Comic Con Programming Schedule
Jul. 6th, 2006 09:29 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bluejeans07Just here for my reference, will be updated as time goes by. And when the Portfolio Reviews sessions page is updated o_o;
*ones in bold are important for me
...I gotta ask: WHY IS EVERYTHING COOL HAPPENING ALL AT THE SAME TIME?!
Thursday
10:30-11:30 DC Talent Search 1— Find out what DC Comics is looking for when it comes to artists and whether you have the right stuff to draw for the DC Universe, WildStorm, or Vertigo! This informative orientation session will explain how DC’s Talent Search works. If you want to have your work reviewed, attendance at this orientation session is mandatory; not all attendees are guaranteed a review. Room 9
11:00-12:30 Margaret Kerry Voice Actor Tryouts— Margaret Kerry was a Little Rascal, the rotoscope model for Disney’s Tinker Bell, a dancer and choreographer in MGM musicals, the lady lips for Clutch Cargo, and a prominent voice actor in such animations as Clutch Cargo, Space Angel, Captain Fathom, and The New Three Stooges. Margaret gives audience members a chance to test their voice acting skills. Do you have what it takes to work in the voice-acting field? Room 4
11:30-12:30 Del Rey Manga— Same-old same-old? Not on your life! Panelists Dallas Middaugh (associate publisher of Del Rey Manga), Betsy Mitchell (Del Rey editor-in-chief), and Mutsumi Miyazaki (director of licensing and acquisitions) will talk about the new direction for Del Rey Manga. They’ll have some exciting news this time around, folks. You can read about it on the Internet, or you can attend and tell your kids that you were actually there when Del Rey announced...to be continued! Room 8
1:30-3:00 Spotlight on Peter S. Beagle— Best known for his popular fantasy novel The Last Unicorn, Peter S. Beagle is also a renowned screenwriter and songwriter. In his first appearance at Comic-Con as a special guest, Peter’s spotlight will feature a look at his work, past, present, and future, followed by a Q&A session. Room 6A
2:30-3:30 Random! Cartoons and Tomorrow’s Hit-makers— Many of today’s biggest hit-makers in cartoons, including Butch Hartman, Craig McCracken, and Genndy Tartakovsky, made their first professional films for Frederator Studios and its shorts programs. Nickelodeon will debut Frederator’s newest anthology series of 39 films, Random! Cartoons, this winter. Here’s your chance to meet the cartoon hitmakers of tomorrow and find out how they sold their creations to Frederator and Nickelodeon. Creators attending will be Kyle Carrozza (Moobeard the Cow Pirate), Eric Robles (Fanboy), Anne Walker (Mind the Kitty), and Pen Ward (Adventure Time), with a panel moderated by cartoon historian (and creator of his own Random! cartoon), Jerry Beck (Hornswiggle). Cartoons and works-in-progress will be screened. Room 2
5:00-6:00 Cartoon Network: The Life and Times of Juniper Lee— Judd Winick (creator) answers questions about Cartoon Network’s original series The Life and Times of Juniper Lee. Juniper Lee is an all-American girl trying to get through adolescence just like any other preteen in Orchid Bay City. The only difference between her and her peers is that she is the Te Xuan Ze, responsible for making sure that the magical world, full of creatures and monsters, and the human world don’t intrude on each other. Make sure to arrive early so you don’t miss the screening of a special episode. Room 6B
10:00-12:00 Azumi— From the collaborative efforts of director Ryuhei Kitamura (Versus) and producer Mata Yamamoto (Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust), Azumi is the story of a female assassin charged with killing troublesome warlords in an effort to avert civil war. Starring Japan's premiere pop idol Aya Ueto and filled with fast-paced action sequences, Azumi was a blockbuster hit in Japan and will receive a U.S. theatrical release this Summer from AsiaVision. Room 6A
Friday
10:30-11:30 Nickelodeon's New Shorts: Fresh Content and Funky-Fresh Creators— Talented, up-and-coming creators from Nickelodeon's animated shorts program will discuss their shorts, show a sneak peek, and take questions from the audience. You’ll hear from Luke Brookshier, storyboard artist on SpongeBob SquarePants; Debbie Cone, assistant director on Family Guy; Su Moon, character designer from My Life as a Teenage Robot; Scott Sava, CG-animator and comic book author; and Amy Winfrey, creator of the cult web series Making Fiends. Moderated by Peter Gal, director of development, Nickelodeon Animation. Room 2
