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This morning, Comic-Con International: San Diego released the event schedule for Thursday, July 18th, the first day of programming at the annual SoCal pilgrimage of pop culture geeks. To help make your lives easier, we’ve combed through the schedule and compiled all the animation-related events in one handy place. Keep in mind, this is only day one! Among the major animation names who will appear on Thursday are Dean DeBlois, Rob Minkoff, Bill Plympton, Trey Parker, Matt Stone, and Craig Bartlett.

There will also be a couple major treats for classic animation fans. Firstly, 88-year-old animation legend Gene Deitch (Tom Terrific, UPA, Terrytoons) will be visiting from Prague for his first-ever Comic-Con appearance. He’ll be promoting his new book Nudnik Revealed! which is a great collection of storyboards and model sheets from his 1960s cartoon creation. Another vintage-themed animation panel is “The Legendary Animators of Classic ’60s Cartoons,” featuring an esteemed group of veteran industry artists: Bob Singer, Art Leonardi, Willie Ito, and Iraj Paran.

Animation Events: Thursday, July 18

MAD Screening and Q&A
The MADness continues in San Diego as MAD once again descends on Comic-Con with their usual-but mostly unusual-brand of hijinks and hilarity. Producers Kevin Shinick and Mark Marek and other hilarious minds from the show promise a wisecracking discussion about the series inspired by the beloved and bestselling humor magazine. Producers will also share new footage featuring all the fan-favorite elements of the show, from animated parodies and crazy commercials to pretend promos and classic gags. This panel is sure to leave everyone feeling MAD. From Warner Bros. Animation, MAD airs Mondays at 8:30/7:30c on Cartoon Network.
Thursday July 18, 2013 10:15am – 11:15am
Room 6DE

Hasbro: Transformers Prime Beast Hunters
Members of the Hasbro and Hasbro Studios team as well as special guests give fans a peek behind the curtain of the popular animated series currently airing on the Hub TV Network. Attendees will learn details about the upcoming epic conclusion of the award-winning series, including the Predacons Rising DVD launching in October and a TV movie event airing on the Hub.
Thursday July 18, 2013 11:00am – 12:00pm
Room 25ABC

Dreamworks Animation Filmmaker Focus
Join chief creative officer Bill Damaschke and directors David Soren (Turbo), Rob Minkoff (Peabody & Sherman), and Dean DeBlois (How to Train Your Dragon 2) as they discuss putting a great story through the animation process and onto the screen. Moderated by Anthony Breznican (Entertainment Weekly).
Thursday July 18, 2013 11:45am – 12:45pm
Room 6A

The 14th Annual Animation Show of Shows
Ron Diamond (program curator, president of Acme Filmworks and AWN.com) presents the best and newest in international animation. Included is Disney's Oscar winning Paperman along with 10 animated shorts culled from the most notable festivals from around the world. Shows annually at Pixar, Dreamworks, Disney, ILM, Blue Sky, Sony, EA, UCLA, SVA, USC, SCAD, NYU, RISD, Harvard and CalArts.
Thursday July 18, 2013 11:50am – 12:50pm
Hall H

Bill Plympton’s Cheatin’ and Kickstarter Funding for Animation
Two-time Oscar-nominated director Bill Plympton (Idiots and Angels) will preview his new animated feature Cheatin'. He will screen pencil tests and finished sequences and discuss the successful Kickstarter campaign that raised funds to complete the film, plus his plans for distribution. Bill will also screen some of the short films from his new DVD release Dogs and Cows and answer questions about his career. Plus, all attendees will receive a free Bill Plympton sketch!
Thursday July 18, 2013 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Room 23ABC

The Pitching Hour
Jermaine Turner (director, current series, Disney TV Animation), Ted Biaselli (VP programming, The Hub Network), Jill Sanford (VP, Nickelodeon Animation Development), Derek Hoffman (VP, Donner Co.), Ivan Brandon (writer/publisher, Offset Comics), Charlie Chu (editor, Oni Press), Lindsay Rostal (game producer, The Odd Gentlemen), Jennie Kong (PR strategist), and moderator Dan Evans III (freelance writer, Stoopid Monkey), will take an idea from conception through production for various media. This process will include creating a pitch document, obtaining agents, and getting a pitch meeting. The panelists will explain, through hypothetical example and humorous stories, the process that new creators should adapt to make their way through the creative battleground of the entertainment industry. Knowing that each project is unique, there will be a Q&A to allow the audience to really hone in on the solutions to obstacles they may encounter. Also on hand will be Brendan McFeely (IP lawyer, Kane Kessler) to give creators insight on protecting their ideas as they navigate Hollywood!
Thursday July 18, 2013 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Room 5AB

Spotlight on Gene Deitch
Comic-Con special guest Gene Deitch is a legendary cartoonist, animator, Academy Award-winning filmmaker, and creator of Tom Terrific. Join him for a tour thru his 70-year career, including his years directing cartoons for UPA and Weston Woods, as well as creating the comic strip Terr’ble Thompson and crossing paths with everyone from Pete Seeger and John Lee Hooker to Maurice Sendak and Jules Feiffer. Moderated by animation historian Jerry Beck and famed movie critic and author-and Comic-Con special guest-Leonard Maltin!
Thursday July 18, 2013 12:30pm – 1:30pm
Room 8

Cartoon Network: Annoying Orange
The cast and crew of Annoying Orange offer a slam-packed, manic musical mash-up, featuring an exclusive look into the show's unique production process, an epic episode premiere, a live musical number, a Toby Turner dance, and insight into the emerging creative bridge between Internet and traditional television entertainment. Panel includes Dane Boedigheimer (creator, Orange, Pear, Midget Apple, Marshmallow), Toby Turner (Nerville), iJustine (Passion Fruit), Tom Kenny (Coconut, Guava), Rob Paulsen (Broccoli Alien Overlord), Tom Sheppard (co-creator, director, Li'l Squishy, Old Man Banana), Gary Binkow (EP), and Conrad Montgomery (Cartoon Network creative executive).
Thursday July 18, 2013 12:45pm – 1:45pm
Room 6DE

Hanna-Barbera
After a pair of droids set the world on fire in a galaxy far, far away, Hanna-Barbera reconvened their super-terrific Sixties space superheroes for a second round of intergalactic adventures. Joining the already iconic masterpieces of Alex Toth design Space Ghost and the Herculoids were newcomers Teen Force and Astro and the Space Mutts (yes, THAT Astro) – and best of all, the heroes would frequently unite in fantastic team-up finales. Warner Archive Collection presents a look at the legacy of Space Ghost and the Herculoids, preview the upcoming release of Space Stars, take a detour to examine everyone’s favorite pre-historic superhero Captain Caveman, and discuss a very special upcoming Blu-ray release. Join WAC Podcast hosts Matthew Patterson and DW Ferranti and notable guests James Tucker (Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox) and Steven Melching (Batman: The Brave and the Bold) for this entertaining survey of some truly super-toons.
Thursday July 18, 2013 12:45pm – 1:30pm
Room 6A

