Welcome to the Guest Lounge! Guests of Honor came from near and far to celebrate Anime Expo's Fifth Year Anniversary Celebration as well as show their American fans their appreciation and support for anime and manga in the United States. 

Long line of fans wait patiently for an immortal guest signing from Anno.	Yumi Takada (left) and Ai Orikasa (right) are all  smiles at a press photo session.
Dubbed "The Three Goatees" among AX staff, this  fond memory still delivers a good chuckle for its time.	AX96 Guest Services Jeff Okamoto and Mr. Ishiguro  relaxing at the Guest Reception out on the poolside.

Following is the huge official Guest of Honor list for AX96: Hideaki Anno  Member of GAINAX, Mr. Anno has written and directed fan favorites such as Aim for the Top! Gunbuster and Nadia: Secret of Blue Water. He was also animation director and mecha designer for the Wings of Honneamise movie. His latest hit series Neon Genesis Evangelion which he wrote and directed would soon his US shores through ADVision. Noboru Ishiguro  Mr. Ishiguro has been instrumental in the production and direction of many classic anime such as Space Cruiser Yamato (Star Blazers), Legend of Galactic Heroes, and Super Dimensional Fortress Macross. He is also President of Artland, an animation studio in Japan. Yoshiaki Kawajiri  Mr. Kawajiri is an animation veteran from Madhouse Studios. As director, his credits include Wicked City and Midnight Eye Gokuu. As character designer and director, his credits include Cyber City Oedo 808, Lensman, and Demon City Shinjuku. In the US, he is best known as writer and director for Running Man short in Neo-Tokyo trilogy and Ninja Scroll. Hiroyuki Kitazume  Appearing courtesy of Pioneer Entertainment, Mr. Kitazume has done character designs for Z Gundam, ZZ Gundam, Char's Counterattack, Heavy Metal L-Gaim, and Auro Battler Dunbine. The Moldiver OAV series is Mr. Kitazume's original concept, as well as being the series' director and character designer.

The Anime Expo daruma that signifies the start and end of each successful year. Every year a new daruma is issued and passed around the Guests of Honor to sign or draw pictures on.

Leiji Matsumoto  Worhipped by thousands, Mr. Matsumoto's illustrious anime and manga career lists bold and popular works including Space Battleship Yamato (StarBlazers), Space Pirate Captain Harlock, Arcadia of My Youth, Endless Road SSX, Glaxy Express 999, Dangaurd Ace, Millenium Queen, The Cockpit, and many more. Toshihiko Nishikubo  Mr. Nishikubo was director at Tatsunoko Productions and currently director at Production I.G. Japan and Vice President of Production I.G. in the US. His list of director and assistant director credits include Miyuki, Zillion, Shurato, Video Girl Ai, Patlabor 2, and Ghost in the Shell. Hiromasa Ogura  Mr. Ogura was art director for Wings of Honneamise, Patlabor 2, Ninja Scroll, Giant Robo, and most recently the Ghost in the Shell movie. Koichi Ohata  Mr. Ohata has done mecha designs for MD Giest, Dangaio, Aim for the Top! Gunbuster, and Macross II. As director, Mr. Ohata assisted in direction of MD Geist and was director and conceptual creator for the Genocyber OAV series. Most recently, he completed the sequel to MD Geist. Ai Orikasa  As voice actress appearing courtesy of Pioneer Entertainment, Ms. Orikasa has played the role of Ryoko from Tenchi Muyou!, Linlin from 3x3 Eyes, Ryoko Takeuchi from Blue Seed, Princess Nanda Nanda from Anpan-man the movie, and Chensa Cat from Miyuki-chan in Wonderland. Mamoru Oshii  Mr. Oshii is director of Ghost in the Shell, both Patlabor 1 and 2 movies and the OAVs, the Urusei Yatsura TV series and UY movies Beautiful Dreamer and Only You. Kenichi Sonoda  Appearing courtesy of AD Vision, Mr. Sonoda has a popular illustration history as is best known for his character designs for Gun Smith Cats, Riding Bean, Gall Force, Bubblegum Crisis, and Bubblegum Crash OAVs. Yumi Takada  As voice actress appearing courtesy of Pioneer Entertainment, MS. Takada has played the role of Aeka from Tenchi Muyou!, Akiko from Vampire Princess Miyu, Kean Kits from Aura Battler Dunbine, Buffy from Super Dimension Century Orguss, and Midori-sensei from Ranma 1/2. Additional Guests included:  Hiroki Hayashi  Tenchi Muyou! director, courtesy of Pioneer Entertainment Ryoei Tsukimura  Tenchi Muyou! and El Hazard writer, courtesy of Pioneer Entertainment Scott Frazier  Returning Guest of Honor from Production I.G. and American fan favorite

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