Comic-Con’s Can’t-Miss Animation Events (Updating)

The annual whirlwind San Diego Comic-Con is about to commence, opening July 25-28 in the San Diego Convention Center. The super-sized pop culture and media celebration will once again offer many opportunities for animation fans to connect with their favorite shows, highly-anticipated movies and franchises.

We’ve already covered the plans announced by Adult Swim, Prime Video, Transformers One and Neopets, and now we’re catching up with all the recent announcements that have come in as we get closer to opening day. (See the full programming schedule at comic-con.org.)

 

The filmmakers and stars of DreamWorks Animation‘s new feature film The Wild Robot, based on the bestselling literary phenomenon by Peter Brown, will unveil the artistry behind the CG adaptation.

Attendees can line up at Room 6BCF on Saturday for an hour-long panel starting at 4 p.m., with Oscar–nominated writer and director Chris Sanders, Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o, the film’s lead voice star, and Heartstopper‘s Kit Connor.

 

In addition to Paramount’s Transformers One panel, the studio is celebrating the latest incarnation of another beloved franchise with a session on Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studio and Point Grey Pictures, the 2D series is set to debut on Paramount+ on August 9.

Taking place Thursday at 2:15 p.m. in Hall H, the TTMNT panel will feature the voices of Leo, Raph, Donnie and Mikey as well as series producers in a discussion moderated by comedian Claire Lim.

• Cowabunga! From the studio that brought audiences the Mutant Mayhem film, the all-new Paramount+ original series Tales of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles explores the adventures of everyone’s favorite pizza-loving heroes as they emerge from the sewers and onto the streets of NYC.

 

Fox Animation Domination kicks off SDCC with a double-feature panel on new show Universal Basic Guys (with co-creators/EPs Adam Malamut and Craig Malamut) and the next season of Greek myth comedy Krapopolis, featuring creator/EP Dan Harmon and special guests who will debut new footage. This twofer is scheduled for Thursday at 8:15 – 9:45 p.m. in Room 6DE.

Then on Friday, fans can catch up with The Great North creators and executive producers Wendy Molyneaux, Lizzie Molyneaux-Logelin and Loren Bouchard, and voice stars Dulcé Sloan, Paul Rust and Aparna Nancherla at 3 p.m. in the Indigo Ballroom. At 4 p.m., Bob’s Burgers takes over the room with creator/EP Bouchard, EPs Nora Smith and Holly Schlesinger and supervising director Bernard Derriman as well as voice stars H. Jon Benjamin, John Roberts, Kristen Schaal, Eugene Mirman, Dan Mintz and Larry Murphy to dish about the upcoming season.

On Saturday, Matt Groening, Matt Selman, Rob LaZebnik, Tim Bailey and special guest moderator Kevin Smith give an exclusive sneak preview of “Treehouse of Horror XXXV” during The Simpsons session at noon in Ballroom 20. The room then turns over to the American Dad! panel at 1 p.m., with voice stars Wendy Schaal, Scott Grimes, Rachael MacFarlane, Dee Bradley Baker and Jeff Fischer, and EPs Matt Weitzman, Kara Vallow and Nic Wegener. At 2 p.m., another Seth MacFarlane favorite continues the B20 party with Family Guy, celebrating the show’s 25th anniversary with voicers Alex Borstein, Seth Green, Jennifer Tilly, Gary Cole and Mike Henry, and EPs Rich Appel, Alec Sulkin, Steve Callaghan and Kara Vallow.

 

Hulu prepares for the Season 5 premiere of Solar Opposites on August 12 with a Friday panel featuring EPs Mike McMahan and Josh Bycel, as well as voice stars Thomas Middleditch, Mary Mack and Sean Giambrone. The session at 2 p.m. in the Indigo Ballroom will include a screening of a never-before-seen episode.

On Saturday, the rebooted sci-fi comedy Futurama previews the imminently releasing 12th season (July 29) with show leads Matt Groening, David X. Cohen, Claudia Katz and voice cast Billy West, John DiMaggio, Lauren Tom, Phil LaMarr, David Herman and Maurice LaMarche.

