Prepare to go Plus Ultra! with this one-of-a-kind hero panel. Learn how to be a real hero as panelists discuss this hit anime series, featuring English voice actors Justin Briner (Deku) and Clifford Chapin (Bakugo), and professional football players Marcus Davenport (New Orleans Saints) and Adam Gettis (Atlanta Falcons). See the panelists arm wrestle, watch new episodes for season 4, engage in a Q&A, and get giveaways.
Thursday July 18, 2019 10:30am - 11:30am PDT
Room 6BCF
Many people love manga but sometimes don't see themselves represented as often as they'd like—or even at all. TOKYOPOP will host a discussion about the importance of increasing diversity in manga titles and give attendees a preview of upcoming International Women of Manga releases. Plus giveaways!
Thursday July 18, 2019 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
Room 29AB
Celebrating another groundbreaking year of publishing the best video game and anime art books and manga from Japan and all over the world, UDON's chief Erik Ko is joined by director of publishing Matt Moylan to talk about all the new and exciting projects that UDON is going to offer in the coming months.
Thursday July 18, 2019 12:30pm - 1:30pm PDT
Room 8
One of the greatest action animated series of all time celebrates its 30th anniversary this year! Join legendary DBZ voice actors Sean Schemmel (Goku), Christopher R. Sabat (Vegeta), Sonny Strait (Krillin), and Monica Rial (Bulma) for a celebration 30 years in the making, along with DBZ super-fan Mohamed Sanu, wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons.
Thursday July 18, 2019 2:15pm - 3:15pm PDT
Room 6BCF
Have you ever thought about what goes on behind the scenes of the anime films and television series we all know and love? Would you like to learn the trade secrets and day-to-day job profiles of one of Japan's most lucrative industries? Well here's your chance to find out with anime industry insider Kihara Hirokatsu. Kihara will talk about his time working on some of the most iconic anime films of all time. Attendees will also have a chance to glimpse some incredibly rare pieces of animation history! Kihara Hirokatsu formerly worked at the Studio Ghibli production desk and was involved in Laputa: Castle in the Sky, My Neighbor Totoro, and Kiki's Delivery Service. Nowadays he writes ghost stories and MCs at monster conventions. His most famous work is Tales of Terror: Haunted Apartment, which has been a crucial contributor to many other hits in this genre.
UPDATED: Mon, Jul 15, 08:16PM Manga in North America are enjoying a new “golden age.” More manga and light novels are hitting the shelves in bookstores and comic shops, and more titles than ever are available in digital formats the same day/date as Japan. There's more anime streaming on Netflix, Amazon, and Crunchyroll, and that's driving interest in more manga and a more diverse range of titles than ever before. Get a taste of what's hot, what's not, and what's next for manga in North America and Japan from top publishing pros, including Candice Uyloan (senior director, marketing, VIZ Media) Ben Applegate (director, publisher services, Penguin Random House), Kurt Hassler (publisher, managing director, Yen Press), Masaaki Shimizu (general manager and publisher, book publishing division, Square Enix), Ed Chavez (publisher, Denpa Books), Daihei Shiohama (Media-Do International), and Matt Moylan (director of publishing, Udon Entertainment). Moderated by Deb Aoki (Publishers Weekly, Anime News Network).
Thursday July 18, 2019 5:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Room 29AB
Are you a fan of Dragon Ball, One-Punch Man, Naruto, One Piece, or Bleach ? Hang out with Team Shonen Jump and get the latest developments on new series from Japan, all-time fan favorites, and what they're doing to bring you the world's best manga. They'll also be chatting up prolific voice acting star Robbie Daymond (Boruto, One-Punch Man, Spider-Man, Persona 5, and more). Plus: amazing prizes up for grabs!
Amanda Kennell (University at Buffalo) argues technology's prominence in Kuwata Jiro's Batman (a.k.a. the Batmanga) reflects social debates within Japan regarding the distinctions between humanity, technology, and post-humanity. Aviya Amir (University of California, Riverside) demonstrates how the Hebrew-language webcomic Tzahal Sempa (IDF Sempai) paradoxically uses “sempai” as part of a demilitarized and homoromantic portrayal of social bonds within the Israeli army. Nicole Larrondo (The University of Texas at Austin) asks why “boys' love” manga has been a systematically stigmatized type of cultural production in Chile—even as most BL books are drawn by women for women—and how the genre expresses female sexuality.
Friday July 19, 2019 1:00pm - 2:30pm PDT
Room 26AB
UPDATED: Mon, Jul 08, 07:53PM Manga is popular among the new generation of readers, and it can be a powerful tool in your classroom. Teachers from around the country will discuss how they approach using manga and graphic novels versus the original texts and the powerful results they bring to the classroom setting. Moderator: John Shableski (Manga Classics). Panelists: Jessica Johnson, Claudia McGivney, Ryne Steinacker, Kaitlyn Roach, and Brook Wylde.
