Welcome to ComicCon! Fantasy, science fiction and comic book fans from around the world came to San Diego last weekend for the largest comics convention of the year!

PHOTO GALLERY:
San Diego ComiCon 2005 photo gallery


SHADOW CHRONICLES PANEL

The official Robotech event at ComicCon, the Shadow Chronicles panel, was held in an auditorium much larger than in previous years. Moderating the panel were Harmony Gold representative Tom Bateman, with HG Creative Director Tommy Yune, voice actress Chase Masterson, HG Executive VP Alan Letz, voice actress Kari Wahlgren, producer Jason Netter and writer Ford Riley. Tommy presented the following at the panel:

- As announced at Anime Expo, Tony Oliver will return as Admiral Hunter in The Shadow Chronicles

- This panel marked the first time that producer Jason Netter appeared on a panel for The Shadow Chronicles

- An inside look at the collaboration between the original Japanese Mospeada creators and Harmony Gold

- Production art and graphics, including CG models and new animatics of action sequences

- Footage demonstrating the process of how 2D and 3D animation is digitally merged, from the stages of pre-visualization al the way through final footage

- Mecha designs with size comparisons of new vessels

- Actual test footage of General Reinhardt (Dan Woren) and Captain Vince Grant (Richard Epcar) synchronized to recorded audio

- Final footage of Dr. Louis Nichols (Eddie Frierson) with recorded audio

- The Shadow Chronicles has now been confirmed as being produced in widescreen format and high definition

- A ComicCon exclusive version of the Shadow Chronicles teaser trailer, with new footage for ComicCon attendees

- Wildstorm will publish a new 5-part Robotech comic series called Prelude to the Shadow Chronicles, which will bridge the story between the Sentinels series and the Shadow Chronicles. At the end of the Shadow Chronicles teaser trailer, another trailer was shown to promote the new comic series. Kicking off with a bi-weekly launch in October, Prelude to Shadow Chronicles will be scripted by Jason and John Waltrip, the original team behind the Sentinels comic series. Artist Omar Dogan of Udon Studios happened to be in attendance and was presented to the audience. Click here for a sneak preview from Comicon.com!

- Harmony Gold had initially planned to announce the video distributor for The Shadow Chronicles at ComicCon. However, Tommy Yune and Alan Letz mentioned that the distributor has asked to delay any formal announcements until after ComicCon.


DC COMICS BOOTH

After the Robotech Shadow Chronicles panel, DC Comics started playing the Shadow Chronicles teaser trailer as part of their video trailers rotation (about once every 20 minutes) on giant flatscreen displays scattered around their enormous booth.


TOYNAMI BOOTH

Only a couple weeks after their unveiling of the prototype Beta Fighter Masterpiece at Anime Expo, Toynami returned to San Diego with an updated version painted in the Mars Division paint scheme. The new Beta Fighter toy excited many fans who have been waiting over 20 years for such a toy to be made. The new Masterpiece Beta Fighter links up perfectly with existing Masterpiece Alpha Fighters just like in the Robotech footage.

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MORE INFO:

Click here for our previous coverage of San Diego ComicCon

Click here for more information on San Diego ComicCon

Click here to discuss Robotech events with other members in the Robotech Forums

Click here to check for additional cities being added to the 2005 Robotech Convention Tour

Do you run a convention and want the Robotech Convention Tour to make a stop at your con? Contact Kevin McKeever at kev@robotech.com for more information.