1:30-3:00 VIZ Media Anime and Manga— Check out the VIZ Media anime and manga panel and get the scoop on the year ahead! Panelists will include Wes Harris, director, product and brand marketing; Wendy Shimamura, associate product manager, home entertainment; Jason Bergenfeld, animation production manager, TV production; and Beth Kawasaki, editorial director. Room 2
Categories:  Anime & Manga | Television

6:00-7:00 100 Manga Magazines in 60 Minutes— In Japan, manga is published in massive weekly, biweekly, and monthly manga magazinesthat fit every imaginable category: shojo to shonen, science fiction to horror, moe to yaoi, children's to adult. Jason Thompson (Manga: The Complete Guide) provides a visual tour of the manga world, its industry secrets, and future trends. Room 4
Categories:  Anime & Manga

10:30-11:30 Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles— Will there be a sequel to the Shadow Chronicles? Will there be more Robotech comics? Will there be Shadow Chronicles merchandise? Will there be a special edition DVD? Find the answers to these questions here! Room 6B
Categories:  Action Figures, Toys and Collectibles | Anime & Manga

11:30-12:30 VIZ Media's Shonen Jump: SJ Evolution!— VIZ is deep in “SJ Evolution”—the first major upgrade of the biggest English- language manga publication in the world. Panelists will announce the next big serialized title in Shonen Jump, give a sneak peek of the major upcoming shift in the Naruto storyline, and make plenty of time to yap with readers about all things Jump! Panelists include Joel Enos, manga editor; Amy Yu, manga editor; Hiromi Hasegawa, magazines; and Kristine Givas, director, magazine advertising and marketing. Marc Weidenbaum, VP and editor-in-chief, magazines, will moderate. Room 2
Categories:  Anime & Manga | Television

12:30-1:30 TOKYOPOP Industry Panel— Mike Kiley (publisher, TOKOYOPOP), Rob Tokar (editor-in-chief, TOKYOPOP), and TOKYOPOP editors discuss some of the exciting titles that are sure to lead TOKYOPOP’s Manga Revolution into 2008. Room 10
Categories:  Anime & Manga

1:30-2:30 The Comic Art Prof Show: How to Create Successful Comics Page Layouts— Young comics artists focus on learning to draw. Great comic artists master the page. Good page design brings clarity, rhythm, accent, and life to your comics. Starting with the basics, such as balloons placement and panel shapes, and stepping up to more advanced layout concepts, such as pacing and style, The Comic Art Prof (aka Christian Hill, professor of illustration and sequential art at Cal State Fullerton) will show you the processes professionals use in mainstream and alternative comics, manga, and Eurocomics to lay out impeccable and unforgettable pages. Room 30CDE
Categories:  Anime & Manga | Art and Illustration | Comic Books | Seminars & Workshops | Webcomics

3:30-4:30 Broccoli Books— Broccoli Books are the people who brought you such great manga titles as Juvenile Orion, Galaxy Angel, KAMUI, Disgaea, and the Square Enix hit, E'S. You'll be the first to preview some new manga, merchandise, and more. Representatives will provide announcements and a Q&A session, not to mention some nice promo stuff for attendees. See you there! Room 10
Categories:  Anime & Manga | Gaming

4:30-5:30 Seven Seas Manga— You love Boogiepop & Kashimashi with all your otaku heart and you keep your copies of Amazing Agent Luna & Aoi House enshrined in plastic. Now join Seven Seas' editors and series creators in a wild and wacky (and slightly neurotic) panel as they answer the questions you want answered and unveil all their hot new titles and the big developments that the future has in store! Panelists include Jason DeAngelis (Seven Seas president), Adam Arnold (senior editor, writer of Aoi House), and Shiei (artist of Aoi House). Room 10
Categories:  Anime & Manga