Cartoon Hangover: Bravest Warriors, Bee and Puppycat, and Friends
Breehn Burns (writer/director of Bravest Warriors) and the cast of Bravest Warriors, Tara Strong (voice of Plum), Alex Walsh (voice of Chris), John Omohundro (voice of Danny), Ian Jones-Quartey (voice of Wallow), Michael-Leon Wooley (voice of Impossibear), along with Bob Boyle (storyboard artist), discuss season 1 and the upcoming season 2, moderated by Eric Homan (producer of Bravest Warriors, VP of development at Frederator). Don't miss sneak previews of new Bravest Warriors episodes and other exclusive news. Seven-year-old Sam Lavagnino (voice of Catbug) will make a special appearance. Natasha Allegri (creator, Bee and Puppycat) will talk about her first original cartoon and will present a sneak peak of Bee and Puppycat part 2, as will other Cartoon Hangover stars Miss Kelly Martin (creator, Dr. Lollipop) and Aliki Grafft (director, Dr. Lollipop).
Thursday July 18, 2013 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Room 28DE

Nick Re-Mix: It’s Time to Go Behind the Slime!
Nickelodeon brings together Craig Bartlett (creator, Hey Arnold!), Chris Viscardi and Will McRobb (creators, The Adventures of Pete and Pete), Jay Howell and Jim Dirschberger (creators, Sanjay and Craig), and Steve Borst and Gary Doodles (creators, Breadwinners) to offer an insider's look at the creative process behind some of our funniest, most endearing, and fan-favorite cartoons. These creators will discuss what inspired them and reveal what it's really like to bring a show to life at Nickelodeon. Plus get a sneak peek at Nickelodeon's new animates series Breadwinners. Moderated by Chris Hardwick.
Thursday July 18, 2013 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Room 7AB

Animated Effects in Live Action
When the word animation is used, we think of cartoons. However, the line between live action and animation is becoming blurred due to technological advances. This panel includes industry professionals who create some of the most memorable animated visual effects, discussing how they blend animation with live action seamlessly. Appearing: Daniel Jeannette (animation director, Happy Feet and animation supervisor, Where The Wild Things Are), Roger Kupelian (matte painter, The Lord of the Rings trilogy), and James Parris (animator, Spider-Man and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button).
Thursday July 18, 2013 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Room 7AB

How to Build a Portfolio for the World of Animation
Industry leaders share an insider's look at what it takes to build the right portfolio to enter the world of animation. Attendees will gain an understanding of the creative roles of animated television, feature animation, and visual effects industries. Dawn Rivera-Ernster (director of talent development and recruitment, Walt Disney Animation Studios), Brooke Keesling (manager, animation talent development, Cartoon Network), and Diane St. Clair (VP, recruiting and artist development, Sony Pictures Imageworks) offer an insider's look at what it takes to build a creative animation portfolio.
Thursday July 18, 2013 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Room 23ABC

I Know That Voice: The Documentary: Special Preview and Q&A
John DiMaggio (executive producer of IKTV, also voice of Bender from Futurama, Jake The Dog from Adventure Time, IFC's Out There, and many more) brings the cast and crew of IKTV together for an exclusive sneak peek at the most anticipated film about voice-over (in animation and video games) ever made! Included in the panel are 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), Tom Kenny (Spongebob Squarepants, Brickleberry), Andrea Romano (25-time Emmy nominee, 8-time Emmy winner for Animaniacs, Pinky and the Brain, and more), Tommy Reid (producer, IKTV), and Lawrence Shapiro (director, IKTV). You won't want to miss this panel, especially with this bunch! You never what's going to come out of their mouths!
Thursday July 18, 2013 4:45pm – 5:45pm
Room 6BCF

PAC Is Back! PAC-MAN and the Ghostly Adventures
PAC-MAN returns for a new generation of fans! PAC-MAN producer Kunito Komori from Namco Bandai Games and Avi Arad, founder and director of Marvel Studios, discuss rebooting the iconic video game character for an exciting new animated series for Disney XD and a blockbuster video game for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii U, Nintendo 3DS, and PC.
Thursday July 18, 2013 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Room 25ABC

The Legendary Animators of Classic ’60s Cartoons
Legendary and award-winning 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), share their vast experience shaping animation history and creating hundreds of classic characters and cartoons we love from Disney, Warner Brothers, and Hanna Barbera, with over 100 years of experience among them. Leslie Combemale of ArtInsights Animation and Film Art Gallery moderates.
Thursday July 18, 2013 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Room 9

South Park: The Stick of Truth
The creators of South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, will discuss their upcoming South Park videogame, South Park: The Stick of Truth. Parker and Stone will talk role playing games, their vision for an interactive South Park adventure, and creating The Stick of Truth, the epic quest to become…cool.
Thursday July 18, 2013 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Room 6BCF

The Goon Kickstarter and Beyond with Eric Powell and Blur Studios
Back in November, legions of fans rallied together to raise over $400,000 to put together a story reel for the David Fincher-produced feature film based on Eric Powell's hit comic book series The Goon! Now, Kickstarter supporters and Comic-Con attendees alike will have a chance to catch an exclusive glimpse of this work in progress! Creator Eric Powell, Blur Studios owner Tim Miller, and veteran visual effects guru Jeff Fowler present an update on this crowdfunded full-length motion picture.
Thursday July 18, 2013 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Room 9

A New Generation of Spike and Mike’s Festival of Animation
A dazzling collection of the most artistic, award-winning and funny animated shorts from around the world. Featured are 15 international, critically acclaimed animated short films, including Oscar nominees and winners. Entries include Bill Plymptons new film Drunker Than a Skunk, Pound Dogs, Dumb Ways to Die, and many more.
Thursday July 18, 2013 7:15pm – 8:15pm
Room 6BCF

Today, Comic-Con International: San Diego released the event schedule for Friday, July 19th, the second day of programming at the convention. We’ve compiled all the animation-related events below.

The Con’s Friday line-up is heavy with TV animation programming, and the creators of many TV series will be putting in appearances including Pen Ward (Adventure Time, J.G. Quintel (Regular Show), Bryan Konietzko and Michael DiMartino (The Legend of Korra), Jackson Publick and Doc Hammer (Venture Bros.), Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh (Phineas and Ferb), Loren Bouchard (Bob’s Burgers) and numerous others. Other Friday events include a spotlight on Bruce Timm and a Who Framed Roger Rabbit panel with animators Andreas Deja, James Baxter and Tom Sito.

