Posts Tagged ‘SDCC’
Aug06
San Diego Comic-Con 2015 recap
2015 at 11:33 am by admin | Comments Off
This year’s San Diego Comic-Con was bigger than ever, with dozens of new announcements on the latest movies, comics, toys, games, and more for fans all over the world! With a wide variety of companies and franchises showing off their new and upcoming products, there has been plenty of awesome news and information for visitors to chew on for months to come.
One of the biggest attractions at the event was the Star Wars panel, which was held in anticipation of the new “The Force Awakens” film’s release this coming December. The panel featured an interview from the famous trio of Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford, whom will reprise their roles as Luke, Leia, and Han in the new film, as well as the slew of new actors and characters. The panel also featured a surprise showing of a Star Wars-themed concert, complete with fireworks display, as well as new information and tidbits about the upcoming film. “The Force Awakens” will be the newest Star Wars film in 10 years, and will release in theaters on December 18th, 2015.
DC and Marvel were also present at the event, showing off new information and trailers for their upcoming superhero movies. Among these reveals was the first full-length trailer for “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice”, debuting a number of action scenes between the two titanic superheroes, as well as the first debut of Wonder Woman! Other releases include information on the upcoming Deadpool film, as well as “X-Men: Apocalypse” and other big-name films.
A number of displays and exclusive figures were also available throughout SDCC, and covered wide range of franchises, including Mario Bros, Star Wars, Power Rangers, Dragon Ball Z, Game of Thrones, Dr. Who, Frozen, various Marvel and DC franchises, and much more. Virtual reality was also a large component of a number of SDCC booths thanks to the Oculus Rift, and companies like Mattel, Legendary Pictures, SyFy, and others took advantage of the newest technology to advertise their upcoming releases and products.
With so many cool news announcements and releases, this year’s SDCC was just as amazing as fans have come to expect from the annual convention, and has left us all waiting in anticipation for next year!
Jul30
Star Wars at SDCC
2014 at 02:30 pm by admin | Comments Off
Star Wars news has been plenty over the past year, with announcements about the latest live-action trilogy directed by J.J. Abrams and the new 3D-animated TV series, Star Wars Rebels, releasing later this year. In order to please eager fans, there was a number of Star Wars-related announcements, exclusives, screenings, and more at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con.
One of the biggest Star Wars showings at SDCC this year was the exclusive screening of the first hour-long episode of Star Wars Rebels. The episode, which will air on the Disney Channel this fall, follows the tale of insurgents and their fight against the Galactic Empire, and was accompanied at the SDCC screening by a panel hosted by the executive producers and stars of the show.
Also announced at SDCC is a trio of brand-new comics from Marvel, based on the original Star Wars trilogy! The first comic, simply titled Star Wars, will retell the battle between Luke, Leia, and Han against Darth Vader after the events of Episode IV. The second comic, Star Wars: Darth Vader, will shift perspectives to Vader himself as he attempts to regain control of his forces after his loss in Episode IV. Finally, a five-issue miniseries titled Star Wars: Princess Leia, will focus on the princess and her ordeals throughout the trilogy. These comics are set to begin releasing in January 2015, and will continue throughout the year.
Hot Wheels also partnered up with Star Wars this year to reveal their new line of vehicles and play sets based on the iconic franchise. In order to celebrate the occasion, Hot Wheels even commissioned a life-size, fully operational version of their first vehicle in the series, the Darth Vader Car, which was on display at the event. Other small-scale Hot Wheels vehicles shown off at the event include Chewbacca, R2D2, Luke, Yoda, and a Clone Trooper.
Hasbro’s popular Star Wars Black Series 6″ figures also saw a number of exciting announcements at SDCC. Alongside the appearance of the SDCC-exclusive Jabba the Hutt figure in the Black Series, five brand-new releases in the Black Series were announced and shown at the event: Deluxe Han & Tauntaun set, Luke and Wampa set, TIE Pilot, Han Solo Storm Trooper, and Bounty Hunter Bossk! All of these figures will continue the Black Series trend of releasing screen-accurate renditions of favorite Star Wars characters, with a high amount of articulation and detail.
Sideshow Collectibles also had a number of new and upcoming releases at their booth, in a wide variety of scales and sizes. Ranging from classics like R2-D2 and the Scout Trooper with his Speeder Bike, there were a few surprises such as the new 1:5 scale statues based on the original Star Wars concept art by artist Ralph McQuarrie. There were even life-size statues at the event, showing off characters like Darth Vader, Yoda, Boba Fett, and Han Solo in carbonite!
With so many exciting releases to come for Star Wars, from movies and comics to collectibles, it’s a great time to be a Star Wars fan!
