As in previous years, Ayacon 2013 will be inviting a range of exciting guests from the anime, manga and gaming world to help bring the event to life.

Matt Mercer

Matthew Mercer is an Actor/Writer/Director based out of Los Angeles. Beginning with an extensive background in theater and improvisation, he has since branched out into many other forms of performance media. His voice talents can be heard in many animated shows and video games, including Resident Evil 6, Soul Caliber V, Mortal Kombat 9, World of Warcraft, Guild Wars 2, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Super Street Fighter 4, Sengoku Basara: Samurai Heroes, AKIRA, Ninety Nine Nights 2, No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle, Star Ocean: The Last Hope, Final Fantasy: Crystal Bearers, Brutal Legend, Wolfenstein, Chocobo Dungeon, and Ace Combat 5. He can also be heard as the voice of 'Tygra' in the Cartoon Network reboot of Thundercats.

Matthew is also the co-creator and Director of the hit web-series "There Will Be Brawl", where he also portrays the manipulative Ganondorf, and supplies the voices for Kirby and Metaknight.

Shonen Knife

Shonen Knife are a ground-breaking all-female Japanese, pop-punk trio formed in Osaka in 1981, inspired by The Ramones. Since then the band crafted their own idiosyncratic songs, fashioned brightly coloured outfits and DIY albums. In their astounding 31 year career they have toured with Nirvana, recorded sessions for John Peel and appeared on MTV’s ‘Beavis and Butthead’.

In 2010 the band released the album ‘Super Group’, played Matt Groening’s curated ATP, extensively toured the UK, Europe, North America, China and Taiwan. In 2011 the band celebrated their 30th year anniversary by releasing the albums ‘Free Time’ and ‘Osaka Ramones’, toured Europe and the US, played to thousands at the Summer Sundae festival, a live session for Marc Riley on BBC 6 music, an interview with Radcliffe and Maconie, and rounded out the year with a limited edition Christmas Single ‘Sweet Christmas’. In June 2012 Shonen Knife released their 18th Studio Album ‘Pop Tune’ which saw the band return to their Pop beginnings. Now in their 31st year of rock with over 900 gigs under their belt and able to play any of 90 songs at their fans' request, this is a band on top form, so as Naoko says: ‘Let’s Rock!’