Guests of Honour

Known as the Queen of Akihabara, Halko Momoi is also a well-known composer, voice actress, singer, writer and otaku. A fan of anime, computers and videogames from a young age, she studied personal computer communications in high school. She began singing and doing live performances on the streets of Harajuku and Akihabara. In 2000, she debuted her singing career with her first single Mail me, a cover version of which later appeared in the well-known horror film Suicide Club (Suicide Circle in Japan).

In 2001, she debuted her voice acting career voicing Komugi Nakahara in the anime The Soul Taker. Since then, she has voiced several roles, most notably Feiris Nyan-Nyan in Steins;Gate, San Seto in Seto No Hanayome, Filia in Prism Ark, Anise Tatlin in Tales Of The Abyss. She has also had roles in many other series such as Ai Yori Aoshi, Bottle Fairy, D.C. ~Da Capo~, Final Fantasy: Unlimited, Gravion, Lovedol ~Lovely Idol~, Magikano, Majokko Tsukune-Chan, Paranoia Agent and Ragnarok The Animation.

As a singer and composer, she has created and performed many works. She was also part of the popular singing duo UNDER17. In 2009, she created her own production label, "AKIHABA LOVE RECORDS", which she produces. She currently runs a live online webcast called "Momoi Halko no dokusen!! Mokomoko 60 pun" (approximate translation: The Monopoly of Momoi Halko!! 60 minutes of Moco Moco) on Nico Nico Douga. On the radio, she co-hosts with Shikura Chomaru on the talk show "THE WORKS" (FM79.5) and is also a host on "Ere Uta!" (NHK Radio One). She has also appeared in many top ten lists of magazines-- a monument to her multiple talents.

As the original Queen of Akihabara and with the concept of "From Akihabara to the World!" in hand, she has been active abroad, having travelled to North America, Mexico, Europe and Asia.

On June 22nd, she released her latest single "Gannbare...sorewa, I LOVE YOU".

For the latest information:
Momoi Haruko's website (Japanese only): http://rg-music.com/momoi/
Momoi Haruko's blog "Momoblog" (Japanese only): http://ameblo.jp/momoi-ktkr/

Maile Flanagan won an Emmy in 2006 and was nominated again in 2007 for "Outstanding Performer in An Animated Program" for Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks. She also received an Annie nomination for the same role. She is the lead in the Cartoon Network hit NARUTO for which has done over 350 episodes, 4 movies and 33 video games. Other animation work includes RANGO, FISH HOOKS, KUNG FU PANDA: ADVENTURES IN AWESOMENESS, BACK AT THE BARNYARD, ICE AGE 3, and countless pilots you've never heard of. Her on-camera acting roles include the upcoming movies TRANSFORMERS 3 and WRONG, 500 DAYS OF SUMMER, EVAN ALMIGHTY, PHONE BOOTH, THE NUMBER 23 and THE STATION AGENT. She also has had recurring roles on shows like GREY'S ANATOMY, THE CLASS, and RENO 911. In her spare time she does theatre, most recently the smash hit VOICE LESSONS in Los Angeles and New York.

Crispin Freeman is a voice actor, director and script adaptor who's been portraying characters in animation and video games since 1997.  He's worked on a myriad of anime shows including Hellsing, Naruto, Ghost in the Shell, The Big O, Final Fantasy: Advent Children, Wolf's Rain, Witch Hunter Robin, Chobits, Blood+, Last Exile, Revolutionary Girl Utena, Slayers, The Irresponsible Captain Tylor, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya & Miyazaki's Howl's Moving Castle and Ponyo.

In the world of video games he's played Superman, Iron Man, Dr. Manhattan, Legolas, as well as Will Turner from Pirates of the Caribbean. He plays Helios the Sun God in God of War III and both Breakdown and Grimlock in Transformers: War for Cybertron. He's been in such high profile Japanese games as Xenosaga, Final Fantasy, White Knight Chronicles and Metal Gear Solid.

In American animation, he's voiced characters in the Spectacular Spider-man series where he played Electro as well as the show Wolverine and the X-men where he played Multiple Man. He's currently playing Speedy and Red Arrow in the DC animated series Young Justice.

Yaya Han is a costume designer, model and cosplay entertainer with over 11 years of experience. After discovering cosplay at her first con a decade ago, she quickly absorbed the heart and soul of costume design and creation. To this day, Yaya has made a myriad of costumes in the genres of anime/manga, video games, sci-fi and, of course, from her own original designs. Her intricate and lavish creations have won awards and acclaim nationwide, most recently the Yume Cosplay Cup with the prize being a dream vacation in Japan. She has taught a multitude of panels (covering costume craftsmanship, presentation, makeup, wigs and more), judged countless costume contests and performed in front of many peers and fans alike on stage. Yaya has traveled to over 50 conventions and events within the USA and internationally, having attended events in Italy, Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany and Brazil as a guest.