10:30-11:30 Marvel: Spider-Man: Then and Now— Welcome, True Believers, to a once-in-a-lifetime event! In one room for the first and only time, join the men who have influenced Spider-Man's life from the beginning and those who are shaping him into the man he is today: Stan Lee, Joe Quesada, and J. Michael Straczynski! Find out what went into creating the world's greatest superhero and what the future holds for the wall-crawler. Room 6A
12:30-1:30 Ray Harryhausen: King Kong and the Colorization of Merian C. Cooper’s She— Legendary visual effects artist Ray Harryhausen discusses his career and current projects (including the revitalization of She) with Mark Cotta Vaz, author of the Merian C. Cooper biography Living Dangerously: The Adventures of Merian C. Cooper, and Joe DeVito, creator/illustrator of Kong: King of Skull Island. Moderated by Arnold Kunert, producer of the Saturn Award-winning DVD, Ray Harryhausen: The Early Years Collection. Room 6A
4:00-5:00 Seven Seas Manga— As manga's popularity has grown, it was inevitable that American publishing companies would start to create manga-influenced works. Seven Seas has quickly risen to become one of the top publishers in this field, and with Boogiepop, the company has added licensed manga and novels to its growing library. Meet Seven Seas editors and series creators and find out what the future holds. Panelists include Jason DeAngelis (No Man's Land, Captain Nemo), Adam Arnold (Aoi House), Shiei (Amazing Agent Luna, Aoi House), Dave Cheung (Chugworth Academy), Christopher Vogler (Ravenskull), and Nunzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir (Amazing Agent Luna, Destiny's Hand). Room 1A
6:00-7:00 Pitchin’ Impossible? A Useful Panel About Entering Hollywood— Jermaine Turner and Tracy McAndrew of ABC Family, Dan Evans (freelance development agent), and Jeremy Love (VP, Gettosake Entertainment) will take an idea from conception through various necessary and possible steps to production. This process will include creating a pitch document, obtaining agents, and getting a pitch meeting. The panelists will explain, through hypothetical example and some humorous stories, the process that new creators should adapt to make their way into the Hollywood creative battleground. Knowing that each project is a new path, there will be a Q&A to allow the audience to really hone in on the solutions to obstacles they may encounter. And there may even be a really special guest or two! Room 5AB
6:00-7:00 The Jim Henson Company: Power of the Dark Crystal and Sneak Peeks— Lisa Henson (Power of the Dark Crystal), and Michael Polis (MirrorMask) from The Jim Henson Company will discuss current and upcoming productions. Panelists include Brian Froud (Labyrinth), Genndy Tartakofsky (Star Wars: The Clone Wars), and Scott Stewart (Superman Returns) will be on hand to talk about the much-anticipated sequel feature Power of the Dark Crystal. Other topics include the new puppet television shows for grown-ups as well as new DVD releases, manga books, and exciting new products from Jim Henson Designs. Room 6CDEF
Saturday
10:30-12:00 Lost: Season 3— You won't want to miss this panel with Jorge Garcia (Hugo “Hurley” Reyes) and Daniel Dae Kim (Jin-Soo Kwon) from the cast of ABC’s hit show Lost as they are joined by co-creator/executive producer Damon Lindelof and executive producers Bryan Burk and Carlton Cuse to discuss the new season of Lost. They'll preview excerpts from the Lost Season 2 DVD box set, take questions from the audience, and perhaps even offer some surprises! Room 20
10:30-11:30 Warner Bros. Presents 300— Appearing in person: Creator Frank Miller, director Zach Snyder (Dawn of the Dead), and actors David Wenham (Faramir in Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and The Return of the King) and Gerard Butler (Phantom of the Opera; Lara Croft: Cradle of Life). Based on the epic graphic novel by Miller, 300 is a ferocious retelling of the ancient Battle of Thermopylae in which King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and 300 Spartans fought to the death against Xerxes and his massive Persian army. Facing insurmountable odds, the Spartans’ valor and sacrifice inspire all of Greece to unite against their Persian enemy, drawing a line in the sand for democracy. The film brings Miller’s (Sin City) acclaimed Dark Horse graphic novel to life by combining live action with virtual backgrounds that capture his distinct vision of this ancient historic tale. Hall H
