Anime Central Becomes the First Convention to Take on Japan's Global Anime Challenge

Anime Central (ACen) is proud to partner with Japan's Global Anime Challenge.

Global Anime Challenge is a three-year program funded by the Japanese government's Agency for Cultural Affairs. Its goal is to nurture the Japanese anime industry's next generation of creators. The program participants aim to develop brand new and exciting contents for the ever increasing global anime fans.

As part of the partnership, the Global Anime Challenge will bring 4 guests of honor to ACen and share their creative experiences and future visions with the attendees. Anime Central is proud to reveal Director Keiichirō Saitō, Producer Takafumi Nakame, Animator Kaoru Tanimoto and Animator Mana Kudō as guests of honor from Global Anime Challenge. The guests will share their creative experiences and future visions at ACen, so be sure to check out the Global Anime Challenge panel during their convention.

About Keiichirō Saitō
After graduating from university in 2016, Keiichirō Saitō began his career as an animator. He has worked on various projects as a key animator, storyboard artist, director, character designer, and animation director. Saito-san made his directorial debut in 2019 with the OVA “ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Dept. Regards” as a co-director.

His name became well known among anime fans for directing his first TV series “Bocchi the Rock!” in 2022. In the following year, he became even more renowned throughout the world as the director of “Frieren: Beyond Journey's End”.

About Takafumi Nakame
He started working for Makoto Shinkai in 2013 as a production assistant in “The Garden of Words”. He worked on numerous other films including the world-class hit “Your Name” as a production desk (pipeline manager). He then joined Studio Chizu to work as a production manager for Mamoru Hosoda's film “Mirai” and other films including “Belle”.

His latest producer works include production assistant for Yoshiyuki Momose's “The Imaginary” in 2023 as well as animation producer for “Frieren: Beyond Journey's End” directed by Keiichirō Saitō who is also participating in the Global Anime Challenge.

About Kaoru Tanimoto
Kaoru Tanimoto majored in calligraphy during his university student years. At the same time, he loved drawing. Ever since he made the bold leap to join the anime industry, he has worked as a freelance animator. Tanimoto-san distinguished himself as someone who can apply his calligraphy skills in anime production, as he contributed his brush lettering works for the TV anime “Sengoku Youko”.

His recent works include “Firefighter Daigo: Rescuer in Orange” episodes 13-23 where he contributed his character designs in 2023 as well as “The Elusive Samurai” episode 11 in 2024. In that episode alone, he worked on about 160 cuts as an animation director.

About Mana Kudō
Mana Kudō started working at Kinema Citrus in 2018. She is currently working as a key animator and animation director at Gift-o'-Animation, a subsidiary of Kinema Citrus.

Kudo-san's Kinema Citrus works as a key animator include “Cardfight!! Vanguard overDress”, “The Rising of The Shield Hero Season 2”, and “Made in Abyss: The Golden City of the Scorching Sun”. She also worked as an animation director for “Cardfight!! Vanguard will+Dress” and “My Happy Marriage.”

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.