Jul30
Aliens take over SDCC
2014 at 12:28 pm by admin | Comments Off
It’s been 35 years since Ridley Scott’s iconic sci-fi horror film, Alien released in theaters in 1979, shocking audiences worldwide with its stunning special effects and monster design. In order to celebrate the momentous occasion, the Alien franchise had a huge showing at this year’s San Diego Comic Con, showing off new and upcoming figures as well as other exclusive Alien exhibits.
One of the most prominent Alien displays at SDCC was the Alien: Isolation booth, allowing visitors to check out the newest upcoming video game based on the hit franchise. Focusing on stealth and the feeling of being hunted by the signature xenomorph alien, the booth features a recreation of a massive alien egg pod that players entered in order to try out the demo in solitude. The exhibit even featured a hand-painted mural of the xenomorph, created by artist Maxx242! Alien: Isolation releases on PC, Playstation 3 and 4, and Xbox One and 360 on October 7th.
A number of exclusive and upcoming Alien toys were also shown off at the event, featuring characters and designs from a number of beloved movies. Super7 helped celebrate the anniversary in a big way by releasing a number of Alien exclusives at the event. These include the 4.5″ vinyl Alien figure, which features clear dome as well as retro Kenner-style Alien packaging, as well as the new Deep Space Mystery Alien Egg blind box, which included a limited edition Alien ReAction Figure inside. The most anticipated release, though, was the Alien Egg Chamber play set created in collaboration with Funko. This play set, marketed in classic retro packaging and details, recreates the classic scene from the movie, and includes a detailed backdrop and display stand for all of Funko’s Alien ReAction figures.
Some of the most popular upcoming releases were shown off by NECA and Hot Toys, both of which showed off brand-new figures and statues of Alien protagonist Ellen Ripley. Featuring both her design from the original Alien movie as well as the sequel, Aliens, these new Ripley figures will be the first ever to feature an accurate depiction of her movie likeness, played by Sigourney Weaver. Hot Toys even showed off a to-scale figure of the infamous Power Loader from Aliens to go alongside this exciting release!
Not one to be outdone, NECA showed off its brand-new upcoming Alien Queen figure to fans for the first time at SDCC. The figure, which will be one of the largest Alien figures ever released, stands at 15″ tall and over 30″ long, and will feature over 30 points of articulation throughout its body, including movable jaw, arms, an even an entirely articulated tail. This figure is set to release in October, and preorders are currently open for this giant collectible.
With lots to celebrate and lots to talk about at this year’s SDCC, stay tuned for more news and pictures from the event!
Jul29
Bandai reveals at SDCC
2014 at 01:35 pm by admin | Comments Off
Bandai, and its Tamashii Nations brand of collectors’ merchandise, has always been at the forefront of Japanese imports and collectibles, featuring designs from some of the most popular anime, video games, tokusatsu, and more. Their showing at this year’s SDCC did not disappoint, with a variety of new reveals along with displays of popular merchandise from the past year.
Among the new reveals were Bandai’s newest Dragonball releases, exclusive to SDCC. These included the S.H. Figuarts Vegeta figure in its original animation colors, as well as the collectible Dragon Ball & Dragon Radar pack. These two exclusives were featured alongside a number of other previous Dragonball releases, including Figuarts articulated figures and Figuarts ZERO statues. Also featured was the new upcoming series of chibi-style Dragonball statue collectibles, which have no planned release date as of yet.
Also unveiled for the first time at SDCC was the first state-side look at the new Naruto S.H. Figuarts collectibles! The two new figures in this series, Naruto and Sasuke, featured their most recent designs from the manga, and each included alternate faces, swappable hands, attack effects and more.
On top of that, Nintendo fans across the world got their very first look at the brand-new S.H. Figuarts Luigi from the Mario franchise! Posed alongside his brother Mario, who recently got his own S.H. Figuarts release, their display included brand-new playset options for the set, including a themed backdrop and an extending Piranha Plant enemy!
Godzilla, who has had a busy year with the recent Legendary film and sequel announcement, was also at the Bandai show floor, appearing in his newest 2014 look in the S.H. MonsterArts line. Releasing later this year, the figure was also accompanied by a number of other Godzilla figures, including toys of older Godzilla designs and MechaGodzilla.
Finally, to celebrate Doraemon’s upcoming United States debut this August, Bandai unveiled two brand-new toys of the show’s protagonists: S.H. Figuarts Nobita and Robot Spirits Doraemon! Both of these figured appeared for the first time at the show, with Nobita having swappable hands and faceplates, and Doraemon even coming with his Dokodemo Door tool.
Other popular display pieces at the show were the complete set of Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers and Sailor Moon Figuarts! Both displays featured the entire cast of characters from each series, with unique display options such as the rotating disco ball on Sailor Moon’s display and the earth-like texture on the Power Rangers display. The Power Rangers play even featured the previously released Super Robot Chogokin figure of the Dino Megazord!