11:30-12:30 Spotlight on Kazuo Koike— Kazuo Koike, author of some of the greatest graphic fiction ever created (Lone Wolf and Cub, Crying Freeman), has attained legendary status not only in his native Japan but in all parts of the world. Within the comics industry, Mr. Koike is unusual in having achieved the pinnacle of fame and admiration as an author alone. SDCC 2006 marks the first-ever time that Mr. Koike has visited an American convention, here to help celebrate the 20th anniversary his English language publisher, Dark Horse Comics. July marks the release of Koike's Path of the Assassin, which will also see the end of the ten-part Samurai Executioner and the four-part Lady Snowblood. Room 6A
12:00-1:00 State of the Animation Industry— Top leaders in the field of animation discuss the current state of the animation industry and give insights in to the future of the field. Panelists include Jorgen Klubien, co-creator/writer Pixar’s Cars; Kevin Koch, president of the Animation Guild; Dan Lund, director, Dream on Silly Dreamer; Sarah Baisley, editor, Animation World Network; Aki Umemoto, Mattel/Base Station; Jason Plapp, T.D., The Simpsons Movie; Angelo di Nallo, co-creator Bradwurst Nickelodeon; and moderator Larry Loc, ASIFA-Hollywood board of directors. Room 4
1:00-2:00 Bradbury, Harryhausen and Ackerman— Three legends. Three lifelong friends. Do not miss Ray Bradbury, Ray Harryhausen, and Forry Ackerman as they reminisce about life, science fiction, fantasy, movies, and more. Room 20
1:30-2:30 VIZ Media's Shonen Jump Panel featuring Nobuhiro Watsuki— This panel features the editors of both the Japanese and U.S. Shonen Jump as well as Nobuhiro Watsuki, the creator of the hit series Rurouni Kenshin and the upcoming Buso Renkin! Two such diverse manga from a single creator—where did these story ideas originate? Also take a sneak peek at the promo animation video of Buso Renkin, never before seen in the U.S. Panelists also include Hisashi Sasaki, original editor and current deputy editor-in-chief of Weekly Shonen Jump; Takanori Asada, current editor of Weekly Shonen Jump; Yumi Hoashi, editor-in-chief, Shonen Jump, and others. Room 1A
1:30-2:30 Pitching An Animated Show— How do you get your cartoon on the air? Selling an animated series isn’t as easy as it seems. The process is as creative as it is frustrating—and equal parts unpredictable. The major networks get thousands of pitches every year, so is there a secret recipe to getting your idea on the top of the pile? Maybe, and these are the people to tell you: the executives responsible for shepherding new shows at the major studios, including Eric Coleman, VP animation, development & production at Nickelodeon; Heather Kenyon, senior director of development original animation for Cartoon Network; Mike Moon, vice president, animated series at The Disney Channel; Halle Stanford, head of children’s programming for The Jim Henson Company; and creators Jorge R. Gutierrez (Nickelodeon’s upcoming 2007 series El Tigre) and Gabe Swarr (Big Pants Mouse), both industry veterans currently in development on several projects. This will be an hour chock-full of wisdom, woes, and even a few “you-saw-it-here-first” surprises, moderated by animation writer/creator Jon M. Gibson, also in development. Room 5AB
3:15-4:00 Inside Nickelodeon's Avatar: The Last Airbender— This panel will be jam-packed with insider information that you can't see anywhere else, including a special behind-the-scenes look at a day in the life of the show's creators, Michael Dante DiMartinoand Bryan Konietzko, a look at what's coming up in the new season from the show's head writer Aaron Ehasz, insight on the show's art style and production process from director Giancarlo Volpe, Q&A with the cast Mae Whitman (Katara), Jack DeSena (Sokka) and Dante Basco (Zuko), and a special sneak-peak of the upcoming one-hour special! Moderated by Eric Coleman, vice president of animation development and production. Room 6B
3:45-4:45 Disney Previews: From Narnia to the Caribbean— Academy Award–winning producer Mark Johnson (Rain Man, Galaxy Quest, Young Sherlock Holmes) will preview never-before-seen footage from the upcoming four-disc limited-edition Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe DVD. You’ll see all-new scenes from the director’s cut of the film and hear some exciting details about this new release. Then join legendary ILM Visual Effects Supervisor John Knoll (Star Wars I, II, and III, Star Trek: First Contact, Pirates of the Caribbean) on board the Black Pearl and the Flying Dutchman for an insider’s look at the making of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest. Exclusive Comic-Con collectibles from these films will be made available to all who attend. Hall H
