LP: Comic-Con International Offers Disney-Related Seminars
Toy Story 10th Anniversary
Panel, Narnia Sneak Peek
at Comic-Con
International San Diego 2005
Comic-Con International celebrates comics and pop culture with a variety of presentations, seminars, trade booth displays and more. Over 100, 000 are expected to attend "the largest, comics and pop culture event in America, period" in San Diego July 14-17, 2005.
The following is a sample of the presentations of particular interest to Disney fans. For the complete event schedule and to register, please visit http://www.comic-con.org/cci/index.shtml
Thursday, July 14
11:00-12:30 Margaret Kerry: Voice Actor Tryouts—Margaret Kerry, the rotoscoop
model for Disney’s Tinker Bell and the lips of Clutch Cargo, brings her years of
voice acting skills to this unique voice acting training session. Here is a
chance to learn the tricks of the voice acting trade.
1:30-2:30 ASIFA Presents: Marc Kausler: It’s the Cat—Mark Kausler’s career has
included work on Beauty and the Beast (animator: "Maurice"), Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi
(animation director), Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (animator) (storysketch), and The
Lion King (story). Also a noted authority and collector of early animation, Mark
is the creator of last year’s Annie Award–nominated hand-drawn cel-animated
short It’s the Cat. Join Mark Kausler for this screening and discussion of the
making of this unique film. Mark will also be screening some of the rare films
that inspired this film.
11:30-12:30 eBay University—Join Laurence Toney and Kathryn Kane of eBay for a
session on how to buy and sell comics, animation art, and gaming (and other
related items) on eBay! This eBay seminar will help you learn how to earn and
save more money on The World's Online Marketplace.
Friday, July 15
1:30-2:30 Bringing Back Comics for Kids—How do we get more comics in the hands
of younger readers? A diverse group of artists, authors, editors and educators
will discuss the best way to achieve this goal through comics shops, classroom
initiatives, libraries, and other mediums. Panelists include comics writer J. M.
DeMatteis (Abadazad); Landry Walker and Eric Jones, co-creators of comics Kid
Gravity and Little Gloomy, which have appeared in Disney Adventures magazine;
Steve Behling, United Media’s managing editor, comics, who has also worked at
Disney Publishing and Marvel Comics; Jeff Sharp, art teacher at Maryland’s
Century High School, where a comics-in-the-classroom initiative is currently
underway; Michael Cart, young adult critic/columnist at Booklist Magazine and
former librarian; and Eric Shanower, creator of the comic book Age of Bronze and
the Oz graphic novel series. The panel will be moderated by Steve Miller, vice
president for business development and strategic planning at Disney Publishing
Worldwide.
3:00-4:30 Disney Coming Attractions: Chicken Little, Sky High, and Pixar’s Toy
Story 10th Anniversary and Cars—Moderated by animation expert and author Jerry
Beck, Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios celebrate the 10th
anniversary of the groundbreaking release of Toy Story with a special panel
featuring Pixar veterans Pete Docter, Joe Ranft, and Academy Award– winner Gary
Rydstrom. The presentation showcases discussion of the film along with a preview
of clips from the upcoming special–edition DVD release. Added bonus: a Comic-Con
exclusive peek at the Walt Disney Pictures presentation of a Pixar Animation
Studios film, Cars, directed by Academy Award–winner John Lasseter (Toy Story, A
Bug's Life), releasing June 9, 2006. Disney Feature Animation presents an
exclusive look at its first in-house computer-animated feature, Chicken Little,
with director Mark Dindal (The Emperor’s New Groove) and producer Randy Fullmer
on hand to discuss it. Also, from Disney’s live-action adventure comedy Sky
High, meet star Bruce Campell, director Mike Mitchell, and screenwriter Paul
Hernandez.
4:00-5:30 Comic Collecting & the 21st Century: A Dialogue of Pressing
Issues—This panel discussion of experienced dealers, collectors and industry
experts will engage in a dialogue on the key issues facing the comic book
collecting community today. Some of the topics to be debated include the current
state of collecting or investing in comics, the existence of ethical standards
in the community, the stigma of restoration, the controversy of pressing, the
impact and role of independent grading services, and other matters of concern.
The discussion will be followed by a 30 minute Q & A audience participation
session. Panelists include: Mark S. Zaid, EsquireComics.com; Steve Borock,
President/Primary Grader, CGC; Jon Berk, Overstreet Advisor, past president of
American Association of Comicbook Collectors, Mark Wilson, PGCMint Comics; Tom
Gordon III, Gemstone Publishing managing editor and others.