Animation Events: Friday, July 19

Cartoon Network: Regular Show
Care to join the not so regular cast and crew for an eventful hour of over the top regular? Yeeeeeeeeuh you do! Check out exclusive content and get the inside scoop on your favorite slackers and some of their closest friends. The panel features: Regular Show creator J. G. Quintel (voice of Mordecai), William Salyers (voice of Rigby), Sam Marin (voice of Benson, Pops, and Muscle Man), Sean Szeles (supervising director), Matt Price (writer), and storyboard artists Toby Jones and Calvin Wong. Part of the back-to-back Regular Show/Adventure Time Panel Extravaganza, continuing at 11:00.
Friday July 19, 2013 10:00am – 11:00am
Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront

Cartoon Network: Adventure Time
What’s algebraic and schmowzow and righteous all over? It’s Adventure Time! Holy stuff! As if chatting up the coolest kids in the cartoon kingdom wasn’t enough, get ready for your eyeballs to be fixed on some never-before-seen content and your jaw to drop at a rad surprise or two. The panel features Adventure Time creator Pendleton Ward (Lumpy Space Princess), Jeremy Shada (Finn), John DiMaggio (Jake), Tom Kenny (Ice King), Olivia Olson (Marceline), Kent Osborne (head of story), and Adam Muto (supervising producer). Part of the back-to-back Regular Show/Adventure Time Panel Extravaganza, beginning at 10:00.
Friday July 19, 2013 11:00am – 12:00pm
Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront

Nickelodeon’s The Legend of Korra Returns!
Executive producer and creator team Bryan Konietzko and Michael DiMartino (Avatar: The Last Airbender) and co-executive producer Joaquim Dos Santos (Avatar: The Last Airbender) discuss what’s in store for the highly anticipated Book 2: Spirits. The mind-bending panel will be full of never-before-seen artwork and the ultimate of sneak peeks. You’ll also get to hear from your favorite characters, as talented voice actors Janet Varney (voice of Korra), David Faustino (voice of Mako), and P. J. Byrne (voice of Bolin) share their experiences working on the series. Moderated by Bryan Konietzko.
Friday July 19, 2013 11:15am – 12:15pm
Ballroom 20

Grimm Fairy Tales Animated
Zenescope Entertainment co-founders and co-producers Joe Brusha (Grimm Fairy Tales, Neverland, Oz) and Ralph Tedesco (Grimm Fairy Tales, Inferno, Salem’s Daughter), along with director/producer Jon Schnepp (The Venture Bros, Metalocalypse, ABCs of Death), discuss the Grimm Fairy Tales Animated pilot. Find out about this horrific re-imagining of the Grimm Fairy Tales from Zenescope Entertainment, Titmouse Inc, and Schneppzone. Learn how the project came to fruition, and what big names have gotten involved in the project. With talent like Lena Headey, Chris Hardwick, Briana Evigan, and Robert Forster (to name a few), this project is turning a lot of heads!
Friday July 19, 2013 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Room 4

[adult swim]: The Venture Bros.
Show creators Jackson Publick and Doc Hammer discuss the original series, now in its fifth season, and answer fan questions. They will be joined by the voice of Brock Samson, Patrick Warburton (Seinfeld, The Tick).
Friday July 19, 2013 12:15pm – 1:00pm
Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront

Phineas and Ferb
“Mom! Phineas and Ferb are doing a Comic-Con panel again!” Join show creators Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh, along with voice talent Vincent Martella (Everybody Hates Chris), Alyson Stoner (Camp Rock), Dee Bradley Baker (American Dad), and Olivia Olson (Adventure Time) for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at what’s to come for Disney Channel’s hit animated series, including a sneak peek at this summer’s epic crossover event Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel.
Friday July 19, 2013 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Room 6A

VIZ Anime Featuring Neon Alley
Find out what’s new and hot in the world of VIZ anime, distributors of Japan’s superhits Naruto, BLEACH and many more. Come join members of the VIZ animation team for announcements, a chance for prizes and an exclusive look at Neon Alley, the 24/7 anime streaming experience that’s like nothing you’ve seen before.
Friday July 19, 2013 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Room 32AB

Go Green! With the Lean, Mean, Ninja Team: Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!
Check out Nick’s latest mutation as executive producer Ciro Nieli (Super Robot Monkey Team Hyper Force Go!) and Peter Hastings (Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness) discuss the upcoming finale for season 1, and get an exclusive look at what’s in store for Season 2. Meet members of the incredible Ninja cast: Sean Astin (voice of Raphael), Greg Cipes (voice of Michelangelo), Rob Paulsen (voice of Donatello), Mae Whitman (voice of April O’Neil) and Kevin Michael Richardson (voice of Shredder). Stick around for the “unmasking” of a fan-favorite character. Moderated by Peter Hastings.
Friday July 19, 2013 2:15pm – 3:15pm
Room 6A

Spotlight on Bruce Timm
Comic-Con special guest Bruce Timm is a legend in the world of animation. Starting with Batman: The Animated Series in 1992, Timm’s name on a Warner Bros. Animation project has become synonymous with a faithful- but entirely original-translation of DC Comics characters from the comic page to the TV screen. Timm’s award-winning work includes Superman, Justice League, Batman Beyond, and Teen Titans, as well as executive producer of a series of original DC Universe animated movies whose premieres have packed Comic-Con panel rooms over the past six years, since Superman/Doomsday in 2007.
Friday July 19, 2013 2:45pm – 3:45pm
Room 5AB

[adult swim]: Robot Chicken
Co-creators/executive producers Seth Green and Matthew Senreich are joined by co-head writer/executive producer Tom Root, actor/writer Breckin Meyer, and writer Matthew Beans to discuss the Emmy-winning series. Get a sneak peek and get your questions answered about the upcoming new season and the next Robot Chicken DC Comics Special. Keith Crofford, vice president of production for Adult Swim, moderates.
Friday July 19, 2013 3:15pm – 4:00pm
Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront

ASIFA-Hollywood’s State of the Industry
What do the pros think of the animation scene today? Is 2D dead? What’s happening in VFX? How do you get a job? Join Tom Sito (Osmosis Jones), Zeb Wells (Robot Chicken), Jamie Kezlarian Bolio (Ernest & Celestine), Rick Farmiloe (Little Mermaid), Carol Wyatt (Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends), and Joan Collins (Starship Troopers) for the discussion!
Friday July 19, 2013 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Room 9

Bob’s Burgers
Creator and executive producer Loren Bouchard, executive producer Jim Dauterive, and the always entertaining cast including H. Jon Benjamin, Dan Mintz, Eugene Mirman, John Roberts, Kristen Schaal, and Larry Murphy will be serving up hilarious never-before-seen footage followed by a Q&A.
Friday July 19, 2013 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront

Sony & Screen Gems
Among the projects that will be presented at this panel: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 — You remember Sony Pictures Animation’s Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs — Flint Lockwood invented a machine that turned water into food, and it worked, but it also unleashed a dangerously delicious tsunami of food weather and Flint was forced to destroy it. Or so he thought…In Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, the adventure and fun continue when Flint discovers that his old invention is still working and is now creating new food-animal hybrids — foodimals! Come join stars Anna Faris and Terry Crews along with directors Cody Cameron and Kris Pearn, to get a taste of this new animated movie from Sony Pictures Animation.
Friday July 19, 2013 4:05pm – 6:15pm
Hall H

Grant Morrison: 18 Days
Superstar creator Grant Morrison’s (Batman, Action Comics, Dinosaurs Vs. Aliens) only panel at Comic-Con this year will unveil the launch, with Graphic India, of his YouTube animated series 18 Days, based on the epic eastern myth the Mahabharata. See exclusive clips from the series and enter the mind of one of the most groundbreaking creators in the world today in this engaging debate on Eastern versus Western storytelling archetypes. He is joined by series executive producers Sharad Devarajan (co-founder and CEO, Liquid Comics/Graphic India) and author Gotham Chopra (The Sadhu, Seven Spiritual Laws of Superheroes).
Friday July 19, 2013 4:45pm – 5:45pm
Room 6A

