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Bay Area Gaming News, Reviews & Anime Coverage
ANIME Impulse Bay Area 2026 has announced the first batch of voice performer guests, and they are Alain Mesa, Samantha Béart, and Barrett Leddy.
ANIME Impulse Bay Area 2026 has announced the first batch of voice performer guests, and they are Alain Mesa, Samantha Béart, and Barrett Leddy.
Alain Mesa is a voice actor best known for his BAFTA-nominated role as Col. Alejandro Vargas in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II. Anime fans will recognize him as Yasutora “Chad” Sado in Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War and Salazar in Great Pretender. Gamers will also recognize him as Victor Garcia Hernandez in Forza Horizon 5, Joe Medina in American Arcadia, and Serge Tores in Perception.
Samantha Béart is a performer who is best known for their roles as Karlach in Baldur’s Gate 3. Gamers will also recognize them as Darth Nul in Star Wars: The Old Republic and Oracle in Tron: Catalyst. They have also starred as Thomasina Bateman in The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow and have upcoming roles as One in Fading Echo and Cider in Absolum. Their stage credits include Random in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and The Trickster in the Off-Broadway production The Twenty Sided Tavern. Béart has earned a BAFTA nomination for Karlach and was selected as a BAFTA Breakthrough for The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow.
Barrett Leddy is a voice actor, comedian, and Audie Award-winning audiobook narrator. Anime fans will recognize him as Akira Zaizen in Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS, Gavin Sogetsu in Yu-Gi-Oh! SEVENS, and Maddox Sogetsu in Yu-Gi-Oh! GO RUSH!!. He also voices Iago in LEGO Disney Princess: The Castle Quest and Fluttercaw in Goldbeak. He also co-stars with Natasha Lyonne in the Audible Original, Space: 1969, written by Simpsons writer Bill Oakley.
They will be joined by VTubers Alban Knox, Sonny Brisko, Uki Violeta, Doppio Dropscythe, Ver Vermillion, Aia Amare, and Scarle Yonaguni. Addtional guests will be announced in the future along with panel schedules and special events. Tickets for Anime Impulse Bay Area 2026 are on sale now, starting at $39.94 for a Day Pass.
ANIME Impulse Bay Area 2026 will take place at the Santa Clara Convention Center from July 18th to July 19th. This is an event that invites industry figures, local merchants, and the community for a weekend of fun. Traditionally a staple of the Southern California anime and cosplay community, they have been expanding across the West Coast. This will be their fourth event in the Bay Area.
8Bit/Digi is an independent media outlet that provides insight for Bay Area gamers and cosplayers.
