Anime fans can now experience some of the fun of Comic-Con at San Diego [email protected], a free virtual convention through July 26.
Of course, other online conventions are also scheduled, including OTAQUEST Connect in August. However, for many people, this may be a rare chance to “attend” this famous, crowded and expensive event.
Here are a few examples of the anime and manga-related events. All listings are Pacific Daylight Time:
- At 10 a.m. on Thursday, Crunchyroll will host the Crunchyroll Industry Panel, featuring “the latest and greatest anime & manga coming out of Crunchyroll.” They also promise prizes and “virtual goodies.” Crunchyroll frequently adds new series to its huge anime streaming library, so this should be a good one.
- At noon on Friday, TOKYOPOP CEO and founder Stu Levy will be among the guests at TOKYOPOP: Manga for Everyone. They will discuss their “latest manga lineup … and ongoing initiatives to highlight LGBTQ+ stories and titles by women and people of color.”
- At 3 p.m. on Saturday, there will be two anime/ manga events to choose from. “Manga bloggers and comics curmudgeons” will discuss Best and Worst Manga of 2020. If you prefer magical girls, the panelists at Sailor Moon: The Power of Female Friendship will include Michelle Ruff, Kate Higgins, and Amanda Celine Miller, the voices of Luna the Cat, Sailor Mercury, and Sailor Jupiter in Sailor Moon Crystal.
- Throughout the convention, if you have a Funimation Premium+ subscription, or a free trial thereof, you can join Funimation’s [email protected] Virtual Screenings. These include episodes of Demon Slayer, Fruits Basket, Cowboy Bebop, Trigun, One Piece, etc.
Other Stuff
In addition, Comic-Con International loaded up its website with extras to help your online convention feel more real.
For example, you can download the Comic-Con Souvenir Book. There’s also a ConSuite with recipes.
Other online conventions have had printable badges. But at the Comic-Con website, you can download convention signs, just in case you want to decorate your house with “Badge Pick-Up,” “Hall H,” “Exhibit Hall,” “Front of Line,” and even “Restrooms” signs. They also have “Hall H Announcements” sound effects.
The signs and sounds are part of a “create your own [email protected] experience” contest. Convention attendees can create videos and submit them to Twitter or Instagram.