5:30-6:30 Yen Press Launches!— Spend an hour with Kurt Hassler (former Borders graphic novel and manga buyer), Rich Johnson (former VP, book trade, DC Comics) and senior editor JuYon Lee (former senior editor, ICE Kunion) as they discuss what’s in store for Yen Press, the new graphic novel and manga imprint of Hachette Book Group USA. Room 10
Categories:  Anime & Manga

6:00-7:00 Lost in Translation— Lately foreign comics, especially manga, have topped the bookstore graphic-novel sales charts. And in other media as well, foreign entertainment has been making a big push. See long-time translators, editors, and industry people answer questions and discuss the trials and triumphs of being in this exciting area of the media industry! Panelists include William Flanagan (Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle), Jonathan Tarbox (Angel Sanctuary), Jake Forbes (Fullmetal Alchemist), Jason Thompson (Manga: The Complete Guide), Shaenon Garrity (Overlooked Manga Festival blog), and Stephen Paul (Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad)! Room 3
Categories:  Anime & Manga | Comic Books

10:30-11:30 TOKYOPOP: Star Trek in Print: The New Golden Age— With more than two years since the completion of the Star Trek: Enterprise television series and a year until the release of the next Star Trek motion picture, publishing is now the next major frontier for this enduring franchise. Moderator Paula Block (senior director, product development, CBS Consumer Products) talks to Wil Wheaton (author, Te Cura Ipsum from TOKYOPOP's Star Trek the Manga: Kakan ni Shinkou), Luis Reyes (senior editor, TOKYOPOP), Scott Tipton (author, IDW's Star Trek: Klingons: Blood Will Tell), Dan Taylor (editor, IDW), Margaret Clark (executive editor, Pocket Books), and Marco Palmieri (senior editor, Pocket Books) about the latest Star Trek publishing projects. Room 2
Categories:  Anime & Manga | Fandom | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Television

11:30-12:30 VIZ Media: Naruto Nation— Ever wanted to know how Naruto comes to life? We've rounded up the key players who make it happen—the people who bring Naruto to the U.S., from the manga to the toys and video games. Find out how they do it, and how they landed these awesome jobs! Panelists include Marc Weidenbaum (VP and editor-in-chief, magazines), Joel Enos (manga editor), Jason Bergenfeld (animation production), Philippe Therien (Ubisoft game designer), a representative from Mattel, and others! Wes Harris (director, product and brand marketing at VIZ Media), will moderate. Room 2
Categories:  Action Figures, Toys and Collectibles | Anime & Manga | Television

12:30-1:30 TOKYOPOP and the Jim Henson Company Present Legends of the Dark Crystal and Return to Labyrinth— In 1982, Jim Henson released The Dark Crystal, a visionary fantasy film unlike anything seen on film before. Now, on the 25th anniversary of the movie, the story continues in Legends of the Dark Crystal, a multivolume manga prequel. Writer Barbara Randall Kesel (Meridian), artist Heidi Arnhold, editor Tim Beedle, and head of children’s television for the Jim Henson Company Halle Stanford preview and discuss the upcoming series. Joining them will be Jake Forbes, author of the Return to Labyrinth manga, who will be on hand to discuss the upcoming volume of this successful Labyrinth sequel. Room 10
Categories:  Anime & Manga | Kids | Movies | Science Fiction & Fantasy

1:30-2:30 VIZ Media's Shojo Beat— Manga-ka extraordinaire Arina Tanemura (Full Moon, The Gentlemen’s Alliance +) and her editor from Japan, Miho Yamaji, joins this year's Shojo Beat panel in an exclusive Q&A session. Panelists Megan Bates (senior editor, Shojo Beat) Nancy Thistlethwaite (manga editor), and Hiromi Hasegawa (translating)will also share lots of news about the biggest shojo manga publication in the English-speaking world. Marc Weidenbaum (VP and editor-in-chief, magazines) moderates. Room 2
Categories:  Anime & Manga

2:30-3:30 FUNimation Industry Panel: Get in the Know!— A FUNimation representative will be on hand to talk about all the newest information and updates on everything they are currently working on, as well as answer questions. Room 3
Categories:  Anime & Manga | Kids | Movies | Television

