Meet Jun Sugawara from Animator Supporters, a Tokyo-based non-profit founded in 2010 to give a leg up to new, underpaid talent in the anime scene. Sugawara kicked things off with the New Animator Grand Prix in 2011, a contest that spots fresh talent and helps them out with housing costs. By 2014, he opened the doors to the first Animator …

Norm Nakamura, A.K.A. Tokyo Lens, is a content creator based in Tokyo, Japan. After spending years (successfully) chasing his dream of becoming the apprentice of the Yoshida Brothers, he started content creation as a way to share the beauty that was around him, and document his journey along the way. Today, he works hand-in-hand with most of Japan’s top shamisen …

Producer Koji Nagai was born in Kobe, Japan. Since 1993, he has directed music programs, informational programs, and variety shows, among others.  He has been an animation programs producer since 2006, and has produced shows such as Ace Attorney, Space Brothers, Space Brothers #0, MIX meisei story, Magic Kaito 1412, The Kindaichi Case Files R, Kekkaishi, Yashahime: Princess Half Demon, …

Toshi has spent more than half his life reading comic books and watching cartoons for a living. His time in the industry has finally reached the span of three decades. He has worked on an anime magazine called ANIMAG, spent 12 years producing anime at Viz Media, and two years as a producer at Bandai Entertainment. Of course, he’s also …

Kazushige Yusa is a 2D and 3D animation writer, director, and illustrator.  Yusa previously worked for Tatsunoko Production Company. He worked on pieces such as Urusei Yatsura, Touch, The Moomins and Ojarumaru.  He also works on short films such as NHK’s Okaasan to Issho, Inai Inai Baa, and Pythagora Switch, and private tv company Renoa’s, Z Kai. In 2013, he …

Hiroshi Nagahama was born in 1970 in Saiki, Ooita, Japan and is an animator and director. He started his career at Madhouse Studio, where he worked on The Cockpit and Azuki-chan.  After leaving Madhouse Studio, he became a freelancer,  working on the conceptual design for Revolutionary Girl Utena.  After that, he worked as the storyboard writer and animation director for …

The☆Jacabal’s are a “Samurai Actor” unit that performs on stage, TV, and in dramas in Japan. In 2005, Ryo, Shigezumi, and Jigoro formed The Chonmage Gundan Super.  In 2006, about 1200 people came to the first performance of “Ishikawa Goemon”.   In 2012, they decided they wanted to take on new challenges other than only Tate (sword-dancing) and historical plays, and …

“¥90,000 (approx. $900)” This is the average monthly salary that typical animators who are in their 20’s are said to make. Japanese anime is produced under this harsh working condition. The organization “Animator Supporters” was founded in 2010 by Jun Sugawara in order to find ways that ordinary anime fans (just like you and me!) can help solve this issue. …

Skip Beat Crew is a double dutch unit made up of members who have won world championships in Double Dutch and Jump Rope competitions. They are looking forward to delivering a spectacular, world-class performance at Animazement!