4:00-5:30 Cartoon Network Studio Originals— Creators of Cartoon Network’s original series Mark O’Hare (Camp Lazlo), Tim and Julie Cahill (My Gym Partner’s a Monkey), Everett Peck (Squirrel Boy), Mr. Warburton (Codename: Kids Next Door), and Danny Antonucci (Ed, Edd n Eddy) will be on hand to discuss their series, show clips, and answer questions. Room 6A
5:30-7:00 Animation Story Meeting— Travel to a dark place, seldom seen by outsiders: an animation story meeting. See and hear how an idea for an animated superhero story goes from one-sentence premise all the way to full-blown, beginning-middle-and-end story (with hardly any blood being spilled). The all-star writing staff for this event will consist of Adam Beechen (Hi Hi Puffy Ami Yumi), Craig Miller (Pocket Dragons), Robert Skir (Godzilla), comics giant Len Wein, and Amy Wolfram (Teen Titans). Moderated by Stan Berkowitz (Justice League). Audience participation will be welcome—especially if the team encounters mass writers' block. Room 24A
6:00-7:00 Spotlight on Yoshitaka Amano— BOOM! Studios presents the genre-crossing artist. Best known for his work on the Final Fantasy videogame series, Yoshitaka Amano is one of the most popular artists working today, and his work includes illustration, game design, and manga. His American-based work includes The Sandman: The Dream Hunters for Vertigo and Wolverine/Elektra for Marvel. Room 2
7:00-9:00 The Batman Q&A, followed by Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo World Premiere Screening— Warner Bros. Animation’s Emmy-winning action adventure series The Batman returns for a third season this fall, airing Saturdays at 11:30 AM in the Kids’ WB! programming block on the new CW. The Studio will screen selected scenes from the upcoming season, which will feature Robin joining the Dark Knight in his relentless quest to rid Gotham City of its supervillains, followed by a Q&A featuring supervising producer Michael Goguen (The Batman vs. Dracula: The Animated Movie), producer/art director Jeff Matsuda (The Batman vs. Dracula: The Animated Movie), story editor Michael Jelenic (Jackie Chan Adventures), and other members of the production team, as well as cast members Rino Romano (voice of Batman), Evan Sabara (Robin) and Danielle Judovits (Batgirl).
Right after Q&A, Warner Home Video presents the world premiere screening of the Warner Bros. Animation DVD feature Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo (to be released in 2007). Robin, Starfire, Cyborg, Raven, and Beast Boy are back to save the world in their very first film, which finds the Teen Titans battling a mysterious and menacing Japanese criminal known as Brushogun, who has sent a high-tech ninja to attack the young heroes. The battle has only begun for the crime-fighting five, who pack their bags and take off for Tokyo to destroy their newest menace. Producers Glen Murakami (Batman Beyond, Justice League) and David Slack (Stuart Little, Max Steel), along with cast member Greg Cipes (voice of Beast Boy), will be on hand to introduce the film. Room 6CDEF
Sunday
10:30-12:00 Nickelodeon Sneak Peek Screening— This can’t-miss screening for fans of Nickelodeon will feature a brand-new, never-before-seen episode of SpongeBob SquarePants, and that’s not all! You’ll also get a look at fresh episodes of Catscratch and The X’s before they hit your TV, as well as trailers for the upcoming one-hour special Avatar: The Secret of the Fire Nation, and the Danny Phantom special Urban Jungle. Plus, we’ll show you Nick extras you can’t get anywhere else. Room 6A
12:00-1:00 Cartoon Network: Ben 10— Ben 10 follows the exciting adventures of 10-year-old Ben Tennyson who discovers a strange alien device resembling a wristwatch called the Omnitrix inside a crashed meteorite that allows him to transform into 10 different fantastic alien beings. Scheduled to appear are Sam Register (executive producer), Alex Soto (supervising producer), and Tramm Wigzell (director of development, Cartoon Network). Be ready for a few surprise guests, as well as a con exclusive giveaway from Bandai. Room 6A
3:00-4:00 New Line: Lord of the Rings— Find out the latest on upcoming DVDs and merchandise for The Lord of the Rings. Representatives from New Line Home Entertainment, Electronic Arts, and Sideshow Collectibles will be present with insight, sneak peeks, and Q&A. Room 5AB
*ones in bold are important for me
...I gotta ask: WHY IS EVERYTHING COOL HAPPENING ALL AT THE SAME TIME?!