3:30-4:30 Del Rey Manga— The Del Rey Manga team will be on hand for exciting new manga announcements—both Japanese and OEL—plus an exclusive look at Terry Brooks’ first-ever graphic novel, Dark Wraith of Shannara, and the usual fun of the Del Rey Q&A. Get those questions ready now and Dallas Middaugh (associate publisher), Ali Kokmen (marketing manager), Mutsumi Miyazaki (director of licensing and acquisitions), and Tricia Narwani (Del Rey manga editorial) will do their best to answer and/or dodge them! Room 10
Categories:  Anime & Manga | Science Fiction & Fantasy

4:30-5:30 ADV Industry Panel— Join ADV Films co-founder and ADR director extraordinaire Matt Greenfield (Kurau Phantom Memory) as he previews new and upcoming series, answers your questions, and makes a surprising announcement or two. It’s history in the making—plus prizes, prizes, and more prizes! Get there early to save your seat! Room 3
Categories:  Anime & Manga

5:30-8:00 Gays in Comics Panel and Mixer: The 20th Anniversary!— Two decades of “Gays in Comics” is celebrated at its birthplace: Comic-Con! From DC's diverse roster that includes a lesbian Question and Batwoman and a gay Pied Piper and Midnighter to Marvel's Moondragon and Quasar or Hulkling and Wicca, super-hero comics have come a long way in representing gay characters. With Yaoi also exploding in the marketplace, the bravura graphic novel Fun Home winning awards worldwide, and TV shows such as Heroes tapping into the comic book closet, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered characters and fans are finally being represented. An all-star panel of GLBT creators (and a straight one) will offer startling insight and glimpses of surprises to come! Joining founding moderator Andy Mangels, best-selling author of Star Trek novels and director of She-Ra and Isis DVD documentaries, are Alison Bechdel, the writer/artist of the critical best-seller Fun Home and Dykes to Watch Out For; Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, the writer of Sensational Spider-Man and Nightcrawler; Chuck Kim, a writer for the Heroes TV series and many DC Comics titles; Charles "Zan" Christensen, the co-founder of PRISM and writer of the upcoming The Mark of Aeacus; Alonso Duralde, pop culture critic, author of 101 Must-See Movies for Gay Men, and former Advocate arts editor; and Megan Gedris, PRISM grant-winning artist of Yu+Me manga webcomic. Plus, a very important special guest may make an appearance! Afterward, stick around for the hour-long gay comics fan mixer/social, sponsored by PRISM Comics, with prizes and surprise special guests! Room 6A
Categories:  Anime & Manga | Comic Books | Fandom | Webcomics

6:00-7:00 Create Your Own Comics and Manga— Learn how to create comics and manga on your computer. Manga Studio, the leading Manga and comic art software, provides all the essential tools you need to create professional, ready-to-publish pages from start to finish! Manga Studio offers an intuitive interface and delivers the best suite of ready-to-use screen tones, content, and special manga and comic effects for hobbyists, experienced artists, and professionals. Featuring Steve Yatson (VP of marketing, e frontier America Inc.) and Lincy Chan (manga artist, TOKYOPOP). Room 30AB
Categories:  Anime & Manga | Fandom | Seminars & Workshops

10:30-11:30 TOKYOPOP: The Creators— A diverse and talented panel of artists and authors discuss the creation of their original and innovative TOKYOPOP manga titles. Featuring Becky Cloonan (creator, East Coast Rising, artist, American Virgin), Brandon Graham (author, artist King City), Tricia Hale (author, Grand Theft Galaxy), David Hine (creator, Poison Candy; writer, Son of X, Daredevil, and Spawn), Jim Pascoe (author, Undertown), and Felipe Smith (creator, MBQ). Room 2
Categories:  Anime & Manga

