{"rewrite":{"id":"r_43df95337ca2c85bcd127cb9","clusterId":"c_ef68a019e1cb80b806f3f25d","slug":"san-diego-comic-con-2026-to-host-webtoon-creator-panels-and-industry-deep-dives","model":"deepseek-v4-flash","headline":"San Diego Comic-Con 2026 to Host Webtoon Creator Panels and Industry Deep Dives","summary":"San Diego Comic-Con 2026, running July 23-26, will feature a large slate of webtoon and manhwa programming. WEBTOON Entertainment will host four creator panels, including a 'What's Next' panel on July 25. Independent panels will discuss the format's industry growth and censorship challenges. Several guests have works with anime adaptations.","whyItMatters":"The scheduling signals webtoons' growing mainstream presence at a major pop culture convention, with dedicated programming that extends beyond traditional manga and anime.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eWEBTOON Entertainment will lead four panels across three days, with Punko, ROSEOAK, and Derek V. Song among the featured creators. Independent panels examine webtoons\u0026#39; economic rise and censorship threats, including a session on anime, manga, and K-comics restrictions. Global K-pop group ENHYPEN and Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke also appear in a vampire-themed panel. The slate reflects the format\u0026#39;s expanding relevance in both digital and print publishing.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCreature Craft: Visionaries of Horror Comics Share Their Secrets\u003c/strong\u003e: Thursday July 23, 10:00-11:00 a.m. with Punko, Cullen Bunn, Cat Staggs\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLove in Every Universe: The Great Romance Trope Debate\u003c/strong\u003e: Friday July 24, 10:00-11:00 a.m. with ROSEOAK, Wattpad\u0026#39;s Alessandra Ferreri\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBringing Fantasy High to WEBTOON: Spotlight on Derek V. Song\u003c/strong\u003e: Friday July 24, 1:00-2:00 p.m. with Derek V. Song\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat\u0026#39;s Next from WEBTOON Entertainment\u003c/strong\u003e: Saturday July 25, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. with Ryan Lee, Sydney Bright, Erik Kozura\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBite Me: Calling All Vampires\u003c/strong\u003e: Thursday July 23, 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. with ENHYPEN, Catherine Hardwicke\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow Webtoons Have Changed the Comics Industry\u003c/strong\u003e: Thursday July 23, 4:30-5:30 p.m. with Deb Aoki, Kalai Chik, Heidi MacDonald, Leeanne M. Krecic, Derek V. Song\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAnime, Manga, and K-Comics Censorship\u003c/strong\u003e: Friday July 24, 1:00-2:00 p.m. with Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, Deb Aoki, Samantha Tecson\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom 0 to 50: Pro Tips for High-Speed Webtoon Production and Studio Workflow\u003c/strong\u003e: Saturday July 25, 6:00-7:00 p.m. with PAJI and Kane\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTaking Off with Rocketship Entertainment\u003c/strong\u003e: Saturday July 25, 7:30-8:30 p.m. with Tom Akei, Leeanne M. Krecic, TurtleMe, Sanford Greene, David K\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e","blueskyPost":"San Diego Comic-Con 2026 will host a full slate of webtoon panels, including WEBTOON's 'What's Next' and independent sessions on industry growth and censorship. Creators with anime adaptations are among the guests.","twitterPost":"San Diego Comic-Con 2026 features webtoon panels across four days, with WEBTOON Entertainment leading creator talks and independent deep dives on censorship and production. ENHYPEN and Twilight's Catherine Hardwicke also appear.","threadsPost":null,"newsletterBlurb":"San Diego Comic-Con 2026 adds a dedicated webtoon track with nine panels spanning WEBTOON Entertainment new content, industry growth, censorship, and production workflows. Several creators whose works have anime adaptations are participating.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"Anime News Network\",\"url\":\"https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2026-07-11/san-diego-comic-con-2026-to-feature-webtoon-creator-panels-industry-deep-dives/.239516\",\"title\":\"San Diego Comic-Con 2026 to Feature Webtoon Creator Panels, Industry Deep Dives\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":4433,"outputTokens":2937,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1783971571,"createdAt":"2026-07-13T19:35:10.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-07-13T19:37:29.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-07-13T19:35:10.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_ef68a019e1cb80b806f3f25d","canonicalTitle":"News\nSan Diego Comic-Con 2026 to Feature Webtoon Creator Panels, Industry Deep Dives","representativeArticleId":"a_74c6a1c1e5968032b4c21bec","sourceCount":1,"writtenSourceCount":1,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":true,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[],\"studios\":[],\"people\":[\"TurtleMe\",\"Leeanne M. 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