We’re just a few weeks away from FunimationCon 2020, and we’re SO excited to reveal the first batch of programming for our totally free, virtual convention!
Are you a fan of One Piece? How about Fruits Basket? Or maybe you’re jamming out to some OPs from Sony Music artists. Well, this first round of programming is likely to be for you. Let’s take a look at just a few of the panels, events and performances you can expect at FunimationCon 2020!
VOICE ACTOR PANELS
Fruits Basket Panel
Celebrate the hit shoujo classic’s new second season with the English voice cast of Fruits Basket!
Join Eric Vale (Yuki), Jerry Jewell (Kyo), Mikaela Krantz (Momiji) and Colleen Clinkenbeard (Akito), as well as Season Two’s new character cast Aaron Dismuke (Kakeru) and Caitlin Glass (Machi, ADR Director) for some Q&A, a live reading, and even an advice corner courtesy of the Student Council! The panel is hosted by Caitlin Glass.
One Piece Panel
The One Piece panel brings together the voice actors behind your favorite characters to celebrate the series and the return of dubbed episodes, including Colleen Clinkenbeard (Luffy), Brina Palencia (Tony Tony Chopper), Mike McFarland (Buggy the Clown) and more.
Funimation’s Josellie Rios (host of the One Piece at a Time podcast) is moderating the panel.
Fire Force Panel
With a new season launching on Funimation’s streaming service in July, this panel is not to be missed!
The panel features voice actors Derick Snow (Shinra), Justin Briner (Sho), Eric Vale (Arthur), Christopher Wehkamp (Hinawa), and is moderated by Matt Acevedo.
MUSICAL PERFORMANCES
Funimation, in collaboration with Sony Music Inc., is proud to bring fans exciting music guests and a special message from some of its most popular label artists.
BLUE ENCOUNT
BLUE ENCOUNT is a four-piece band hailing from Kumamoto, Japan. Known for their heartfelt and energetic style, BLUE ENCOUNT has built a reputation for connecting emotionally with their audience. BLUE ENCOUNT made their major debut with the EP TIMELESS ROOKIE (2014), and have released three full-length albums (≒, THE END and VECTOR).
BLUE ENCOUNT has also released numerous anime theme songs including “Polaris” for My Hero Academia (2019), “FREEDOM” for BANANA FISH, “VS” for Gintama (2017), “Survivor” for Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans (2016) and “DAYxDAY” for Gintama (2015).
FLOW
FLOW is a band with their own unique brand of rock comprised of KOHSHI (Vo), KEIGO (Vo), TAKE (Gt), GOT’S (Ba), and IWASAKI (Dr). Brothers KOHSHI (older brother, Vo) and TAKE (younger brother, Gt) started playing music in 1993 and formed FLOW in 1998. In 1999, they added KEIGO (Vo) and GOT’S (Ba), and in 2000, they added IWASAKI (Dr), forming their present lineup.
Their music was an excellent fit for anime, so they went on to do many anime songs such as “GO!!!” as an opening song for the anime Naruto; “COLORS,” an opening song for Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion; and the opening song for Tales of Zestiria the X, “Kaze no Uta.”
Since September of 2019, the opening song for Naruto Shippuden, “Sign,” has exceeded 30 million plays on the subscription service Spotify, and all of their songs exceed a total of 100 million plays.
KANA-BOON
KANA-BOON is a three-piece rock band consisting of Maguro Taniguchi (Vo/Gt), Hayato Koga (Gt) and Takahiro Koizumi (Dr). KANA-BOON is known for performing numerous anime theme songs including “Silhouette,” the opening performance of anime Naruto Shippuden, which charted on Spotify’s Viral 50 Daily Chart of Honduras and Apple Music Daily Top 100 Chart of Nepal; “Baton Road,” the opening theme of BORUTO: NARUTO NEXT GENERATIONS; and “Fighter,” the opening theme of Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans.
Their latest song, “Star Maker,” was chosen to be the opening theme of Season 4 of My Hero Academia and has attracted anime fans from all over the world.
DJ MarGenal
DJ MarGenal started his musical activities in 2007. Initially inspired by hip-hop, he became immersed in club culture, but after his appearance in “Anison Index!!” which sparked the anisong DJ boom, he shifted his main focus into becoming an anisong DJ. With his abundant knowledge and skills, he has been appearing in not only his regular events, but also events held all around Japan.
In commemoration of the first anniversary of Sony Music Labels SACRA MUSIC imprint, which many popular anisong artists such as LiSA, Eir Aoi, ClariS, EGOIST, and Luna Haruna belong to, he was in charge of the label’s first mix CD “MiX ~ Omoshiroi Hodo Yoku Wakaru Nonstop SACRA MUSIC ~.”
SACRA MUSIC FES.2019 Performances
Funimation is thrilled to stream a selection of performances from SACRA MUSIC FES.2019, the two-day music extravaganza featuring artists on SACRA MUSIC’s label. Featured performances will include LiSA, Eir Aoi, TrySail and halca, among many others.
Last year, the Fest was an enormous success, and this is an opportunity for fans who couldn’t be there in person to experience the magic. SACRA MUSIC aims to widen the reach of artists who have tie-ins with major anime and game franchises globally.
There’s more to come, so make sure you’re locked to Funimation across social media and use #FunimationCon to spread the hype!
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