For more information, visit www.yayahan.com

Ryan Sohmer is best known for his work as the writer/creator of two of the net's most well-known webcomics, Least I Could Do (www.leasticoulddo.com) and Looking For Group (www.lfgcomic.com).  He is also the Creative Director and co-founder of Blind Ferret Entertainment.  Despite his hectic schedule, Sohmer still finds the time to prepare himself for the upcoming Zombie Apocalypse.

A professional illustrator for over 20 years, Lar is the cartoonist for the 2008 Shuster Award winning online comics, Least I Could Do, which is updated seven times weekly at www.leasticoulddo.com, and Looking For Group, which is updated Mondays and Thursdays at www.lfgcomic.com.

Lar has also been the recipient of the Prix Aurora Award for Artistic Achievement in Canadian Science Fiction (2009, 2008, 2006) and numerous other awards for caricature and cartooning.

Karl Kerschl has been drawing comics professionally for 15 years. He has worked on Superman, The Flash and the Teen Titans, among other heroic things, and recently self-published a collection of his weekly webcomic, The Abominable Charles Christopher. He lives in Montréal with his wife and his cat, Jacques Cousteau.

The Abominable Charles Christopher was nominated for an Eisner Award for "Best Digital Comic" in 2008 and 2010, and won a Shuster Award in 2010 for "Outstanding Webcomic Creator".

Millions of fans already know Steve Downes' legendary sound as the voice of one of the world's most beloved heroes: the super Spartan cyber-soldier Master Chief Petty Officer John-117 from Bungie Studio's top selling HALO video game series for Xbox. But countless many have also heard this epically talented VO extraordinaire as the exclusive voice for the Carnival Cruiselines national ad campaign and as narrator for The Discovery Channel's hit show--The Shark Attack Files.

Some of Steve's other voice-over credits include "Sears Craftsman Tools", "International Truck", "Comerica Bank/Michigan" and the "Chesapeake Energy" TV campaigns, just to name a few. And Steve's exceptional and acclaimed voice work doesn't stop at the monumentally successful HALO game series and these fantastic commercial, promo and narration spots...

Over the years Steve has spent some of his down time as Chicago's favorite radio host from 97.1 FM WDRV, "The DRIVE," and he's recognized across the country as the host of two exceedingly popular nationally syndicated radio programs: "The Classics" and "The Wine Experience". The producers at 97.1 FM WDRV call Steve Downes a national rock 'n' roll radio icon and proudly claim that "Steve's on-air delivery and vast music knowledge not only protects The Drive's creed of 'Respect The Music', but also furthers it." 

Needless to say, Steve Downes, as the iconic voice of Master Chief (and some would say of rock 'n' roll), holds the reverence and recognition of literally millions of 12-50 year olds. This sound of a legend can tell and sell your story and save your next spot with the sure-fire skill, influence, experience and precision, you should only expect--and will only get--from the voice of a hero.

Nicolas Charbonneaux is an actor, dubbing artist and creator/director of French origin. Based in Montreal since 1997, Nicolas is in the business of dubbing and has worked in film, television, video games and anime. For fans of anime, he has had several roles, notably Dan from Bakugan, Durand from Chevalier d'Eon and Yamaoka from Eyeshield 21.

In video games, Nicolas has reprised the role of Desmond Miles on several occasions in Assassin's Creed II and Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. In film, he regularly lends his voice to actors like Ashton Kutcher, Justin Timberlake and James McAvoy.

http://www.nicolascharbonneaux.com/
http://www.syllabes.com/

Manuel Tadros is an author/composer/performer and actor.  After having started his singing career in the late 70s and have passed through all the theaters in Quebec, he specialized in being a writer, composer and director for a good number of Quebec artists including Julie Masse, Véronic Dicaire, Roch Voisine, Patrick Norman, Natasha St-Pier and Le Cirque du Soleil.

Since 1988, he has lent his voice through dubbing to a host of American actors in over 800 films, television series, video games and animated films and has localized films and directed dubbing sets over the past 6 years.

He has distinguished himself as an actor since 1996 in the series Omertà, Réseaux, The Last Chapter , The Return, Watatatow, Virginie and Casino 2 (among others). He has also performed in theater and in musicals such as Romeo and Juliet (2002), Jerusalem the Musical (1998), Nostalgia (2004-2005), Et maintenant... Bécaud (2006-2007), and Prospero in YEL in January 2010.

He also played roles in several series and American films shot in Montreal such as Largo Winch, Special Ops Force, Human Trafficking, Beyond Borders , A Loving Father, The American Trap (2008), J'ai Tué Ma Mère (2009) and more recently Ezio's Story, Assassin's Creed 2 and L'Appât (in 2009-2010).  You might also remember him as host of the TV program Jeunesse et Pop express on TVA (from 1982 to 1984) and the educational program Code d'accès (on TQS from 1998 to 2000).

Manuel provides coaching for professional actors and singers, has staged several musicals (from 2004-2006) and also gives workshops in professionals dubbing. He is also founder and director of the company "ArtistI" and has been the spokesperson for the "Fondation de la recherche sur le diabète juvénile" (FRDJ) for the last 12 years.

http://www.manueltadros.com