Comic-Con attendees were placing bets around this display for the Alien vs. Predator space monster match-up movie.

It was another colorful, crazy show time as fans of comics, sci-fi, fantasy and animation made the pilgrimage to Comic-Con International 2004, July 22- 25, 2004, the event drew a record 75,000, including entertainment industry types and press to the San Diego Convention Center.

The studios were down there in full force, previewing movies, games, animation amongst the comic publishers and collectors, trying to generate a buzz for their upcoming products. The creative development execs were also there, looking for there next hit. One of the first acquisition deals announced after the Con was that Ronald Shusett, co-creator of the Alien series, and comicbook specialist Daniel Alter have optioned the feature film rights to sci-fi title, Megacity.

Producers, writers, animators and directors are presented on panels to enjoy feedback and adoration, as well as mix with their cross-town rivals in a friendlier environment and unbelievably weirder environment than Hollywood. Their comments are less guarded and more personally revealing than during press junkets and carefully planned interview ops orchestrated only for the media. In front of their core audience, they shine.

This was especially true during the Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network Warner Bros. presentations for returning and new shows, as well as Craig Miller’s now annual panel about feature animation writing. For some time now, Hollywood has not produced any animated features from scripts outside the major studios, nor does it have any in development. It seems one must get in on some sort of other assignment or capacity and submit ideas from within.

Bruce Timm was on hand to talk about The Batman from Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network.

Nickelodeon presented an exclusive sneak peek at its new animated adventure series, Avatar, The Last Airbender, an anime-stylized show created in the U.S. by Mike DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, which is not based on manga. The art was incredibly beautiful with high action in the original concept about a 12-year-old boy in ancient times who possesses the world power divided into four nations: Earth, Water, Air and Fire. Nick also had a panel and signing sessions for Danny Phantom creatives.

Warner Bros. showed off its animated series Teen Titans, Justice League Unlimited and The Batman. The latest animated Batman brings more of a Frank Miller Dark Knight Returns look to the Batman character, but the series has more in common with Justice League than the Bruce Timm and Paul Dini classic Batman The Animated Series. Justice League Unlimited was agreeably challenged to add so many more heroes and obviously really ratcheted up the action and adult humor to appeal a primetime audience.

Big news emanating from Teen Titans was that Japanese pop group Puffy AmiYumi, who sing the theme song for Titans, scored with their own series on Cartoon Network called Hi Hi Puffy Amiyumi. Sam Register, svp in charge of original animation at Cartoon Network said the show will “be more Yellow Submarine than Josie and the Pussycats.” Carton Network also gave attendees a glimpse and chat with Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, created by Craig McCracken, and The Life and Times of Juniper Lee, created by Judd Wnick.