Thursday
10:30-11:30 DC Talent Search 1— Find out what DC Comics is looking for when it comes to artists and whether you have the right stuff to draw for the DC Universe, WildStorm, or Vertigo! This informative orientation session will explain how DC’s Talent Search works. If you want to have your work reviewed, attendance at this orientation session is mandatory; not all attendees are guaranteed a review. Room 9
11:00-12:30 Margaret Kerry Voice Actor Tryouts— Margaret Kerry was a Little Rascal, the rotoscope model for Disney’s Tinker Bell, a dancer and choreographer in MGM musicals, the lady lips for Clutch Cargo, and a prominent voice actor in such animations as Clutch Cargo, Space Angel, Captain Fathom, and The New Three Stooges. Margaret gives audience members a chance to test their voice acting skills. Do you have what it takes to work in the voice-acting field? Room 4
11:30-12:30 Del Rey Manga— Same-old same-old? Not on your life! Panelists Dallas Middaugh (associate publisher of Del Rey Manga), Betsy Mitchell (Del Rey editor-in-chief), and Mutsumi Miyazaki (director of licensing and acquisitions) will talk about the new direction for Del Rey Manga. They’ll have some exciting news this time around, folks. You can read about it on the Internet, or you can attend and tell your kids that you were actually there when Del Rey announced...to be continued! Room 8
1:30-3:00 Spotlight on Peter S. Beagle— Best known for his popular fantasy novel The Last Unicorn, Peter S. Beagle is also a renowned screenwriter and songwriter. In his first appearance at Comic-Con as a special guest, Peter’s spotlight will feature a look at his work, past, present, and future, followed by a Q&A session. Room 6A
2:30-3:30 Random! Cartoons and Tomorrow’s Hit-makers— Many of today’s biggest hit-makers in cartoons, including Butch Hartman, Craig McCracken, and Genndy Tartakovsky, made their first professional films for Frederator Studios and its shorts programs. Nickelodeon will debut Frederator’s newest anthology series of 39 films, Random! Cartoons, this winter. Here’s your chance to meet the cartoon hitmakers of tomorrow and find out how they sold their creations to Frederator and Nickelodeon. Creators attending will be Kyle Carrozza (Moobeard the Cow Pirate), Eric Robles (Fanboy), Anne Walker (Mind the Kitty), and Pen Ward (Adventure Time), with a panel moderated by cartoon historian (and creator of his own Random! cartoon), Jerry Beck (Hornswiggle). Cartoons and works-in-progress will be screened. Room 2
5:00-6:00 Cartoon Network: The Life and Times of Juniper Lee— Judd Winick (creator) answers questions about Cartoon Network’s original series The Life and Times of Juniper Lee. Juniper Lee is an all-American girl trying to get through adolescence just like any other preteen in Orchid Bay City. The only difference between her and her peers is that she is the Te Xuan Ze, responsible for making sure that the magical world, full of creatures and monsters, and the human world don’t intrude on each other. Make sure to arrive early so you don’t miss the screening of a special episode. Room 6B
10:00-12:00 Azumi— From the collaborative efforts of director Ryuhei Kitamura (Versus) and producer Mata Yamamoto (Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust), Azumi is the story of a female assassin charged with killing troublesome warlords in an effort to avert civil war. Starring Japan's premiere pop idol Aya Ueto and filled with fast-paced action sequences, Azumi was a blockbuster hit in Japan and will receive a U.S. theatrical release this Summer from AsiaVision. Room 6A
Friday
10:30-11:30 Nickelodeon's New Shorts: Fresh Content and Funky-Fresh Creators— Talented, up-and-coming creators from Nickelodeon's animated shorts program will discuss their shorts, show a sneak peek, and take questions from the audience. You’ll hear from Luke Brookshier, storyboard artist on SpongeBob SquarePants; Debbie Cone, assistant director on Family Guy; Su Moon, character designer from My Life as a Teenage Robot; Scott Sava, CG-animator and comic book author; and Amy Winfrey, creator of the cult web series Making Fiends. Moderated by Peter Gal, director of development, Nickelodeon Animation. Room 2
10:30-11:30 Marvel: Spider-Man: Then and Now— Welcome, True Believers, to a once-in-a-lifetime event! In one room for the first and only time, join the men who have influenced Spider-Man's life from the beginning and those who are shaping him into the man he is today: Stan Lee, Joe Quesada, and J. Michael Straczynski! Find out what went into creating the world's greatest superhero and what the future holds for the wall-crawler. Room 6A