A number of Bandai’s other popular figures were on display as well, featuring figures from franchises like One Piece and Saint Seiya, and more. There were even display cases dedicated to popular Gundam franchises like Gundam Wing and the recent Gundam Build Fighters!
Seeing all of these amazing toys in one place is truly what makes SDCC one of the biggest and most fan-beloved conventions in the world, and we’ve still got a ton more coverage to do about the event, so keep your eyes peeled!
Jul29
Hello Kitty signing and more at SDCC
2014 at 12:16 pm by admin | Comments Off
This year’s SDCC coming to a close on June 27th this past Sunday, showing off some of the most exciting news and featuring some amazing attractions and exhibits for visiting fans to take part in. Not one to slouch, especially on her 40th anniversary, Hello Kitty brought a number of unprecedented exclusive events to the convention, making it a weekend to remember for Sanrio fans everywhere!
The biggest headline for Hello Kitty this year was the exclusive signing event at Sanrio’s Booth #4539 on the show floor, where fans could come face-to-face with Yuko Yamaguchi, the original Hello Kitty creator and head designer at Sanrio! Flying in all the way from Tokyo, Yuko was on the show floor for the entire weekend, greeting fans, taking photos, and signing limited edition art posters available at the booth. This was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime chance for Hello Kitty fans to meet the creator in person!
Other popular Hello Kitty items at the event were Tamashii Nation’s display case of the recently released 40th Anniversary Hello Kitty Chogokin figure, as well as the brand new SDCC-exclusive Hello Kitty 40th Anniversary minifigures and trading cards by Upper Deck. These exclusives, along with a number of other Hello Kitty collectibles and props, were available throughout the show floor to help celebrate Hello Kitty’s landmark anniversary.
Now that SDCC has finally come to an end, we’ve got a huge amount of photos and coverage to show off, so stay tuned!
Jul27
Legendary Films at SDCC
2014 at 01:46 pm by admin | Comments Off
Last year, American-based movie studio Legendary Films wowed audiences at SDCC with the recent release of Pacific Rim, as well a number of exhibits and guided tours to help promote the release of the newest Godzilla film. This year, Legendary brings a number of interactive experiences to the San Diego Comic-Con floor, as well as a couple exciting announcements!
One of the most popular attractions at the Legendary exhibit is the Pacific Rim: Jaeger Pilot virtual reality experience. Taking adventure of the same Oculus Rift technology used in the X-Men virtual experience, the Jaeger Pilot attraction allows visitors to step into the cockpit of one of the most iconic Jaegers, Gipsy Danger, as it battles one of the giant kaiju from the film. There are also exhibits for the upcoming horror film, Crimson Peak, which will give fans a glimpse at props, costumes, and more , as well an exhibit for the 2016 Warcraft movie, featuring never-before-seen props and weapons from the highly-anticipated movie.
On top of these exhibits, Legendary Films unveiled news about some of their newest upcoming films during their panel on Saturday night. First off, Legendary representatives revealed information about the rumored Godzilla sequel, which is still in the early stages of development. Good news for classic Godzilla kaiju fans is that three of the most iconic Godzilla monsters will be returning for the new movie: moth monster Mothra, massive pterosaur Rodan, and the golden three-headed King Ghidorah! The trio, whom starred alongside Godzilla in the classic 1964 film “Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster”, will only be the beginning, as Legendary also added that several other classic monsters will join Godzilla in future installments.
Finally, Legendary revealed a surprise announcement at their panel: a new King Kong movie! Titled “Skull Island”, which is the name where the iconic ape monster was found in the original 1933 film, the movie will be set as a prequel for King Kong, and is scheduled to release in November 2016. With little else known about the movie, Legendary will be releasing more information on the movie and King Kong himself as we draw closer to the 2016 release date. Until then, keep your eyes open for more SDCC reveals and news!
Jul26
Hello Kitty celebrates anniversary at SDCC
2014 at 01:55 pm by admin | Comments Off
Hello Kitty’s 40th anniversary is well underway this year, with a wide variety of events, exclusive releases, and even a new theme park in the United Kingdom. This weekend, Hello Kitty has brought the celebrations to this year’s San Diego Comic Con in a big way. A number of SDCC exclusives were released in commemoration of the event, and off-site activities and events were opened up alongside SDCC.
Within the convention center itself, Sanrio-themed exclusives will be available at several booths, and Hello Kitty designer Yuko Yamaguchi will even be present throughout the event to sign autographs and greet fans! Some exclusives available at the event include Toynami’s Chun-Li themed Hello Kitty vinyl toy bank, Upper Deck’s SDCC-exclusive Hello Kitty 40th Anniversary Mini-Figures and Trading Cards, and more. Tamashii-Nation’s Chogokin Hello Kitty robot figure, released this past June, has also made an appearance at the event, showing off its various alternate modes and articulation.
