Comic-Con founder Shel Dorf used two 35mm film cameras and a medium-format film camera to shoot pictures at Comic-Con in its early years. Greg Koudoulian has digitized over 900 of Shel's photos. Shel was a photojournalist at the Detroit Free Press from 1953 to 1968 and created the Detroit Triple Fan Fair before moving to San Diego. David Glanzer and Greg will discover old pals from decades ago during this photo slide show presentation and discussion.
Friday March 28, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Room 211
Book banning and censorship continue to be a serious issue for many communities, as more and more good graphic novels and books are being taken out of the hands of children and teens. Moderator Grace Sheehy (librarian II at Mission Viejo Public Library) and authors Jen Wang (Ash's Cabin), Marcie Colleen (Time Buddies), Jose Pimenta (Halfway to Somewhere), and Gabriel Valentin (Digital Lizards of Doom Volume 4: Fat Cat Rogers) address this issue.
Friday March 28, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Room 209
The annual Los Angeles International Children’s Film Festival begins three full days of short films from around the world for all ages, featuring animation, live action, and documentaries. Animators and filmmakers will talk to the audience following their films, including giving advice for kids on how to become a professional animator or filmmaker. For the full LAICFF schedule, click here.
Friday March 28, 2025 2:00pm - 9:00pm PDT
Room 303AB
Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera were the kings of TV animation for decades, especially on Saturday mornings. Their studio produced countless childhood favorites, including The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Scooby Doo, Yogi Bear, Space Ghost, Top Cat, Quick Draw McGraw, Jonny Quest, The Smurfs, Superfriends, and dozens of others. Come hear all about what went on in the hallowed halls of Hanna-Barbera from writers Mark Evanier and John Semper (who worked at that studio) and animation historians Jerry Beck and Greg Ehrbar.
Mark Evanier attended his first San Diego Comic-Con in 1970 and has been to every one of these annual events ever since. He was then an assistant to the great Jack Kirby, whom he wrote about in his book Kirby, King of Comics. Mark has also written for live-action TV shows, animated... Read More →
Friday March 28, 2025 4:30pm - 5:30pm PDT
Room 213AB
Creating your own board game is not only fun, it’s educational! Learn about systems and the iterative process, teamwork, time and resource management, research, critical analysis, and even science, history, math, and language development. This workshop will take you through the rapid prototyping process for a board game facilitated by Aaron Vanek, who has been teaching analog game design to middle school students for more than seven years.
Saturday March 29, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
North 151
The annual Los Angeles International Children’s Film Festival continues with its three days of short films from around the world for all ages, featuring animation, live-action, and documentaries. Animators and filmmakers will talk to the audience following their films, including offering advice for kids on how to become a professional animator or filmmaker. For the full LAICFF schedule, click here.
Saturday March 29, 2025 10:00am - 9:00pm PDT
Room 303AB
Representation matters but comes with complications. Moderator Britton Payne (VP of business and legal affairs, Nickelodeon/Paramount) details the sometimes-troubling history of autistic characters in comic books with panelists Bex Burgess (YA graphic novel Speak Up!) and Eleanor Payne (3rd Grade Inclusion Advocate). They’ll explore how comics as a medium can foster a modern understanding of autism among its readership. Bex will also discuss their experiences as an autistic comic book creator and of creating comic books that feature an autistic main character navigating her way through high school.
Saturday March 29, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Room 211
In the YA and MG world, there are several popular prose books and graphic novels. Moderator Joshua Pruett (Gyro and the Argonauts), and authors Sara Phoebe Miller (You Belong Here), Simón Estrada (Otto Normal's Monsterton), Tom Phillips (The Curious League of Detectives and Thieves), and Patrick Ness (Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody) discuss the different challenges of creating their stories, characters, and plots.
Saturday March 29, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT
Room 208
An alumni reunion of screenwriters from the 18-year history of the DC Universe animated movies gives you the lowdown on the creation of some of the most beloved animated films in superhero history—and how those treasured words were crafted for the screen. Hear from popular writers Tim Sheridan (Batman: The Long Halloween), Meghan Fitzmartin (Justice Society: World War II), Jeremy Adams (Batman: Soul of the Dragon), Jim Krieg (Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths), Ernie Altbacker (Justice League Dark: Apokolips War), and others as they give insight into honing your skills as a professional animation writer. Come for the writing tips and stay for the audience Q&A, when moderator Gary Miereanu will reward the best questions with some limited-edition prizes.