5:30-7:00 The Jim Henson Company’s 50th Anniversary: Retrospective and Sneak
Peek at MirrorMask JHC was founded in 1955 by prolific artist and puppeteer Jim
Henson. Leaders of the company will take a look back at some rare footage of
Jim’s early performances. Also see the recent achievements of the company’s
newest performed animation technology and a sneak peek at upcoming projects,
including this fall’s MirrorMask.
5:30-7:00 ASIFA Presents: History of Animation—Larry Loc teaches animation and
animation history at Cal State Fullerton and Brooks College and is a member of
the executive board of ASIFA-Hollywood, the International Animated Film Society.
Join him for his yearly screening of rare silent animation classics.
7:00-11:00 The Jim Henson Company’s 50th Anniversary: Labyrinth and The Dark
Crystal—The Jim Henson Company continues its 50th anniversary celebration with
screenings of Jim Henson’s classic fantasy features, Labyrinth and The Dark
Crystal, with a special introduction by co-CEO and performer Brian Henson.
Saturday, July 16
10:00-12:00 ABC Presents: Lost, Invasion,
Nightstalker—ABC Television presents an exciting not-to-be-missed two-hour panel
highlighting the #1 hit series Lost and the much-anticipated new shows
Nightstalker and Invasion! First, from writer/producer Shaun Cassidy (Cold Case,
American Gothic, Cover Me) comes Invasion, a suspenseful tale of a splintered
family trying to rebuild their lives after experiencing a devastating hurricane
and its mysterious aftermath that has seemingly “invaded�? their town. Cassidy
will show you an early glimpse of the show and participate in a Q&A.
Then Buena Vista Home Entertainment will reveal the secrets of the upcoming
Lost: Season One DVD release with exclusive sneak peeks into the DVD bonus
features, plus a special Q&A panel featuring actors Josh Holloway (Sawyer),
Maggie Grace (Shannon), and Harold Perrineau (Michael), along with
co-creator/executive producer Damon Lindelof, executive producers Bryan Burk and
Carlton Cruse, and writer Javier Grillo-Marxauch.
Finally, producer Frank Spotnitz (The X-Files) presents a sneak preview of his
new show, Nightstalker, and divulges some early insight on what you’ll see in
the fall. This suspenseful mystery follows L. A. crime reporter Carl Kolchak
(Stuart Townsend), as he attempts to piece together unexplained crimes while on
a quest to find the seemingly unrelated answers to his wife’s bizarre murder.
And don’t miss the autograph session for all three shows—Lost, Nightstalker, and
Invasion.
12:00-1:30 Jetix Original Animation—Get a behind-the-scenes look at two Jetix
original animated series, Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go! and Get Ed,
both from Walt Disney Television Animation. First, meet Ciro Nieli, the creator
and executive producer of Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go!, and the series
co-executive producer Randolph Heard, along with members of the series' cast
including Greg Cipes, Tom Kenny, Kari Wahlgren, and Kevin Michael Richardson;
plus Jermaine Turner, manager of Jetix Original Series, Disney ABC Cable
Networks Group. Next, get a sneak peek at Get Ed, launching this fall on Jetix.
Hear from Andy Knight, the series' creator and director; executive producer Tom
Hart; story editors Simon Racioppa and Richard Elliott; and Tracy McAndrew,
director of Jetix Original Series Development and Acquisitions, Disney ABC Cable
Networks Group.
12:00-1:30 Jetix Original
Animation—Get a behind-the-scenes look
at two Jetix original animated series, Super
Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go! and
Get Ed, both from Walt Disney Television
Animation. First, meet Ciro Nieli, the
creator and executive producer of Super
Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go!, and
the series co-executive producer
Randolph Heard, along with members of
the series' cast including Greg Cipes, Tom
Kenny, Kari Wahlgren, and Kevin
Michael Richardson; plus Jermaine
Turner, manager of Jetix Original Series,
Disney ABC Cable Networks Group. Next,
get a sneak peek at Get Ed, launching this
fall on Jetix. Hear from Andy Knight, the
series' creator and director; executive
producer Tom Hart; story editors Simon
Racioppa and Richard Elliott; and Tracy
McAndrew, director of Jetix Original
Series Development and Acquisitions,
Disney ABC Cable Networks Group.
12:30-2:00 Art of the Sketchbook—Marshall Vandruff will discuss how keeping a
sketchbook can help develop an artist's skills and career. He will show how
personal and professional work can improve by "loosening up" with pages of
preliminary drawings, solving problems for finished pieces or even becoming
finished pieces on their own. He'll show original pages from his published
sketchbook Forsaking The Bakery, available from Bud Plant.
