Easily one of the busiest voice actors in the world, millions of fans know him as the voice of Duo Maxwell from Gundam Wing and Gundam: Battle Assault 2 as well as Koga from the hit series Inuyasha. Older fans may be familiar with his work as Piccolo in Dragon Ball Z and/or his work as Deadeye Duck in Bucky O'Hare and The Toad Wars.
Fans of Transformers know Scott well, as his voice talents have brought countless memorable characters to life, including Dinobot, Waspinator, Rattrap, Silverbolt and Dinobot II in Beast Wars/Beast Machines; Jetfire in Armada; and Jetfire and Strongarm in Energon. He can also currently be heard as Snarl and Backstop in Transformers: Cybertron.
Scott’s voice work has earned him the adoration of fans worldwide. Fans find Scott’s work everywhere, both in anime and domestic animation, including lending his vocal talents to Hohenheim in Full Metal Alchemist; Wolverine/Logan in X-Men: Evolution; Ace – The Bathound and Ignatius in Krypto: The Superdog; Destro and Gung Ho in G.I. Joe: Valor vs. Venom / Spy Trooops; Beast Man, Clawful, Mer-Man, Ram Man, Stratos, and Kobra Khan in He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe; Senor Hasbeena, Francisco of the Forest, Mino-Toro, El Perrito, and Heavy Trafficin ¡Mucha Lucha!; Vulture, Electro and Lester in Spider-Man Unlimited.
Other notable voice work in anime includes King Aston and Jajuka in The Vision Of Escaflowne; Jajuka in Escaflowne: The Movie; Zoids Battle Announcer, Deed #1, Rastani Sr.,and Serge in Zoids Fuzors; and Harlock in Galaxy Express 999/Adieu, Galaxy Express 999. His work can also be heard in series and movies such as Johnny Test, Bionicle, Scary Godmother, Barbie: Fairytopia, Barbie Of Swan Lake, Candyland: Great Lollipop Adventure, Dragon Booster, Gundam Seed, Gundam Seed Destiny, Under The Skin, Master Keaton, Ben Hur, Yakkity Yak, The Christmas Orange, Frogger Beyond, Reboot, Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer & The Island Of Misfit Toys, Nascar Racers, Casper's Haunted Christmas, Weird-Ohs, Shadowraiders/War Planets, Jin Roh: The Wolf Brigade, Warriors Of Virtue, The Wacky World Of Tex Avery, Ranma ½, Hamtaro, and many more too numerous to list!
Aside from his voice work, Scott is also an accomplished live-action actor, whose credits include The Green Chain, Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, Stargate Sg-1, Strange Frequency, The Outer Limits, Ladies And The Champ, Viper, Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation, Extreme Dinosaurs, Highlander, Hawkeye, Final Fight, Someone Else's Child, Seasons Of The Heart, Crackerjack, and Sleeping With Strangers.
More recently Scott has been lending his vocal talents to characters like Stork, the lovably neurotic Merb in Stormhawks, Grumpy Bear in the newest Care Bears andWasabi (yes, a burbling ball of wasabi!) in Sushi Pack. In the past two years Scott has also contributed his voice to characters in Eon Kid, Ricky Sprocket, and the Warhammer 40,000 videogames
Scott is currently exercising his evil genius in Gundam 00 as the dark and enigmatic Ali AlSaachez, and Voltar, the truly maniacal evil genius, in League of Super Evil. Some of his other present projects include Powerpuff Girls Z, Maryoku Yummy, Rollbots, and Twisted Whiskers. … and when his busy schedule permits he can be found playing his level 70 Blood Elf Priest on World of Warcraft …
Spike Spencer has been a voice actor since the early nineties. He has voiced hundreds of episodes of Anime including such notable titles as Evangelion, Battle Angel, Suikoden, Orphen, Spriggan, Nadesico, Mar, PreTear, Buso Renkin, Code Geass 2 and Bleach. Spike has lent his voice to many radio and TV commercials. His video game credits include WOW-The Burning Crusades, Tales of Vesperia, Steambot Chronicles, Star Ocean 2, Lunar: Silver Star Harmony, BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger, and many others. An accomplished actor, he has worked with such notable stars as Tommy Lee Jones, Sandra Bullock, Frank Langella, Tia Carrere, and Scott Glenn and has been on set with many other stars. Spike is also an author, including "How to Be A Frickin Genius Voice Actor, Step One," "What Happens At The Con, Stays At The Con?," And "Don't Kill Your Date (And Other Cooking Tips)"-(Coming soon). Spike is also a screenwriter with several projects in various stages. Spike is soon to begin production on his first feature film that he scripted, "Dwindle Down."
