San Diego Comic-Con is back this week for what promises to be another huge annual gathering celebrating comic books, sci-fi and pop culture.
The largest comic convention in the world, attracting around 130,000 attendees each year, the event will run from Thursday to Sunday. A full schedule is posted on the official SDCC website, but we’ve compiled some of our top panel picks related to the kids industry below.
Talking shop
Here are some discussions to check out for business insights on everything from the animation sector to toys and comic industries:
- Toys, Tariffs and Trade Wars
Day: July 24 (Thursday)
Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm PDT
Location: Omni Grand Ballroom DE, 4th floor
As the industry grapples with the tariffs threatened by the Trump administration, this session seeks to answer whether toy companies can bounce back. - Black Animation Execs Talk Shop
Day: July 24 (Thursday)
Time: 1:30pm – 2:30pm PDT
Location: Room 10
This conversation spotlights the experiences of Black executives in the animation business, featuring panelists including Shabrayia Cleaver (DreamWorks Animation), Neil Wade (Nickelodeon), John Agbaje (Bad Robot), Jordan Askins (WB) and Corey Gaddis (Netflix). - Anime’s Next Era: What’s Fueling the Boom?
Day: July 25 (Friday)
Time: 10:00am – 11:00am PDT
Location: Room 32AB
Looking to tap into anime for your next project? Executives from Crunchyroll, WEBTOON Entertainment and White Box decode the trends driving this genre with a fast-growing young fandom on its side. - Navigating the Animation Development Pipeline
Day: July 25 (Friday)
Time: 3:00pm – 4:00pm PDT
Location: Omni Grand Ballroom DE, 4th floor Animation writers and artists demystify the modern development process and provide tips on how to come up with the most effective bibles, pitches and loglines. - The Pre-Teen Comic Market: Fueling the Pre-Teen Dream Machine
Day: July 25 (Friday)
Time: 5:00pm – 6:00pm PDT
Location: Room 9
Those working in the comic business will benefit from this session that’s all about the creation and marketing of comics for tween readers. - Unleashing the Power of Play: The Monstrous Intersection of Comics, Toys, Games and the Creators Behind Them
Day: July 25 (Friday)
Time: 6:00pm – 7:00pm PDT
Location: Room 29AB
Packed with experts, this panel looks at the franchise expansion opportunities in licensing comic IPs across all media platforms and merchandise channels. - How Indie Animation Challenges the Industry
Day: July 26 (Saturday)
Time: 8:00pm – 9:00pm PDT
Location: Room 9
This session takes a closer look at how indie creators are changing up the formula for success in the animation industry.
IP spotlight
Meanwhile, here are 10 sessions to keep an eye out for if you’re looking to engage with the biggest kids IPs—from behind-the-scenes material to retrospective panels:
- Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender 20th Anniversary
Date: July 24 (Thursday)
Time: 10:00am – 11:00am PDT
Location: Ballroom 20This panel welcomes the creators and OG voice actors to celebrate two decades of the iconic Nickelodeon toon, which has now turned into a sprawling multi-platform franchise.
- Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Day: July 24 (Thursday)
Time: 11:00am – 12:00pm PDT
Location: Hall H
The live-action Disney+ series is in the spotlight for this conversation between actors and EPs about the upcoming second season that’s due out in December. - Miraculous: The Next Chapter
Day: July 24 (Thursday)
Time: 11:45am – 12:45pm PDT
Location: Room 6BCF
With Miraculous turning 10 and rapidly expanding into new formats and spinoffs, there’s no better time to check in on what’s next for this fan-favorite tween franchise—with a stacked panel including IP co-creator Jeremy Zag and Miraculous Corp CEO Andy Yeatman. - MrBeast Lab Unlocked: Secrets of the Lab Revealed
Day: July 24 (Thursday)
Time: 5:30pm – 6:30pm PDT
Location: Room 6A
While Jimmy Donaldson (a.k.a. MrBeast) will only appear in a video intro, this panel will pull the curtain back on the YouTube megastar’s fall-launching toy line and MrBeast Lab: The Descent animated shorts collection. - Celebrating 75 years of Peanuts
Day: July 25 (Friday)
Time: 1:45pm – 2:45pm PDT
Location: Room 6DE
As Charles M. Schulz’s iconic comic strip hits another milestone, this anniversary session will explore how Snoopy and the gang turned into a massively lucrative franchise with fans of all ages. - Lilo & Stitch: A Look Inside the Continuing Phenomenon
Day: July 25 (Friday)
Time: 3:15pm – 4:15pm PDT
Location: Room 6BCF
Right on the heels of the live-action adaptation hitting US$1 billion in ticket sales at the box office, this panel—which includes creator Chris Sanders—will break down the legacy of Lilo & Stitch, while also offering some sneak-peeks to attendees. - The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball
Day: July 26 (Saturday)
Time: 10:30am – 11:30am PDT
Location: Room 6BCF
Just ahead of this eccentric TV megahit making a comeback, members of the creative team and voice cast offer insights on what to expect from the returning series. - TMNT Toys
Day: July 24 (Thursday)
Time: 1:00pm – 2:00pm PDT
Location: Grand 12 & 13, Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina
Cowabunga, dude! Don’t miss this Paramount panel if you’re hoping to get an early look at upcoming consumer products based on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from Playmates, NECA and McFarlane Toys. - DreamWorks Animation’s The Bad Guys 2
Day: July 26 (Saturday)
Time: 11:15am – 12:15pm PDT
Location: Hall H This panel features filmmakers and stars talking about what’s in store as the much-anticipated sequel gears up to hit the big screen next month. (It’s already tracking for a solid US$25-million to US$35-million domestic opening.) - Iyanu’s Journey: The Next Chapter
Day: July 27 (Sunday)
Time: 1:00pm – 2:00pm PDT
Location: Room 24ABC
Scoring a Cartoon Network renewal and expanding with two upcoming feature films, Lion Forge’s 2D-animated series Iyanu is on quite a roll. This panel will look at its journey from page to TV—plus give a preview of the upcoming movie.
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