12:30-1:30 Ray Harryhausen: King Kong and the Colorization of Merian C. Cooper’s She— Legendary visual effects artist Ray Harryhausen discusses his career and current projects (including the revitalization of She) with Mark Cotta Vaz, author of the Merian C. Cooper biography Living Dangerously: The Adventures of Merian C. Cooper, and Joe DeVito, creator/illustrator of Kong: King of Skull Island. Moderated by Arnold Kunert, producer of the Saturn Award-winning DVD, Ray Harryhausen: The Early Years Collection. Room 6A
4:00-5:00 Seven Seas Manga— As manga's popularity has grown, it was inevitable that American publishing companies would start to create manga-influenced works. Seven Seas has quickly risen to become one of the top publishers in this field, and with Boogiepop, the company has added licensed manga and novels to its growing library. Meet Seven Seas editors and series creators and find out what the future holds. Panelists include Jason DeAngelis (No Man's Land, Captain Nemo), Adam Arnold (Aoi House), Shiei (Amazing Agent Luna, Aoi House), Dave Cheung (Chugworth Academy), Christopher Vogler (Ravenskull), and Nunzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir (Amazing Agent Luna, Destiny's Hand). Room 1A
6:00-7:00 Pitchin’ Impossible? A Useful Panel About Entering Hollywood— Jermaine Turner and Tracy McAndrew of ABC Family, Dan Evans (freelance development agent), and Jeremy Love (VP, Gettosake Entertainment) will take an idea from conception through various necessary and possible steps to production. This process will include creating a pitch document, obtaining agents, and getting a pitch meeting. The panelists will explain, through hypothetical example and some humorous stories, the process that new creators should adapt to make their way into the Hollywood creative battleground. Knowing that each project is a new path, there will be a Q&A to allow the audience to really hone in on the solutions to obstacles they may encounter. And there may even be a really special guest or two! Room 5AB
6:00-7:00 The Jim Henson Company: Power of the Dark Crystal and Sneak Peeks— Lisa Henson (Power of the Dark Crystal), and Michael Polis (MirrorMask) from The Jim Henson Company will discuss current and upcoming productions. Panelists include Brian Froud (Labyrinth), Genndy Tartakofsky (Star Wars: The Clone Wars), and Scott Stewart (Superman Returns) will be on hand to talk about the much-anticipated sequel feature Power of the Dark Crystal. Other topics include the new puppet television shows for grown-ups as well as new DVD releases, manga books, and exciting new products from Jim Henson Designs. Room 6CDEF
Saturday
10:30-12:00 Lost: Season 3— You won't want to miss this panel with Jorge Garcia (Hugo “Hurley” Reyes) and Daniel Dae Kim (Jin-Soo Kwon) from the cast of ABC’s hit show Lost as they are joined by co-creator/executive producer Damon Lindelof and executive producers Bryan Burk and Carlton Cuse to discuss the new season of Lost. They'll preview excerpts from the Lost Season 2 DVD box set, take questions from the audience, and perhaps even offer some surprises! Room 20
10:30-11:30 Warner Bros. Presents 300— Appearing in person: Creator Frank Miller, director Zach Snyder (Dawn of the Dead), and actors David Wenham (Faramir in Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and The Return of the King) and Gerard Butler (Phantom of the Opera; Lara Croft: Cradle of Life). Based on the epic graphic novel by Miller, 300 is a ferocious retelling of the ancient Battle of Thermopylae in which King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and 300 Spartans fought to the death against Xerxes and his massive Persian army. Facing insurmountable odds, the Spartans’ valor and sacrifice inspire all of Greece to unite against their Persian enemy, drawing a line in the sand for democracy. The film brings Miller’s (Sin City) acclaimed Dark Horse graphic novel to life by combining live action with virtual backgrounds that capture his distinct vision of this ancient historic tale. Hall H