10:30-11:30 The Graphic Novel Explosion— Up until the last few years, graphic novels were published primarily by specialty houses that produced only comics and related works. Now, however, traditional mainstream publishing houses are producing graphic novels and even setting up graphic novel divisions, spurred by bookstore sales trends, library demand, and critical recognition. What has led to this trend? What sorts of books are these publishers looking for? Who is the audience? What role has manga played? And is the graphic novel market going to continue to expand, or will the bubble burst? Panelists include Charles Kochman, senior editor, Harry N. Abrams; David Saylor, creative director, Scholastic/Graphix; Karen Berger, executive editor, Vertigo/Minx/DC; Mark Siegel, senior editor, First Second; Dallas Middaugh, associate publisher, Del Rey Manga; Chris Schluep, editor, Ballantine/Del Rey/Villard; and Calvin Reid, news editor, Publisher’s Weekly, and co-editor, PW Comics Weekly. Moderated by Jackie Estrada, Eisner Awards administrator and consultant to Foreword magazine’s Comique graphic novel supplement. Room 8
Categories:  Anime & Manga | Comic Books

10:30-12:00 Comics Arts Conference Session #13: Cultural Continuity— Anne Hoyer (German Society of Research on Comics) traces the decline of Scots-specific features in Oor Wullie, a Scottish newspaper strip published since 1936 whose protagonist was voted Scottish icon of the year in 2004, and the increasing Englishness of the strip. Kristy Boney (Ohio State University) explores how many modern comics such as Bill Willingham’s Fables, and Ted Naifeh’s Courtney Crumrin take their cue from the Friedrich Schlegel and the Brothers Grimm and discusses the extent to which they stay faithful to the Volksmärchen (folk tradition) or follow the Kunstmärchen (artistic tradition) and become more subversive, expanding the collective folk tradition. Kotaro Nakagaki (Tokiwa University, Japan) reexamines the cross-fertilization of Japanese manga and American popular culture and analyzes cultural identity and globalization within the global market context of American and Japanese circulation. Room 30AB
Categories:  Anime & Manga | Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Arts Conference | Comic Books

11:30-12:30 Graphic Novels in Libraries— Get practical advice about graphic novels and anime in libraries! Programming, collection development, review resources, bibliographies, and more will be discussed by Jill Patterson (La Habra Branch Library), Merideth Jenson-Benjamin (Glendale Public Library), Kearsten LaBrozzi (Glendale Public Library), and Hillary W. Chang (McCully-Moiliili Public Library). Room 3
Categories:  Anime & Manga | Cartooning and Comic Strips | Comic Books | Seminars & Workshops

12:30-1:30 VIZ Media: You Oughta Know... About These Manga— Want to expand your manga reading list but don't know where to begin? Find out what the VIZ Media editors recommend. Editors will discuss series you've never heard of and series you may have heard of but aren't reading. Fans will also have a chance to ask questions about titles. Panelists include Joel Enos, editor of Naruto, Godchild, The Cain Saga, From Far Away; Nancy Thistlethwaite, editor of Absolute Boyfriend, The Gentlemen’s Alliance +, Ouran High School Host Club, Crimson Hero; Amy Yu, editor of Buso Renkin, Tail of the Moon, Muhyo & Roji’s Bureau of Supernatural Investigation; and Elizabeth Kawasaki, editorial director. Room 2
Categories:  Anime & Manga

2:00-3:00 CMX: Manga in Demand!— Manga is one of the hottest areas in publishing, and DC Comics’ manga imprint, CMX, is right in the thick of it. With the strength of its line behind them, CMX proudly presents upcoming and renowned manga, including Samurai Commando: Mission 1549, Gon, Variante, and Presents. And now, CMX is pleased to announce a bold, new publishing venture with Japanese partners Flex Comics. Join DC’s VP of business development John Nee, WildStorm director of manga Asako Suzuki, and manga editor Jim Chadwick for this in-depth and in-demand panel. Room 4
Categories:  Anime & Manga