AAUGH!

So the San Diego Comic-Con 2010 is coming up in just under 2 weeks, and if you look at the schedule of talks, you will find this:

Friday, 2:00-3:00 Peanuts Turns 60— On October 2, 1950 the Peanuts comic strip launched in seven American newspapers. Little did anyone know the impact this comic strip would have around the world for decades to come. Nearly 60 years later, Peanuts appears in over 2,200 newspapers, in 75 countries and 21 languages. The animated specials have become a seasonal tradition and thousands of consumer products are available in every country around the world. Moderator Jerry Beck (animation historian/cartoon producer/consulting producer to Warner Bros., Universal, and Disney), Comic-Con special guest Jeannie Schulz (widow of Peanuts creator Charles Schulz), Paige Braddock (creative director of Charles M. Schulz’s studio in Santa Rosa), Andy Beall (fix animation lead for Ratatouille, Wall-E, UP), Stephan Pastis (creator of Pearls Before Swine), and Marge Dean (general manager, W!ldbrain Animation Studios), present an in-depth foray into the work of Charles M. Schulz and what new things fans can look out for from Peanuts. Warner Premiere is joining the celebration with a sneak peek of something all new from Peanuts that fans won’t want to miss. Room 25ABC

Know what else is on the schedule?

Friday, 2:30-3:30 The 24-Hour Comics Day Challenge— Can you create a full 24-page comic from scratch in 24 hours? Popular comics creators give out tips and tricks to help you complete the challenge this year and have your comic included in the international 24-Hour Comics collection. Or are you interested in hosting a 24-Hour Comics Day event in your area? Nat Gertler (publisher of About Comics and founder of 24-Hour Comics Day) and Portlyn Polston (Brave New World Comics, Newhall, CA) can tell you how to create and advertise a successful event at your store, school, or library. Room 12

That’s right – the one and only panel that I’m on, and it’s overlapping with the big Peanuts panel. That means that I’m going to have to miss the Peanuts panel, with its preview footage of what’s obviously Happiness is a Blanket, Charlie Brown (and “Warner Premiere” means this is direct-to-video, folks.) And it means that the huge room for the poor Peanuts panel will be empty, because all of the AAUGH Blog fans will be over at my panel, soaking in the goodness that is me… right? Right?

Oh, all right. Go to the Peanuts panel. Have a good time, and let me know about any new news they announce there. Just don’t gloat to me about how abso-mazing it was, okay?

Animated Peanuts
New Peanuts feature film on the way

Apple, who have been producing Peanuts series and specials in plentitude, have announced that they, Wildbrain, and Peanuts Worldwide are working together on a new Peanuts feature-length film, the Hollywood Reporter notes. If you liked the last feature film, then this should be very good news. They’re using a story …

Animated Peanuts
Beagle Scout missions

Those of you who have never been to the San Diego Comic-Con (or who haven’t been in a the past couple decades) may not realize that the event goes well beyond the convention center. For blocks around, there are pop-up shops in unused storefronts, studios creating fan “experiences” in parking …

Animated Peanuts
Bulk book

What do I have to say about the new board book edition of It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. I mean, the reading experience of being told “and that happens at every door. All the other kids get wonderful treats like candy, gum, and popcorn balls … and Charlie Brown …