Technically, Friday is "Star Wars Day" at San Diego Comic-Con International 2009, but as far as I'm concerned, it's anime and manga day at the San Diego Convention Center, with scheduled appearances by manga artists Hiroyuki Takei, Yasuhiro Nightow, NaRae Lee, Yoshinori Natsume, comics legend Stan Lee and anime demi-god Hayao Miyazaki.
And yep, the Eisner Awards happen tonight too. Which manga will take home the Best US Edition of International Material - Japan award? And will a manga title take home a win in any other category for once? Probably not. But hey, I hear they have beer there.
The Exhibit Hall opens at 9:30 am and stays open until 7:00 pm for your shopping and schwag-grabbing pleasure. The panels and anime showings start at 10:00 am and keep going until midnight.
This isn't all that's going on at Comic-Con today, but it is a manga-centric guide to some noteworthy events that are worth your while to check out.
- 10:00 am - 11:00 am Stan Sakai Autograph Session at Dark Horse Booth 2615
The always affable creator of Usagi Yojimbo celebrates the 20th anniversary of his rabbit samurai bodyguard for hire - 10:30 am - 11:30 am VIZ Media: Shonen Jump at Room 10
Get the latest updates on the world's most popular manga magazine, plus the first look at new Shonen Jump manga and anime, plus more not-to-be-missed events. As a special treat, comics legend Stan Lee talks about the new series Ultimo, with very special guest, Hiroyuki Takei, co-creator of Ultimo and creator of Shaman King. - 11:00 am - 12 noon Sho Murase Autograph Session at PaperCutz Booth 2046
Chat with the creator of Me2 and the artist of the manga adaptations of the Nancy Drew mysteries from Papercutz. - 12:00 noon - 1:00 pm Adam Warren Autograph Session at Dark Horse Booth 2615
Meet the creator of Empowered, and perhaps share a few stories about your first exposure to Dirty Pair. - 12:45 pm - 2:15 pm: Disney: Animation Panel featuring Hayao Miyazaki at Hall H Walt Disney Pictures, Disney-Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios present a director panel with previously unseen footage from its upcoming animated slate, including Toy Story and Toy Story 2 – Double Feature, Beauty And The Beast, Toy Story 3, Prep & Landing, The Princess and the Frog and Ponyo. Special guests include Lee Unkrich, Kirk Wise, Ron Clements, John Musker, and Hayao Miyazaki. John Lasseter hosts the panel, with Patton Oswalt moderating.
- 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm: NaRae Lee Autograph Session at Yen Press Booth 1116-1120
She's come all the way from Korea to meet you, so be sure to drop by and give the artist behind the manhwa-adaptation of James Patterson's Maximum Ride a warm Comic-Con welcome. - 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm: After the First 1,000 Pages at Room 10
It takes 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert at something. Art teachers say that you have to make 100,000 bad drawings before you can make a good one. Gene Colan (Tomb of Dracula), Becky Cloonan (Demo), Zander Cannon (Top 10), Roger Langridge (The Muppet Show Comic Book), and Matt Kindt (Super Spy) will discuss how they've developed as artists since their early work and the creative breakthroughs that took them a while to reach. Moderated by Douglas Wolk (Reading Comics). - 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm: Autograph session with Yoshinori Natsume at CMX Manga / DC Comics Booth 1915
Natsume-sensei, artist of Togari and Batman: Death Mask will be on hand at the massive DC Comics booth to chat with fans and perhaps do a sketch or two. - 2:15 pm - 3:15 pm Stan Lee and Hiroyuki Takei Autograph session at VIZ Media Booth
If you weren't one of the lucky few who bought their copy of Shonen Jump's July 2009 issue with Ultimo on the cover, you're pretty much out of luck for this one-and-only autograph session with the creators of Ultimo. Your last chance is today, but you'll need to be one of the first 40 to buy this issue this morning -- after that allotment's gone, that's it! - 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm Capcom: Fighting Games at Room 5AB
Capcom fighting fans unite as game producers present first looks at the hottest new fighting games for the year. Featuring Rey Jiminez (Marvel vs. Capcom 2), Kazuhiro Tsuchiya (Fate: Unlimited Codes), and Ryota Niitsuma (Tatsunoko vs. Capcom). Moderated by Capcom-Unity.com's and SFII Champion Seth Killian. See exclusive gameplay footage and behind-the-scenes making-of features. Plus, a couple of fans will be pulled onstage for an impromptu Marvel vs. Capcom 2 tournament to show off your mad skillz and earn big Capcom prizes! All followed by a Q&A session! - 2:30 pm - 3:50 pm Bryan Lee O'Malley Autograph Session at Oni Press Booth 1833
