FUNimation Entertainment) in a voice acting, ADR directing, or scriptwriting capacity. Some of his work has been featured on Spike TV, The Independent Film Channel (IFC), Nicktoons, The Cartoon Network, and The CW.
Chris’s best known voice credits include: “Gluttony” in Fullmetal Alchemist and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, “Tien Shinhan” in Dragonball Z, “Mr. Popo” in Dragonball Z and Dragonball Z Kai, “Holy Roman Empire” in Hetalia: Axis Powers, “Jack the Ripper” in Soul Eater, “Boo” and “Whitey” in Shin-Chan, “Miyamoto” and “M1” in Yu Yu Hakusho, “Fumihiro” in Initial D, “Chamo” in Negima, “Hanai” in School Rumble, “Babbit” in Kodocha, “Taruru” in Sgt. Frog, “Seigfried” in Kenichi, and “Hanbei" in Sengoku Basara.
He can also be heard in: Case Closed, Gunslinger Girl, Basilisk, Ouran High School Host Club, Suzuka, Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles, Black Cat, Darker Than Black, Bamboo Blade, Kaze no Stigma, Aquarion, One Piece, Big Windup!, D. Gray-Man, Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad, RIN, Corpse Princess, Speed Grapher, Summer Wars, and Fairy Tail.
Some of his ADR directing and assistant ADR directing credits include: DBZ Uncut, Dragonball, Dragonball GT, Yu Yu Hakusho, Negima, Kodocha, Galaxy Railways, Baki the Grappler, School Rumble, Hell Girl, Kaze no Stigma, Bamboo Blade, Birdy the Mighty: Decode, Initial D, and Tsubasa Tokyo Revelations.
He has also had the opportunity to be a part of many popular video games. His two favorites were: voicing random ghouls and specters for Ghostbusters: The Video Game, and as one of the contributing guitarists in Guitar Hero 3.
For additional information, visit “Chris Cason’s Anime Chuckle Hut” on Facebook.
Robert Axelrod:
Robert Axelrod has carved a career in show business that runs the gamut. Born and raised in New York City, he did commercials and theater as a child and teen, eventually ending up in the Soho Avant-garde Theater scene in a show called “Little Trips”, then Off-Broadway in a play called “The Destroyers”.
Axelrod left acting for the world of music. He spent eight years as a working rock musician playing electric bass and singing in folk, rock, and soul bands. Music brought him to Los Angeles where he decided to return to acting, a decision he never regrets.
Since then, Mr. Axelrod has appeared in over thirty feature films including four with Charles Bronson, the Sci-Fi hit remake “The Blob” with Kevin Dillon and many others. Television appearances include guest star roles on “Amazing Stories”, “Star Trek Voyager”, “Tim And Eric’s Awesome Show”, and “The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.
He also starred in the Michael Jackson music video “Stranger in Moscow”, and is in the soon-to-be-released horror dark comedy, “The Revenant”.
Mr. Axelrod is also a busy voice over artist. He is the voice of Lord Zedd and Finster on the “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers”. The Lord Zedd voice is one of the most recognizable character voices around. He voiced Armadillomon and Wizardmon on “Digimon”, Microchip, The Punisher’s sidekick, on “Spiderman”, Rico on “Robotech”, and has voiced countless Anime features including “Akira”, “The Big O”, “Cowboy Bebop”, “Brain Scratch”, et al.
As Lord Zedd, he starred in both the first Power Rangers feature film and the wildly popular live show that toured the country. He was a regular character on Saban Entertainment’s “Wowser” series (as Ratso Catso), “Journey To The Heart of the World” (as Scarface), “Hallo Spencer” (as Elmer), and more.
He just finished narrating the mockumentary “Safety First: The Rise of Women” and voicing four Anime series, “Gaiking”, “Danguard Ace”, “Captain Harlock”, “The Adventures of Nadja”, and “Fist of the North Star”.
Spike Spencer:
Spike Spencer has voiced hundreds of episodes of Anime including such notable titles as Evangelion, Vampire Knight, Battle Angel, Suikoden, Orphen, Spriggan, Nadesico, Mar, PreTear, Buso Renkin, Gundam, Code Geass 2, and Bleach. His video game credits include Saints Row 3, World of Warcraft, Tales of Vesperia, BlazBlue, Dynasty and Samurai Warriors, Steambot Chronicles, Star Ocean 2, Lunar: Silver Star Harmony, and many others. Spike has also lent his voice to numerous radio and TV commercials.
