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Marvel Studios returns to San Diego to talk about What If...?, X-Men '97, and more animated projects

Live coverage of SDCC's Marvel Animation panel!

Marvel Studios Logo
Image credit: Marvel Studios

The Popverse team is back with live coverage, and even more exciting than that-- we're at San Diego Comic Con! This is the team's first foray into the wonderful world of San Diego in July, and we can't wait to check out some amazing panels and spend hours perusing the Artist's Alley!

Join us as we sit down (and wait with bated breath) in Ballroom 20 to hear some (hopefully) pretty exciting new from the Marvel Studios Animation Panel. The expected panel speakers areBrad Winderbaum (head of streaming, television, and animation), Ryan Meinerding (head of visual development) + some exciting special guests. Even more exciting than that, we'll get some sneak peeks at X-Men 97!

The official synopsis from the Comic Con schedule reads: Marvel Studios head of streaming, television and animation Brad Winderbaum; head of visual development Ryan Meinerding; and special guests dive into all things animation with exclusive looks at X-Men 97, Marvel Zombies, What If…? season 2, and more.

Popverse will be liveblogging the entire panel as it happens, so keep an eye on this page to follow along live or to read a moment-by-moment breakdown of all the best bits at a later date.


To follow along with Popverse's coverage throughout San Diego Comic Con, check out our roundup of SDCC coverage.

Our live coverage of this event has finished.

We are seated and excited in Ballroom 20!
Looks like it's gonna be a full house!
LIghts have dimmed. A voiceover..
"You'll all be Watchers. Just like me!"
Host Paul F. Tompkins has arrives on stage.
Head of Marvel streaming, television, animation, Brad Winderbaum has joined the panel!
"As we made the first season of What If?, we decided we wanted to make more," Winderbaum shares about how he got here today, with Marvel's very first animation panel
To the question what the audience can expect to see today, Winderbaum responds that he doesn't want to spoil anything, but that the most exciting thing is definitely the creators.
Now we're watching a video of the history of Marvel Studios
This video is all about the visual design and effects at the center of Marvel Studios projects.
This video has introduced our next panel member, Ryan Meinerding, head of visual development.
"It's really not that much different," Meinerding responds to a question about how different it is to work in live film and animation as a designer.
Next panel member Brian Andrews, director of What If and Marvel Zombies.
Other panel members include A.C. Bradley, Kirsten Lepore, and more! (will update as I get spelling confirmations).
We're getting to watch an I Am Groot trailer!
We're getting to watch an I Am Groot trailer!
There are some very cute little creatures... A fart joke or two too! Overall, there are some cool looking designs, and lots of promised humor. IT is very cute, as can be expected.
We're getting an entire short film as well! I won't be spoiling anything, but I'll be responding to 'Groot takes a bath."
Greoot does, in fact, take a bath. But that problably isn't a surprise to anyone.
Greoot does, in fact, take a bath. But that problably isn't a surprise to anyone.
Thsi episode might otherwise be titled "Groot gets a makeover"
It is a funny episode, and there were many laughs from this warm audience.
Now we're hearing from panelist Jeff Trammell about Spider-Man Freshman Year. How he has drawn from so many animated Spider-Man shows.
Niko from Runaways will be in the show!!
So will Amadeus Cho!
And a new design for Harry Osborne! (Image to come)
Now for the villains... including Scorpion and Tarantula and THE RHINO
Doc Ock will be one of the villains, and Doctor Strange will also be in the show.
Doc Ock will be one of the villains, and Doctor Strange will also be in the show.
Who else will be in the show? Daredevil himself!! Voiced by Charlie Cox.
... another big character reveal soon? It's being teased...
They have already announced a second season, Spider-Man Sophomore Year
Freshman year will drop in 2024.
AC Bradley "I was so grateful that we got to play with character and genre in season one, and we get to do it again in season 2," she says about What If, arguing that "it lends so well to animation."
We're getting a preview of What-If season 2.
Getting Stepford Wives vibes... We see Captain Carter and Hela... Kid Starlord... Scarlet Witch.. and Gamora...
Getting Stepford Wives vibes... We see Captain Carter and Hela... Kid Starlord... Scarlet Witch.. and Gamora...
Getting Stepford Wives vibes... We see Captain Carter and Hela... Kid Starlord... Scarlet Witch.. and Gamora...
Getting Stepford Wives vibes... We see Captain Carter and Hela... Kid Starlord... Scarlet Witch.. and Gamora...
"Things have gotten a little twisted with the multiverse."
"Things have gotten a little twisted with the multiverse."
Ahhh 1602 has been mentioned as one of the times that What If will take place in!
Bryan Andrews is now speaking about Marvel Zombies! and how it will address the question "What happens next?"
Bryan Andrews is now speaking about Marvel Zombies! and how it will address the question "What happens next?"
Bryan Andrews is now speaking about Marvel Zombies! and how it will address the question "What happens next?"
Zombies will include Okoye, Captain Marvel, Scarlet Witch, Abomination
The hero team will include Katie, Yelena, Kate Bishop, Red Guardian, Jimmy Lu, and Shang-Chi as well as Kamala Khan!
"We are not shying away from what made the comics so great" including "the gore" Winderbaum promises
"We are not shying away from what made the comics so great" including "the gore" Winderbaum promises
Now for the main event... The X-Men. Winderbaum shares that X-Men: The Animated Series was what introduced him to the X-Men
Now for the main event... The X-Men. Winderbaum shares that X-Men: The Animated Series was what introduced him to the X-Men
No we've got series writer Beau DeMayo introducing creators of the original Aminated Series, and how Marvel as we know it now wouldn't exist without that work.
No we've got series writer Beau DeMayo introducing creators of the original Aminated Series, and how Marvel as we know it now wouldn't exist without that work.
The cast of X-Men 97 will include Rogue, Beast, Gambit, Wolverine, Storm, Jubilee, and Cyclops
Nightcrawler!!!
We'll see Magneto, Sebastian Shaw, Emma Frost and more...
Jean Grey will also be on the main team! (sorry, left her off my accident). Now we're going to watch an animatic of some of the show, which ahs not reached final animation stage.
Jean Grey will also be on the main team! (sorry, left her off my accident). Now we're going to watch an animatic of some of the show, which ahs not reached final animation stage.
No spoilers... but a Sentinel does appear.
Beau has shared that Disney+ will organize the original series in the order it was meant to be watched (so no confusing Jean Grey popup in Dark Phoenix)
Time to watch a finished episode of What-If! This episode is titled "What if Captain Carter fought the Hydra-Stomper"
Now you won't be getting any spoilers from me here.. so thank you for ahnging around for this liveblog of the Marvel Animation Panel. To check out the rest of Popverse's coverage of the weekend, check out our SDCC Popverse coverage roudnup.