Author Archives: Mike

Montreal, November 4, 2013 – Michael Fukushima has been named Executive Producer of the National Film Board of Canada’s acclaimed English Program Animation Studio in Montreal.

Michael Fukushima has been making films since 1984. He first joined the NFB in 1990, directing the Hot Docs-award-winning animated documentary Minoru: Memory of Exile, and he became an NFB animation producer in 1997. Fukushima led the creation of the NFB’s flagship emerging filmmaker program, Hothouse, and his credits reflect an eclecticism and diversity, particularly evident in the abstract and edgier animation he has produced. Fukushima has worked hard to open up the genre to new creators, new audiences and new technologies, through interactive installations, mobile phones and urban stories.

“I have high regard for Michael’s considerable experience, his expert reflections on our animation history and his thoughtful, progressive ideas for the future,” said NFB English Program Director General Ravida Din, in making the announcement. “I believe his leadership will advance the NFB’s profile as a global leader in animation, and I’ve been especially impressed with Michael’s commitment to finding and encouraging creators and team members with diverse experiences.

The Hothouse program—now in its ninth edition—is an NFB success story and a testament to his dedication to emerging creators.” Fukushima’s notable films as NFB producer include Patrick Doyon’s Jutra Award-winning, Oscar-nominated Sunday/Dimanche (2011), Oscar-nominated filmmaker Koji Yamamura’s Muybridge’s Strings/Les cordes de Muybridge (2011), recipient of a Special Prize at the Hiroshima International Animation Festival and the Best Canadian Film or Video Award at Reel Asian; Ann Marie Fleming’s adaptation of Bernice Eisenstein’s acclaimed illustrated memoir, I Was a Child of Holocaust Survivors (2010);Shira Avni’s animated documentary Tying Your Own Shoes (2009), winner of the Golden Dove at Dok Leipzig and the prestigious NHK Japan Prize; Iriz Pääbo’s HA’Aki (2008), recipient of the Prix Ars Electronica Golden Nica 2009; as well as Chris Hinton’s Genie Award-winning visual-music short, cNote (2004).

About the NFB
The NFB produces groundbreaking animation at its studios in Montreal and at NFB centres across Canada, as well as via international co-productions with many of the world’s leading auteur animators. The NFB is a leader in developing new approaches to stereoscopic 3D animation and animated content for new platforms. The NFB has created over 13,000 productions and won over 5,000 awards, including 4 Canadian Screen Awards, 7 Webbys, 12 Oscars and more than 90 Genies. To access acclaimed NFB content, visit NFB.ca or download its apps for smartphones, tablets and connected TV.

Anime-ZAP! announces Greg Ayres and Samurai Dan

Peoria, Illinois - October 24, 2014 – Anime-ZAP!, the longest-running three day anime convention in Central Illinois, is excited to announce that voice actor Greg Ayres and Samurai martial artists Samurai Dan and Lady Jillian will be appearing and performing at the fifth-annual Anime-ZAP! anime convention.

Greg Ayres can normally be found rockin’ out somewhere, whether animated or not. From the loud-mouthed Hideki in Nerima Daikon Brothers, to Koyuki, singing with the the band in Beck:Mongolian Chop Squad, he’s always glad to shake things up a bit. He is excited to be able to add the roles of Uesugi Kenshin in Sengoku Basara, Seikechi Tayama in Oh Edo Rocket, and Abe in Big Windup to his list of new roles. He can also be head as Son Goku in Saiyuki, Chrono in Chrono Crusade, Kaoru Hitachiin in Ouran High School Host Club, Yuki in The Wallflower, Leo in Ghost Stories , Satoshi Hiwatari in DNAngel, Kaworu Nagisa in the Director’s Cut of Neon Genesis Evangelion, Negi Springfield in Negima, Heihachi in Samurai 7, Jr. in Xenosaga:The Animation, Tsujido in Speed Grapher, Roan in Ragnorok The Animation, Yamazaki in Welcome to the NHK, Nowy in Glass Fleet, Kouta Tsuchiya in Baka and Test, Gau Ban in Shadow Skill, Pope Alessandro XVIII in Trinity Blood, and a bunch of other titles he’ll probably forget to mention.

When he’s not in a booth with headphones on, you can usually find him sporting headphones of another variety behind “the decks”. A veteran nightclub DJ of many years, Greg has really enjoyed the oppor- tunity of doing something else that he truly loves at conventions. From packed rooms at anime conventions, to the legendary stage of The Knitting Factory (NYC), Greg never misses an opportunity to share his love of music with anyone who will listen.

Samurai Dan and his much prettier wife Lady Jillian are full-time martial arts instructors with their Dojo specializing in 16th century Samurai arts. When not teaching at the Kojokan dojo, they travel across the country performing and teaching the ancient ways of the most famous warriors in history. Their shows and demonstrations uniquely blend history, combative skill, and humor, in a way that will both educate and entertain audiences both large and small. The dynamic duo also collaborated to write, direct, host, and star in a 12 episode TV series entitled “The Way of the Samurai,” and Daniel is also an author with several martial arts articles published, and he is currently working on his second full-length novel.

Anime-ZAP! expects over 1,000 anime fans to come together to celebrate cosplay, anime, and Japanese culture, from January 3-5, 2014 at the Embassy Suites in East Peoria, Illinois. Attendees can book hotel rooms starting at $99 per night at http://animezapcon.com/location

Early registration costs only $20 until October 30th, and can be found at http://animezapcon.com/registration