Spike teaches Voice Acting around the globe in person and via email and Skype. If you are interested in learning the art of Voice Acting from Spike contact him at: spike@worldospike.com
Richard Ian Cox has been acting in film and television since the late 1700’s. Understandably, work was hard to come by in the early days before the invention of either medium. It wasn’t until the release of the first talkies in 1927 that Richard’s career started to show signs of life. He first became known to the viewing public with the airing of “The Adventures of the Black Stallion” in 1990. Richard’s modern career has included regular stints on “Cold Squad”, “Beggars and Choosers”, “Breaker High”, as well as guest starring roles on “Stargate: SG1”, “Stargate: Atlantis”, “Eureka” and films including “Alive”, “R.V.”, “Battle in Seattle”, “Ghost Rider”.
Richard has also enjoyed a varied career in animation . . . well not the animation part, the talking part. Roles in “Ranma ½”, “Inuyasha”, “Botsmaster”, “Trouble Chocolate”, “First Gundam”, “Mega Man”, “Gundam Seed”, “Hamtaro”, “Gundam 00”, “Being Ian”, “X-Men Evolution”, “Will and Dewitt”, “Care Bears” . . . and a bunch of other stuff has earned Richard a reputation as a guy who knows which end of a mic to speak into. These days Richard is hard at work trying to solve the current economic crisis. He’s pretty sure it involves jelly beans. Check Richard out on Facebook, Twitter, and on his website at www.richardiancox.com.
Kirby Morrow is active as a producer, director, and screen actor. He is also quite busy in the voice-over industry. Some of the anime projects that Kirby has worked on include: Hamtaro, Alienators: Evolution Continues, X-Men: Evolution, NASCAR Racers, Mobile Suit Gundam, Dragonball Z, Vision of Escaflowne, Gundam Wing, and Ranma 1/2.
Kirby trained in theater and developed his vocal skills on the stand-up comedy stages around the world. He began voicing characters in 1997, amidst his flourishing acting career. Kirby is also an award-winning writer and enjoys directing. His short film, "The Boxing Day Classic" won first prize at the "Whistler International Film Festival" (2005), beating out 98 other scripts for a $20,000 prize.
Kirby had a recurring part on 'Stargate: Atlantis' and can be seen making public appearances at animation/science fiction conventions around the world!
Robert Axelrod has carved a career in show business that runs the gamut. Born and raised in New York City, he did commercials and theater as a child and teen, eventually ending up in the Soho Avant-garde Theater scene in a show called “Little Trips”, then Off-Broadway in a play called “The Destroyers”. Axelrod left acting for the world of music. He spent eight years as a working rock musician playing electric bass and singing in folk, rock, and soul bands. Music brought him to Los Angeles where he decided to return to acting, a decision he never regrets.
Since then, Mr. Axelrod has appeared in over thirty feature films including four with Charles Bronson, the Sci-Fi hit remake “The Blob” with Kevin Dillon and many others. 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”.
Mr. Axelrod is also a busy voice over artist. He is the voice of Lord Zedd and Finster on the “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers”. The Lord Zedd voice is one of the most recognizable character voices around. He voiced Armadillomon and Wizardmon on “Digimon”, Microchip, The Punisher’s sidekick, on “Spiderman”, Rico on “Robotech”, and has voiced countless Anime features including “Akira”, “The Big O”, “Cowboy Bebop”, “Brain Scratch”, et al. As Lord Zedd, he starred in both the first Power Rangers feature film and the wildly popular live show that toured the country. He was a regular character on Saban Entertainment’s “Wowser” series (as Ratso Catso), “Journey To The Heart of the World” (as Scarface), “Hallo Spencer” (as Elmer), and more. He just finished narrating the mockumentary “Safety First: The Rise of Women and voicing four Anime series, “Gaiking”, “Danguard Ace”, “Captain Harlock”, “The Adventures of Nadja”, and “Fist of the North Star”.
David Stanworth has been interested in video games and animation for his entire life. When he realised he's FAR too worthless to do either, he stuck with comics. Snafu-Comics started in the summer of 2002 and has quickly grown to incorporate over a dozen seperate comics, Snafu, PowerPuff Girl Doujinshi, Grim Tales, Sugar Bits, Tin: The Incompetent Ninja, Ever After, Sticky Floors, and many more. With more to be added soon!
