Anime Weekend Atlanta Suffers Guest Exodus

I wasn't planning to make it out to Anime Weekend Atlanta this year-- between moves is a hard time to want to travel extensively and I'm already doing NYAF --but Yasuhiro Imagawa, creator of the original Giant Robo OVA, Zeta Gundam, and Pet Shop of Horrors, among many others, was a really cool guest I would have liked to see. This is doubly true at a show like Anime Weekend Atlanta, which has always focused to some extent on an older school of shows. I remember my first AWA, I hung around in the "Old-School Screening Room" and watched a batch of episodes of the original Cutie Honey-- good times!

Unfortunately for AWA attendees, Imagawa has had to pull out of the event for reasons that remain undisclosed. As if that wasn't enough, mech designer Tsuyoshi Nonaka-- who worked on the new Shin Mazinger Shougeki! Z-Hen --also cancelled. So far there has been no disclosure as to why they cancelled; I'd bet on mere scheduling difficulties, or possibly some swine flu paranoia thanks to PAX (unlikely, but you never know).

It's quite a shame; I was hoping to see some interviews pop up with Imagawa. However, other guests-- including voice actress/ADR director Caitlin Glass, artist Rikki Simmons (aka GIR and color-er on the best Jhonen Vasquez comics), manga editor Carl Horn, songstress Omodaka and fashion designer Yuka (of 6%DOKIDOKI, see also the New People center), and Peelander-Z will still be in attendance. So don't worry; you can still have an awesome time!