Fanboy Expo begins tomorrow July 12th and runs through Sunday July 14th in Knoxville, TN. Several months ago Fanboy started advertising that this year would include several animators and voice actors from Disney and other production companies. I started watching the convention very closely at that point.
Fanboy Expo 2019 will be held at the Knoxville Convention Center and World’s Fair Park. The convention is extremely accessible and in a beautiful part of the city. You can check out the convention’s maps below.
Fanboy Expo will include vendors, cosplay, celebrity guests and Q/A panels. For those of us in the Disney Duck Fandom there are quite a few things to attend. Let’s start with the guests. Fanboy Expo 2019 has delivered some great guests.
The announcement that I have been most excited about has been Mike and Patty Peraza. The married couple are currently Disney Imagineers working on concept art for attractions and they provide artwork for Disney galleries. They both have rich Disney portfolios, and Mike’s work has recently been featured in the recent DuckTales series (the credits in “Last Christmas!” and the Drake Mallard origin in “The Duck Knight Returns!”). Mike was the art director on the Disney features The Great Mouse Detective and The Little Mermaid. He was also a creator on many Disney Afternoon shows including DuckTales, Goof Troop, Darkwing Duck, and TaleSpin! Patty has the honor of being the first woman to be hired by Disney’s CalArts Character Animation program. She has worked on many features including The Black Cauldron, The Great Mouse Detective, and Tron. Patty was also the production manager on 1997’s Beauty and the Beast, and she worked the animated series DuckTales and TaleSpin.
Not only will Mike and Patty be set up on the show floor, but they will also have a Q/A Fan Panel on Friday July 12th from 2:50-3:35. I took off work and plan on attending this panel.
Frank Welker will forever be the voice of Megatron to me, but Disney Afternoon fans also know him as Bubba the Caveduck and Bigtime Beagle. Frank has hundreds of credits to his name. He will be at the convention Friday and Saturday. His autographs are $95 and he has photos available at an additional cost. Frank will also be in a Q/A Panel with Grey Griffin in the Main Room from 4:00 – 4:50 on Friday July 12th. Frank will have a photo opportunity at 2:45 Saturday at Booth 2.
Tara Strong is known for her many voice acting credits over the past few years. From My Little Pony to Rugrats she has voiced many of today’s most popular animated characters. For those of us in the DuckTales community she voiced Briar, one of the kelpies (“murder ponies”) from “The Missing Links of Moorshire!” Tara will be on the floor and has photo ops available. There will be a photo opportunity with Tara on Friday July 12th at 4:30 at Booth 2, at Booth 1 on Saturday at 5:00, and at Booth 2 at 11:30 & 3:00 on Sunday.
Only an elite group of individuals have voiced the legendary character Mickey Mouse. Bret Iwan has been the official voice of Mickey since 2009 following the death of Wayne Allwine. Bret has voiced Mickey in Kingdom Hearts III, Disney Infinity, and the recent Mickey and the Roadster Racers. Bret’s autograph can be purchased for $40 at his booth. Bret will have a Q/A Panel on Sunday on the Main Stage from 11:15 – 12:05.
Jodi Benson is the voice of Ariel from The Little Mermaid. She was the speaking and singing voice of the character in pretty much every version including the series! She was also the voice of Barbie in Toy Story 2 & 3. Jodi will be signing autographs at her booth for $50. At 4:00 on Friday July 12th Jodi will be doing photos at Booth 1 with C.D. Barnes, Saturday July 13th at 1:15 and Sunday at 1:20. On Saturday July 13th Jodi will be on the Main Stage for the Little Mermaid Q/A Panel from 12:20 – 1:10.
Fanboy Expo really went after the Little Mermaid theme. Christopher Daniel Barnes will also be in attendance. He voiced Prince Eric and Spider-Man/Peter Parker in the 1994 animated series! C.D. will sign autographs for $30.
Outside of the Perazas the Star Wars Resistance area has me the most excited. Children’s Hospital will benefit from the proceeds of the autographs sold. Christopher Sean (Kaz Kazuda) and Suzie Mcgrath (Tam Ryvora) will be in the area and their autographs are $25 each. Admittedly, I had a hard time getting into Resistance, but the season ended strong, and I can’t wait for season two to begin. Sean and Suzie will also at the 200 Rooms Saturday July 13th from 3:50 – 4:35 for the Star Wars Resistance Q/A Panel.
Additional Panel Schedule to note
Friday July 12th 3:40 – 4:25 Disney Sing Along in 200 Rooms.
Saturday July 13th 12:55 – 1:35 Disney Sing Along in 200 Rooms.
Do you plan on attending Fanboy Expo? I’ll be there all day Friday. Find me for a free DuckTalks button! Let us know if you are coming, and what you are most excited to buy, see, or attend. Check out their website here; Fanboy Expo!
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