 

Sunday is Netflix kids’ animation’s day to shine, with a 10 a.m. panel on the re-homed CBS Studios series Star Trek: Prodigy in Room 6DE. A special screening of an episode from Season 2 will be followed by a panel featuring Star Trek actor Kate Mulgrew and EPs Kevin and Dan Hageman. The new season is currently streaming on Netflix.

Then, the Con closes out with a 3 p.m. session on Jurassic World: Chaos Theory, also in Room 6DE. EPs Scott Kreamer and Aaron Hammersley will be joined by series cast members to dig into the upcoming second season of the DreamWorks dino show.

 

DC announced their expanded presence at SDCC with a new, larger footprint, multi-level DC Booth (#4545). In addition to showcasing stories from the DC universe, the company is collaborating with McFarlane Toys, Meta and Candy to offer limited edition SDCC convention exclusives in the DC Booth this year. DC’s animation panel highlights include:

• FRIDAY 8:15 – 9:15 p.m. Harley Quinn & Kite Man: Hell Yeah! (Max Original Panel) — Featuring sneak peeks at unreleased Kite Man: Hell Yeah! scenes and a look at what’s in store for Harley Quinn’s upcoming fifth season, join the cast and creators for a special discussion spanning both Max Original adult animated series from DC and Warner Bros. Animation. Panelists include voice stars Lake Bell (Poison Ivy), Matt Oberg (Kite Man), James Adomian (Bane) and exec producers Dean Lorey (virtual), Justin Halpern, Patrick Schumacker. Room 6BCF
• SATURDAY 10 – 11 a.m. My Adventures with Superman (Screening Presentation & Panel) —

  Join executive producers Jake Wyatt, Josie Campbell, Brendan Clogher and voice cast members Jack Quaid, Alice Lee, Ishmel Sahid and Kiana Madeira as they answer your burning questions from Season 2. Plus, get the early scoop on all the action, comedy, and romance that awaits Clark, Lois, and Jimmy in Season 3. Airing on Adult Swim, My Adventures with Superman is produced by Warner Bros. Animation. Room: Indigo Ballroom, Hilton Bayfront

• SATURDAY 2:45 – 3:45 p.m. Batman: Caped Crusader (Screening Presentation & Panel) —

  Join executive producer Matt Reeves and cast members Hamish Linklater, Jamie Chung and Minnie Driver for the world-premiere screening of the upcoming and highly anticipated series followed by a moderated Q&A where they will discuss their characters and tease key storylines in the upcoming season. From Warner Bros. Animation, Bad Robot Productions, 6th & Idaho and based on DC characters, the series is a reimagining of the Batman mythology through the visionary lens of executive producers J.J. Abrams, Matt Reeves, and Bruce Timm. Batman: Caped Crusader executive producers also include Ed Brubaker, James Tucker, Daniel Pipski, Rachel Rusch Rich and Sam Register. Room: 6BCF

DC is also planning a flurry of collabs, including  the launch of “Phygital” products creator NAFTOS‘s launch of its Pop Art Animation Cels collection with five exclusives, including three Batman Animation options (Booth #5613).

 

Following its debut presence and panel at Comic-Con International 2023, The Pokémon Company International announced its upcoming return to San Diego with an interactive booth. The booth, which features a Pokémon Horizons: The Series theme, invites Trainers to learn more about the first new mainline Pokémon animated series released in more than 25 years with exciting photo opportunities, interactive experiences and fun giveaways.

The Pokémon booth #235 will transport Trainers to the Pokémon world, where they’ll learn more about Pokémon Horizons: The Series, including its dual protagonists Liko and Roy and their respective partner Pokémon, Sprigatito and Fuecoco. With an interactive walkthrough design and fun activities, Trainers will set off on their own Pokémon adventure while discovering other Pokémon and characters from the show, including Friede, Captain Pikachu and the rest of the Rising Volt Tacklers.

Visitors at the Pokémon booth will also have the opportunity to obtain goodies themed after the series through booth giveaways, while supplies last, and discover additional product offerings from Pokémon Center, the premier online destination for official Pokémon merchandise.