Meet the creator of Scott Pilgrim, chat him up and ask him whether he's making a cameo appearance in the upcoming feature film adaptation of his creation, with Edgar Wright (Shawn of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) at the helm. - 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm: VIZ Media: Anime and Manga at Room 32AB
So you want to know more about the new Shonen Sunday online magazine? Curious about what hot new VIZ Signature, Shojo Beat or VIZ Kids titles will be coming out in the coming year? Dying to know about which anime will be released next? The answers to all of these questions and more will be revealed at Friday afternoon's VIZ Media panel. All I can say is that it must be lots of good stuff if they need an hour and a half to share it all. If past VIZ Comic-Con panels are any indicator, this should, indeed be worth your while to check out. - 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Yasuhiro Nightow Autograph Session at Dark Horse Booth 2615
Say hello to Nightow-sensei, get your copy of Trigun or Trigun Maximum signed and ask him about the upcoming Trigun feature-length animated film. But remember, this is a ticketed event, so visit the Dark Horse booth on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday morning to get your ticket, and see if your number gets pulled on Friday afternoon to be one of the lucky few to meet this popular and prolific manga creator. - 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm Nunzio Defilippis & Christina Weir Autograph Session at Seven Seas Manga Booth 2649
The authors of Amazing Agent Luna and Destiny’s Hand will be on hand to chat with fans and sign books. While you're there, pick up your copy of the Amazing Agent Luna Omnibus 1 edition. - 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm Adam Arnold Autograph Session at Seven Seas Manga Booth 2649
Meet the author of Aoi House, and get your copy signed. Chat him up and ask him what's coming soon from Seven Seas Manga. - 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Graphic Novels Panel at Room 8
Moderator Tom Spurgeon (ComicsReporter.com) talks to some of the superstars of graphic novels in this lively panel discussion. Joining Tom are Lewis Trondheim (Kaput and Zosky), Bryan Lee O'Malley (Scott Pilgrim), Seth (George Sprott 1894–1975), Gene Yang (American Born Chinese), Jason Lutes (Berlin), and Derek Kirk Kim (The Eternal Smile). - 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm: Yen Press Industry Panel at Room 4
If you've ever been to a Yen Press panel, you know that they can be raucous, fun affairs where new, drool-worthy manga titles are announced, punctuated by the occasional giveaway and PowerPoint mishap. They've already announced the addition of Black Butler (a.k.a. Kuroshitsuji) to the pages of Yen Plus, and gave vampire fans lots to drool over with last week's announcement of the upcoming Twilight graphic novels. What else do they have up their sleeves? You'll just have to check out this panel to find out. - 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm: Spotlight on Kazu Kibuishi at Room 3
Almost single-handedly revitailizing the comics anthology format with his work as editor of Flight (now in its sixth volume), Comic-Con special guest Kazu Kibuishi also writes and draws his own comics, such as the Amulet series and Daisy Kutter. Kibuishi talks about his work as both creator and editor in this Spotlight panel. - 8:30 pm - 11:00 pm: The Will Eisner Awards Ceremonies at the Indigo Ballroom in the Hilton Bayfront Hotel
Monster by Naoki Urasawa. Cat-Eyed Boy by Kazuo Umezu. The Quest for the Missing Girl by Jiro Taniguchi. Dororo by Osamu Tezuka. Solanin by Asano Inio. Which of these five nominees will take home the Eisner Award for the Best U.S. Edition of International Material - Japan, the category that ensures that every year at least one manga title takes home a prize? You'll just have to attend that night's ceremony to find out first and see if COWA! by Akira Toriyama, Good-Bye by Yoshihiro Tatsumi pick up awards in other categories or even "Murder He Wrote," a Simpsons' Halloween story by Nina Matsumoto (Yokaiden) Ian Boothby and Andrew Pepoy takes home an Eisner for the Best Short Story. Admission to the Eisners is free to all Comic-Con attendees—just be sure to bring your badge. Doors open for pro and VIP seating at 7:30 and for attendees at 8:15.
Got time for a break between panels? Check out some of the anime showings in rooms 24BC, 25AB and 25C from 10 am through midnight. Here's a link to Friday's schedule of anime showings, which include showings of Romeo x Juliet, Toward the Terra, Gundam 00, Gurren Lagann and Mazinkaiser.
Plus here's your guide to where to find manga and graphic novel publishers at Comic-Con 2009.
If you're eager for updates and photos fresh from the convention floor, follow me on Twitter!
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