After a year of relative absence from the pop culture mecca that is the San Diego Comic-Con, Disney has announced a full-scale return to the convention with star-studded panel presentations, new products, and TV previews.
In 2011, the Walt Disney Studios decided to pull away from the San Diego Comic-Con in favor of presenting at their own D23 Expo, held in Anaheim, Calif. roughly one month later. But for 2012, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures and Disney-owned Marvel Studios will be previewing highly-anticipated upcoming films including “Frankenweenie,” “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Oz The Great and Powerful,” and “Iron Man 3.”
The Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures panel will take place in Comic-Con’s biggest venue, the famed Hall H, on Thursday, July 12 from 2:05pm – 3:05pm. The Q&A panel will include director of “Frankenweenie” Tim Burton, a look at the world of “Oz The Great and Powerful” with director Sam Raimi, and the voice cast of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Wreck-It Ralph,” including John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, and director Rich Moore. Burton, Reilly, and Silverman all appeared at the D23 Expo last year promoting the same projects.
“Frankenweenie” will also have its own booth, #3635, devoted to the traveling exhibition of artwork, props, and sets.
Then on Saturday, July 14, Marvel Studios will be hosting its Hall H Comic-Con panel from 6:00pm – 7:00pm, focusing on “Iron Man 3.” Producer Kevin Feige along with “special guests” will offer an inside look at the upcoming film.
Outside of Hall H, Disney Channel and Disney XD will host panels focusing on “Tron: Uprising,” “Motorcity,” “Phineas and Ferb,” and “Fish Hooks.”
On Friday July 13, from 2:15 – 3:15 p.m. in room 6A, “TRON: Uprising” voice cast Elijah Wood (“Beck”), Bruce Boxleitner (“Tron”), Emmanuelle Chriqu (“Paige”), and Tricia Helfer (“The Grid”) along with executive producer/director Charlie Bean and consulting producers Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz, art director Alberto Mielgo, and lead character designer Robert Valley will be featured. Also included in the panel will be never-before-seen clips of Disney XD’s “Motorcity” and a sneak peek of the upcoming animated series “Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja.”
On Saturday, July 14, from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. in room 6A, “Phineas and Ferb” will have its own panel featuring creators/executive producers Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh along with cast members Vincent Martella (“Phineas”), Alyson Stoner (“Isabella”) and Dee Bradley Baker (“Perry”). The panel will include a sneak peek of this summer’s two-part cliffhanger episode “Where’s Perry?” and a “special guest moderator” that will be announced at Comic-Con.
Later that day, Saturday, July 14, from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. in room: 5AB, Disney Channel Television Animation will take a look at “Fish Hooks” and its newest mystery adventure series “Gravity Falls,” plus a first look at the upcoming series “Wander Over Yonder.” Panelists include: “Fish Hooks” creator/executive producer Noah Z. Jones and executive producer Maxwell Atoms and voice talent Justin Roiland (“Oscar”) and Kari Wahlgren (“Shellsea”); “Gravity Falls” creator Alex Hirsch and creative director Michael Rianda and voice talent Jason Morgan Ritter (“Dipper”), and “Wander Over Yonder” creator Craig McCracken and co-producer Lauren Faust. The panel will be moderated by Eric Coleman, Senior Vice President, Original Series, Disney Television Animation.
The “Disney Epic Mickey 2” video game will show a strong presence at this year’s event, much as the video game was the talk of E3, handing out highly-desired Oswald the Lucky Rabbit ear hats to those willing to wait in a long line. In attendance will be Vice President and Creative Director, Disney Interactive’s Junction Point Warren Spector, Award-Winning Comic Writer and Author of the Upcoming Disney Epic Mickey 2 Graphic Novel Peter David, Comic Writer and Author of Disney Mickey 2: The Power of Two Script Marv Wolfman, Senior Story Designer, Disney Interactive’s Junction Point Brian Freyermuth, and Director of Archives, The Walt Disney Company Becky Cline.
In the world of Disney collectibles, The Disney Store and Funko will be present at Comic-Con and exclusive Vinylmation items will be available. Licensees including LEGO and Mattel will also have booths that will showcase Disney and Marvel products.
With no D23 Expo until 2013, San Diego Comic-Con is once again Disney’s chance to show off their biggest films, TV shows, and products to eager fans.
Inside the Magic will be covering all four days plus preview night of San Diego Comic-Con 2012, so follow us on Twitter and Facebook and keep checking back to this web site for all the latest from Disney and beyond!