News

MASAKO SATO
Animation Director / Episode Director

TRIGUN STARGAZE Director.
An animation director and episode director with extensive experience in both television and theatrical productions, she has served in a wide range of roles from episode direction to series director. Her notable works include HAIKYU!! TO THE TOP. [Read More…]

NAOYA NAKAYAMA
Director / Animation Director / Storyboard Artist

A rising animator and visual director gaining strong recognition in the Japanese animation industry. Building on his animation background developed at Kyoto Animation, he brings a versatile skill set spanning key animation, storyboarding, and directing. He is known for expressive character acting and visually driven direction that blends music, rhythm, and dynamic camera work. [Read More…]

YOSHIHIRO WATANABE

Producer behind LEVIATHAN, associate producer on BEASTARS and TRIGUN STAMPEDE.
Born in 1982, Japan. Nabe is a producer at Orange, and currently working on TRIGUN STAMPEDE as its business producer. Nabe grew up in Los Angeles and after graduating from college, he joined the US branch of the animation studio Madhouse. Throughout early years in anime industry, under legendary Masao Maruyama’s mentorship, Nabe gained unique international production experience ranging from live-action to international collaboration projects [Read More…]

Animation Director / Episode Director

TRIGUN STARGAZE Director.
An animation director and episode director with extensive experience in both television and theatrical productions, she has served in a wide range of roles from episode direction to series director. Her notable works include HAIKYU!! TO THE TOP.

Sato began her career at Studio Ghibli as an animator, working as an in-betweener on Spirited Away, key animator on TALES FROM EARTHSEA and PONYO, and storyboard assistant on THE TALE OF PRINCESS KAGUYA. She later became a freelancer and moved into directing.

In television series, she has handled opening and ending sequences, storyboards, and episode direction for many titles, including THE APOTHECARY DIARIES, CHIIKAWA, WELCOME TO THE BALLROOM, DANCE DANCE DANSEUR, AND JELLYFISH CAN’T SWIM IN THE NIGHT

Sato’s appearance at Sakura-Con with TRIGUN STARGAZE marks her first time attending the event.

The Extremely Hard Take-Home Anime Quiz 2026 is now available at:

Extremely Hard Take-Home Anime Quiz 2026

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Director / Animation Director / Storyboard Artist

A rising animator and visual director gaining strong recognition in the Japanese animation industry. Building on his animation background developed at Kyoto Animation, he brings a versatile skill set spanning key animation, storyboarding, and directing. He is known for expressive character acting and visually driven direction that blends music, rhythm, and dynamic camera work.

His notable credits include the dance animation in Kaguya-sama: Love Is War, full direction and storyboards for the ending sequence of OSHI NO KO, director and storyboard artist for YOASOBI’S “IDOL” MUSIC VIDEO, and live performance direction for Uma Musume: Pretty Derby – New Era’s Door. He is widely praised for delivering high emotional impact and strong storytelling even in short-form works, balancing pop energy with visual sophistication. He is currently active across music videos, ending sequences, and live performance visuals.

As an animator, his credits include FREE!, THE PROMISED NEVERLAND, MISS KOBAYASHI’S DRAGON MAID, A SILENT VOICE (FILM), AND DARLING IN THE FRANXX.

His latest works include directing the ENSEMBLE STARS!! “MELLOW DEAR US / DEAR WORLD” MASTERPIECE MUSIC VIDEO and handling storyboard and direction for the live performance segment of Chō Kaguya-hime!. Sakura-Con marks his first appearance at a U.S. anime convention.

Producer behind LEVIATHAN, associate producer on BEASTARS and TRIGUN STAMPEDE.

Born in 1982, Japan. Nabe is a producer at Orange, and currently working on TRIGUN STAMPEDE as its business producer. Nabe grew up in Los Angeles and after graduating from college, he joined the US branch of the animation studio Madhouse. Throughout early years in anime industry, under legendary Masao Maruyama’s mentorship, Nabe gained unique international production experience ranging from live-action to international collaboration projects, Nabe’s career involves range of shows and rolls; BEASTARS (2021, Orange, Business Producer), GodzillaS.P (2021, Orange, Business Producer), League of Legend: New Journey Short (2019, P.A.Works, Creative Producer), Eccentric Family 2(2017, P.A.Works, Business Producer). Nabe is currently with Orange and producing range of future shows including BEASTARS FINAL SEASON Part 2, TRIGUN STARGAZE and LEVIATHAN.

Bill is an African American voice and film actor, martial artist, and fitness enthusiast! Growing up in Kansas City, he found a deep passion for acting. He studied journalism and theater in college which would lead him to a life in radio, theater, on camera, as well as voice over.

You can hear him as Owlbert in Honkai Star Rail, Jack the Drought in the legendary franchise known as One Piece, Mask De Masculine in Bleach, the main antagonist known as Ogre in the Tekken animated series on Netflix, Douglas in the hit show Cyberpunk Edgerunners, Miguel in Jujutsu Kaisen 0, Cioccolata in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, President Obama in Baki and many more!

Cosplay Chess Applications will close this Saturday, 02/28/26 at 11:59PM Pacific. There’s still time to be a part of this annual event and help to grow our community of cosplayers! The only thing you need to qualify for Cosplay Chess is a cosplay and we welcome fandoms from all over!

For all ages, we have the first-ever Cosplay Chess Arena! Join our two mad scientists as they attempt to engineer the most powerful being in the multiverse! What could possibly go wrong? Okay, a lot could go wrong, but we’ll have fun finding out! Cosplay Chess: Arena 

For ages 18+, we have Cosplay Chess After Dark! Be a part of the battle of Mankind vs Monsters and help your team dominate the chess board! Hilarity and action meet in this tale as old as time and we encourage all newcomers and veterans alike to apply! Cosplay Chess: After Dark 

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Haruki Ishiya is a Japanese voice actor affiliated with Osawa Office.

You can hear him in various works, including Hikaru Gero in “MARRIAGETOXIN”, Jiro Yamada in “Hypnosis Mic”, Shuichi Tsukamoto in “Sound! Euphonium”, and Kaoru Namikido in “Tougen Anki”.

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Brittney Karbowski is a prolific voice actress, who has voiced in a number of series with studios from Texas to California. She is best known for her roles as Wendy Marvel in Fairy Tail, Black Star in Soul Eater, Camie Utsushimi in My Hero Academia, Ryou in Clannad, Yuri in Angel Beats, Pride in Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood, Mikoto Misaka in A Certain Magical Index and A Certain Scientific Railgun Series, Nanachi in Made in Abyss, Rimuru in That Time I got Reincarnated as a Slime, Migi from Parasyte the Maxim, Kusu is Dragon Ball Super, HisKo in Food Wars, and Hitch in Attack on Titan. Most recently she’s Tirol In Sabukui Bisco; Saori in Tribe Nine, Minoru in Akebi’s Sailor Uniform, Cetia Final Fantasy Brave Exvius; Pookie and Chela in Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, and there’s more to come!