12:30-2:00 ASIFA Presents: State of the Animation Industry—A panel discussion
about where animation is and where it is going with some of the top names in the
field. Donovan Cook (director of the first Mickey Mouse feature: The Three
Musketeers), Eddie Mort and Lili Chin (Mucha Lucha), Aki Umemoto (Creative
Director of Mattel Toys) Jon M. Gibson (Freelance animator and long time gaming
reporter), and Matt O’Calaghan (director of Curious George). Moderated by Larry
Loc.
4:00-5:00 Slave Labor Graphics—SLG president and publisher Dan Vado and
editor-in-chief Jennifer de Guzman will preview the new line of Disney licensed
comics, as well as SLG’s upcoming creator-owned projects. On hand will be Landry
Walker (Little Gloomy, Tron) and Greg Weisman (Gargoyles) as well as other
contributors to the SLG/Disney line, to discuss their plans for the individual
comics. How does the company that publishes Lenore and Johnny the Homicidal
Maniac shift gears to doing Disney comics?
6:00-7:00 Pitching An Animated Series—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—but is there a magic bullet
to developing a sure-fire hit? 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: Eric Coleman, VP for animation,
development and production at Nickelodeon; Heather Kenyon, senior director of
development original animation, at Cartoon Network; and Mike Moon from Walt
Disney Television Animation; and creators Lauren Faust (Milky Way & the Galaxy
Girls), Jorge R. Gutierrez (El Macho), and Gabe Swarr (Big Pants Mouse), all of
whom are industry veterans currently in development on projects with the
aforementioned executives. This will be an hour chock-full of wisdom, woes, and
all the wacky stuff in-between, moderated by animation writer/creator Jon M.
Gibson (also in development).
Sunday, July 17
11:00-12:00 Jetix's Power Rangers: Space Patrol Delta—For over a decade, the
goliath Power Rangers franchise has captivated tens of millions of kids, many of
whom have gone on to follow the series as adults. Today, it is the number-one
boys' action brand in the world. Jetix will showcase the current season, Power
Rangers: Space Patrol Delta, with the series' executive producers Bruce Kalish
and Greg Aronowitz, writer Jackie Marchand and cast members Monica May, (Z, the
Yellow Ranger), and Chris Violette (Sky. the Blue Ranger). Also joining the
panel is Jermaine Turner, manager of Jetix Original Series, from Disney ABC
Cable Networks Group.
12:30-1:30 Walt Disney Pictures/Walden Media present The Chronicles of Narnia:
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe— Journey through the wardrobe and into the
extraordinary world of Narnia for a revealing look at Walt Disney
Pictures/Walden Media’s spectacular new film based on the C. S. Lewis classic.
Enter the magical land inhabited by talking beasts, dwarfs, fauns, centaurs and
giants that has been cursed to eternal winter by the evil White Witch, Jadis.
And meet the noble and mystical ruler, the lion Aslan, who holds the key to
helping four siblings free Narnia from Jadis‚ icy spell forever. Perry Moore
moderates. Director Andrew Adamson (Shrek, Shrek 2) will be joined by some of
the key filmmaking talents for a behind-the-scenes excursion into one of the
most highly anticipated fantasy-adventures of all-time, including Oscar® winning
producer Mark Johnson, 4-time Academy Award®-winning effects wizard Richard
Taylor, special make-up effects man Howard Berger, and CGI animation visual
effects supervisor Dean Wright (The Lord of the Rings trilogy).
2:00-3:15 Kids’ Day Special Movie Premiere: Lilo and Stitch 2: Stitch Has a
Glitz!—View an all-new Disney animated feature filled with laughs and music,
highlighted by the voice talents of Dakota Fanning, Tia Carrere, Chris Sanders,
David Ogden Stiers, Kevin McDonald, and Jason Scott Lee. In this hilarious Lilo
and Stitch sequel, it appears that Stitch has a glitch—his molecular makeup is
out of whack, bringing out his bad behavior. Pleakley, Jumba, Nani, and Lilo
must find a way to restore his goodness level before he ruins everything!
The above is a sample of the presentations of particular interest to Disney fans. For the complete event schedule and to register, please visit http://www.comic-con.org/cci/index.shtml
Please note that events subject to change. Panelists scheduled
to appear at each event are also subject to change. Please check the schedule
signs outside each door for updated information.
Seating in all event rooms at Comic-Con is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Because of the sheer number of attendees, simply having a badge does not
guarantee a seat in programs and events, nor an autograph from a specific
celebrity.
--Posted July 5, 2005