Some of the roles as a voice actor Chris is best known for are Kei Kourono in Gantz, Suitengu in Speed Grapher, Von Kampher in Trinity Blood, Hayashimizu in Full Metal Panic? Fummofu, Nakamaru in Maburaho, Yaminami in Peacemaker, DJ Plugman in Air Gear , Johnny in One Piece, Sid in Devil May Cry, Yusuf Ali Mesa in Yugo the Negotiator, Koji in Godanner, Murato in Hakugei - Legend of the Moby Dick, Sawadust in A Tree of Palme, Dr. Pluto in BASToF Syndrome, Akimoto in Sakura Diaries,, Kenji Kurata in Diamond Daydreams, Oshodani in Pappuwa, Jimpachi Arishiama in Nanka 6/17, and Woogy in Michel.
His voice can also be heard in Elfin Lied, Claymore, Tokyo Majin, Oran High School Host Club, Cannon, Gravion Zwie, Utwararerumono, Coyote Ragtime Show and Desert Punk to name a few. Chris can also be heard a Wagram in the new Square Enix Game THE LAST REMNANT. Chris is also one of the Anime industry voice actors who sings on Voices for Peace. He is very proud to be a part of the "Voices For..." oganization. Chris also works as a professional fight director and has enjoyed bringing his workshop “Mock Combat for Cosplay” to many conventions. You can learn more about Chris by visiting his website www.christopherayres-va.com.
A native Texan, Josh Grelle was raised on stage and in the art studios of Central Texas. He performed on stage at the Tin Building Theatre for over 15 years prior to starting work for ADV Films at the start of 2004. Since then he has worked for ADV Films and FUNimation Entertainment on numerous projects.
Josh is known for playing the outrageous Taishi in COMIC PARTY: REVOLUTION; Kyohei Takano in Shinichi Watanabe’s (AKA Nabeshin) comedy THE WALLFLOWER; Kenichi Shirahama in KENICHI: THE MIGHTIEST DESCIPLE; Ren Kannagi in KAZE NO STIGMA; Kouchi Hayase in LINEBARRELS OF IRON; and Kyoushiro in SHATTERED ANGELS (AKA Kyoushiro and the Eternal Sky ). He can also be seen as Chaos in TSUBASA CHRONICLES; Hatake in BIG WINDUP!; Ox Ford in SOUL EATER; G-6 and various villains in GATCHAMAN; Suonkasu in UTAWAREUMONO; Kosuke Sawamura in MOONLIGHT MILE; Alan Cloud in TOKYO MAJIN; Viscount Wolkins in PUMPKIN SCISSORS; and Hammer in XENOSAGA: THE ANIMATION
Josh has also lent his vocal talents to such shows as: PROJECT BLUE: EARTH S.O.S; ROMEOxJULIET; NERIMA DAIKON BROS; D.GRAY-MAN; ONE PIECE;KIBA;AIR GEAR; MERMAID MELODY PICHI PICHI PICH; and many more. Josh was also ADR Script Writer for the magical harem comedy MAGIKANO–which he also provided voices for–and Assistant Writer for MOONLIGHT MILE.
Aside from theatre and the Anime Industry, Josh has also worked in the Comic Book industry as a freelance colorist doing “the grunt work” for Marvel Comics and a few other studios around the world.
Robert DeJesus - Writer, Story Creator, Illustrator, Story Board Artist, and Character Designer
Robert is no stranger to the anime and manga community. An Indiana born, self-taught artist, who got his first art career break when he sent an eight page short story to comic publisher, Antarctic Press in February of 1990. He has drawn manga inspired art for well over 19 years and has been published nearly all over the world. He has worked for many companies like Playstation Magazine, Marvel, Hasbro, and now his most recent work with Harper Collins Publishing, just to name a few.
Emily DeJesus - Writer, Editor, Story Creator and Manager
Robert and Emily met at a convention called Anime Central and haven't been apart since that day. Emily has always enjoyed manga and anime, but never thought it could be her job. Emily has worked with Robert for over 7 years now. She helps write the web comic "How to Loathe Drawing in the Manga Style" and has just finished writing her first children's book. She enjoys the business side of working for Studio Capsule very much and is grateful that she has an opportunity to work in the manga/ comics business.
