The UNLV Asian Studies Program will present a series of speakers on Japanese Manga and Anime throughout the month of November to showcase and celebrate the impact of Japanese artists in society. The lectures, which are free and open to the public, will be held in Frank and Estella Beam Hall (BEH) on the UNLV campus.

On Nov. 12, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., in BEH Room 216, Chiba Tetsuya will discuss highlights of his career, including his first manga, "Fukushu no Semushi," the award-winning "1, 2, 3 to 4, 5, Roku," and his signature piece, "Ashita no Joe." Tetsuya is considered one of the most respected producers in the genre and currently serves as managing director of the prestigious Japan Cartoonist Association.

On Nov. 18, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., in BEH Room 241, Hiromi Seki, the first female producer of the trend-setting Toei Animation Company, will discuss her role as a trailblazer in the anime industry. Seki produced "Marmalade Boy," "Super Bikkuri Man," and a well-received revival of the classic 1960's anime, "Himitsu no Akkochan." She also produced "Digimon," a series based on a popular electronic "pet" game produced by toy manufacturing giant Bandai. Seki is currently involved in the production of a television series and film based on Makoto Raiku's popular manga, "Konjiki no Gashbell."

On Nov. 23, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., in BEH Room 216, Hiroaki Takeuchi will discuss both traditional cel and digital animation. A leading producer in the field, Takeuchi established a state-of-the-art computer graphics studio in cooperation with Sega in 1997, producing animated imagery for many of Sega's video game titles. He also launched Takeuchi's CoMix Wave Inc., which specializes, among other things, in the marketing of well-known Japanese cartoons and comics. He most recently produced "The Animatrix," a collection of short animated films based on "The Matrix."

The UNLV Asian Studies Program is dedicated to enhancing knowledge about the traditions and contemporary societies of China, India, Japan, and other Asian countries. The program aims at communicating and sharing the distinctive cultural, political, linguistic, literary, artistic, and historical aspects of Asian life.