Events: Guests of Honor
Below are biographies for confirmed guests for Zenkaikon 2009. This page will be updated as more guests are announced.
Comedians
Geek Comedy Tour
The Geek Comedy Tour is a collective of the funniest stand-up comedians from the Washington D.C. area. Each one is an experienced comic, having performed at bars, clubs, and colleges all over the East Coast. They all started out telling their normal jokes to normal audiences, but there was something amiss. They were all gigantic dorks, and comedy club crowds do not fully appreciate jokes about comic books, anime, and video games. Thus, they decided to let their geek flag fly, form together, and bring their jokes to the horde that needed them most. Since their formation two years ago, The Geek Comedy Tour has performed at a variety of venues, from anime conventions and college shows to the grand opening of a comic shop.
http://www.geekcomedytour.com/
Uncle Yo
The anime world's oldest stand-up comedian is back at Zenkaikon for his third consecutive year. In 2009, Uncle Yo returns to the anime convention that started his career. The only man to intern with both the Jedi and the Sith, Yo is fired up with more parodies, more complaints, and more DDR than ever.
Musical Guests
Eden Star (Band)
Eden Star's music is chiefly inspired by the hedonism of the 80s hard rock scene and the burgeoning Japanese rock sound. The group plays energetic tunes that combine various forms of Rock and Roll. Hailing from New Jersey, their sound can be described as an amalgamation of Punk Grit and Metal Grind, mixed with Hard Blues, Pop Sensibility and even a dash of Rockabilly. Combined with a manic stage show, the end result is a crazy ride packed with blistering energy.
Eyeshine (Band)
Eyeshine is a four-piece "edge rock" band originating in West Hills, California. Eyeshine broke into the underground rock scene in 2006 with their debut EP "How About That?" Their full length debut album "Red Stripes/White Lights" was released in the early spring of 2008, and four tracks from their latest CD "Paper Kingdom" are currently available on their MySpace page. The band invites you to check them out at Zenkaikon 2009.
Geist (Band)
Visual kei and Japanese rock have swept America, and there is hardly a better example of its influence than Geist – an American group devoted to the sound, look, and feel of the medium. Prepare yourself for a torrent of passionate, chaotic, beautiful music – and the newest phase of Japan-influenced rock music. Determined to draw out the best in themselves, Geist aims to thrill fans everywhere in every way.
http://www.myspace.com/geistband/
Production Companies
Stephanie Chateau (Concept Galaxy)
Stephanie Chateau is an unusual convention guest. In an interview with Dave Durico on Sci-Fi Overdrive, she was asked "You make your own comic, you're an internationally known costume designer, an actress, an intern to Working Actor Productions, and now you're trying your hand at being a show director as well. What DON'T you do?" As a show director, Stephanie is known for creating unique and entertaining shows that turn into interactive games. While she directs these games, she can also double as one of the characters, displaying her talent as an improv entertainer. Stephanie has created interactive events for conventions across the United States.
C.J. Collins (Concept Galaxy)
C.J. Collins has made a name for himself in both the cosplay community and the convention circuit. He is not only known for his remarkable acting skills but also his "laugh out loud funny" film work. Videos he directed and uploaded to his "lolfilmworks" YouTube account were so well received that he now oversees all of Concept Galaxy's film work. C.J.'s experience in acting and film comes from eight years of classes as well as an extensive amount of participation in community theater.
Fighter's High (Ikuzo! Studios)
Philadelphia's own IkuZo! Studios is responsible for bringing us Fighter's High – a live-action martial arts high school comedy. This anime-inspired web series was created and co-written by Christopher A. Ryons, and co-written by Kevin Siter, with SFX/Digital FX by James Panetta and fight choreography by Joey Min.
Series Synopsis: It's the 1st day of school at J.D. Oliver High School (A.K.A. "Fighter's High"), and Adam Kane, the new transfer student is in for the shock of his life. Everyone in this school is a martial artist, from the principal to the janitor. This school also houses the weirdest group of kids Adam's ever seen.