Archer: Screening and Q&A
Archer is an animated comedy that revolves around the International Secret Intelligence Service (ISIS) and its employees, who use every covert operation and global crisis as another excuse to undermine, sabotage, and betray each other for personal gain. The voice cast of H. Jon Benjamin (Bob’s Burgers), Aisha Tyler (The Talk), Chris Parnell (30 Rock), Judy Greer (Arrested Development), Amber Nash (Frisky Dingo), and Lucky Yates (Good Eats), along with executive producers Adam Reed (Sealab 2021) and Matt Thompson (Sealab 2021), discuss bringing this animated series to life.
Friday July 19, 2013 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront

[adult swim]: China, IL
Creator and executive producer Brad Neely and executive producer Daniel Weidenfeld discuss the second season of the animated series China, IL, which will air this fall. They will be joined by cast member Hannibal Buress (30 Rock, SNL). Moderated by Jonah Ray (The Meltdown, The Nerdist).
Friday July 19, 2013 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Room 25ABC

A Celebration on Walt Kelly’s 100th Birthday
The creator of one of comics’ great newspaper strips, Walt Kelly, would have been 100 years old on August 25th of this year. His magnum opus, Pogo, is now receiving its first ever complete reprinting in an Eisner Award-nominated series from Fantagraphics Books. So it’s a good time to remember him with Kelly fans Jeff Smith (Bone), Paul Dini (Batman), comic historian R. C. Harvey, Maggie Thompson (Comic Buyer’s Guide), Carolyn Kelly (co-editor of the Complete Pogo series and Walt’s daughter), and moderator Mark Evanier (Groo the Wanderer).
Friday July 19, 2013 5:30pm – 6:30pm
Room 8

Bravoman Animated Series: Comedy, Action, and Stretchy Romance!
Join ShiftyLook editor-in-chief and Bravoman producer-director Rob Pereyda as he shows what’s next for everyone’s favorite stretchy hero. Meet the cast: Bravoman and Alpha Man’s Rob Paulsen (Animaniacs), Doctor Bomb and Anti-Bravo’s Dee Bradley Baker (American Dad), and Waya Hime’s Romi Dames (Winx Club), with a special appearance by Jennifer Hale (Mass Effect). Hear from the Bravoman creative team of writer Matt Moylan and character designer-artist Dax Gordine too! Bravo-tastic fun for all!
Friday July 19, 2013 5:30pm – 6:30pm
Room 28DE

Making Roger Rabbit: 25th Anniversary
The making of Who Framed Roger Rabbit is revealed with a world class panel of animators led by legendary producer Don Hahn and featuring a special appearance by the voice of Roger Rabbit himself, Charles Fleisher. The panel includes animation masters Andreas Deja and James Baxter, animator/writer/historian Tom Sito, and special effx wizard Dave Bossert, along with incredible clips and stories from the making of this classic film.
Friday July 19, 2013 5:45pm – 6:45pm
Room 6BCF

Brickleberry
Creators and executive producers Waco O’Guin and Roger Black, executive producer Zac Moncrief, and actors David Herman (Office Space), Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants), Jerry Minor (Anchorman) and Natasha Leggero (Community, Burning Love) will be on hand to premiere a hysterical episode from its second season, followed by a Q&A panel discussion.
Friday July 19, 2013 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Room 25ABC

Animation Domination High-Def
Nick Weidenfeld, head of FOX’s all-new Saturday late-night animation programming block, Animation Domination High-Def, will show an exclusive advance preview of two new animated series, Axe Cop and High School USA!, premiering July 27 on FOX. Joining Weidenfeld on the panel Q&A will be Axe Cop executive producers Matt Silverstein and Dave Jeser (Drawn Together), High School USA! creator Dino Stamatopoulos (Community), Axe Cop comic creator Ethan Nicolle, and special surprise appearances by the series’ voice talent.
Friday July 19, 2013 6:45pm – 7:45pm
Room 6DE

World Premiere of Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, DC Entertainment, and Warner Bros. Animation invite you to be the first to experience Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, the highly anticipated next entry in the ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original Movies. When time travel allows a past wrong to be righted for Flash and his family, the event’s temporal ripples prove disastrous, creating a fractured alternate reality where the Justice League never formed, and even Superman is nowhere to be found. Amidst a new world being ravaged by a fierce war between Wonder Woman’s Amazons and Aquaman’s Atlanteans, Flash must team with a grittier, more violent Batman and government agent Cyborg to restore the continuity of Flash’s original timeline. Come for the film, but stay for the star-studded panel that features Grey’s Anatomy stars Justin Chambers and Kevin McKidd as Flash and Batman, respectively, along with C. Thomas Howell (Southland), Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride), Sam Daly (The Daly Show), and a few surprise voice cast members, plus the filmmaking team of producer James Tucker (Superman: Unbound), director Jay Oliva (Batman: The Dark Knight Returns), dialogue director Andrea Romano (Batman: The Dark Knight Returns), screenwriter Jim Krieg (Green Lantern: The Animated Series), and character designer Phil Bourassa (Young Justice). Moderator Gary Miereanu will add to the fun with a special announcement of the 2014 DCU movie slate, as well as exclusive, cast-autographed prizes for a few lucky fans.
Friday July 19, 2013 7:30pm – 9:30pm
Ballroom 20

Axe Cop
Join brothers Ethan Nicolle and Malachai Nicolle, the 32-year-old and 9-year-old creators of the Dark Horse comic series Axe Cop, with surprise guests to celebrate the premiere of the new Axe Cop TV series as part of Animation Domination Hi-Def, beginning Saturday, July 27 on FOX. Panel events will include a live Ask Axe Cop Q&A, a series of staged battles between cosplayers choreographed by Malachai, and a screening of the premiere episode of Axe Cop.
Friday July 19, 2013 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Room 6DE

Showcasing the Best in Korean Comics, Animation, and Its Influence in Today’s Hottest Comics
A team of Korea’s prolific artists and animation studios represented by Jongmin Shin (Padak, Breakups, Demian) showcases the latest and greatest trends in Korean comics and animation. They will also showcase their recent and upcoming productions on some of today’s hottest comics. Join Jongmin and crew for this Q&A session moderated by Austin Osueke (Publisher of eigoMANGA).
Friday July 19, 2013 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Room 32AB

Worst Cartoons Ever!
Presented by ASIFA-Hollywood, animation historian Jerry Beck (CartoonResearch.com) returns with an all new program of some of the worst cartoons ever made, including more episodes of Phys Ed super-hero Mighty Mr. Titan, space cadet Johnny Cypher and some of those 1960s Marvel Super Heroes cartoons. Have a ball with the best/bad animation ever!
Friday July 19, 2013 8:15pm – 9:15pm
Room 6BCF

Spike & Mike’s Sick & Twisted Gauntlet of Animation
You, the lunatic fringe of society, vote on the new Sick & Twisted films, love or hate! See the craziest, most grossed-out, gut wrenching, bloodthirsty, sexy, and hilarious animated short films the world has to offer. Highlights include films from around the world: My Bloody Lad, Pool Cat, and more. Please note: adult content.
Friday July 19, 2013 9:30pm – 11:30pm
Room 6BCF

For the first time ever, the director of a Disney feature film is using crowdfunding to launch an animated feature project. Art Story, which debuted yesterday on Kickstarter, is a new project from Aaron Blaise and Chuck Williams.

