Noboru Ishiguro
Animazement is pleased to announced the first-time appearance of director, producer, screenwriter, and editor – Noboru Ishiguro. AZ attendees may know this guest best for his work with Macross, Megazone 23, Legend of the Galactic Heroes, Tytania, and many others. Born in Tokyo in 1938, Ishiguro-san started making 8mm anime while he was a student at Nihon University and on his own, continued studying various techniques about anime. In 1963, he started working on his first anime, “Tetsujin 28”, as a part time job while he was still a student. In 1964, he graduated from college and started working at “Terebi Douga sha”. Starting in 1968, he went freelance and started various works as a director. In 1973, he focused primarily on “Battleship Yamato”, the first project he worked on from the very beginning. This started the first anime boom in Japan. In 1978, the OVA “Be Forever Yamato” was released, and at the same time, he founded his own studio, Artland.
Hiroshi Nagahama
Mr. Nagahama, director of the “Mushi-shi” series and “Detroit Metal City”, started at Madhouse as mechanical design for “(The) Cockpit” and as part of the production staff for “Azuki-chan.” After leaving Madhouse, he became a freelancer and has worked in many areas of anime production. One of those freelance jobs was working on the conceptual design for the “Revolutionary Girl Utena” series. Mr. Nagahama was the storyboard writer and animation director for “Sexy Command-Gaiden Sugoiyo! Masaru-san” and “Ojamaru.” In yet another role, he was the chief director of “Jubei-Chan 2: The Counter Attack of Siberia Yagyu.” Other anime that benefitted from Mr Nagahama’s many talents are “Fruits Basket” and “Kimi ni Todoke”. He was recognized for his achievements and received the 11th Animation Kobe/Individual Award in 2006.
Mayu Shinjo
Ms Shinjo debuted in 1994 as a shojyo comic artist under Shogakukan’s Shojyo Comic. Her signature manga is “Sensual Phrase” (or “Kaikan Phrase”) which has sold over 10 million copies and has been translated into 13 languages. In 1999, the manga was adapted into a 44 episode anime TV series. In promotion of the series, a real rock band called “Lucifer” and e.MU was created based on characters from the anime. Ms Shinjo continued to gain popularity with her series “Haou Airen” and “Love Celeb”. She is now a freelancer and is currently working on several titles including “Elites” and “Mobile Suit Gundam Gion National Youth School”.