 

Max will be previewing the second season of its animated Gremlins prequel series, ahead of tje fall launch:

• FRIDAY, 2:15 – 3:15 p.m. Gremlins: The Wild Batch — After an action-packed first season filled with magic, mystery, and an adorable Gizmo, the next chapter of the hit “Gremlins” animated prequel series continues this fall on Max. Join executive producers Tze Chun and Brendan Hay, Ming-Na Wen (voice of Fong Wing), Izaac Wang (Sam), AJ LoCascio (Gizmo) and Gabrielle Nevaeh (Elle), as they preview all the Mogwai mayhem in store for this upcoming season and unleash a few surprises. Gremlins: The Wild Batch is produced by Amblin Television in association with Warner Bros. Animation. Room 6A

 

Tsuburaya Productions announced that the iconic Japanese superhero Ultraman will be taking over San Diego Comic-Con in a big way. All weekend long, fans of the pop culture franchise will have access to premium content from panels, screenings, meet and greets with live characters, autograph sessions with artists and talent, collectible merch and more! One of the spotlights will be on the new Ultraman: Rising animated movie on Netflix:

• SUNDAY 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Ultraman: Rising & the New Ultraman Universe — Join Ultraman: Rising stars Christopher Sean (Ken Sato) and Keone Young (Dr. Onda), directors Shannon Tindle (Kubo and the Two Strings, Lost Ollie) and John Aoshima (DuckTales, Gravity Falls) and Tsuburaya Productions as they discuss the smash hit Netflix animated feature and catch up on a raft of new upcoming Ultraman content. Get a sneak preview of all things related to these Kaiju-fighting Giants of Light. Learn plans for the newest Ultra Hero, Ultraman Arc. Catch the stunning artwork for Ultraman X Avengers from Marvel Comics. Preview the Ultraman Card Game by the creators of the Force of Will TCG. Check out the new Mill Creek Entertainment Blu-rays. Plus, special live appearances by Ultraman and friends! Room 6A

 

A perennial participant in the Con, this year Peanuts kicks off its year-long 75th Anniversary celebrations. At Booth #1635, finds will find a venue highlighting the newspaper origins and classic artwork of Charles Schulz’ comic strip with an enormous array of exclusive new Peanuts merchandise, many featuring the vintage character art, as well as daily giveaway buttons. There will also be a panel reflecting on the property’s animated history:

• THURSDAY 10 – 11 a.m. The History of Peanuts in Animation — Rob “Boots” Boutilier (Camp Snoopy showrunner), Paige Braddock (CCO of Charles M. Schulz, Creative Associates, and an EP on new Apple TV+ Peanuts content), Stephanie Betts (EVP Content Creation at WildBrain and an EP on new Apple TV+ Peanuts content), Caleb Bellavance (voice of Franklin in Welcome Home, Franklin), Jason Mendelson (CEO & Producer, Lee Mendelson Film Productions) and Todd Barbee (voice of Charlie Brown in A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving) discuss Peanuts‘ evolution from comic strip to 2D animated TV specials to 3D animation to today’s computer-animated original content that captures the classic feel of Charles Schulz’s creation.

Simultaneously, Peanuts will host a free pop-up shop (10 a.m. – 6 p.m.) in the Gaslamp District at 200 J. Street, Suite 105, featuring enormous video walls celebrating Peanuts in animation, from A Charlie Brown Christmas to the wealth of classic and original programming available on Apple TV+. Apple TV+ will host a screening area on the patio in front of the pop-up, where viewers can watch select episodes of the new Apple TV+ series, Camp Snoopy.

In addition, visitors can take advantage of fun photo opps amid such iconic Peanuts animation scenes as The Great Pumpkin Patch; Snoopy in the kitchen for Thanksgiving; and a scene from A Charlie Brown Christmas, and enjoy meet-and-greets with the Snoopy costume character.

 

Skybound Entertainment, the creator led powerhouse entertainment company behind mega-hit franchises The Walking Dead, Invincible, Impact Winter and more, returns to the world-famous convention for a 14th time with a lineup of panels featuring Skybound creators and executives, exclusive reveals, giveaways and launches, as well as in-person fan experiences. (For exclusive details on all things Skybound at SDCC, sign up for Insiders at insiders.skybound.com.)