Snafu has constantly been an evolving comic often drastically changing art styles and directions comic to comic. The subject matter could range from anime, videogames, politics, social commentary or fart jokes (mostly fart jokes.) But what Snafu really excells at is a strong forum community of active participants. Snafu wouldn't exist without the the fantastic support from the online community. We're excited to meet everyone at Metrocon so come by our table and say hi! Plus we have some pretty cool T-shirts and prints ;)
Yaya Han is a costume designer, model and cosplay entertainer with over 10 years of experience. After discovering cosplay at her first con a decade ago, she quickly absorbed the heart and soul of costume design and creation. To this day Yaya has made a myriad of costumes in the genres of anime/manga, video games, sci-fi and of course from her own original designs.
Her intricate and lavish creations have won awards and acclaim nationwide, most recently the Yume Cosplay Cup with a dream vacation in Japan. She has taught a multitude of panels on costume craftsmanship, presentation, makeup, wigs and more; and judged countless costume contests and performed in front of many peers and fans alike on stage.
Yaya has traveled to over 50 conventions and events within the USA as well as internationally to Italy, Mexico, United Kingdom, Germany and Brazil as a Guest.
Shadowfax is probably most recognized by METROCON attendees as the DJ for his Saturday night BLACKOUT Rave, the purveyor of randomly appearing beach balls and spontaneous conga lines and as the disembodied voice and tormentor of Roy when he’s on stage. What most don’t realize is that he really IS a full-time disc jockey and that his company provides most of the sound and lighting equipment for METROCON .
Shadowfax’s background includes over twenty years in the entertainment industry as everything from camera operator, theater engineer and stage manager to technical writer, walking performer and fire-breather. It was in the early 90’s that he got his first chance to DJ, but it wasn’t until 2001 that he officially took up the title and, leaving a corporate network and systems engineer position behind, set off in a new direction as a full-time professional entertainer.
When not holding the fort at Tech Ops for Metro, he can usually be found hosting wedding receptions, private parties, Karaoke events or providing sound and lighting for any number of bands and several other Florida-based conventions. Shadowfax is an avid music collector and enjoys listening to a wide variety of music from Techno/Trance/House/Dance to Chill/Downbeat/Lounge and even relaxing to Tribal/New Age.
This Dutch Madman is one of the busiest men in the entertainment Industry. CEO of the Hellroy Corporation, Robert's day to day functions include Graphic, Clothing , Environmental Design as well as Club Creative and Music Production. By night he can be found tearing up DJ booths across the Country and Decimating the stages as lead singer of Empakt. Locally he can be found at Warehaus21 where is the Club Creative and one of the resident DJ's at their all ages KABOOM Sunday parties!
Robert is known for his aggressive HIGH BPM stylings that span across Hardcore, Hard Trance, Hard Style, with a touch of EBM. Much like last year Robert will be joined on stage Friday Night by His Wife Zoe ( the Original studio vocalist of some of Happy Hardcore's biggest hits) and DJ Synthwulf for some live vocals and synths. making this the biggest Friday night METRO Rave Party EVER!!
KellyJane and TealPirate (aka Kelly and Jenn) are two cosplayers from the UK, and are rated as some of the highest-ranking comedians on YouTube. Most well known for their Kingdom Hearts inspired shows "Demyx Time" and "The Sora Show", they have gained fans from across the globe. They have even begun to branch into a new Final Fantasy based show entitled "The Shinra Files". They write, film and edit everything themselves, along with the rest of their cosplay group known as Parlé Productions. Between them, their cosplays cover a wide range of shows from Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy, Star Wars, Ace Attorney, Kuroshitsuji, Legend of Zelda, and many more!
KellyJane studied a short-course in Theatre, Creative Writing and Video Production for two years, but now works in the photography industry.
They are also both involved in a lot of charity work, using their costuming hobby to raise money for deserving causes in the UK.
This is their second time attending Metrocon, and they are delighted to be returning as guests.
KellyJane and TealPirate (aka Kelly and Jenn) are two cosplayers from the UK, and are rated as some of the highest-ranking comedians on YouTube. Most well known for their Kingdom Hearts inspired shows "Demyx Time" and "The Sora Show", they have gained fans from across the globe. They have even begun to branch into a new Final Fantasy based show entitled "The Shinra Files". They write, film and edit everything themselves, along with the rest of their cosplay group known as Parlé Productions. Between them, their cosplays cover a wide range of shows from Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy, Star Wars, Ace Attorney, Kuroshitsuji, Legend of Zelda, and many more!
TealPirate is a full-time student, studying English and Creative Writing at a London university, with eventual aspirations to become a teacher.
They are also both involved in a lot of charity work, using their costuming hobby to raise money for deserving causes in the UK.
This is their second time attending Metrocon, and they are delighted to be returning as guests.
Founded in 2004, Outland Armour is a Georgia based fabrication and production company. Specializing in metal, leather, and wood working, film making, special effects, acting, sculpture, custom prop creation, custom sewing, and all aspects of costume design, the Outlanders have served customers across the US and even overseas. They are constantly expanding to better realize your imagination.