UPDATED: Mon, Jul 15, 07:41PM A lot of manga titles are available in English now, but what's really worth reading? A panel of opinionated manga bloggers and comics curmudgeons spotlight the best manga that hit the shelves in the past year. In rapid-fire rounds, see them rave about their favorite continuing series! Watch them rant about the excruciatingly mediocre manga that they were forced to read (so you won't have to)! Find out what Brigid Alverson (Smash Pages, School Library Journal), Zac Bertschy (Anime News Network), Christopher Butcher (Toronto Comic Arts Festival), Megan Peters (ComicBook.com), Rob McMonigal (PanelPatter.com), and Deb Aoki (Publishers Weekly) loved and loathed to read in the past year, hear about their picks for the most anticipated upcoming releases for Fall 2019 and beyond, and discover their favorite underappreciated manga gems that are worth picking up.
eigoMANGA's team of manga artists and animators will hold a tutorial workshop to teach the fundamentals of manga illustration and storytelling. They will also be on hand to critique portfolios from up-and-coming artists.
UPDATED: Thu, Jul 11, 04:54PM A star-studded showcase featuring an incredible lineup of voice cast and creative talent behind Seis Manos, an upcoming Netflix Original anime series. Launching later this year worldwide, Seis Manos is produced by VIZ Media and Powerhouse Animation Studios (Castlevania). Hear from lead cast members Mike Colter (Luke Cage), Jonny Cruz (Overwatch), Angélica Vale (Jane the Virgin), Vic Chao (Mortal Kombat X), and Danny Trejo (Machete), alongside co-creator and showrunner Brad Graeber, writer and co-creator Álvaro Rodriguez (Machete), and writer Daniel Dominguez (Oishi High School Battle), as they dive into the action-packed world of Seis Manos!
Saturday July 20, 2019 10:30am - 11:30pm PDT
Room 6BCF
The publishers of Sailor Moon, Mobile Suit Gundam Origin, AKIRA, Bakemonogatari, and many more present an exciting look at the manga coming to America in 2020. Hear about new Kodansha and Vertical print and digital releases, get a behind-the-scenes look at how manga gets created, and ask your questions. Plus: get free manga and win prizes!
Saturday July 20, 2019 11:30am - 12:30pm PDT
Room 8
Stan Sakai and moderator Jessica Tseang talk about his 35 years of writing and drawing his creator-owned series Usagi Yojimbo. See what's in store for this samurai rabbit as he is relaunched this summer with a new publisher: IDW.
Saturday July 20, 2019 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Room 28DE
Manga is for everyone, and TOKYOPOP's goal is to bring the magic of manga to all comic book fans, whether they're manga veterans or new to the world of Japanese-style comics. Panelists will let curious fans know what's coming up this year and beyond from TOKYOPOP and how they're expanding their Disney manga licenses for kids, bringing diversity into the world of manga from their International Women of Manga line, and resurrecting classic titles for collector editions and bringing new manga over from Japan.
Saturday July 20, 2019 6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT
Room 28DE
Takashi Okazaki (Afro Samruai) and Jumpei Mizusaki (Batman Ninja) team up for the first time with Sturgill Simpson (Grammy Award-winning musician, A Sailor's Guide to Earth) on a new film that merges American rock music with anime in a way never seen before. Moderated by Shun Ochiai (radio DJ and narrator in Avengers Assemble) the team will debut the first 90-second trailer for the film as well as discuss the making of the project.
Saturday July 20, 2019 7:30pm - 8:30pm PDT
Room 5AB
Hear about all the latest and greatest anime coming out of Crunchyroll straight from the source. A special gift for all who attend. Panelists: Adam Sheehan and Lauren Stevens.
Saturday July 20, 2019 8:30pm - 9:30pm PDT
Room 7AB
UPDATED: Fri, Jul 12, 07:37PM Are you a comic fan who is also interested in anime and manga but don't really know how to dive in? These panelists are here to help. ComiXologist Taylor Morgan and Ivan Salazar ask an amazing panel of comics luminaries and tastemakers to recommend the best of manga past and present. These panelists include Deb Aoki (Anime News Network), Kel McDonald (The Stone King), Gabriela Downie (Looney Tunes Comics), and Chris Butcher (artistic director of The Toronto Comic Arts Festival). Tell them your favorite comic, movie, or TV show, and they'll give you a manga to match.
Sunday July 21, 2019 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Room 24ABC