Before you think you’ve got your plans for Comic-Con worked out — there’s even more stuff being announced for the 41st edition, set for July 21-24.
For a shortcut to all the animation-tagged programming at the convention, click here. http://comic-con.org/cci/cci_search_results.php?strShow=30&chkCat[]=278
And don’t forget to stop by booth 1535 and say hi to Animation Magazine!
Ultimate Fan Experience Brings South Park to California
Comedy Central is moving South Park to San Diego for Comic-Con, with a 15,000 square foot Ultimate Fan Experience located at 450 Second Ave. , just outside of the San Diego Convention Center. The experience commemorates the series’ 15th season and is free and open to the public. The festivities kick off with a South Park-themed parade starting at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday at Fifth Avenue and K Street. The venue opens at 1 p.m. and runs through Saturday, July 23. A costume contest will be held Saturday afternoon.
Want More MTV? Heh-heh-heh!
The music-themed cable network has scheduled five panels, including spotlights on returning animated series Beavis and Butt-head, new animated series Good Vibes and live-action series Teen Wolf. Set for Thursday at 5 p.m. in Room 6A, the Beavis and Butt-head panel will feature a first look at new footage from the 1990s hit ahead of its return to MTV. Creator Mike Judge will answer questions in a panel moderated by Johnny Knoxville. On Saturday at 11 a.m. in Room 7AB, MTV Geek will offer an update from on its multiplatform comics, music and live events deal with Comic-Con staple Stan Lee. Teen Wolf will make its Comic-Con debut Saturday at 5:30 p.m. in Room 24ABC. Finally, the voice cast and creative team from Good Vibes will offer a sneak peek at the show Saturday at 6:30 p.m. in room 24ABC.
VIZ Celebrates 25 Years with Giveaways, Panels
VIZ Media’s will use its booth (#2813) and events to show off wares ranging from the VIZ Manga App for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch, and playable demos for the games Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations, due in the spring; and Bleach: Soul ResSurrección, launching in August.
Sunday is Kid’s Day at the VIZ Media booth. Young and older fans alike can pose for pictures with characters including Kon from Bleach and Naruto and Edamame from Mameshiba. Visitors also can attend screenings of the first episode of the new Voltron Force anime series, and pick up special free samplers and giveaways.
The 25th anniversary celebration continues with a panel discussion on Fridayat 2 p.m. in Room 9, offering the latest updates on new acquisitions and upcoming releases. Other events include a Shonen Jump panel Friday at 3 p.m. in Room 9.
Comedy Central Spotlights ‘Ugly Americans,’ ‘Futurama’
Cable channel Comedy Central will spotlight its animated series. Up first is a panel set for Friday at 4 p.m. on Ugly Americans in Room 23ABC, featuring creator and executive producer Dan Powell, producer and series creator Devin Clark, director of animation Aaron Augenblick, and cast members Matt Oberg, Kurt Metzger, Larry Murphy and Randy Pearlstein. Fan-favorite Futurama gets its due Saturday at 12:15 p.m. in Ballroom 20 with executive producers Matt Groening and David X. Cohen, and cast members Billy West, John DiMaggio, Katey Sagal and Maurice LaMarche.
Animation Stars Figure Out New Web Series
A new geek-oriented web series called Shelf Life will debut at Comic-Con. Created and produced by Yuri Lowenthal, best known as a voice actor on Ben 10: Alien Force, Legion of Superheroes and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles; and Tara Platt, of Gilmore Girls, Charmed and Afterworld, the live-action series follows the irreverent antics of four action figures on a young boy’s shelf. The series is set to debut later this summer, but a special trailer will debut during Comic-Con that you can watch at starting July 20 at www.YouTube.com/ShelfLifeTheSeries.
Adult Swim Brings a Panel Block, Ice Cream Trucks and Parties
Adult Swim will feature its first-ever panel block. Here’s how it works: On Friday, from 11:45 a.m.–5 p.m., the network will take over the Hilton Bayfront’s Indigo Ballroom (located directly next to the convention center) for a day of programming featuring creators, producers and actors from Robot Chicken, The Venture Bros., Childrens Hospital, NTSF:SD:SUV::, Black Dynamite and Eagleheart. Fans will also get an exclusive preview of some of the new series coming to the network.
Adult Swim also is bringing back the ice cream trucks, rewarding fans with free Ben & Jerry’s ice cream; and will host fan events at Quality Social Club in the Gaslamp each night from Thursday through Saturday. Tickets for admission are limited and will be given out at Adult Swim panels, booth and ice cream trucks.
Cartoon Network Spotlights ‘Adventure Time’
Cartoon Network is putting its hit series Adventure Time front and center at Comic-Con, with a themed booth, pizzeria and a parade based on the show.
The channel’s booth, which features massive inflatables of Jake, Finn and Lady Rainicorn, will offer five collectible Adventure Time buttons, and give fans a chance to audition as their favorite Adventure Time character and attend a star-studded panel.
Off the floor, the Cartoon Network Pizzeria has set up camp at Ciro’s Pizzeria, 536 Market Street, Between 5th and 6th in the Gaslamp Quarter, from Wednesday, through Sunday. The restaurant will feature Adventure Time with floor-to-ceiling décor, episodes and clips, and a custom Jake plush toy free with purchase.
Lastly, every day during the convention an Adventure Time parade featuring Finn, Jake, Ice King, Princess Bubblegum, Lumpy Space Princess, and Lady Rainicorn will wind its way through the Gaslamp District.
Other Cartoon Network series will be showcased at San Diego Comic-Con International with talent and giveaways at convention panels including the exciting action of Ben 10, Generator Rex, Young Justice, Green Lantern: The Animated Series, ThunderCats, Star Wars: The Clone Wars and comedy hits like Regular Show, The Amazing World of Gumball, The Problem Solverz and The Looney Tunes Show.
Mill Creek Offers Exclusive ‘He-Man’ DVD Release
Mill Creek Entertainment will have a limited edition DVD release of the complete second season of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, available exclusively at Comic-Con — nearly 60 days prior to the regular DVD release. The complete 8-DVD, 65-episode second season features exclusive artwork on collectible holographic foil packaging, and will be available only at the FUNimation booth #4135 for $25.
Win a Handmade ‘ThunderCats ‘ Replica Sword
To celebrate the highly anticipated premiere of ThunderCats, the newest Warner Bros. Animation series on Cartoon Network, the studio has commissioned a replica Sword of Omens, Lion-O’s mythical weapon used in the series, to be given away to one lucky fan, exclusively at Comic-Con. Handcrafted by the artisan Dragon of Renegade Effects Group, this replica Sword of Omens is forged of aircraft aluminum and features a hand-carved eyepiece and ThunderCats logo. Visit the Warner Bros. booth (#4545) to find out how you could win the Sword of Omens. The Warner Bros. booth also will be giving away free foam replicas of the Sword of Omens to fans on Friday and Sunday.
‘Captain America’ Opens a Day Early in San Diego
Captain America: The First Avenger will open a day early for Comic-Con, with convention-goers having a chance to see the movie beginning Thursday at noon at the UA Horton Plaza. The event will begin with an exclusive free fan screening at 10 a.m. featuring star Chris Evans. Cap-themed festivities are set throughout the day.
