COMIC CON: Thursday Animation Highlights
Comic Con International just released it’s schedule for the first full day of programming, Thursday July 18th. If the subsequent three days have as much (or more) for the animation fan, it’ll be a record. And of course, some of the best cartoon-centric panels are opposite each other, making it literally impossible to see everything you’d want to see.
So here are a couple of plugs, shout-outs and highlights from that first day. The doors open at 10am and so do the first comics/media oriented presentations. Good luck trying to see them all.
11:45am – Dreamworks Animation. Animation head Bill Damaschke and directors David Soren (Turbo), Rob Minkoff (Peabody & Sherman), and Dean DeBlois (How to Train Your Dragon 2) discuss the process of feature animation in Room 6A
11:50am – The 14th Annual Animation Show of Shows – Ron Diamond’s famed showcase of the best in animated shorts screens in Hall H
12:00 noon – Bill Plympton will discuss and preview his new crowd-funded animated feature Cheatin’ and draw a picture for you in Room 23ABC
12:30pm – Gene Deitch – the legendary cartoonist, animator, Academy Award-winning filmmaker, and creator of Tom Terrific. Moderated by yours truly, Jerry Beck and film historian and Comic-Con special guest-Leonard Maltin, in Room 8.
4:45pm – I Know That Voice – A killer voice actor panel with John DiMaggio (Bender from Futurama, Jake The Dog fromAdventure Time) bringing the cast and crew of a new cartoon voice acting documentary together for an exclusive sneak peek – with Billy West (Futurama, Ren and Stimpy), Rob Paulsen (TMNT, Pinky and the Brain), Dee Bradley Baker (Clone Wars, Ben 10, American Dad), Fred Tatasciore (Hulk, Ben 10, Mad), and Tom Kenny (Spongebob Squarepants, Brickleberry).
5:00pm – Legendary Animators of the Classic 60s Cartoons – with animators Bob Singer (character and background designer, Bugs Bunny/Scooby Doo), Art Leonardi (designer/director, Pink Panther), Willie Ito (layout artist/Bugs Bunny, Flintstones), and Iraj Paran (character and title designer, Super Friends, Josie and the Pussycats), sharing their vast experience shaping animation history and creating hundreds of classic characters and cartoons we love. Room 9.
I’m not even mentioning the Annoying Orange panel at 12:45pm, The Hanna-Barbera Superhero/Warner Archives panel also at 12:45pm, The Adult Swim panel with Patton Oswalt, the Cartoon Hangover event at 2pm or the Spike & Mike screening that night… and this is just the first day.
If you can’t find me at any of the above, I’ll be buying comics downstairs or cooling my heels at the Asifa Hollywood booth (#1534). Check the complete Thursday schedule here. See you there!