The Fighter's High production group will be hosting a panel and screening their latest work at Zenkaikon 2009.
http://www.youtube.com/fightershigh/
Kevin McKeever (Robotech/Harmony Gold)
Kevin McKeever handles marketing of Robotech for Harmony Gold and is responsible for their Robotech Convention Tour. Kevin's first official assignment in the Robotech universe was as an audit of Robotech's television ratings and viewer demographics during its original run in the 1980s. Kevin's analysis of the ratings in a cost effective manner along with his years of production experience made him a natural candidate for the Robotech team. A graduate of the lighting design program from Emerson College, Kevin has been working in the entertainment industry for nearly 15 years. He has worked in theater production at world-class venues such as the Goodspeed Opera House, the Emerson Majestic Theater, Foxwoods Casino, and the Mohegan Sun Resort that he helped open in 1996. His television production credits include Jackass, Kids Say the Darnedest Things, Guinness Book of World Records, Krypton Factor, Farmclub.com, The 60's as well as various television commercials. His film credits include Mystery Men, For Love of the Game, and Billy Frankenstein. Kevin has also served as Assistant VP of Production for feature film producer and New York Times best-selling author Lynda Obst. He will be attending Zenkaikon 2009 as part of the 2009 Robotech Convention Tour.
Voice Actors
Robert Axelrod
Robert Axelrod has appeared in over thirty feature films including the sci-fi hit remake The Blob, and The Last Shot with Alec Baldwin and Matthew Broderick. Television appearances include guest star roles on Amazing Stories, Star Trek Voyager, and The Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers. He also starred in the Michael Jackson music video Stranger in Moscow.
As a voice actor, Mr. Axelrod has been busy. His most recognizable roles are as the voice of Lord Zedd and Finster on The Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers. As Lord Zedd, he starred in the first Power Rangers feature film, as well as the wildly popular live show that toured the country. He was also a regular character on Saban Entertainment's Wowser series (Ratso Catso), Journey to the Heart of the World (Scarface), and Hallo Spencer (Elmer). In addition, he voiced Armadillomon and Wizardmon on Digimon and Microchip, the Punisher's sidekick on Spiderman.
Mr. Axelrod has performed voices in countless anime features including Akira, The Big O, Ghost in the Shell, Cowboy Bebop, and Brain Scratch. He has just finished narrating the mockumentary Safety First: The Rise of Women, as well as providing voices in two anime series – Gaiking and Danguard Ace.
Johnny Yong Bosch
Johnny Yong Bosch is most recognized for his role as Adam Park in the hit television series, The Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers. As part of the cast, he completed an impressive run of over three seasons, two films, and two guest appearances. He is also one of the only actors involved in the series to have made appearances in six different seasons as the same character.
After completing his work with the Power Rangers, Johnny become active in the voice acting industry, landing numerous lead roles. Recently, he has been working as an English voice actor for numerous Japanese animated television series, video games, and movies. His most notable roles are as Ichigo in Bleach, Renton in Eureka Seven, Vash in Trigun, Kaneda in Akira, Kiba in Wolf's Rain, Lelouch in Code Geass, Claus in Last Exile, Clair in Heat Guy J, Sakaki in Witch Hunter Robin, Itsuki Koizumi in The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Yuji "Saku" Sakurai in Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad, Guy in Tales of the Abyss for the Playstation 2, and Nero in Devil May Cry 4 for the Playstation 3, Xbox 360, and PC.
Johnny is also the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of his band, Eyeshine, and serves as the host for the hit video podcast, Anime TV.
Web Comic Creators
Wilfred and Laura Robinson (Friday Knights)
While wandering in Tokyo, Wilfred and Laura Robinson conceived an idea to start a web comic chronicling their exploits. The idea was tragically lost in a kaiju attack. Months later, safely back in America, the stubborn idea found its way back during one of their weekly Dungeons and Dragons sessions. The comic and the game merged into one entity. The hilariously funny Michael Gans joined them as a writer, and thus was born Friday Knights – where humor meets critical failure.
http://www.friday-knights.net/
Writers
C. J. Henderson
C. J. Henderson is the Origins Award‐winning creator of the Teddy London supernatural detective series, as well as the author of over 50 books and novels, including such diverse titles as The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction Films, The Field Guide to Monsters, and Baby's First Mythos. Over the past 30 years he has also written hundreds of short stories and comics, as well as thousands of non‐fiction articles.