Blaise, who is one of the only artists who can claim to have worked at Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida on the studio’s opening day in 1989 and its closing day in 2004, animated on many of the modern-day Disney classics including Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and The Lion King, before he co-directed Brother Bear. Chuck Williams was the producer of the latter film, which went on to be nominated for a Best Animated Feature Oscar.

More recently, Blaise and Williams were set to be the directors of The Legend of Tembo, which was to have been the first feature from Digital Domain’s Tradition Studios. The very public meltdown of that studio last year left them out in the cold, but they’ve bounced back from that experience with this project of their own, an unconventional and creative CGI family film about a boy and his grandfather who become trapped in the world of fine art. Here is their pitch for the project:

The Art Story Kickstarter is asking for $350,000 over 47 days. The campaign has raised nearly $17,000 in less than 24 hours, which puts it on a solid pace to achieve its goal. Blaise and Williams point out that the production of the film will need additional funding—in the tens of millions—and that the money they are raising will allow them to create a children’s storybook, script, development art and storyreel. The majority of the Kickstarter rewards, such as the children’s book, film pitch book and physical rewards will be honored even if the film doesn’t make it to production.

The Kickstarter rewards include all the usuals—development blog access, digital download of children’s storybook, T-shirts, posters—but also some unique items, such as a PDF of their film pitch book, the chance to sit in on a story meeting, and even a three-month apprenticeship to participate in the development of the film. They’ve set up the Kickstarter in a unique way that allows every backer to experience and participate in the development of an animated feature; even the $1 donation level lets backers make their voice heard in the development process by suggesting paintings they want to see in the film.

No, it’s not a polite note. It shouldn’t be a polite note. Recently, comic author Matt Fraction was sent a little thank you on Tumblr from user thetadoctor that was uplifting and rage-inducing all at once. She told him that his positive responses to her cosplaying as Hawkeye had meant a lot because she was often made fun of for her weight when in costume. Matt Fraction responded by giving her a letter to thrust in the faces of those who decide that a fan celebrating at a convention (or anywhere else) is cause for derision.

You’re my hero, Matt Fraction. And we hope that thetadoctor keeps doing her thing because she rocks that cosplaying gig to the max.

I’m going to be honest, The Villager version of Kirby is really creeping me out. I think its those freaky eyes. It’s like he’s staring into your soul without having one himself.

omarissister:

Why not?

In this feature I spotlight responses that amuse me for whatever reason by Mort Weisinger to letters fans wrote in to the Superman family of titles back in the 1950s and 1960s. In this latest installment, Mort drops some absurdly silly science about doppelgangers on an incredulous reader… As you might know by now, a [...]

krisstraub:

Create your own incredible robotic world defenders at the Pacific Rim website

were I blessed with such penchant for naming giant robots, I would  die happy

The best part about 4th of July easily the food. What better way to chow down than with some snacks based on your favorite, geeky movies, TV shows, and games? Whether you’re tailgating, having a picnic at the beach, or having the classic backyard BBQ, these geeky treats are a must have. The following cover all the taste bud necessities from the comforting wings of Gotham City to the dangerous times of an apocalypse.

10. Yeto’s Soup (The Legend of Zelda)

Photo Credit: Gourmet Gaming

Pumpkins, potatoes and maybe a little Ocarina to warm up the night, probably already warm night. Recipe.

9. Batman Pies on a Stick

Photo Credit: Four Kids

This is a fun snack you can make with the kids and if they turn out, you won’t have to use the bat signal for backup. Recipe.

8. Cheesy Bread (The Hunger Games)

Photo Credit: Yammie's Noshery

Be like Peeta and get your baking on. Maybe you’ll be able to outdo Katniss and not tie for first place. Recipe.

7. Blood Punch (The Vampire Diaries)

Photo Credit: Wet Paint

One could only hope that brewing this would summon the likes of Damon and Stefan, or at least anyone who looks just as hot. Recipe.

6. Lemon Cakes (Game of Thrones)

Watch: Cooking Lemon Cakes | Cooking With Thrones | Ep. 2

You can have the white and blue with this tart treat, just skip the red because you don’t want your night of freedom to end like that wedding. Get the recipe from our episode of "Cooking with Thrones"!

5. Ectoplasm Popcorn (Ghostbusters)

Photo Credit: Suzie the Foodies

"He slimed the popcorn!" As the fireworks are popping, enjoy some slimy popcorn. Recipe.

4. Deviled Eggs (The Walking Dead)

Photo Credit: She Knows

Even though your food is eyeballing you, don’t freak out. Eat it before the rest of the body catches up and gets you! Recipe.

3. Chocolate Covered Bananas (Arrested Development)

Photo Credit: WikiHow

There might always be money in the banana stand, but try making these frozen goodies at home to save a buck. Recipe.

2. Blood Slide (Dexter)

Photo Credit: EXP Bar Online

After all is said and done, those of age should enjoy their BBQs and picnics with a little drink; hold the plastic wrap. Recipe.

1. K9 Dogs (Dr. Who)

Photo Credit: BBC America

It’s ironic we’re going with a widely popular BBC show to celebrate America, but when the recipe is this delicious, we can’t help ourselves. Recipe.

Related Video:

Watch: 'Doctor Who' 50th Anniversary DVD and Exclusive Magnets Reveal

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Adventure Time: Fionna & Cake

Natasha Allegri (w, a, c), Patrick Seery (c) Britt Wilson (l), Noelle Stevenson, Lucy Knisley (back-ups), Shannon Watters (e)

Here’s a six-issue miniseries from Kaboom, who have spent the past few years making work-for-hire franchise comics feel like creator-owned independent comics. Adventure Time: Fionna & Cake is a spin-off from a particular handful of episodes of the TV series, in which the regular cast of the show were all gender-swapped for an experiment. This miniseries, taking that idea and extending it out into a longer story, is written and drawn by the woman who first created the characters on the show, Natasha Allegri. The basic premise is that, well, the characters are gender swapped. That’s basically it! The rest is just Natasha Allegri going absolutely bonkers for twenty or so pages a month. And it’s glorious.

There’s a much different sensibility in Fionna & Cake than there is in the regular Adventure Time comic. Rather than the characters being exactly the same except girls, Allegri’s sense of humour plays out in a much different manner than you might expect. They’re far dirtier than Finn and Jake, for one thing – they’re more scatalogical, and more willing to play dirty and mess things up. They’re actually far more nihilistic than you might expect, as well, going on rampages and rants with little provocation. They feel like more dangerous, unpredictable characters, and the miniseries feels delightfully unhinged as a result.

Their friendship comes across strongly, and creates a centre which holds all the crazy silly moments in orbit. Whilst this story gets VERY silly at times (always a compliment, by the way), the friendship between the two main characters offers readers a reason to continue reading. It’s not just a book where weird things happen – it’s a book where weird things happen to characters you like.