Saturday March 29, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT
North 200A
Mogwai Rule #5: Never miss a Gremlins panel! The cast and producers of the hit Warner Bros. Animation and Max Original animated prequel series show an exclusive screening of a never-before-seen episode, followed by an in-depth discussion of season 2. Hear straight from the creatives and voice actors about crafting this current chapter of the beloved franchise, and enjoy a sneak peek at the mystery and mayhem ahead for Gizmo, Sam, and Elle along their epic American West adventure. Gremlins: The Wild Batch is produced by Amblin Television in association with Warner Bros. Animation.
Saturday March 29, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Room 207
What happens when big nerds raise little nerds? Do powers multiply with each new generation? A group of professional geek and nerd parents discuss how nerdy jobs, hobbies, and fandoms inform parenting and help guide parents in raising the next generation of physically and emotionally healthy nerds.
Saturday March 29, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Room 300A
Get the inside scoop on The King of Kings, an all-new, faith-based family film starring the voices of Kenneth Branagh, Oscar Isaac, Uma Thurman, Mark Hamill, Sir Ben Kingsley, Pierce Brosnan, Forest Whitaker, and more. In the film, Charles Dickens (Branagh) and his son Walter embark on a multidimensional adventure as the master storyteller engages his youngest son’s vivid imagination with the fascinating life of Jesus (Isaac), his well-known trials and tribulations, and his notable colleagues and foes. The film’s rich animation allows the Dickens pair (and the family cat, Willa) to become intrinsically immersed in the ancient tale. The result is an animated film that makes the biblical journey easily relatable, readily understood, and captivatingly entertaining for families and, especially, children of all ages. The film’s director/producer Seong-ho “Jay” Jang (Joint Security Area,The Taste of Money), producer and BAFTA Award-winning cinematographer Woo-Hyung Kim, co-screenwriter Rob Edwards (Captain America: Brave New World, Disney’s The Princess and the Frog) are joined by Emmy Award–winning casting/dialogue director and executive producer Jamie Thomason (Young Justice,Spirited Away, The Tigger Movie), ), Angel Studios chief distribution officer Jared Geesey, and several of the film’s acclaimed voice actors like Jim Cummings (voice of Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Darkwing Duck), James Arnold Taylor (Star Wars animated franchise), Fred Tatasciore (Hit Monkey, I Am Groot), and Vanessa Marshall (Harley Quinn, Star Wars Rebels) to reveal the magic behind the making of this imaginative film. Publicist Gary Miereanu moderates. Produced by Mofac Studios and distributed by Angel Studios, The King of Kings arrives in theaters on April 11.
Saturday March 29, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Room 207
James Thompson (A People's History of Comics), Alonso Nunez (Little Fish Comic Book Studio), Mary Ellen Stout (San Diego State University), Charles Hatfield (California State University Northridge), Fadi Bayaa (writer, technology/gaming expert), and Jameson Rohrer (Butte County Library) explore the fantasy and horror tropes that dominate comic youth markets from early readers to young adult, allowing for magic metaphors of acceptance, tolerance, and awakening sexuality and difference within traditional romance, melodrama, and comedy narratives. Favorite books and authors will be discussed.
Saturday March 29, 2025 6:30pm - 7:30pm PDT
Room 208
It's all about the chase scenes, witty superheroes, thrilling mystery, and exciting escapades in these stories. Moderator Thien Pham (Family Style) joins authors Kayden Phoenix (Latina Superheroes, Vol. 1: Jalisco and Santa), Steve Breen (Sky & Ty 2: Dinomite!), and Emmanuel Guerrero (Cactus Kid The Battle for Star Rock Mountain,Cactus Kid Rumble at the Rodeo) as they explore exercising imaginations and engaging passions with graphic novels.
