Anime Crossroads is proud to present our 2026 Guests of Honor, along with three talented voice actors who have brought beloved anime and game characters to life in English-language performances. These performers are celebrated for their range, presence, and memorable character portrayals across some of the biggest franchises in anime and gaming.
🔹 ANJALI KUNAPANENI
Voice Actor – Guest of Honor
Anjali is a voice actor known for their work as Roy (Pokémon Horizons: The Series), Dori (Genshin Impact), Sushang (Honkai Star Rail), Yuki Tsukumo (Jujutsu Kaisen), Alma (Monster Hunter Wilds), Shi Qingxuan (Heaven Official’s Blessing), Feri (Trails Through the Dawn), Ayaka (Fate/strange Fake), Lemon (Mashle: Magic and Muscles), Shinigami (Master Detective Archives: Rain Code), Kiruko (Heavenly Delusion), and more!
Anjali’s diverse voice acting portfolio spans both anime and video games, featuring standout performances such as Roy in Pokémon Horizons: The Series, Danika in Pokémon Journeys: The Series, Dori in Genshin Impact, and Sushang in Honkai: Star Rail. She has also brought to life characters like Yuki Tsukumo in Jujutsu Kaisen, Feri Al-Fayed in The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak, Lemon Irvine in Mashle: Magic and Muscles, Ayaka Sajo in Fate/strange Fake, and Kiruko in Heavenly Delusion. Anjali’s range covers compelling leads, supportive roles, and memorable guest appearances across acclaimed anime and gaming franchises.
🔹 NICOLAS ROYE
Voice Actor – Guest of Honor
Born in New Jersey and raised in Louisiana, Nicolas Roye is an American actor known for voicing major roles in video games, animation, anime, and commercials. Nicolas’ voice can be heard in many popular video game titles, most recently as Echo-216, aka “The Pilot”, one of the lead characters in Halo Infinite. He is widely known for voicing the daredevil adrenaline-junkie Octavio ‘Octane’ Silva in Apex Legends with over 100 million players. Also Cyberpunk 2077 as Cesar Ruiz & Hal Cantos, Marvels Avengers as Justin Hammer & Sydney Levine, Resident Evil: Resistance as Martin Sandwich, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Astral Chain, Code Vein, Horizon Zero Dawn, Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Revolution & Ultimate Ninja Storm 4, Fire Emblem Warriors & Fire Emblem Heroes, Nier: Automata, El Sword, Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, Hitman Absolution, Mafia II & III, The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, and many more.
Nicolas is recognized as the voice of many characters in anime and animated series & movies, such as WEB-STER in Disney Jr.’s #1 show Spidey and His Amazing Friends, Gino in DreamWorks Madagascar: A Little Wild, Matt in the most recent Digimon Adventure movie, Rafa in 2022’s Barbie: It Takes Two, Chuuya Nakahara in Bungou Stray Dogs, Shisui Uchiha in Naruto Shippuden, Tetta Kisaki in Tokyo Revengers, Guevaru in Baki Hanma, Junpei in Jujutsu Kaiser, Hatz in Tower of God, Mikey Kudo in Digimon Fusion, Arata Inanaki in Twin Star Exorcists, Masato Sanada in High School Prodigies Have It Easy Even In Another World, Star Wars Galaxy of Adventures and Star Wars Fun Facts, Legend of the Three Caballeros as Vomit, Subway Surfers as Jake, NFL Rushzone as Ricky, Mecard as Ryan, The Grossery Gang, and Disney Jr’s Guess How Much I Love You. He has also been the voice of numerous nationwide commercial campaigns, such as Taco Bell Breakfast, NASCAR, Pepsi, Hot Wheels, Mountain Dew, & White Castle. A graduate in theater from the University of New Orleans, Louisiana, Nicolas has a multitude of stage credits, including the leading roles of Pale in Burn This and Sebastian in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.
🔹 BRIAN BEACOCK
Voice Actor – Guest of Honor
Brian Beacock is a camera and voice actor, writer, producer, and musician whose diverse career includes voice-overs for more than 50 cartoon series and video games including “Digimon” (Takato, Bokomon, Agumon), Monokuma in the “Danganronpa” game series, Akutagawa in “Bungo Stray Dogs” and “Bungo Stray Dogs Wan,” “Naruto” (Chojuro, Sakon/Ukon), “Bleach” (Yumichika), “Durarara” (Walker), “Doraemon” (Sneech), “Blue Exorcist” (Shima), “Code Geass” (Rivals), “Blue Dragon,” “Miraculous Ladybug” (Copy Cat), “Battle B-Daman” (Yamato), “Toradora,” “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure” (Shigechi), “Tales of Symphonia” (Lloyd Irving), “Dragon Ball Super” (Krillin), “Sailor Moon” (Alan, Pegasus, Helios), “Beastars” (Dom the Peacock), “Sword Art Online Alicization” (Higa), and more. His television appearances include: “Imagination Movers,” “Kath & Kim,” “CSI,” “Passions,” and NBC’s “The Rerun Show.” Films include: “Colt Racer,” “To The Beat,” “Mulholland Drive,” “Buying The Cow,” “Globehunters,” “Circuit,” and “Hollow Scream.” Brian has been a featured performer at the world-famous Roxy on The Sunset Strip, PS 122 in NYC, and as the featured musical guest on “The Conan O’Brien Show” and “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” (singing for Betty White).