Oh, and the art!

Allegri lays waste to each page, refusing to be generic or ordinary at every turn. Her panels frequently burst and shatter across the page, the lettering flies into every corner and flips fonts at random. The artwork takes the idea of the established style for these characters and setting and goes wild, exaggerating and enhancing the body language to an incredible degree. Allegri created these characters for the show, but experiments with them frequently, apparently delighted with the way she can structure a page or switch perspective.

Britt Wilson’s lettering is incredibly showy, and really entertaining for it. Whilst the artwork can sometimes get out of focus and hard to put together, Wilson’s letters stand out above everything and push even more energy into proceedings. The story itself is simple and manic, more interested in creating exciting images than in telling any kind of complex plot. Which, I suppose, is what you expect from Adventure Time.

This’ll make for a really good trade. There are a massive number of variant covers from all sorts of people – from Lea Hernandez to Faith Erin Hicks to Colleen Coover – and a handful of back-up stories from Noelle Stevenson and Lucy Knisley. Both create short stories which play to the show whilst being, in turn, very much stories by Noelle Stevenson and Lucy Knisley. They establish their own artistic styles and humour over the characters and world of the show, so it remains recognisable whilst telling very different tales to the main story. It remains coherent, just, and Knisley’s story (seen in the above page) has a superb, first-class pun about sinuses in it.

Stevenson’s story, in the first issue, is also excellent fun:

With this miniseries now concluded, I would absolutely love to see some more work from Natasha Allegri at some point in future. High-paced, manic – and above all distinctly her own creation – Fionna & Cake is the first Adventure Time-related thing I’ve ever properly enjoyed. If you find the main show distracting rather than fun (like me) then don’t let that put you off this trade – it’s bonkers, and wonderful

Finally! You can dress up as a sexy Starship Trooper or Winnie the Pooh and march around with a light heart knowing that you are not helping support an accused child molester.

On their FB page, Dragon*Con founders officially announced a split from co-founder Ed Kramer who is currently in jail on charges related to child molestation. The current Dragon*Con board did what many had suggested they had to by buying out Kramer’s interests and starting a new corporation to run the popular comics/SF/fantasy/lifestyle event.

As we’ve previously reported, waste of oxygen Kramer has been eluding standing trial for charges for well over a decade by gaming the Georgia legal system and filing endless nuisance complaints from his jail cell.

The fact that Kramer was funding his endless legal maneuvers via the money he made from Dragon*Con rankled many, with calls of a boycott being circulated.

Although some may say this change of heart from the current Dragon Con board came pretty late, at last they’ve finally done the right thing. And should Kramer ever actually face a court of law, perhaps he’ll be found innocent or guilty and we can all move on.

UPDATE: Many on Twitter and elsewhere were wondering about the language above which stated that Kramer had only been OFFERED a buyout and had not taken one. The Mary Sue got this statement from attorney Greg Euston of McGraw Euston Associates.

In this merger, Dragon Con, Inc., replaces the old company, Dragon*Con/ACE Inc.  Pat Henry and four other shareholders exchanged their shares in the old company for 100 percent of the shares in the new company.  Ed Kramer, the remaining minority shareholder in the old company, was cashed out.  Dragon*Con/ACE Inc. no longer exists. As a consequence of this merger, Mr. Kramer no longer has any interest, financial or otherwise, in Dragon Con.

Original statement:

The Board of Directors and Shareholders of Dragon Con / ACE, Inc., producer of Dragon*Con, Atlanta’s internationally known pop culture, fantasy and sci-fi convention, have agreed to merge the company into Dragon Con, Inc. (Dragon Con) in a cash-out merger.

Led by Pat Henry, David Cody and Robert Dennis, ownership of Dragon Con includes five of the six founding owners of Dragon Con / ACE (the old Dragon Con). The effective date of the merger is July 8, 2013.

Edward Kramer, who has not had any role in managing or organizing the convention since 2000, was offered cash for his shares in the old company. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

“This decision only affects the ownership of the old Dragon Con,” said Pat Henry, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dragon Con. “Our members and others who attend Dragon*Con 2013 will experience the same fantastic convention they have come to expect from us.”

Dragon Con will continue the agreements with each of the host and overflow hotels associated with the convention as well as all of the guests and performers scheduled to appear at this year’s event, either “as is” or with amendments recognizing Dragon Con as owner.

Here is a bigger version of my Best American cover!   You’ll be seeing it pop up again in October when the book comes out.

momochanners:

kluna01:

smidjen:

comingetherealreality:

Ohmu!

woaaahh! must make! :D

Ohmlete?

Oh dang, delicious Nausicaa flashback~

OHMU-LETTEEEEE

NIS America announced at Anime Expo that newly anime adapted mystery adventure game, DanganRonpa: Trigger Happy Havoc, will be making its way to the PlayStation Vita in both North America and Europe early next year.

 

About the game:
Hope's Peak Academy is home to Japan's best and brightest high school students—the beacons of hope for the future. But that hope suddenly dies when Makoto Naegi and his classmates find themselves imprisoned in the school, cut off from the outside world and subject to the whims of a strange, murderous little bear named Monokuma. He pits the students against each other, promising freedom to anyone who can murder a fellow classmate and get away with it. It's up to you to find out who Monokuma really is, and why you've been taken from the world you once knew. But be careful what you wish for—sometimes there's nothing more deadly than the truth...

 

 

Dungeon crawler Demon Gaze will also be released for the platform next year.

 

About the game:
Oz awakens to find himself in Misred—a cursed land at the world's western frontier—with a dark shroud covering certain memories of his past. The land before him contains many labyrinths that hold both treasure and danger in equal volumes. Without knowing where else to go or what else to do, Oz decides to take up arms in order to hunt down artifacts and eke out a living in this world that feels so new to him. One day, he will have to face his past, but until then, he has no choice but to trust those around him, and in his newfound abilities as a "Demon Gazer"...

 

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Scott Green is editor and reporter for anime and manga at geek entertainment site Ain't It Cool News. Follow him on Twitter at @aicnanime.

 

I already own Batman Begins and The Dark Knight on Blu-ray and I was considering grabbing The Dark Knight Rises too, more out of some ridiculous urge to complete the set than any desire to watch it again, but I’m not about to buy the first two again unless there’s a pretty good reason to do so.

Now there’s news of an “Ultimate Collector’s Edition” box set set for release in September priced at $99.97, which looks kind of tempting, but is it worth it?

This new set contains six discs and a selection of “memorabilia”, including three Mattel Hot Wheels vehicles (a Batmobile, a Batpod and a Tumbler), newly commissioned collectible art cards by Mondo and a 48-page hardcover book. The book sounds somewhat appealing but Hot Wheels toys and art cards just seem like easy bait to reel in consumers rather than actual added value.

The discs included in the set break down as follows,

• Disc 1 – Batman Begins Feature and Special Features
• Disc 2 – The Dark Knight Feature
• Disc 3 – The Dark Knight Special Features
• Disc 4 – The Dark Knight Rises Feature
• Disc 5 – The Dark Knight Rises Special Features
• Disc 6 – Bonus Disc of New Special Features

So that’s five discs that are the same as the existing individual releases and the existing trilogy box set – which is currently available for around $65 less than this new set and comes with a book too – and one disc of new special features.

