But will the strike affect Fan Expo Canada?

This schedule was drawn up before the SAG went on strike. I will not update it, because there's too much cool stuff hereabouts.

Thursday

15th Annual Behind the Music Panel: Supersonic | Room 25ABC | 10:00a - Primarily TV composers, but who says I can't learn anything from them?

Ninth Annual Musical Anatomy of a Superhero: Film and TV Composer Panel | Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront | 11:15a - Beck, Karpman, Krlic, Lennertz, Russo and Wallfisch in a panel moderated by Giacchino. What more can I say?

The Owl House: Us Weirdos Have to Stick Together | Room 6A | 12:30p - The voices of Luz, Lilith and Raine talk about the show. Sounds fun.

Master Class: Writing for Animation and Comics | Room 10 | 1:30p - Because one can never learn too much about how to do this.

Celebrating 1982: Greatest Geek Year Ever on the CW | Room 5AB | 3:00p - Been enjoying the series on the CW. Another of those things that makes me feel I was born too late.

FX’s What We Do in the Shadows - In lieu of the actors talking about the craziness of the fifth season - which started with a bang, I think - they’re offering 'A Familiar Weekend'; a stroll through Laszlo’s garden,  and I suppose that could be just as good. It’s on the Hilton Bayfront Lawn, which I imagine would get a lot of traffic for the network's programming. 

35th Anniversary of Beetlejuice | Room 25ABC | 6:00p - Mainly a chat with the make-up artist that created Michael Keaton's look. Still might be worthwhile.

Ghostface's Killer Trivia | Room 25ABC | 8:00p - The voice of Ghostface, Roger L. Jackson, hosts a horror trivia contest. What I wouldn't give to have this experience.

The 26th Annual Comic-Con Superhero Kung Fu Extravaganza | Room 6A | 8:00p - Yes, a conflict, so why is it listed here? Because I'm convinced I can sneak in once the previous panel is over. Hell, I think I can.

Friday

A Look Back at Animated Series of the 80s | Room 32AB | 10:00a - Looking at various title sequences on YouTube (especially from the beginning of the decade), a lot of shows of the era were mercenary crap and that's before the 22-minute commercials entered the picture. Still, living vicariously.

Is The Orville the Greatest Science Fiction Show on Television? | Grand 10 & 11, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina | 11:00a - Would it be disingenuous to attend this panel if I've only seen a handful of episodes? Asking for a friend who also happens to have my name and body type.

Spotlight on John Semper | Room 4 | 12:00p - How's this for a sweet gig: writing and showrunning an animated series and pretty much being left alone because the parent company you're working for is staring down the barrel of bankruptcy? I can only imagine what over stories he has.

Rick and Morty 10th Anniversary | Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront | 2:00p - The sixth season rebounded nicely from the tasteless, pointless fifth. Here's hoping that the new voices for the title characters sound more like the original than impressions, which - let's face it - is a very thin line to tread.

The Blerd Panel | Grand 12 & 13, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina | 3:00p - I got to get on one of these one day.

You’re Wrong, Leonard Maltin | Room 23ABC | 4:00p - As wrong as some of his reviews have been over the years (hello, Cats Don't Dance), I really do miss his yearly book. Still, would be interested in hearing what others have to say to him.

Bob’s Burgers | Indigo Ballroom, Hilton San Diego Bayfront | 5:00p - The last season has had its problems (Linda going Annie Wilkes on the children's author and the snarky police operator refusing to believe the woman's Nazi report in the WWII flashback episode are noted examples), but I can't help but wonder if the show can get back on track.

Q and A Writing Workshop with J. Michael Straczynski | Room 11 | 7:00p - The man's worked in film, television and comics. It'd be foolish to not want to hear some tips.

Yippee-Kai-Yay, or Nay? Is Die Hard a Christmas Movie? | Room 29AB | 8:00p - What even constitutes a Christmas movie? 

Saturday

That 70s Show 25th Anniversary | Originally, Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp were going to look back at the show and the effect it had on their careers. All things being honest, the first four years were the best. The last four (pro tip: these episodes are all named after songs)...were not.

Futurama | Ballroom 20 | 11:00a - The show is back for (I presume) the final time thanks to Hulu. I really hope the ratio of good episodes to dull ones is better than it was in the Comedy Central run. (It was nice to get a Prisoner of Benda or Saturday Morning Fun Pit, but having to sit through five Zapp Dingbats to get to them? Life is too short.)

Cartoon Voices I | Room 6BCF | 1:00p - While I'm glad that Fan Expo has had these panels (though not last year, for some reason), it'd be nice to revisit this one.

Defiant: the Robert Smalls Story | Room 6DE | 3:00p - A movie may never be produced of this incredible true story, but a graphic novel is just as good. Can't wait to pick it up.

From The Dark Knight to Count Crowley: David Dastmalchian's Journey from Comic Book Movie Actor to Comic Book Creator | Room 6DE | 4:15p - From a scene stealer to a comic book writer. If his Fangoria article is anything to go by, he's seen some shit. I imagine those experiences translating well to comics.

Adapting Comics to TV and Film | Room 29CD | 5:30p - The challenges of adapting comics to the big screen...though I see a real blood in the water scenario having the panel anchored by the writers of Morbius.

Live Celebrity Gameshow: ITATYWOYCTSATATIWOMC | Room 7AB | 7:30p - Or (deep breath) "Is The Answer That You Wrote On Your Card The Same As The Answer That I Wrote On My Card?". Okay, was somebody paid by the word? "The Match Game" with voice actors. Cool.

Sunday

Cartoon Voices II | Room 6A | 11:45a - More talented VAs putting their spins on some kind of script.

Spotlight on J. Michael Straczynski | Room 5AB | 1:15p - There's a new "Babylon 5" project on the way, so what better time to get to know the man and his career?


Conflicts:

Superheroes and Not-So-Super Villains with Patton Oswalt and Friends | Room 6DE | Thu 3:15p - Any opportunity to hear Oswalt speak is a good one, especially if he has a comic book in the chamber.
From the Screen to Your Plate: Food in Pop Culture | Room 24ABC | Thu 6:30p - A discussion on how 'favorite fandoms inspire culinary creations'. Neat.
The Black Panel | Room 5AB | Fri 10:00a - I got to get on one of these one day.
Mobile Filmmaking: How to Make a Movie Using a Smartphone | Grand 6, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina | Fri 4:45p - Most years, I list the various filmmaking panels as something I might want to attend, but, really, all I need is this one. I'm sure.
History of Cartoon Voices | Room 7AB | Sat 4:30p - The 'history of how cartoons learned to talk'. What a neat chance to hear about some of the all-time greats of the genre.
Looney Legends: A Conversation with the Voices of Bugs Bunny and Other Favorite Characters | Room 29CD | Sun 1:30p - Ostensibly, a documentary focusing on Noel Blanc and Jeff Bergman (the latter in person) talking about classic cartoons. Awesome.

That's all, folks! (until next year)