We’re thrilled to announce that the incredibly talented Akio Watanabe will be joining us at Anime Central this year! Don’t miss your chance to meet him, attend his panels, and celebrate his amazing career at Anime Central.
About Akio Watanabe
Akio Watanabe is an animator, illustrator, and character designer from Tokyo, born July 27.
He is beloved by fans for creating numerous captivating characters, ranging from cute to alluring.
He has served in roles such as Supervising Animation Director and Character Designer on anime productions such as the Monogatari series, Higurashi: When They Cry GOU/SOTSU, the TV series Starship Girl Yamamoto Yohko, The SoulTaker, Nurse Witch Komugi, The World God Only Knows, Pretty Rhythm: Aurora Dream, the film Fireworks (Should We See It from the Side or the Bottom?), and the TV series Grisaia: Phantom Trigger, which started airing in January 2025.
About Anime Central
Anime Central (ACen) is the largest anime, manga and Japanese popular culture convention in Chicago and the Midwest. Anime Central 2025 will take place from May 16-18 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare and Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois.
