Crunchyroll brings director, co-creator to convention

Crunchyroll announced on Monday that it will bring director Sayo Yamamoto and co-creator Mitsurou Kubo from the Yuri!!! on Ice television anime as guests for the Anime Expo convention.

Yamamoto made her directorial debut on Michiko and Hatchin in 2008. She went on to direct the Lupin III: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine television anime in 2012 and the figure-skating anime short "Endless Night" for the Japan Animator's Expo. She has also worked on Attack on Titan (ending storyboards and directing), Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance (storyboard), Psycho-Pass (opening storyboards and directing), Space Dandy (ending storyboards and directing), among other titles.

Manga creator Kubo made her debut in 1996 with "Shiawase 5-han" in mimi magazine. She later created 3.3.7 Byooshi in 2001 and Tokkyu!! in 2004. Her 2008 romantic comedy manga Moteki inspired both a live-action television show and film. She launched her high school cheer group manga, Again!!, in 2011, and it received a live-action film adaptation in 2014. She co-created the Yuri!!! on Ice anime with Yamamoto, and contributed original character designs and storyboards.

The Yuri!!! on Ice anime premiered in Japan in October, and Crunchyroll streamed the series as it aired in Japan. Funimation also streamed an English broadcast dub. A brand-new film for the franchise has been green-lit.

Anime Expo will take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center from July 1 to July 4 this year. In addition, the convention will formally include a preview night a day before on June 30.