Sunday March 30, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Room 209
The annual Los Angeles International Children’s Film Festival continues with its final day of short films from around the world for all ages, featuring animation, live-action, and documentary. Animators and filmmakers will talk to the audience following their films, including offering advice for kids on how to become a professional animator or filmmaker. For the full LAICFF schedule, click here.
Sunday March 30, 2025 10:00am - 5:00pm PDT
Room 303AB
With increasing rates of autism, there is an increasing demand for autistic characters in pop culture from both executives and audiences. But for the creatives in the middle, especially the neurotypical ones, it can feel like a daunting challenge. Whether it’s a YA fantasy graphic novel, a family sitcom, a high-octane hospital drama, a postapocalyptic zombie comic, or whatever—authentic autistic characters belong there, too. Moderator Britton Payne (vice president of business and legal affairs at Nickelodeon/Paramount) leads a discussion with autistic actor Kayla Cromer (The Good Doctor, Monster High), writer/producer Niya Wright (Ada Twist, Scientist) and non-speaking author/advocate Alfonso Camacho (Preparing for School: Alfie’s AAC Journey). This panel of both autistic and neurotypical television and comic book creators will speak wioth Britton about how they successfully added autistic characters to serial fiction, and how you can too!
Sunday March 30, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am PDT
Room 213AB
This family-friendly interactive workshop led by Angel Halo Chang (author and illustrator of the Adobo, Boba, Chai collection) shows how to bring your own main character to life. Pencils and paper provided. Coloring pencils and crayons are encouraged but not required.
Sunday March 30, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am PDT
Room 210
Watchers creators Justin Waldner and Alexander Gray (Heart of Batman)—alongside some luminaries from the animation and comics realms—guide you through the fun, fast-paced gameplay in this rich, alien-infused CCG that spotlights hope in the face of domineering evil humans aligning with aliens, and the Watchers themselves, a council of elders with unbridled power who observe until it’s time to act. But which side will they join? Hear all about the game and plans for an upcoming comic book series and animated film. Publicist Gary Miereanu moderates the festivities, which will include a special giveaway: some lucky fans in attendance will receive a free copy of the single-player game, ready for battle, complete with a starter deck, dice (D6, D12, D20), battle pad, and instructional manual.
Sunday March 30, 2025 10:45am - 11:45am PDT
North 100B
You’re invited to the official USA premiere of Faithful, in which a young girl sets off into the scary Scottish woods to find a mythical grim reaper fairy dog hoping to cross over to The Otherworld and save her Mum. Followed by a Q&A panel with Lily McGuire (Vaila), Lucy Linger (director/producer), Fraser Coull (writer/producer), Valerie Andrews (producer), and Lindsay Jenkins (line producer).
Sunday March 30, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
North 100B
Andres Useche (writer/director, We Don’t Give Up, Marching into the Light), Rob Edwards (writer, Captain America: Brave New World, The Princess and the Frog), Nicole Maines (actor, Yellowjackets,Supergirl), Miranda Kwok (showrunner/producer, The Cleaning Lady,The 100), Jorge R. Gutierrez (director/animator, The Book of Life, Maya and the Three), Aaron Butler (editor, Euphoria, The Idol), Drew Leung (concept artist, LOTR: The Rings of Power, Black Panther Wakanda Forever), and Stephanie Paciullo (agent, CAA) reveal the secrets of their craft, how you can make your way into the industry, and how the arts can make a difference by giving voice to underrepresented folks in the search for greater justice, empathy, and equality. Moderated by Stephanie Pfingsten (CEO/publicist, Lumos PR).
Sunday March 30, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT
Room 213AB
Kids of all ages, come hear stories read by some of your favorite princesses and superheroes! Children and adults can also learn more about working with our causeplay charity and becoming a volunteer. After stories, follow cosplayers to the KCC booth on the show floor for meet-and-greets, photo ops, and booth giveaways. KCC volunteer character readers include Elemental Cosplay, Kat Ristow, James Johnson, Stefanie Carlson, Jennifer Hinojosa, Johnny Hinojosa, Leana Ahmed, Wendy Newton, and Trevor Newton.
Sunday March 30, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Room 300E