An accomplished actor, he has worked with such notable stars as Tommy Lee Jones, Sandra Bullock, Frank Langella, Tia Carrere, and Scott Glenn and has been on set with many other stars. Spike is also an author including "How to Be A Frickin Genius Voice Actor, Step One," "What Happens At The Con, Stays At The Con?", and the forthcoming "Don't Kill Your Date (And Other Cooking Tips)". Spike is also a screenwriter with several projects in various stages. He is soon to begin production on his first feature film that he scripted, "Dwindle Down."
Spike is also an avid sailor, cook, traveler, and enjoys a good bit of dancing from time to time.
Visit his official websites:
www.spikespencer.com
www.almostevilminions.com
****Spike teaches Voice Acting around the globe in person and via email and Skype. If you are interested in learning the art of Voice Acting from Spike contact him at: spike@worldospike.com
Wendy Powell:
Wendy has been a professional voice actress for FUNimation Entertainment and Okratron 5000 for over seven years. She is probably most well known for a little villain named Envy on Fullmetal Alchemist. She was most recently in Claymore where she played Ilena. And her most challenging role this year was her role of Iku in Shigurui… but you need to watch it to know why!
Wendy is also known for smaller parts… in which she usually dies a most painful death. Some of her credits include: Emi in Baki the Grappler, Amick in Blue Gender, The Fever Demon in Shin Chan, Kyo’s Mother in Fruits Basket, Kasuga in Negima, and Sister Paula in Trinity Blood. She has also voiced characters in Kitty Grade, Case Closed, Yu Yu Hakusho, Peach Girl, xxxHolic, One Piece, Galaxy Railways, Tsubasa, Gunslinger Girl, Moon Phase, Glass Fleet, and many others.
Her video game credits include: Spikeout, Fullmetal Alchemist, Curse of the Crimson, and Broken Angel.
Trevor Mueller:
Born in Ann Arbor, MI, Trevor Mueller was shocked to discover his latent writing abilities. “Am I from another planet?” he used to ponder as a child, but, alas, he soon discovered that he was a mere mortal by crashing his bike into a tree.
Trevor works at an advertising agency by day and writes comics by night. He is the writer / artist / creator of several popular webcomic series including the fantasy epic THE TEMPLE OF A THOUSAND TEARS and the teen-rated gag strip @$$HOLE!, both of which are self-published and have been nominated for several web comic awards. His web comic work can be found on his website, www.trevoramueller.com, along with his near-daily updates of movie, video game, and comic reviews.
In addition to self-published web comics, Trevor has also written and self-published several other works including the all-ages stories ALBERT THE ALIEN and JUNKYARD CHASE.
He has also contributed stories to several anthologies, including HOPE: THE HERO INITIATIVE from Ronin Studios and READING WITH PICTURES from the non-profit of the same name that advocates the use of comics in the classroom to promote literacy and improve education for all students.
In 2009 Trevor joined Reading With Pictures as their Marketing Director, combining his love of comics, education, and advertising. Trevor gives lectures and presentations throughout the mid-west at conventions and schools on several topics, including the power of combining creativity and literacy.
Trevor resides in the city of Chicago with his cat Waffles.
Alan Evans:
Alan Evans is the creator and artist of the #1 wrestling webcomic Rival Angels. Rival Angels began in 2007 and has become a hit with critics, fans, and professionals, having been nominated for such awards as Best Comic, Best Long Form, and Best Character.
In addition, he's done spot illustration work for several wrestling companies and flatting work for The Dreamer, DC, Hi-Fi Color Design, Digital Webbing, and many other independent studios.
He loves drawing backgrounds, likes riding his bike, and is also a fan of characters with the name, “Alan.”
Visit Alan online to check out his latest work, including Rival Angels, at RivalAngels.com.
Doug Walker:
Doug Walker, from ThatGuyWithTheGlasses.com 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 averages one to two hundred thousand viewers a week. His fans include Roger Ebert, Paul Dini, and the creators of Animaniacs. He's appeared on PBS, worked with the stars of Mystery Science Theatre 3000, and was awarded Entrepreneur of the Year at the 4th Annual Mashable Awards in 2010.
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.
LittleKuriboh:
LittleKuriboh (AKA Martin Billany) is the creator of Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Abridged series and the godfather of the abridged age.
He has thus far produced no less than 52 episodes, a spinoff, a prequel, a christmas special and two movies, creating a cultural phenomenon in the anime world.
In addition to playing nearly every character in his own series, he has made cameos in the Death Note, Naruto, Sonic X, Trinity Blood, Pokemon, Fullmetal Alchemist, and Sailor Moon abridged series.
With a mission to revitalize interest in the Yu-Gi-Oh franchise and make it more accessible to Joe Public, LittleKuriboh will continue the original abridged series providing us with priceless entertainment for many years to come.