Animation panels & events include:

• THURSDAY 10 a.m. The Webcomic Revolution Will Be Televised — In an era where entertainment giants and Hollywood studios are searching for new and fresh IP, webcomics are taking the industry by storm, redefining what it means to be a modern hit. Explore the meteoric rise of webcomics as prime source material for on-screen adaptations, as executives, producers and creators unravel the secrets behind the success of webcomic adaptations across multiple mediums. Join us as we chart the course for what’s next in the world of webcomic adaptations and celebrate the dynamic stories and diverse voices driving this groundbreaking movement. Panelists: Glenn Geller, Head of TV, Skybound Entertainment, Aron Levitz, President, Wattpad WEBTOON Studios, Halle Stanford, President of TV, The Jim Henson Company, Snailords, WEBTOON creator, Kayti Burt, Journalist. Room 4
• THURSDAY 10-11 a.m. Spike & Mike’s: Festival of Animation — Together with Skybound Entertainment, Craig “Spike” Decker presents a screening of Spike & Mike’s: Festival of Animation, a family friendly compilation of animated shorts from the Spike & Mike’s Vault, following the formats of the original festival. Founded in the late 1970s, Spike and Mike are credited with launching the careers of industry giants like Matt Groening and Mike Judge, and the Vault of ‘Festival of Animation’ shorts brings nostalgia and whimsy to all. Ballroom 20
• FRIDAY 1-1:45 p.m.Adapting Fan Favorites: A Conversation with Prime Video’s Adult Animation Creators — Join executive producers Robert Kirkman (Invincible), Vivienne Medrano (Hazbin Hotel), Travis Willingham (The Legend of Vox Machina) and Kyle Hunter (Sausage Party: Foodtopia) as they discuss adapting some of the most popular comic books, crowdfunded gems, films, and more into successful television series, give sneak peeks into upcoming seasons, and share exclusive news from each of their respective series. Indigo Ballroom
• FRIDAY 9-11 p.m. Spike & Mike’s: Sick and Twisted Screening — PUNK ROCK ON STEROIDS, BUT FILM! Skybound Entertainment and Spike & Mike’s present a screening of groundbreaking, NSFW animated shorts from the Spike & Mike’s Vault. The ‘Sick and Twisted’ screening will follow the formats of the original festival and the wild atmosphere of the live show is like nothing else you will see at SDCC! Recommended for adults only. Room 5AB
• SATURDAY 4:15 – 5:15 p.m. Skybound Presents: In Conversation with Robert Kirkman — Join comic book creator, writer and executive producer Robert Kirkman for a Q&A with fans, discussing the worlds of Invincible, The Walking Dead and TRANSFORMERS and G.I. JOE via Skybound and Hasbro’s Energon Universe. Room 6A

 

Kartoon Studios will be giving Stan Lee fans a preview of their plans related to his comic-book creations. Taking place Saturday, July 27 at noon in Room #9, Stan Lee: The Next 100 Years will feature David Yu, Co-founder & CEO of digital collectibles/comics co. VeVe; Michael Uslan, Batman movie franchise exec producer and comics historian; Hazel Homer–Wambeam, Lead Curator of the Stan Lee: Beyond the Book exhibit and Brand Manager of Stan Lee Universe; Burton Morris , pop artist and friend of Lee’s; Marc Guggenheim, screenwriter, TV producer, comic-book writer and novelist (Arrow, Tales of Arcadia, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow); and moderator Andy Heyward, multi-Emmy-winning producer and Chairman & CEO of Kartoon Studios.

It’s been over five years since Stan Lee left the world, and we’re able to look around the globe and see the indelible mark he left on storytelling and popular culture. At San Diego Comic-Con this year, Kartoon Studios will be celebrating Stan’s legacy and delving into how he created iconic characters and unforgettable stories, touching on the unique principles that guided Stan to tell stories like only he could, and teasing the next 100 years of Stan Lee. Generations of fans grew up on Stan’s characters and stories, allegories for them to view their own world through modern mythology. Panelists will deconstruct what these stories and characters meant to audiences through vignettes of what they mean to our panelists, legends of the superhero world. Personal and professional stories of Stan, told through the eyes of those who worked with him, were mentored by him and inspired by him, will be shared.