I'm very happy to announce Japanese voice actress Rie Tanaka will appear at New York Anime Festival 2008 as a Guest of Honor. Ms. Tanaka is most known around the globe for voicing Lacus Clyne in Gundam SEED, Chii in Chobits, and Suigintou in Rozen Maiden, but this is just the tip of her resume.

While Ms. Tanaka is most recognized for her roles in Gundam SEED, Chobits, and Rozen Maiden, she's contributed her voice to characters in over 50 animations, with some standouts including Simca in Air Gear, Yomi in Azumanga Daioh, Sei in Burst Angel, Hiroko Matsukata in Hataraki Man, Monica Lange in Macross Frontier, Tomoe Marguerite in My-Otome, Saki in Steel Angel Kurumi, and Minna-Dietlinde Wilcke in Strike Witches. In addition, Ms. Tanaka is also the voice behind songs featured in many of the series she's worked on including Azumanga Daioh, Burst Angel, Chobits, and Gundam SEED.

Beyond question-and-answer and autograph sessions, Ms. Tanaka will perform a selection of her songs at the start of NYAF's World Cosplay Summit Masquerade -- a costume contest with prizes including a trip to Japan.

I hope you'll join me in September in welcoming Rie Tanaka to NYC and the USA!