FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sakura Con 2001 April 27-April 29, 2001 Everett Holiday Inn & Convention Center Everett, WA www.sakuracon.org (Seattle, WA January 2001) Sakura Con is pleased to welcome Steve Bennett IV as our second Guest of Honor. Steve Bennett IV is currently the Co-Founder, Art Director, and Manager of Studio Ironcat L.L.C. one of main publishers of Translated Manga in America. While living in Japan in the early 1980's, as a child of U.S. Army Personnel, Steve became an apprentice animator for Noboru Furusei at Studio Aoehyama in Tokyo. While at Studio Aoehyama Steve worked on many classic titles such as Urusei Yatsura TV series and the first Urusei Yatsura Movie: Only You, Final Yamato, as well as numerous titles that were directed to the U.S. audience like Disney's Duck Tales, and many animated commercials for Warner Brothers which has provided him a well rounded background in animation. At conventions Steve is known for his very friendly personality towards fans while sketching a picture and signing autographs he's always happy to share his anecdotes about the Anime and Manga Industry that he's worked in for so long. Steve is joined by Lia Sargent, voice actress for many shows including, El-Hazard, Cowboy Bebop, Saber Marionette J Again as well as Trigun. Lia woked on Trigun both as a voice actress as well as the Dub Directional Director for the series. Sakura Con will be Lia's first anime convention appearance Sakura Con will be held from April 27 to April 29, 2001 at the Everett Holiday Inn and Convention Center in Everett, WA. Website - www.sakuracon.org . The Pacific Northwest's Japanese Animation and Manga Convention is ringing in the new millenium of anime in a new location as well as a new event - PC LAN Gaming. We'll also be hosting three 24-hour anime video theatres, closed circuit TV (another first for this year), Anime Industry & Japanese Cultural Guests, industry and how-to panels, art and model show, karaoke, costume masquerade and much much more! Registration: Three Day Pass (until March 31, 2001) $40 Three Day Pass (at the door) $45 Friday Only $20 Saturday Only $20 Sunday Only $15 Children ages 6-12 are half price (limit 2 per adult) Children under 6 are free (limit 2 per adult) Hotel Info: Everett Holiday Inn & Convention Center 101 - 128th Street S.E Everett, WA 98208 Phone: 425-337-2900 1-800-256-8137 US ONLY Rate Info: $79.00 per night - Single $89.00 per night - Double Suites in the convention room block are booked. The regular hotel rate is $129.00 per night. *** If you plan to host any parties in your hotel room, please state that you want to be booked in the "party block, 300 section". Any parties in the hotel that are not in designated "party rooms" are subject to possibly being shut down by convention or hotel security. Also, be sure to mention Sakura Con when reserving your room. This ensures that you receive the room rate reserved for the Convention Guests: When she's not busy portraying Vash's sidekick Milly Thompson from Trigun, Lia Sargent can be found behind-the-scenes as the Dub Directional Director for Trigun. Lia has been spotted in shows including Saber Marionette J Again, El-Hazard, and Cowboy Bebop. Lia has also been known to show up in various video games as well. Keep an eye out for her. Sakura Con 2001 will be Lia's first anime convention appearance. At conventions, Steve Bennett is famous for passing out dating advice as well as those cute little drawings everyone has grown to love. When Steve is not sailing the convention seas, he can be found hard at work at Studio Ironcat as the Manager, and Art-Director, and ironically enough he is one of the Co-founders. Studio Ironcat is one of the leading publishers of translated Manga in North America. Steve has worked on many classic titles including the first Urusei Yatsura movie, Only You as well as Final Yamato. Companies attending: Enix will be returning to Sakura Con to discuss the anime video gaming industry as well as answer any questions. Additional companies are TBA Events: Guest Panels Discussion/How-to Panels Three (3) 24 hour Video Theatres Sakura TV (Closed Circuit Television) Guest Reception PC LAN Video Gaming Console Video Gaming Karaoke & Dance Masquerade/Cosplay Art & Model Show Traditional RPG Gaming Music Video Contest Exhibitors Hall Charity Auction And much much more! Sakura Con 900 Meridian Avenue East, #19-407 Milton, WA 98354-7019