On top of that, VIZ Media has released an SDCC-exclusive early print of their upcoming “Hello Kitty, Hello 40″ tribute book at the event! This new book serves as a celebration of Hello Kitty as a character as well as a cultural icon, and features work done by comic artists, muralists, toy creators, authors, and fans from all over the world! This book, which is set to release in bookstores in October, is making an early debut at this year’s SDCC with an exclusive cover. Limited to only 250 copies, this book is a must-have for any Sanrio fan!
Sanrio has also opened up an offsite exhibit at the Interactive Zone in Petco Park, which is less than a mile from the San Diego Convention Center, where fans can meet Hello Kitty and take photo ops with the character. A number of events and activities will be available at the Interactive Zone as well, including free temporary tattoos and nail art from official Sanrio Tokyo artists. Hello Kitty still has a long way to go before her 40th anniversary is over, with more events like October’s Hello Kitty Con in the near future, so make sure to stay tuned for more news!
Jul25
Toy Story holiday special revealed
2014 at 02:40 pm by admin | Comments Off
Toy Story has been one of the most beloved Pixar franchises, receiving a number of movies, sequels, spinoffs, video games, toy releases, and more since the original movie’s debut in 1995. Now, at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, Toy Story directors unveiled a brand new entry into the Toy Story franchise: a TV holiday special titled “Toy Story That Time Forgot”!
Unveiled as an exclusive poster, “Toy Story That Time Forgot” was expended upon at SDCC’s Toy Story panel, where directors and voice actors got to talk about the upcoming special as well as show off short clips. The special will take place after Toy Story 3, where Woody, Buzz, and company, now under ownership of a young girl named Bonnie, meet up with a retro-styled group of toys called the Battlesaurs. The poster art shows off the Battlesaurs decked out in armor and weaponry, and even shows Toy Story 3’s triceratops toy Trixie sporting a similar battle-ready motif! Trixie is set to have a major role in the special, working as a link between Bonnie’s toys and the Battlesaurs. The special, which will premiere on ABC on December 2nd, 2014, will also serve as the basis for a new line of Toy Story figures and collectibles, including the new Battlesaurs.
The Toy Story series, originally released in 1995, is a CGI comedy adventure series in while toys and other children’s playthings come to life. Starring Woody the cowboy and Buzz Lightyear, a futuristic astronaut figure, along with a wide number of other toys and characters, their desire to be played with by children leads them on a number of mischievous adventures and journeys. With Toy Story 2 in 1999 and Toy Story 3 in 2010, a number of spinoffs and shorts have been created to help expand the universe, including the Buzz Lightyear of Star Command TV series, and shorts like Hawaiian Vacation, Partysaurus Rex, Toy Story of TERROR!, and more.
Jul24
Marvel reveals posters at SDCC
2014 at 01:46 pm by admin | Comments Off
With the San Diego Comic-Con opening its doors for avid fans on Wednesday night, big news has already started to come out from the convention center about upcoming releases and titles. To kick off the convention in a big way, Marvel has released a number of posters of their upcoming movie releases: Ant-Man and Avengers: Age of Ultron!
Ant-Man, which has been in development since 2006, will begin filming in August, and concept art of the film’s protagonists has been released as an exclusive poster for SDCC! The movie will star Scott Lang, a master thief who steals a shrinking suit from scientist Hank Pym and uses it to transform into size-changing hero Ant-Man, whose suit also gives him the means to communicate with small creatures. The poster showcases both Lang and Pym, as well as the new design for the Ant-Man suit.
On top of that, Marvel released four posters to promote the upcoming Avengers movie, Age of Ultron! Written as a sequel for the popular 2012 Avengers film, Age of Ultron will feature the return of the Avengers team, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, The Hulk, Black Widow, and Hawkeye, as well introduce Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch to the team. The team will be fighting against Ultron, an AI programmed by Iron man that has gone rogue and plots to destroy the superhero team. The four new posters Iron Man, Scarlet Witch, Black Widow, and Captain America fighting against an army of Ultron robots, with more posters to come as SDCC move on through the weekend. The posters can even be put together to recreate a giant battle scene!
All of these posters will be available for fans to pick up at Marvel’s booth throughout the duration of SDCC. With the Avengers: Age of Ultron movie releasing on May 1, 2015, and Ant-Man scheduled to release in July 2015, it will be a busy summer for many Marvel fans! And with Comic-Con just starting to get underway, make sure to keep your eyes peeled for more news on your favorite franchises, movies, television shows, figure lines, and more!