Your Hosts

Name: Mike Dent
Age: 23
Function: Host/Producer
Location: Land of Light, Nebula M-78
First Appearance: Episode 00: This is a Test

Mike is a bit of a hot blooded starving artist. Currently situated in Milwaukee, WI, he serves as the host and producer this podcast which fully exploits his fascination with all this Japanese Pop Culture related and why he owns at least three Henshin Belts.

At the same time, he writes an ongoing column for Otaku USA Magazine and does a bit of voice acting on the side, appearing in productions like The Falcon Banner for Darker Projects.

For all Audio Drama information, check out the Story Arc Wiki Entry

Name: Sylene
Age: 21 (Or so we think)
Function: Co-Host, Mode of Transport, Show Maintainence
First Appearance: Episode 39: ACEN In Flames?! The Ultimate Afro Appears
CV: Scarlotte

Not much is known about this new C.A, she appears during the Anime Central conflict claiming to have arrived through the same rift that brought RaiDecker into our time. Upon returning from the convention, she devotes herself to the mission of protecting our time from other threats. Not necessarily because she’s witnessed the evil of the Kingdom firsthand or because she feels for Mike, more because she thinks the the whole situation is “Cool”.

Though she is a Cyber Assistant, she is, like Ai, a Trace Hybrid. She’s made with a C.A. base, technically making her android but in her own words, she’s more of “a hop, step, and a jump away from being half-human.” In addition, she possesses a prototype V-Shifter which allows her to transform into a modified car at a moment’s notice. (Mike still finds the whole thing weird.)

As cute, charming and “uber-sexy” (in the words of Stalker Fanboys) as she is, she can become hot blooded and fiery at the drop of a hat. This doesn’t stop her from being the perfect match for Mike in his time of need…at least if he can survive…

For more character info, check out Sylene’s entry in the Story Arc wiki.

Name: Mai
Age: 18
Function: Co-Host, Maid Mascot
First Appearance: Autumn Blitz Part 1
CV: 1.) Sachibelle 2.) Mippa (Current)

Created as part of a collaboration project between Ai, Mike, and Robo Garage back during Series 1, Mai was activated and sent to Mike following Ai’s demise with the intent for her to be the new co-host. This would have been the plan if not for the Zodiac capturing her mid-flight and delaying the delivery by a few months.

Upon her rescue and re-activation, Mai swore herself to Mike’s side and dedicated herself to serving him in any function needed. (Within reason of course, pervs). As she was programmed to be a maid, she refers to Mike as either Mike-sama or Goshujin-sama, refusing to leave Mike’s side in some instances. She refers to Sylene “Onee-sama” or Sister. This annoys her to no end of course but she regrettably permits it.

Mai’s personality is slightly innocent in nature due to her recent activation, making her curious about the world around her and at the same time emotionally sensitive and prone to cry when upset about something, something that usually works in her favor as nobody (especially Mike) can turn her down when in tears. This can be blamed on the programmers at Robo Garage who modeled her after a typical girl you’d find in a maid cafe in Akihabara.

She has no weapons to speak of (yet) but she remains a vital asset to the R5 Crew, namely acting their Tokyo Liason for guest interviews and the like.

ALLIES IN ARMS:

-Card Captor Will

You can’t go to a convention on the Midwest Con Circuit and find somebody who doesn’t know who this guy is. Will English, best known as Card Captor Will, is known for his charm, his masquerade stand-up comedy, and also for being the only guy Mike knows who can pull off crossplaying as Card Captor Sakura without giving him night terrors.

Will moonlights on R5, appearing during most convention episodes and also doing an occasional Rantspace segment. Recently, Will and Mike have started up an off-shoot of R5 entitled “Conversations With Will” where the two of them ramble on over the phone over all things geek. Truly a fine addition to the R5 Crew.

-Ron “Soulcrash” Ladao

Is there any way to describe this force of nature that can do him justice? Ron, like Will, is one of Mike’s oldest convention allies. With his video team, The Soulcrash Crew, Ron has covered the likes of Katsucon and Anime Central for the past few years. Mike even tag-teamed with Ron and MarzGurl Productions to produce the con-doc, “The Soulcrash Crew Presents: Reactor 2005″.

Ron appears during most of the convention episodes, lending Mike a hand for video and occasional segments. He also bears the curse of being pointed out as a Narutard during a press conference at Anime Central 2008. Sorry man…

-Keith “Justice” Hayward

Founder of Henshin Justice Unlimited and the guy responsible for some of the more awesome content for R5 Central, Mike first crossed paths with Keith Hayward at Anime Central 2004, his first ever anime convention. The two of them walked past each other on a skywalk, Mike just barely noticing his Japan Hero shirt, who could imagine that they would properly meet the following year and become the greatest of allies?

Keith appears occasionally on R5, whether it’s gathering exclusives for the show like Power Morphicon footage and behind the scenes of Kamen Rider Dragon Knight or just showing up and being his awesome self on convention episodes.