FanimeCon will be held on May 24-27
FanimeCon staff announced that the 2024 event will feature Hirokatsu Kihara and rock band Survive Said the Prophet (SSTP) as guests of honor. This will mark Kihara's second appearance at the San Jose conference.
Image via FanimeCon Twitter account
Kihara is best known for his work with Studio Ghibli, serving as Production Coordinator for Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and working on titles such as Laputa: Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service. Kihara was inspired by the Catbus from My Neighbor Totoro. He has served as a producer or executive producer on other anime such as Kanamemo, Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu: Purezza, Outbreak Company, Lady Jewelpet, In Search of the Lost Future, My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU TOO!, and This Art Club Has a problem!. He also writes stories for the manga Graduale der Wolken. Since leaving the studio, Kihara has written many horror stories, including collaborating with Junji Ito on Mimi's Tales of Terror.
Image via FanimeCon Twitter account
SSTP is an international rock band that also draws influences from the pop, electro, hip hop and R&B genres. The band performed the theme songs for Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion III-Glorification, Vinland Saga, Banana Fish, Tokyo 24th Ward. The band went on their first US tour this month.
The event issued a statement in March from its Board of Directors on its official website addressing recent allegations of employee harassment and mistreatment. The charges came after multiple employees in various departments resigned, including department heads and managers, in early February.
FanimeCon will be held on May 24-27.
Source: Fans