Live action television shows are taking up most of the day today in Ballroom 20, with shows like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Bones, The Following and more showing off their goods, but if there’s one animated show that deserves to be in the convention center’s second biggest arena, it’s The Legend of Korra. The show tore the roof off this place when it played last year, and there’s a very good chance it will be doing it again this year.
The Big Bang Theory panel has wrapped and now it’s time for Nickelodeon’s turn to get fans ready for season two. Keep refreshing this page to keep up with our live-blog!
(Warning: I should note that I am not a regular Legend of Korra viewer, but I will do my very best to provide as many details as I can about what I see and hear)
11:20 a.m.: We have begun! Before the folks from the panel come on stage we are getting a video presentation. Screen pops up reading “Book Two: Spirits” – somber music plays as characters are shown fighting, meditating, crying, and running. Coming in September!
11:22 a.m.: Time for the panelists to come to the stage! First up creator Bryan Konietzko! “The peanut butter to his chocolate” Michael DiMartino! Co-executive producer Joaquim Dos Santos! Voice of Korra, Janet Varney! Voice of Mako Dave Faustino! Voice of Bolin P.J. Byrne!
11:23 a.m.: Bryan says that there’s a ton of stuff to get to, so they are jumping right in. Notes that the soundtrack for the show just came out on Tuesday.
11:24 a.m.: Book Two is different because they were still working on Book One, so they needed to bring in other writers – including Josh Hamilton and Tim Hendrick from the original series.
11:25 a.m.: Lauren Mongtomery is and Ki-Hyun Ryu are both working as supervising producers as well. Colin Heck and Ian Graham are also now serving as directors, taking over for Joaquim Dos Santos and Ki Hyun Ryu.
11:26 a.m.: Bryan says that Colin directed the Book Two: Chapter One premiere. Big applause from the crowd. And now they are showing the entire first episode! I’ll be back when it’s done!
11:51 a.m.: Even as someone who isn’t too familiar with the series, I really enjoyed the episode. Strong character relationships, great action, and some really beautiful animation. The audience seems to have loved it. Korra makes a very big decision at the end of the episode that should surprise some fans.
11:52 a.m.: The voice cast is back up on stage! David Faustino says that he got his start as a voice actor when he was three months old, voicing Lili Tomlin’s daughter. He was encouraged by his father his entire life to pursue it, but this is his first gig. Janet Varney says that she got her start doing voices for e-cards. She did another pilot for Nick, but this is her first big deal. P.J. Byrne, who has worked as a live-action actor, says that this is his first voice acting gig, because he never actually liked his voice when he was younger.
11:55 a.m.: Janet says that she wishes that she has the strength of Korra, and that the newest episode actually made her cry (this was her first time watching it too). She says that it’s important to look to others and listen to ideas about the path David says that P.J. is Mako with a higher IQ.
11:57 a.m.: What does the cast do when they aren’t feeling in the mood for the recording? P.J. says the he’s always in the mood. David needs coffee. Janet says that she just takes a step back and really appreciate what she gets to do. P.J. says that it’s about getting into the zone – just like in sports. He also praises his directors in giving them room to make mistakes. David says that the great scripts make their lives super easy, because it’s all on the page.
12:00 p.m.: A look into Avatar Beginnings! They’ve been playing with this idea for a while – a flashback to 10,000 years earlier – and finally figured out how to do it. They have changed the art style similar to ancient Asian art and woodblock prints. They’re showing some of the paintings up on the big screen and they look absolutely beautiful. They say it was really fun to dive into the mythic history and finding the balance between this world and the spirit world. Showing some new character designs, there is a man who looks like he’s been melded with a tree and a human-sized Meercat. The story follows Yuan, the first Avatar.
12:05 p.m.: Now they are showing off an array of fan art from a contest that they ran. Apparently drawing Naga will get automatic attention.
12:08 p.m.: For those in San Diego there will be a Legend of Korra signing at the Nick Booth today from 12:45 to 2:15!
12:10 p.m.: There is also a Dark Horse comics signing on Saturday at the Dark Horse Booth from 1:00-2:00! They ask for you to come back and say hi!
12:11 p.m.: There will also be a soundtrack signing! Head to the Nick Booth from 3:00-4:00 to meet the team!
12:15 p.m.: And that’s a wrap on the Legend of Korra panel!
