Later This Week At Comic Con 2026

This post today is an out-and-out plug for my panel appearances (and other animation related panels I like) at San Diego Comic Con (aka Comic Con International) later this week. The annual event is July 22-26 at the San Diego Convention Center in downtown San Diego. It’s been sold out for months – over 150,000 people will be invading the area. The complete programming schedule is HERE. I hope to see you there!

THURSDAY JULY 23rd

ANIMATION HISTORY WITH JERRY AND MARK – 10am -11am PDT – Room 9

This panel features two guys who know a lot about cartoons answering questions from the audience about cartoons. Jerry Beck is one of the foremost experts on animation history, and he even teaches classes about it. Mark Evanier has seen a lot of cartoons, written a lot of cartoons, and worked in the industry for 50 years. Bring your questions, and they’ll give you answers, maybe even the right ones.

WORST CARTOONS EVER – 7:00pm – 8:00pm PDT – Room 5AB

Making its 23rd annual appearance at Comic-Con, esteemed animation historian Jerry Beck (CartoonResearch.com, MeTV Toons) and ASIFA-Hollywood once again present a selection of the most terribly written, ugliest drawn, and unintentionally funniest animated films ever made. Cartoons include con favorites Mighty Mr. Titan (the physical-fitness superhero in a form-fitting costume, a little too tight for comfort) and Chris Welkin (the worst sci-fi comic strip adaptation ever). All real. All horrifying. Don’t say you weren’t warned.

WARREN KREMER: HARVEY COMICS COVER GENIUS – 8:00pm – 9:00pm PDT – Room 29AB

I’m a huge Harvey Comics nut – and a tremendous fan of the line’s main artist and designer Warren Kremer. This is a tribute to him as a bunch of us analyze his greatest cover art. Jim Thompson (A People’s History of Comics; Eisner Hall of Fame judge), Alonso Nuñez (executive director, Little Fish Comic Book Studio; Eisner Hall of Fame judge), Mark Badger (artist, DC/Marvel; creator of Badgetoons), Mimi Pond (cartoonist, humorist, author of Do Admit: The Mitford Sisters and Me), Bruce Simon (cartoonist/writer, co-author of Hoo-Hah!), Jerry Beck (Cartoon Research), and Andrew Kunka (professor, USC Sumter) look closely at the Eisner Hall of Famer’s greatest covers from Casper the Friendly Ghost, Wendy the Good Little Witch, Hot Stuff, Little Dot, Little Lotta, Stumbo the Giant, and Richie Rich in a master class on color, brushstrokes, design, direction, character expression, and the art of the gag.

FRIDAY JULY 24th

RUTH CLAMPETT AUTOGRAPH HOUR
Saturday July 25th, 21026 10am-1pm
Asifa Hollywood Booth #1532

Ruth will be signing her new book about her father, Bob Clampett.

HELLO MAGGIE: FILM PREMIERE AT COMIC CON – 5pm – 6:00pm PDT – Room 4

Disney legend and Inkpot and Annie Award recipient Willie Ito (producer) presents the true story of the love and friendship between a boy and his pet bird while being interned at a WWII concentration camp for Japanese Americans at Heart Mountain, Wyoming. James Lopez (veteran Disney artist) joins Willie to discuss the production, followed by a Q&A moderated by Mindy Johnson (animation historian and author). Anne Marlborough (associate producer) and Sarah King (photographer) also participate.

HER-STORY OF ANIMATION: MARY BLAIR AND BEYOND – 07:30pm – 08:30pm PDT – Room 26AB

Award-winning author and historian Mindy Johnson (Ink & Paint, Tinker Bell, and more) reveals newly discovered trailblazing women animators and artists from the dawn of the industry. The panel offers a sneak peek at Johnson’s curated exhibition, HerStory of Animation, and forthcoming book, The “Only” Woman Animator, featuring rare imagery, artistry, and all-new stories about the leading heroines of animation history.

SATURDAY JULY 25th

WHY DO SATURDAY MORNING CARTOONS STILL MATTER AND HOW ARE THEY SHAPING THE NEXT GENERATION?
10am – 11am – Room 9

Before streaming and endless scrolling, Saturday morning cartoons built careers, launched studios, and helped shape the animation industry we know today. ASIFA-Hollywood and Saturday Morning Cartoons United present a behind-the-scenes look at the artists, voice actors, and creators who brought these iconic shows to life. Moderated by Caroline Buermann (founder, Saturday Morning Cartoons United) and Eric Bauza (Looney Tunes), the panel includes Craig Bartlett (Pee-wee’s Playhouse, Hey Arnold!), Chris Battle (Teen Titans, Samurai Jack), Jerry Beck (CartoonResearch.com), Bettina Bush (Rainbow Brite, My Little Pony), Matt Danner (Muppet Babies, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw), and Candi Milo (Tiny Toon Adventures, Dexter’s Laboratory).

RUTH CLAMPETT AUTOGRAPH HOUR
Saturday July 25th, 21026 10am-12pm
Asifa Hollywood Booth #1532

Ruth will be signing her new book about her father, Bob Clampett.

THE ANIMATION SHOW OF SHOWS ORIGIN STORY
Saturday July 25th, 2026 11:15am – 12:15pm
Hall H

Ron Diamond (animation impresario since 1980) launched his commercial animation studio, Acme Filmworks, in 1990, offering artistic animators discovered at international animation festivals to top advertising agencies, resulting in hundreds of ad campaigns inspired by the directors’ unique styles. Acme Filmworks, with its world-class roster, has been at the forefront of inspired, award-winning advertising.

CHERYL CHASE AUTOGRAPH HOUR
Saturday July 25th, 21026 5pm-6pm
Asifa Hollywood Booth #1532

I’d also like to reccommend you attend any of Mark Evanier’s incredible panels. The complete list of those is POSTED HERE.