Over the past two years, the crew of Outland Armour has worked to create and constantly improve their original steampunk characters; The sky pirates of the H.M.S. Amaranth. The crew looks forward to hosting various panels around the con throughout the weekend, as well as being involved with several main events throughout the weekend.
ASHLEY CLARK (Anna May Belle) is a multi-media artist and writer, and has been working in the anime style for nearly a decade. Her first webcomic, 'Shades of Red', debuted in 2003. She has since turned her attention to her newest literary project, 'Tales of Asajima'. You can enter the world of Asajima through the webnovel 'Nowaki', and continue your journey with the first of her print novels, 'The Yukari'.
Ashley has won numerous awards as not only an artist, but also as an AMV creator, cosplayer, and film editor. Within the anime community, Ashley is widely known as Anna May Belle, webmistress of AnimeBelle.com, one of the most highly regarded and popular anime websites in the south. AnimeBelle hosts a gallery containing over 24,000 photos with hundreds more added after every convention she attends. The website also hosts forums, guest interviews, event reporting, and a convention schedule of southern anime conventions. If it's of interest to southern anime fans, it interests AnimeBelle, y'all!
Narutard's, Trekkie's, Fanboys and girls alike, please welcome Aaron Pabon, the Original Geek Comedian! Unlike most comedians performing at comedy clubs and venues of that manner, he has a personal taste for performing at Anime, Comic Book, Gaming, and Sci-Fi conventions. To date Aaron has played at more then 40 cons in 12 states. Here at METROCON, you can hear Aaron rip on anything, including video games, anime, and anything towards geek popop-culture. Also: a METROCON exclusive! Aaron will be recording his first live CD show!
Ana's Ikimaru is a Kimono-ya and Japanese Cultural Panelist team founded by AnnaRosato and RJ Schafer of Tampa, FL. Using technology of the modern era, and the history of Japanese textiles, Ana's Ikimaru strives to continue breathing fresh life into the kimono industry to prevent it from fading away.
AnnaRosato is currently a studying nagauta and jiuta shamisen, and has given lectures at events and festivals across the Southeast United States. She teaches a full schedule of subjects from kimono, geisha culture, and Japanese history, as well as workshops on tsumami kanzashi hairpins, and shibori tie-dye. She is also known for her kimono-san persona (stage name “Eiko-san”). She launched her kimono exhibit last fall, “San Maru” featuring highlights of her and her partner's antiquities collection- with some items dating over three hundred years in age.
RJ Schafer manages the Ana's Ikimaru website which includes numerous interactive elements for its visitors such as: an educational forum, press and articles, as well as the first English-speaking Kimono Podcast. In addition, he is responsible for all product displays and photography elements, digital editing, graphics, and the bi-weekly e-Newsletter. He brings modern items into the traditional world of kimono by pairing cyber and graphic elements into Ana's Ikimaru, using innovative items such as memory cards, records, and 8tracks for prints, kimono-inspired artwork and accessories.
Together the pair founded the Tampa Kimono Club, are active members of J-Club in Orlando, and manage the continent's first traveling Geisha & Samurai Henshin Makeover Studio. The latter opened at Metrocon 2009 as a direct result of overwhelming support received by Ana's Ikimaru since its debut in February of 2008.
PikaBelleChu is most well known in the anime world for her continuing passion for Pokemon. She has appeared in many magazines and newspapers such as Nintendo Power, Animerica, Anime Insider, Pokemon Fan, Beckett Pokemon Collector, VW Trends, EGM, Star Banner, Riverland News, St. Augustine Record. Her highest achievement is having being featured in the Gamers Edition of Guinness Book of World Records for having the Worlds Largest Pokemon Collection in the World, with over 8,000 items from American to Japanese collectables and including the official Pikachu Volkswagen you can see displayed at many conventions she attends.
She does numerous Pokemon events, Children's events, Car Shows, Parades and appears at conventions world wide for her dedication to Pokemon. Also a cosplayer, she has created more then 80 costumes mostly consisting of Pokemon and her own special creations called Pokewomon Princesses where she takes a Pokemon and creates a royal version of that Pokemon. Some of the costumes have taken more then 3 months to create. When not promoting Pokemon and cosplaying for events for children, she also teaches kids cartooning at local craft stores and paints murals in businesses and private homes in the area she lives.
Random Encounter is a collective of individuals dedicated to adapting video game (and anime) music to a live setting. Because most of the songs they cover are considered background music a lot of work has to go into adaptation so that the songs can endure a live rock performance while at the same time staying true to the original melodies and intent.