All-round nice guy and community fan-favourite, he is also associated with TeamFourStar (the group behind Dragon Ball Z Abridged, for which he also supplies voices) and has made guest appearances on comic-book video review series Atop the Fourth Wall.
August Hahn:
August Hahn is an American writer of science fiction, fantasy, and roleplaying materials. Born in 1971, his military family moved around a great deal, affording him the chaos and blessing of life in dozens of different countries. This has provided him with a montage of an accent, hesitation at spelling words like valor/valour, and a fondness for cities like New York (a more confused whirlpool of cultures does not exist on this planet).
His first major fantasy novel, Rise of the Agarashi - Glory and Greed, publishes this year in mid-May. August is associated with several different groups and organizations, including the RPGA, The Roleplaying Gaming Association and fandoms like Lone Wolf's Tower of the Sun. He is also on LucasFilm's list of approved authors- compliments of his work on the Clone Wars era Living Force campaign. Hobbies and interests include miniatures painting, tactical wargaming, fencing, philosophy, religious studies, and computer games. Sadly for these worthy diversions, World of Warcraft owns his soul.
Uncle Yo (Karl Custer):
Karl "Uncle Yo" Custer is a geek-specific stand-up comedian who has traveled anime, comic book and video game conventions across America for the past five years. His plays have been read in New York, his "Anime Convention Survival Guide" was released on Amazon, and his homemade scones are delicious.
You may remember his shows from hosting last year's cosplay masquerade, and taking over main events. He also lost to Doug Walker in MvC2 but RUINED him in MvC3. Sentinel/Chun-Li for the win! And you're going down again THIS year, Walker! I made monochromatic ties cool again. Visit him on all social media and at uncleyo.com.
Bristol Renaissance Faire:
Where fantasy rules! Meet cast members of the #1 Renaissance faire in the country (as published in Renaissance Magazine!) Bristol Renaissance Faire troupe is a community of actors from the faire that enterain with an Elizabethan flair. Celebrating the faire's 25th anniversary, the troupe is holding multiple events, from meeting the magical Fantastikals fairies, to a Jedi combat demonstration using theatrical techniques.
Kobudokan:
Iaido is the Japanese martial art of drawing, cutting, and sheathing the sword. Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iadio, which means "the unequalled, unbroken lineage of Eishin style iaido" traces its lineage back over 500 years to its founder Hayazashi Jinsuke Shigenobu.
Zen Nippon Kendo Renmei Setei Kata was developed to provide a series of kata for kendo students and a common set of kata for various ryus (schools) of swordmanship. Each of the major iaido ryus are represented among the kata.
The main weapon in iaido is the katana - the long sword of the samurai and a symbol of their place in Japanese society. Students use an iaito, which is an unsharpened metal blade. Iaido students learn kata, solo movements using an iaito; katachi, partnered exercises using a bokken (wooden sword), and tamishigiri (cutting exercises) using a shinken (sharp sword) as training.
Iaido studetns learn mental discipline, balance, physical conditioning, and awareness of their surroundings, and a determination to never lose in a confrontation. In iaido there is a saying - "Victory comes while the sword is still in the scabbard."
Dan Keding has been studying iaido for over ten years. He has attended workshops and seminars in iaido in Japan, Canada, and the United States. Currently he is a second degree black belt in iaido. Josh Stafford has been studying kobujustsu for over ten years and iaido for seven. He is a second degree black belt in kobujutsu and a first degree black belt in iaido. Marc Jeray has been studying aikido for over eight years and iaido for six. He is a brown belt in both arts. Ellen Safford is a profesional dancer and a graduate of the University of Illinois School of Dance. She is also a certified teacher of the Alexander Method.
Dan, Marc, and Josh all have studied at the Kobudokan Dojo in Urbana, Illinois. Dan is currently an iaido instructor. Josh and Ellen live in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where Ellen has an Alexander Method practice.
Dan Keding:
Dan Keeding began his career almost forty years ago. He has told stories at some of the most prestigious storytelling events in the world and tours nationally and internationally each year. He had multiple appearances at the National Storytelling Festival and is considered one of the best and most versatile storytellers performing today.
Dan, who grew up on the south side of Chicago, first heard stories that had been handed down in his family from his Croatian maternal grandmother. As the oldest grandchild, she not only told him the stories but also taught them to him, making sure that the legacy of over ten generations would be kept alive in this country. To this day Dan still uses almost thirty of these stories in his active repertoire.
His over a dozen recordings and five books have won numerous awards including The American Library Association Notable Rcording for Children, ten Storytelling World Awards, and the Anne Izard Storytellers' Choice Award given out by the Westchester Library System.
In 2000 he was inducted into the National Storytelling Network's Circle of Excellence. He also loves dogs.