Theatre credits include: The National Tour of “Les Miserables,” “Elegies,” “When Pigs Fly,” “Pageant,” “The Last Hairdresser,” the world premiere of Wendy MacLeod’s “Slow Food,” and the insane 35-character one-man show “Fully Committed,” which led to him being cast in his first voice-over series, “Digimon.” He and his work have been featured in the New York Times, US Magazine, People Magazine, TV Guide, Rolling Stone, Backstage West, LA Times, LA Weekly, USA Today, Daily Variety, and Entertainment Weekly. Brian is the creator/writer/producer of the Emmy Award-winning zombie comedy series “Acting Dead.” Find Brian on TikTok @monokumabrianb, and Instagram and “X” @brianbeacock.
These Guests of Honor are celebrated voices behind characters that helped define anime for fans around the world. Anime Crossroads 2026 can’t wait to celebrate their incredible work with you!
Oriana Perón is a cosplaying, costume, and fashion designer, drag queen.
She has been cosplaying since 2006, when this nerdy hobby turned into a
passionate career. Oriana has studied theatre and costume design at Indiana
University and continues her studies at the university with a focus on fashion design,
metalsmithing, and jewelry. Recently, Oriana has produced and
performed her Drag Race and Drag Show events at Ohayocon, Anime Magic,
AnimeNext, C2E2, Matsuricon, and ACEN.
Oriana currently lives in Bloomington, Indiana, and is a producer and host for her shows, “World of
Fantasy” and “World of Gayming” at The Back Door. Her favorite thing is
dressing up like cartoon moms and sending memes to all her friends. Oriana
looks forward to conventions coming back and seeing all her friends and fans
again!
You can find Oriana online at:
www.orianaperon.com
www.instagram.com/orianaperon
www.etsy.com/shop/OrianasDesigns
Kydkindred started their cosplay career in 2009 when they discovered their
High School anime club, and has continued down the rabbit hole ever since.
Kyd enjoys all things whimsigoth, fantasy, and fun. They specialize in a “don’t
panic, we will make it work” mentality. They love styling wigs and dissecting
designs. Kyd loves to collect books (and attempt to read them), playing video
games and DnD, and running around at different Ren Faires. They started
competing in 2013, and their most recent win was Best In Show at Colossal
Prime 2025 as Hu Tao. They are excited to gush about special interests,
craftsmanship, and special little details about everyone’s costume!
Visualsongstress started cosplaying way back in 2008, and has won an array
of awards over the years for both Craftsmanship and Performance. Vis prides
herself on helping those around her, solving crafting problems with creative
solutions, and creating a welcoming environment for all cosplayers. The costumes she is currently most proud of are Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children), Wei Wuxian (Mo Dao Zu Shi), and Vi (Arcane).
When not cosplaying (or sometimes in cosplay), she can be found behind the
camera taking photos for other cosplayers.
Sewing Artist is a professional ballet costume maker by day and cosplayer by
night. She started in cosplay over 15 years ago as a fun hobby with friends
and over the last decade has made her living working in regional and academic theatre shops working as a costume director, patternmaker, stitcher, and
crafts artisan. Although she has developed many skills from making costumes
over the years she most enjoys pattern making, embroidery/embellishments,
and most recently, leather work. When not sewing, she spends much of her
time playing TTRPGs with friends and painting miniatures.
The Strange Music Squad is an Indianapolis-based DJ team consisting of SHIBASCREAM, KHTO RIDER, and TETSUO THE ROBOT, that has played clubs, conventions, and events the world over, from Indy to LA to Tokyo.
The Strange Music Squad delights in delivering niche genres to new ears.
Wielding omni-genre weapons from every element of electronic dance music
and equipping them with anime/gamer material, their limit break makes the
entire room bounce.
Specializing in cosplay dance party events with an EDM edge, the group
brings their love of geek and con culture to da club and will Isekai your a$$ to
another world.
Come vibe out with the squad!
Toxinesis Bio: TOXINESIS is a post-apocalyptic themed performance duo based in Michigan. They travel all over the Midwest to provide quirky, immersive concert experiences. Combining elements from idol culture and campy Vegas shows, they hope to provide a unique way for kpop, jpop, and idol fans to engage with their favorite music. So strap on your gas masks and get ready for a performance that will rock your crumbling world!
📣 See Them in 2026!