THE ORIGINAL ASTRO BOY FLIES TO WINDSOR
Mother of Voice Actors, Mari Shimizu, to make first-ever Canadian convention appearance!
Brimstone Games presents the Northern National Collectors’ Convention featuring the Cartoon Kingdom Fan Experience has announced that legendary Japanese voice actor, Mari Shimizu, will be making her first-ever Canadian convention appearance this fall in Windsor, Ontario at Caesars Windsor, September 29-October 1, 2023.
Mari Shimizu, who is considered “The Mother of Voice Actors” I 声優の母, Seiyū no haha was the voice of the Original Astro Boy I 鉄腕アトム, Tetsuwan Atomu (lit. ‘Iron-armed Atom’). Astro Boy, also known in Japan by its original name, Mighty Atom, is a Japanese Manga series written and illustrated by Osamu Tezuka.
Astro Boy is one of the most successful manga and anime franchises in the world and has become Tezuka’s most famous creation. The combined 23 tankōbon volumes have sold over 100 million copies worldwide making it Tezuka’s best-selling manga and one of the best-selling manga series of all time. The 1963 anime series became a television hit in Japan and the United States. Astro Boy has been praised for its impact on anime and manga and has been featured on many greatest anime of all time lists. It has inspired many other influential authors in creating manga and countless merchandise and collectables ranging from trading cards, action figures, stamps, games, clothing, and food products, surpassing $3,000,000,000 in sales worldwide in 2004.
“I am very excited to be making my first-ever convention appearance in Windsor,” says Shimizu. “I look forward to meeting with fans, sharing my story, and spreading joy to all those who attend!”
“The team at the Northern National is excited to bring this legendary talent to Windsor,” says Northern National president, Jeremy Renaud. I was a fan of the series, and later living and working in Japan, I saw the international impact of Tezuka’s work. Shimizu is bound to be adored by fans who attend the convention this fall!”
Shimizu will be at the show all three days, offering rare Shikishi board sketches of Astro Boy, autographs, and photographs to event attendees.
