Guest of Honor

AnimeFest 2017 - Thursday, August 17th - Sunday, August 20th, in the Dallas Arts District

Ms. Atsuko Tanaka is regarded as one of the top veteran animators in Japan. Originally inspired to become an animator by shows like The Great Adventure of Horus, Prince of the Sun (Directed by Isao Takahata) and Space Battleship Yamato, Atsuko Tanaka attended the Animation Department at Tokyo Designer Gakuin College. She left college mid term to join Shin-Ei Animation. Later she joined Telecom Animation Film Co., Ltd, and then ultimately Studio Ghibli. Post studio Ghibli, she has freelanced at places like Studio Chizu, Studio Ponoc, and others.

She has contributed predominantly as a Key Animator on films from some anime's most prominent Directors. She participated on Director Hayao Miyazaki's Lupin III: Castle of Cagliostro, My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service, Porco Rosso, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, Ponyo of the Cliff by the Sea, and The Wind Rises. She also has worked with Director Isao Takahata on Pompoko as well as with Director Hiromasa Yonebayashi on The Secret World of Arrietty, When Marnie Was There, and his upcoming 2017 film Mary and the Witch's Flower. Ms. Tanaka also contributed to Director Mamoru Hosoda's hit films Summer Wars and The Boy and the Beast, Director Shinichiro Watanabe's ever popular Space Dandy, and Director Makoto Shinkai's record breaking Your Name!

And beyond Japanese animation, Ms. Tanaka has been instrumental in several popular US based cartoons. She was a Key Animator on Green Lantern: First Flight, Animation Director for Sylvester and Tweety Mysteries, Animation Director for Batman: The Animated Series, Key Animator for Superman, Key Animator for Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, and Key Animation for Tiny Toon Adventures: How I Spent My Vacation, as well as Disney's Winnie the Pooh television series.

Read more about Ms. Tanaka's profile at Anime News Network or IMDB.

Please help us welcome Ms. Tanaka back to AnimeFest for her second time!