Need to work on School Rumble (which, considering the amount of panels, balloons, jokes to get right, and Japanese culture that I need to research to make sure that I know what I think I know, takes up quite a lot of time), so I'm going to take a break from my standard set of essays today.

But instead, I'd like to invite any of you going to the San Diego Comic-Con International over the weekend of the 20th through the 23rd to come to my annual Lost in Translation panel on Friday at 5:30 in room 1B. Not only can you hear me repeat everything I've said on this site (kind of like a bookstore reading -- yes, I am kidding), but you also get the insights of Charles McCarter who has been a Bandai anime producer for forever, Jonathan Tarbox who is not only an accomplished translator with an innovative business model, but also has the distinction of having been responsible for two different manga lines, and Jake Forbes who seems to be assigned to every hit manga from CLAMP's early successes to Viz's Fullmetal Alchemist runaway hit. (It's looking like Nobby Matsuo, our resident games expert, might not be able to make it, but that leaves room for a surprise guest!)

If you need more convincing, a pdf of the schedule for the rest of SDCC's live programming is here.
Edit: No, it isn't here. I had linked to the 2005 schedule. I'll update you all when it can be accessed.
Edit X 2: Yes, the schedule is here, but this is the HTML version rather than a pdf. I'm sure a pdf will be put up soon.

LOST IN TRANSLATION
FRIDAY, JULY 21
5:30-7:00pm
ROOM 1B

Lost in Translation-- Foreign entertainment has taken the comics and animation industry by storm in the past several years, and with the heightened interest, it's a good time to see how the process works. Long-time translators and producers explain the nuts and bolts of translating in the American entertainment industries such as comics, manga, anime, and games. Join William Flanagan (xxxHolic), Charles McCarter (Ghost in the Shell: SAC), Jonathan Tarbox (Angel Sanctuary), Nobby Matsuo (Samurai Champloo: Sidetracked), and Jake Forbes (Fullmetal Alchemist) for stories and Q&A!

If you're a frequent member of the dojo, come up and let me know after the panel!