AnimeFest 2017 Guests of Honor

Ms. Mitsurou Kubo is a talented manga artist and one of the creative forces behind the incredibly popular 2016 ice skating anime Yuri!!! on Ice! Beyond co-creating the story and contributing countless storyboards to Yuri!!! on Ice, Ms. Kubo's previous works include such amazing series as Moteki and Again!!, both of which were adaptated to live action tv drama shows.
This will be Ms. Kubo's first time attending AnimeFest!
Read more about Mitsurou Kubo here.

Ms. Sayo Yamamoto is the co-creator and series director for the incredibly popular 2016 ice skating anime Yuri!!! on Ice! Ms. Yamamoto's directorial debut was with the adventure packed Michiko and Hatchin in 2008, and in 2012 she directed the tantalizing Lupin III: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine. Additionally, Ms. Yamamoto directed a figure skating short, Endless Night, that was featured in the Japan Animator's Expo. Ms. Yamamoto has also contributed countless storyboards and opening / closings to a variety of popular anime including Space Dandy, Attack on Titan, Samurai Champloo, and more.
AnimeFest is excited to welcome back Director Sayo Yamamoto for the second time!
Read more about Sayo Yamamoto here.

Mr. Tadashi Hiramatsu is the animation director and character designer for the incredibly popular 2016 ice skating anime Yuri!!! on Ice. Mr. Hiramatsu has participated in other numerous works including Neon Genesis Evangelion, Parasyte -the maxim-, FLCL, Jin-Roh, and His and Her Circumstances, to name just a few. Additionally, two of Mr. Hiramatsu's shorts, Until you Come to Me and On a Gloomy Night, were featured in the 2015 Japan Animator's Expo.
Please welcome Mr. Hiramatsu to his first AnimeFest!
Read more about Tadashi Hiramatsu here.