The new special features are listed as follows,

• The Fire Rises: The Creation and Impact of The Dark Knight Trilogy – The inside perspective on the fascinating story behind the creation of one of the most celebrated franchises and how it changed the scope of movie making….forever. Full of never-before-seen footage, rare moments, and exclusive interviews with Guillermo Del Toro, Damon Lindelof, Michael Mann, Richard Roeper, Zack Snyder and others.
• Christopher Nolan & Richard Donner: A Conversation – For the first time, Directors Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight Trilogy) and Richard Donner (Superman) sit down to discuss the trials and triumphs involved in bringing the two most iconic superheroes of all time to the big screen, and how Superman influenced Nolan when developing Batman Begins.
• IMAX® Sequences: The Dark Knight; The Dark Knight Rises – See your favorite scenes as they were intended in the original IMAX© aspect ratio

It seems a little odd that the new features so strongly rest on other voices, big names to draw us in, such as Zack Snyder, Guillermo Del Toro,  Michael Mann and of course, Richard Donner. I’m a little skeptical that The Fire Rises will go anywhere as deep as I’d like to in speaking to those directors. I’d love to see a discussion between Mann and Nolan about the merits of film versus digital, for instance, but I doubt we’ll see anything that meaty here. I’d love to be proven wrong of course.

The main draw on this disc and in this set in general seems to be the conversation between Nolan and Donner discussing their work. It does seem to comes down to whether this is really worth the rather substantial price bump for you.

I really don’t think it is for me. Personally I think I’ll just be purchasing the individual disc  of The Dark Knight Rises (it’s currently pretty cheap in the UK, and region free to boot) or maybe pass on my individual discs of the first two onto a friend or family member and pick up the box set that’s already out. Warner Brothers need to offer a little more than what we’re getting here in order for me to double or even triple dip on this one.

If you lay down the extra cash for the “Ultimate” set do let me know if there’s anything that I’m really missing out on in those new features.

So What’s New In The Dark Knight Trilogy Ultimate Collector’s Edition?

I’ve been a little upset to see how much of Twitter was failing to grasp even the basic idea of Pacific Rim. I even started my own, humble little fight back, and hundreds of you joined in.

Well, Team Rim may have just won the buzzing contest, and it’s all thanks to Kanye West.

Here’s what he told his ten million Twitter followers last night.

I saw a pre-screening of Pacific Rim yesterday and it's easily one of my favorite movies of all time.

— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) July 4, 2013

This is not another "Robot" movie. Guillermo del Toro is a master.

— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) July 4, 2013

It’s almost like a lovely bit of ‘pay it forward’ after Lou Reed‘s cracking review of West’s Yeezus earlier in the week.

If the social media theories are right, West’s tweets are as good as some incredibly loud word of mouth. It won’t be the last good buzz this film picks up on Twitter, and neither will it completely snuff out the haters, but this is just the kind of publicity Warner Bros. couldn’t hope to buy.

I can’t give you an evaluation of Pacific Rim just yet, but I can tell you there’s more to this film than the marketing lets on. See for yourself when Pacific Rim hits UK and US cinemas on July 12th.

Kanye West Stomps On Twitter’s Pacific Rim Problem

1986-1987 sequel to Zeta Gundam never previously released in N. America

October anime directed by Natsume's Omori with designs by Uta-Pri's Kurahana

A-1 Pictures animates 3 Galileo descendants, including 1 sister voiced by Rina Hidaka

Autobiographical essay manga centers on author's life with husband Hideaki Anno

Judging from this brief teaser – which comes close to featuring as much text as it does footage – The Frozen Ground will be quite a cold, hard thriller.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Here’s more set up from the official blurb:

The incredible and chilling true story of the hunt for Robert C. Hansen, one of America’s most notorious serial killers who brutally murdered 17 young women over the course of 12 years in the town of Anchorage, Alaska.

When teenage prostitute Cindy Paulson is found by police officers – beaten and pleading for her life – in an Alaskan motel room, everyone is quick to dismiss her version of events. However, US state trooper Sgt. Jack Halcombe, soon comes to believe that Cindy is the only surviving victim of a local serial killer, responsible for a series of murders of young women in the past decade. Lacking the support of his department, Halcombe must find Cindy, gain her trust and form an unlikely partnership in order to track down the man who still wants to kill her.

Nicolas Cage and Vanessa Hudgens vs. John Cusack sounds like it would be a lot more than this looks. Indeed, I’m impressed how absolutely bloody miserable this trailer makes the film seem. I do love a good, downbeat, despairing thriller sometimes – if that’s not an oxymoron.

The Frozen Ground is released across the UK on July 19th and in the US on August 23rd.

Punchy Teaser: Nic Cage Hunts John Cusack Hunts Vanessa Hudgens On The Frozen Ground

In the classic Japanese anime Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, the heroine Nausicaä flies a glider called a "Mehve". The anime might be a work of fiction, but the glider isn't. Not any more.

Since 2003, Kazuhiko Hachiya has been working on a real-world Mehve—an actual single seat glider just like in Nausicaä.

Back in the late 1990s, Hachiya created an email software called "PostPet", which became popular in Japan. Hachiya now makes toys and media art that are the stuff of dreams. This is a guy who once made a jet-powered skateboard that floated like a hoverboard—and accidentally caught on fire. The glider is another way Hachiya is bringing fantasy into reality.

"This project is using the fictional Mehve that appears in Hayao Miyazaki's manga and anime Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind as a reference point," says the project's website, "and seeing about prototyping and testing it as an aircraft that can truly fly." Above, you can see the first prototype.

The goal is to create an aircraft able to fly with a pilot as a "personal jet glider".

The project is called "Open Sky", and it began with paper planes, a radio-controlled mock-up, and hang glider lessons. That progressed to working prototypes and test after test.

Now, a decade later, the project is in its third iteration: a jet engine-powered one-person glider. Starting July 13 and ending September 16, 3331 Arts Chiyoda in Tokyo is holding a new exhibition for the latest Open Sky glider. Visitors can see a documentary of the jet engine powered real-world Mehve take to the sky, with Hachiya as the test pilot.

This isn't just art or only engineering. It's pure magic.

【風の谷のナウシカ】東京芸大准教授「メーヴェ作ってみた」[まとめ]

Photos: Arts Chiyoda, みてきた

To contact the author of this post, write to bashcraftATkotaku.com or find him on Twitter @Brian_Ashcraft.

Kotaku East is your slice of Asian internet culture, bringing you the latest talking points from Japan, Korea, China and beyond. Tune in every morning from 4am to 8am.

So what you’re telling me is that Hugh Laurie and Peter Dinklage are both the same person? I’m okay with that.

Nearly 10,000 fans have signed a petition on Change.org asking Nintendo to end region locking on Wii, Wii U, and 3DS, according to IGN. The petition begins by citing Microsoft's recent change of heart on DRM and region locking related to the Xbox One and Sony's plans to make the PS4 region-free as well.

read more

Utterly charming and refreshingly different teaser trailer for LAIKA’s next film The BoxTrolls, which will be released on September 26, 2014. The film is directed by Anthony Stacchi and Graham Annable. As with LAIKA’s first two features, Coraline and ParaNorman, this film looks like a different kind of animation experience from the industry norm, and that in itself is cause for celebration.

