Dream Con Highlights the Black Pioneers in Art and Animation for 2025

At Dream Con, we celebrate the incredible impact Black creators have on anime, gaming, and pop culture. In this post, we’re highlighting Black talent in art & animation who are shaping the industry.

Juston Gordon-Montgomery

Juston Gordon-Montgomery is an animator, director, and creator behind Invincible Fight Girl, a high-energy animated series about an aspiring fighter in a world of wrestling legends. His work blends action with heartfelt storytelling, drawing inspiration from anime and classic Saturday morning cartoons.

‍

Invincible Fight Girl was picked up by Cartoon Network and Warner Bros. Animation, earning praise for its diverse characters and fresh take on the martial arts genre.

‍

Fun Fact: Juston has cited Dragon Ball Z and Naruto as major inspirations for his work, especially in how they balance action and character development.

‍

Minami Sakai

Minami Sakai is an up-and-coming manga artist known for her work in the shojo genre, creating beautifully illustrated romance stories with deep emotional storytelling. As a Black woman in the predominantly Japanese manga industry, she is paving the way for diverse creators.

‍

Her latest manga series, Reincarnated in Another World LaLa, has gained international recognition following Mari – a 30-year old Otaku office lady who is isekai’d into a video game heroine.  Minami Sakai has been featured in discussions about increasing diversity in the manga industry.

‍

Fun Fact: Minami is a huge fan of Sailor Moon and has said the series was one of her biggest inspirations for becoming a mangaka.

‍

Taneka Stotts

‍Taneka Stotts is an Emmy-Award winning writer and creator known for her work on animated series like Craig of the Creek, Steven Universe Future, and My Dad the Bounty Hunter. She started as an Indie comics publisher before breaking into animation writing.

‍

Stotts’ work on Craig of the Creek helped shape one of the most inclusive and diverse animated series in recent years featuring Black families, varying skin tones, LGBTQIA+ characters, and different cultural nuances in a positive light. 

‍

She’s also a huge anime fan and has expressed love for classics like Cowboy Bebop, which inspired her approach to storytelling.

‍

Next article: Dream Con Celebrates the Black Trailblazers in Entertainment for 2025