June 29, 2010
News for Otakon 2010:
Masao Maruyama and Hiroshi Koujina to be guests at Otakon 2010
Baltimore, MD (June 29 2010) – The founder of Madhouse Studios, Masao Maruyama has had a hand in the Japanese animation industry for almost forty years. Maruyama-san was born in 1941 in the Miyagi Prefecture. After graduation from Hosei University, he went to work for Mushi Production. He later went on to help produce Unico, based on a story by Osamu Tezuka, of Astro Boy fame. In 1972, Maruyama-san had a direct hand in the establishment of the burgeoning new animation studio MADHOUSE, and since then he has taken on the role as a creative producer to lead the team.
No matter the wide range of mediums in which Madhouse Studios deals including television, OAV, and theatrical release, Maruyama brings the same level of quality to every production. Regardless of the subject matter, Madhouse always brings something new to the table, and he is internationally known for exceptional animation. Maruyama is also acknowledged for his eye in finding young talent to bring into Madhouse; under his creative guidance, talents like Satoshi Kon and Atsuko Ishizuka have flourished.
Since Madhouse's inception, Maruyama-san has produced an amazing library of animation including Barefoot Gen, Dagger of Kamui, Record of Lodoss Wars, Vampire Hunter D, Ninja Scroll, Cardcaptor Sakura, Trigun, Perfect Blue, X, Boogiepop Phantom, Chobits, PitaTen, Abenobashi Maho Shotengai, Ninja Scroll, Gungrave, Gunslinger Girl, Black Lagoon, Kiba, Nana, Tokyo Tribe 2, Beck, Monster, Highlander: Search for Vengeance, Devil May Cry, Death Note, RAINBOW and the upcoming Red Line. Madhouse is currently in the development of Marvel anime series and SUPERNATURAL the animation.
As Madhouse continues to produce shows popular in Japan and overseas, Maruyama has also overseen production of critically acclaimed films such as Paprika and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time.
Maruyama returns for his record-breaking eighth Otakon -- and his first since being named as honorary staff.
Baltimore, MD (June 29 2010) – Director and animator Hiroshi Koujina will make his first appearance at Otakon 2010. Koujina is currently director for Rainbow - Nisha Rokubō no Shichinin.
As an animator Koujina has been involved in Macross Plus, Escaflowne: The Movie, Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew, and Crystal Triangle, and character designer for Kuso Kagaku Sekai Gulliver Boy. For Area 88, Koujina was both character designer and chief animation director. He made his debut as a director for Grenadier. Since then he has brought many works to life; Fighting Spirit, Kiba, and Majin Tantei Nogami Neuro.
Otakon 2010 will be held July 30 – August 1 at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Maryland.
ABOUT OTAKON AND OTAKORP, INC.: Now entering its seventeenth year, Otakon is an annual celebration of Japanese and East Asian popular culture, and also one of the largest gatherings of fans in the United States. Otakon celebrates popular culture as a gateway to deeper understanding of Asian culture, and has grown along with the enthusiasm for anime, manga, video games, and music from the Far East. Since 1999, Otakon has been held in Baltimore, Maryland; currently, Otakon is one of Baltimore's few large, city-wide events, drawing over 25,000 individual members for three days each year (for a paid attendance of over 70,000 "turnstile" attendees). Otakon is a membership-based convention sponsored by Otakorp, Inc., a Pennsylvania-based, 501(c)3 educational non-profit whose mission is to promote the appreciation of Asian culture, primarily through its media and entertainment. Otakorp, Inc. is directed by an all-volunteer, unpaid staff – we are run by fans, for fans.
For more information about Otakorp, Inc., see http://www.otakon.com/otakorp/index.asp
For more information and the latest news on Otakon 2010, see http://www.otakon.com/
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