Watch the trailer HERE.

WHEW that was a wild hour or two, right? Since the Image Expo unfolded like a garden of delights, more art news and info has been released… so here’s some of it. BTW, very nice to see all the colorists credited on these books. Overall, it’s a strong batch of books. Image is the new Vertigo, but more on that later.

§ In PR, more Image sales stats were released; it’s been a very good year according to Eric Stephenson.

“We saw our dollars increase 40% over 2011’s numbers, with our units going up almost as much – 38%,” Stephenson said, noting that Image’s sales have been steadily increasing since 2009. “Better still,” he continued, “six months into 2013 we’re already up 33% in dollars and 38% in units over the same period in 2012.”

COMICS ARE NOT DYING.

§ CBR was the outlet of choice for more news so head over there for all the details, but here’s a digest version.

Deadly Class by Rick Remender and Wesley Craig and Lee Loughridge.

At Image Expo in San Francisco, Rick Remender revealed his newest creator-owned endeavor with Image Comics, “Deadly Class.” Along with artistic duo Wesley Craig and Lee Loughridge, Remender’s return to Image centers around an unusual and clandestine high school hidden under the depths of San Francisco. Described by Remender as “a high school for assassins where the heads of all the major crime families and spook organizations around the world send their fledgeling up-and-comers, their kids and people they want to become the #1 assassins,” the school in “Deadly Class” is only a part of the story he has planned. The series is, in many ways, the creative team’s exploration of the late ’80s, including real experiences Remender had during that period in his life.

 

Southern Bastards by Jason Aaron and Jason Latour
(Okay I am really excited for this one.)

The pair took the stage earlier today, describing the series as a crime book set in a fictional Alabama county filled with lots of mean old bastards and the main bad guy — a high school football coach. This is a character Aaron came up with during “Scalped,” but he didn’t quite work into that series. “He’s a local celebrity, won a bunch of trophies and is burying bodies under the end zone and bleachers,” the writer said. “With this book, we have the chance to do everything together, and both being souther bastards ourselves, its right up our alley.”

 

JMS talked about the return of Dream Police (Sid Kotian) and Book of Lost Souls (Colleen Doran) which were previously published by Marvel’s creator owned Icon imprint.

In truth, Marvel never had a really strong reason or desire to market these books. They were more of a sop to creators than an actual working line. After “Book of Lost Souls” finished its full run, Colleen and I had been told by bookstore owners that they were told at the books were unavailable and out of print. Well as it turned out, we bought two pallets full of boxes and boxes and boxes that were printed just never made available to distributors. People have been asking for these books to come back for years so we don’t need to create interest. It’s already there.

And as for Dream Police:

Silly as it may sound, it was one of those ideas that I literally just dreamed up. I had a dream one night, and in the course of the dream I met these police officers who said that their job was to keep things organized to keep you from being hurt in the course of dream. I woke up thinking that’s really kind of a cool idea for a series.

 

And MORE info and some great looking previews!

 

ALONE by JMS and Bill Sienkiewicz

A new series which ‘promises to deconstruct comic book storytelling’.

THE WALKING DEAD: ALL OUT WAR is a new event storyline which will start off in issue 115. Culminating the fight between the protagonists and the gang run by Negan, this will be a twelve-part storyline shipping fortnightly. To help Charlie Adlard keep to such a punishing schedule, inker Stefano Gaudiano will come onboard to help.

BLACK SCIENCE by Remender, Matteo Scalera and Dean White.

Former member of the anarchistic order of scientists, Grant McKay has finally done the impossible; he has deciphered Black Science and punched through the barriers of reality. But what lay beyond the veil was not epiphany but chaos. Now Grant and his team are lost, living ghosts shipwrecked on an infinite ocean of alien worlds, barreling through the dark realms, long forgotten, ancient and unimaginable. The only way is forward. The only question is how far are they willing to go to get home again?

 

VELVET by Ed Brubaker, Steve Epting and Bettie Breitweiser.

When the world’s best secret agent is killed, Velvet Templeton, the Personal Assistant to the Director of the Agency, is drawn off her desk and back into the field for the first time in nearly 20 years… and is immediately caught in a web of mystery, murder and high-octane action.

 

ODY-C by Matt Fraction and Christian Ward

A science-fiction spin on The Odyssey, featuring a gender swapped cast. Fraction created the book in order to give his daughter a Ulysses-esque role model. Also, it’s set in outer space.

§ Brandon Montclare and Amy Reeder’s Kickstarter-funded comic Rocket Girl will be published by Image later on in the year.

§ Mark Millar videoed in to say he’ll be launching a new line at Image in the future, which will revolutionise the industry, save us all, feed the hungry, rebuild the ozone layer, etc. He’ll also be starting a new book with Duncan Fegredo called MPH.

§ FINALLY, Ron Richards with more on the digital bits:

Asked about the perception that Image will now be competing with partners such as comiXology and Amazon in the digital market, Richards said, “Yes and no. I think the tech savvy comics fan who cares about things like DRM will come to us, and there will be a loss of sales in other marketplaces. But I think there are people who are loyal comiXology users who have built up a collection there, and they can continue to do that. We’re not ceasing any agreements or partnerships with comiXology or iVerse or Apple or Amazon. All that stuff will still be there. So the Kindle Fire owner who buys stuff from Amazon can still do that. This is for the person concerned with ownership who wants to go direct to the source.”

 

some other stuff i’ll have for AX…

booth 1550!

i got one more post left

[ By Steph in Art & Street Art & Graffiti. ]

Taking a stroll along Westerstraat in Amsterdam, you might notice that an entire clump of houses seems to have disappeared. The addresses jump from 54 to 70, with nothing but a four-inch crack between them. Where did those houses go? Ad agency Natwerk has its own creative take.

The agency restored the seven ‘missing’ row houses, building tiny models in the same style as the full-scale homes that surround them. Just barely peeking out from the dark void, these cute little sculptural installations invite passersby to stop and look closer.

Urban interventions are a fun way to temporarily alter the environment in public places. Some are fleeting, like chalk tracings of shadows that document a passing moment, or tiny, like Slinkachu’s miniature scenes. Some require no more than a couple plastic eyeballs to make people smile. Others are more disruptive, altering familiar objects like street signs, trash cans and traffic markings.

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[ By Steph in Art & Street Art & Graffiti. ]

[ WebUrbanist | Archives | Galleries | Privacy | TOS ]

Image Comics has a new website. That celebrates the old and the new from the publisher. And also, from today, collects the digital comic from Warren Ellis and Jason Howard, Scatterland, as a 99 cent digital comic.

More importantly this, and other digital comics such as Jupiter’s Legacy, can be downloaded without the DRM that the likes of ComiXology or iBooks employ.

Which, in one step, has lifted Image Comics from the crowd…

Image Comics Launches DRM-Free Digital Comics With Warren Ellis And Jason Howards’s Scatterlands And Jupiter’s Legacy