11:30-12:30 Spotlight on Kazuo Koike— Kazuo Koike, author of some of the greatest graphic fiction ever created (Lone Wolf and Cub, Crying Freeman), has attained legendary status not only in his native Japan but in all parts of the world. Within the comics industry, Mr. Koike is unusual in having achieved the pinnacle of fame and admiration as an author alone. SDCC 2006 marks the first-ever time that Mr. Koike has visited an American convention, here to help celebrate the 20th anniversary his English language publisher, Dark Horse Comics. July marks the release of Koike's Path of the Assassin, which will also see the end of the ten-part Samurai Executioner and the four-part Lady Snowblood. Room 6A
12:00-1:00 State of the Animation Industry— Top leaders in the field of animation discuss the current state of the animation industry and give insights in to the future of the field. Panelists include Jorgen Klubien, co-creator/writer Pixar’s Cars; Kevin Koch, president of the Animation Guild; Dan Lund, director, Dream on Silly Dreamer; Sarah Baisley, editor, Animation World Network; Aki Umemoto, Mattel/Base Station; Jason Plapp, T.D., The Simpsons Movie; Angelo di Nallo, co-creator Bradwurst Nickelodeon; and moderator Larry Loc, ASIFA-Hollywood board of directors. Room 4
1:00-2:00 Bradbury, Harryhausen and Ackerman— Three legends. Three lifelong friends. Do not miss Ray Bradbury, Ray Harryhausen, and Forry Ackerman as they reminisce about life, science fiction, fantasy, movies, and more. Room 20
1:30-2:30 VIZ Media's Shonen Jump Panel featuring Nobuhiro Watsuki— This panel features the editors of both the Japanese and U.S. Shonen Jump as well as Nobuhiro Watsuki, the creator of the hit series Rurouni Kenshin and the upcoming Buso Renkin! Two such diverse manga from a single creator—where did these story ideas originate? Also take a sneak peek at the promo animation video of Buso Renkin, never before seen in the U.S. Panelists also include Hisashi Sasaki, original editor and current deputy editor-in-chief of Weekly Shonen Jump; Takanori Asada, current editor of Weekly Shonen Jump; Yumi Hoashi, editor-in-chief, Shonen Jump, and others. Room 1A
1:30-2:30 Pitching An Animated Show— How do you get your cartoon on the air? Selling an animated series isn’t as easy as it seems. The process is as creative as it is frustrating—and equal parts unpredictable. The major networks get thousands of pitches every year, so is there a secret recipe to getting your idea on the top of the pile? Maybe, and these are the people to tell you: the executives responsible for shepherding new shows at the major studios, including Eric Coleman, VP animation, development & production at Nickelodeon; Heather Kenyon, senior director of development original animation for Cartoon Network; Mike Moon, vice president, animated series at The Disney Channel; Halle Stanford, head of children’s programming for The Jim Henson Company; and creators Jorge R. Gutierrez (Nickelodeon’s upcoming 2007 series El Tigre) and Gabe Swarr (Big Pants Mouse), both industry veterans currently in development on several projects. This will be an hour chock-full of wisdom, woes, and even a few “you-saw-it-here-first” surprises, moderated by animation writer/creator Jon M. Gibson, also in development. Room 5AB
3:15-4:00 Inside Nickelodeon's Avatar: The Last Airbender— This panel will be jam-packed with insider information that you can't see anywhere else, including a special behind-the-scenes look at a day in the life of the show's creators, Michael Dante DiMartinoand Bryan Konietzko, a look at what's coming up in the new season from the show's head writer Aaron Ehasz, insight on the show's art style and production process from director Giancarlo Volpe, Q&A with the cast Mae Whitman (Katara), Jack DeSena (Sokka) and Dante Basco (Zuko), and a special sneak-peak of the upcoming one-hour special! Moderated by Eric Coleman, vice president of animation development and production. Room 6B
3:45-4:45 Disney Previews: From Narnia to the Caribbean— Academy Award–winning producer Mark Johnson (Rain Man, Galaxy Quest, Young Sherlock Holmes) will preview never-before-seen footage from the upcoming four-disc limited-edition Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe DVD. You’ll see all-new scenes from the director’s cut of the film and hear some exciting details about this new release. Then join legendary ILM Visual Effects Supervisor John Knoll (Star Wars I, II, and III, Star Trek: First Contact, Pirates of the Caribbean) on board the Black Pearl and the Flying Dutchman for an insider’s look at the making of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest. Exclusive Comic-Con collectibles from these films will be made available to all who attend. Hall H
