Kyle Hebert, a voice actor for video games and animation, will be media guest of honor at the third annual CyPhaCon convention Friday-Sunday, April 19-21, in the Lake Charles Civic Center.

CyPhaCon, a combination of “science fiction, fantasy and convention,” is an opportunity for fans of anime, gaming and science fiction genres to experience their “shared love of all things geek,” said Stuart Griggs, chief administrator and treasurer.

“Conventions of this sort, held many times a year all around the world, have been described as ‘Mardi Gras for geeks,’ ” he said. “They give the public a view into the subjects of the fans’ passion.”

Hebert was born in Lake Charles, raised in Dallas and now works in Los Angeles. His parents were graduates of McNeese State University, and he has visited relatives here.

He had wanted to do radio and voice-over work since he was a child when he played DJ with his old phonograph and did fake commercials. His dad told him about Mel Blanc, the famous voice of many cartoon characters, and he decided that was what he wanted to do.

He received his degree in radio/TV/film. It was after he moved to California that his dream came true.

Co-workers at a radio station told him about auditions for teen Gohan on the “Dragonball Z” video games, and since then he has made voice acting a full-time job.

Also on the program are science fiction novelists Rob Cerio and Michael Moreau.

Cerio has worked as a paranormal researcher. His first novel, “Dimensional Games,” was a semifinalist for the 2011 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award.

Moreau, a Louisiana native who lives near Lafayette, is a writer, digital artist, prop and costume designer, filmmaker and photographer. His first novel, “It Came From Tomorrow,” a tongue-in-cheek sci-fi adventure, is available through most major online booksellers.

Headlining CyPhaCon’s entertainment schedule are The Suzaku 7, an anime and Japanese pop and visual kei performance group from New Orleans, as well as female dancing group Orion’s Envy.

Returning guests and groups include Bedlam Bards, the Austin Browncoats, Johnny and Jacqueline Segura, Red Stick Rebellion, D20 Girls and the USS Orleck.

New additions: Louisiana StarGators, Louisiana Cosplayers, Alaska’s Cosplay, The Princess Cosplay, Awkward Cosplay Girl, Arylon, Minds Eye Society, Airship Horizons, Carnival Epsilon, and Mediocre Year Industries.

Hal MacMillian will conduct an auction to benefit the Louisiana chapter of the Autism Society.

Attendees dress up in costumes for a previous year’s CyPhaCon. (Special to the American Press)