Pictured: Anime Houston and Anime Dallas Board Members – (From Left) Jay Hickman, John Swasey (Chairman), Christine Auten
Anime Houston and Anime Dallas Chairman John Swasey invites anime veterans Jay Hickman and Christine Auten to join the Advisory Board for both events.
In July of 2021 my two seemingly different career paths came together when my friend John Swasey asked me to join the Advisory Boards of two new anime conventions he had started in Texas – Anime Houston and Anime Dallas.
My first anime dubbing job was in 1998. For those of us laking in natural abilities in math, that’s 23 years is anime dubbing experience. In that time I’ve also written many ADR scripts, produced numerous series and directed a LOT of other anime voice actors.
In 2008, I joined the staff of what has since grown into one of the largest cultural events in the world – SXSW. In my time there I became one of the main producers of the Interactive Festival, and even helmed a three-year off-shoot of SXSW in Las Vegas.
It’s safe to say that I have developed a passion, and expertise, in both anime voiceover production and convention/conference/festival production. So when John asked me if I wanted to be a part of something that combined those two loves, I really had no choice!
I’ll be in good company on the boards of Anime Houston and Anime Dallas. I have known, and admired Chairman John Swasey for decades. Not only is he an incredibly versatile actor (his most notable anime roles include GendÅ in Neon Genesis Evangelion, Sir Crocodile in One Piece, Lord Death in Soul Eater, Van Hohenheim in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, and All For One in My Hero Academia), he is a seasoned anime dubbing producer/director, and experienced entrepreneur.
Jay Hickman had been working as an anime voiceover artist almost as long as I have.