Studio Capsule
Studio Capsule is involved in creating a line of low print run doujinshis, portfolios, animated shorts, and other projects expanding Studio Capsule. Find out everything that's new with either Studio Capsule or Robert and Emily DeJesus at www.studiocapsule.com.
Greg Ayres has spent the better part of two years rockin' his way through some really fun anime series. As the loud-mouthed Hideki in Nerima Daikon Brothers, and Koyuki, singing with the the band in Beck:Mongolian Chop Squad. He is also thrilled to be able to add the role of Kaoru Hitachiin in Ouran High School Host club, and Abe In FUNimation's upcoming Big Windup to his list of new favorite roles. Other recent works include JR. in Xenosaga , Roan in Ragnorok The Animation, Yamazaki in Welcome to the NHK , Nowy, in Glass Fleet, and Yukinojoh Tohyama in The Wallflower.
The once "Fanboy" turned VA started working in anime a little over five years ago, and within the first two years managed to snag two of his favorite roles in anime. He was thrilled to voice the role of his favorite character Son Goku in Saiyuki. Just one year later voiced Kaworu Nagisa in the Director's Cut of Neon Genesis Evangelion. Other roles include Chrono in Chrono Crusade, Negi Springfield in Negima, Heihachi in Samurai 7, Jr. in Xenosaga:The Animation, Satoshi Hiwatari in DNAngel, Pope Alessandro XVIII in Trinity Blood, Tsuyoshi in Kodocha, Leo in Ghost Stories , Tsujido in Speed Grapher, and Gau Ban in Shadow Skill.He can also be heard in other anime titles such as Super Gals, Spiral, Macross, Mythical Detective Loki, Burst Angel , Gravion, Godanner, Pretear, Full Metal Panic, E's Otherwise and a whole lot more.
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 opportunity 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.
Rikki Simons, also known as Rosearik, is a voice actor, writer, and artist. He is most famous for being the voice of the robot in a dog suit, GIR from Invader ZIM. As an artist and writer he is known for science fiction graphic novels such as Ranklechick and His Three Legged Cat, Super Information Hijinks: Reality Check!, and the unfinished six volume ShutterBox fantasy series, which he co-created with his wife, Tavisha-Wolfgarth-Simons.
He is also a background painter in animation, most noted for his color design on Invader ZIM. His portfolio can be seen at www.rhumbaghost.com. The weekly web comic that he creates with Tavisha, called @Tavicat, can be read at www.tavicat.com.
Tavisha produces her art and stories under the studio name of Tavicat (and sometimes “WiredPsyche”) along with her husband, Rikki Simons. After a decade of publishing manga-influenced comics in the American market, Tavisha has had the opportunity to work with a variety of properties, attaching her much loved spin to them.
A fan favorite, Tavisha has designed manga versions of established western cartoon characters for Nickelodeon Magazine, she has designed characters and fashions from the ground up for companies such as Tokyopop and Digital Manga, and she has co-created original titles such as Ranklechick and his Three-Legged Cat, and Super Information Hijinks: Reality Check!, and ShutterBox. The weekly web comic that she creates with Rikki, called @Tavicat, can be read at www.tavicat.com.
St. Louis Osuwa Taiko
About Taiko
Taiko is Japanese for “big drum.” These drums have been used in Japan for thousands of years to intimidate enemies, communicate from one village to the next, and celebrate festivals. No use is as unique as the modern incarnation, developed by Oguchi Daihachi in 1951. By combining elements of jazz with traditional Japanese instruments, Oguchi brought new ideas into an ancient art form. Pioneers like Oedo Sukeroku invented new ways to hit taiko and added choreography and dynamism. Now a cross between music, dance, and athleticism, modern taiko has influenced modern artists like Stomp! and Cirque de Soliel.
About the Group
Daihachi Oguchi himself founded St. Louis Osuwa Taiko in 1986 as a kids’ group. After the original group disbanded for college, one member—Joe Kimura—came back and restarted taiko in St. Louis. Now a community group, St. Louis Osuwa Taiko enjoys the dynamic choreography of modern taiko, but still has a place for traditional pieces in its repertoire. The group has performed before audiences from 20 people to 6,000 people, and is the centerpiece of the Japanese Festival at the Missouri Botanical Gardens.