The final day of Comic-Con International on Sunday, July 23, at the San Diego Convention Center will feature activities for younger attendees.
Children will have the opportunity to draw with comic book and manga artists, watch family-friendly movies at an all-day film festival, meet Sesame Street characters and sing-along to “The Little Mermaid.”
Also on hand will be U.S. Congressman Robert Garcia, the California lawmaker who was sworn into Congress with a copy of Superman #1, and celebrated comic book artist and writer Frank Miller.
Here are some highlights with official descriptions courtesy of the folks at Comic-Con.
For a complete schedule, go here.
Manga Tutorials for Kids
Illustrators and animators from eigoMANGA will offer kids of all ages tutorials on manga illustrations and storytelling. Room 11, 10-11 a.m.
San Diego International Children’s Film Festival
The San Diego International Children’s Film Festival features creative, exciting and imaginative short films from around the world — animation, live action, and documentary — for all ages. Throughout the day, animators and filmmakers will talk about their work, how kids can make their own films and careers in animation and filmmaking. Room 9, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Kids Draw Superheroes
A panel of artists from comics, graphic novels, and animation will work with kids from the audience one on one to design an original superhero (or villain) in just five minutes, based on random superpowers chosen from a list. It’s fast and furious, and as many kids as they can squeeze in will go home with an original piece of art. Everyone in the audience will be encouraged to draw along and show off their skills. Featuring Lucas Turnbloom (Steve L. McEvil), Justin Thompson (Peanuts), Jeff Ranjo (head of story, Netflix Animation), Frank Jordan (Company Man Comic), and Marty Davis (animator, illustrator). Room 11, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Sesame Street Special Premiere
Be the first to experience Sesame Street’s new entertaining and informative special starring your favorite Muppets of Sesame Street, who, with the help of celebrity guests, journey out into the world with a mission to help others and give back to communities. The screening will be followed by a panel with Cookie Monster, Elmo, and Andrew Moriarty (coordinating producer/writer). Room 6BCF, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Congressional Popular Arts Caucus
U.S. Congressman Robert Garcia will announce the launch of the Congressional Popular Arts Caucus, a new bipartisan caucus in the United States Congress. Megan Halsband, the librarian of the Library of Congress overseeing their historic comic book collection, leads a discussion with creator and writer Josh Trujillo of Blue Beetle, and the interim director of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, Jeff Trexler. As a lifelong fan of comic books — an artf orm that helped him learn English after immigrating to the U.S.— Garcia was proud to be sworn into Congress on the Constitution alongside a copy of Superman #1. The program will highlight the enormous cultural, economic, and educational contributions of all forms of the popular arts and the growing need for collaboration between policymakers and the popular arts industry, its creators, and the many millions of Americans who enjoy and appreciate the popular arts. Room 4, 12-1 p.m.
‘The Little Mermaid’ Sing-Along
You’re invited to raise your voice and be “a part of our world” when “The Little Mermaid” filmmaker Rob Marshall’s live-action 2023 reimagining of Disney’s Oscar-winning animated musical classic, screens at Comic-Con as a special sing-along edition. Sing along to the music from multiple Academy Award winner Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman, who together won two Oscars for the music in the animated “The Little Mermaid,” and new lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Room 6BCF, 12:45-2:45 p.m.
Frank Miller
Comic-Con special guest and legend Frank Miller, one of the comics medium’s most important creators, returns to San Diego for an all-access and in-depth discussion. Be here for this exclusive panel that will give you insight into one of the genre’s most influential people. With his publishing line, Frank Miller Presents, and details on the upcoming Frank Miller: American Genius documentary, there will be much to cover. Room 7AB, 1-2 p.m.
X-Men Fandom
The 4th annual X-Men Fandom panel brings together the X-Men Fan community to express what they love about Marvel’s mutants. This panel features iconic Marvel cover artist David Nakayama, cosplayer/comic writer Ani-Mia (Bettie Page), event producer Warpath_Dylan (House of X), cosplayer and co-founder of the Hellfire Gala Walk Michelle Waffle, concept artist and toy designer Blaine Rodenbaugh (NECA), and podcaster Justin Wilder (The X-Wife Podcast), with moderator Chandler Poling (The Uncanny Experience, X-Reads Podcast). Attendees will receive an exclusive art print by Marvel Stormbreaker artist Lukas Werneck (Immortal X-Men, Trial of Magneto). Cosplay is encouraged — stay after the panel for a group photo. Room 6A, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Philip K. Dick Discussion
Who is human and who only appears as human? What is real? Philip K Dick (PKD) wrote stories that were later made into movies and TV series, including “Blade Runner,” “Minority Report,” “Total Recall” and “Man in the High Castle,” “Electric Dreams,” “Adjustment Bureau,” “Screamers” and “Paycheck.” His works are being turned into more films and TV adaptations. PKD’s tales predate similar paranoid and sanity-questioning themes in “The Matrix,” “Terminator,” “Source Code,” “Inception,” “Logan’s Run” and “The Island.” John Alan Simon, Elizabeth Karr (director/producer, PKD’s Radio Free Albemuth; developing “Flow My Tears,” “The Policeman Said” and “VALIS”), Daniel Gilbertson (writer, “Screamers”and a colleague of PKD), Keith Giles (author, teacher), Charles Cameron Mitchell (PKD Festival), and Cliff Jones, Jr. (software developer and author), will discuss PKD. Room 5AB, 3:15-4:45 p.m.
Comic-Con Talk Back
Representatives from Comic-Con will be present to listen to attendees’ feedback about the event. What did we do right? What could be improved? We want to hear from you. Room 23ABC, 3:30-4:30 p.m.