4:00-5:30 Cartoon Network Studio Originals— Creators of Cartoon Network’s original series Mark O’Hare (Camp Lazlo), Tim and Julie Cahill (My Gym Partner’s a Monkey), Everett Peck (Squirrel Boy), Mr. Warburton (Codename: Kids Next Door), and Danny Antonucci (Ed, Edd n Eddy) will be on hand to discuss their series, show clips, and answer questions. Room 6A
5:30-7:00 Animation Story Meeting— Travel to a dark place, seldom seen by outsiders: an animation story meeting. See and hear how an idea for an animated superhero story goes from one-sentence premise all the way to full-blown, beginning-middle-and-end story (with hardly any blood being spilled). The all-star writing staff for this event will consist of Adam Beechen (Hi Hi Puffy Ami Yumi), Craig Miller (Pocket Dragons), Robert Skir (Godzilla), comics giant Len Wein, and Amy Wolfram (Teen Titans). Moderated by Stan Berkowitz (Justice League). Audience participation will be welcome—especially if the team encounters mass writers' block. Room 24A
6:00-7:00 Spotlight on Yoshitaka Amano— BOOM! Studios presents the genre-crossing artist. Best known for his work on the Final Fantasy videogame series, Yoshitaka Amano is one of the most popular artists working today, and his work includes illustration, game design, and manga. His American-based work includes The Sandman: The Dream Hunters for Vertigo and Wolverine/Elektra for Marvel. Room 2
7:00-9:00 The Batman Q&A, followed by Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo World Premiere Screening— Warner Bros. Animation’s Emmy-winning action adventure series The Batman returns for a third season this fall, airing Saturdays at 11:30 AM in the Kids’ WB! programming block on the new CW. The Studio will screen selected scenes from the upcoming season, which will feature Robin joining the Dark Knight in his relentless quest to rid Gotham City of its supervillains, followed by a Q&A featuring supervising producer Michael Goguen (The Batman vs. Dracula: The Animated Movie), producer/art director Jeff Matsuda (The Batman vs. Dracula: The Animated Movie), story editor Michael Jelenic (Jackie Chan Adventures), and other members of the production team, as well as cast members Rino Romano (voice of Batman), Evan Sabara (Robin) and Danielle Judovits (Batgirl).
Right after Q&A, Warner Home Video presents the world premiere screening of the Warner Bros. Animation DVD feature Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo (to be released in 2007). Robin, Starfire, Cyborg, Raven, and Beast Boy are back to save the world in their very first film, which finds the Teen Titans battling a mysterious and menacing Japanese criminal known as Brushogun, who has sent a high-tech ninja to attack the young heroes. The battle has only begun for the crime-fighting five, who pack their bags and take off for Tokyo to destroy their newest menace. Producers Glen Murakami (Batman Beyond, Justice League) and David Slack (Stuart Little, Max Steel), along with cast member Greg Cipes (voice of Beast Boy), will be on hand to introduce the film. Room 6CDEF
Sunday
10:30-12:00 Nickelodeon Sneak Peek Screening— This can’t-miss screening for fans of Nickelodeon will feature a brand-new, never-before-seen episode of SpongeBob SquarePants, and that’s not all! You’ll also get a look at fresh episodes of Catscratch and The X’s before they hit your TV, as well as trailers for the upcoming one-hour special Avatar: The Secret of the Fire Nation, and the Danny Phantom special Urban Jungle. Plus, we’ll show you Nick extras you can’t get anywhere else. Room 6A
12:00-1:00 Cartoon Network: Ben 10— Ben 10 follows the exciting adventures of 10-year-old Ben Tennyson who discovers a strange alien device resembling a wristwatch called the Omnitrix inside a crashed meteorite that allows him to transform into 10 different fantastic alien beings. Scheduled to appear are Sam Register (executive producer), Alex Soto (supervising producer), and Tramm Wigzell (director of development, Cartoon Network). Be ready for a few surprise guests, as well as a con exclusive giveaway from Bandai. Room 6A
3:00-4:00 New Line: Lord of the Rings— Find out the latest on upcoming DVDs and merchandise for The Lord of the Rings. Representatives from New Line Home Entertainment, Electronic Arts, and Sideshow Collectibles will be present with insight, sneak peeks, and Q&A. Room 5AB
