Greetings all!
Before 2024 San Diego Comic-Con fades in the rear view mirror, I want to share some of the things I have learned and experienced about SDCC over the years.
I attended my first DSCC in 2017. I had intended to go in 2016 but my husband planned a surprise trip to Scotland in honor of our 53rd wedding anniversary!
No complaints because I had a grand time. Don’t want to get distracted from my mission, but here’s a few photos to explain why I chose Scotland in 2016.
We visited the stand in for Craigh na Du. A lovely, quiet, tree-covered mound with a lot of sheep. In the distance you can see Loch Rannoch (photo, left), the site where Claire and Ned Gowan (ep 105) quote from the poet John Donne.
Next is the shop window where Claire contemplates buying a pair of vases (ep 101). The site was supposedly Inverness but the filming actually took place in the village of Falkland in Fife.
We went to many places but one that moved me deeply was Culloden Battlefield and Drumossie Moor.
Along the walk to the Visitor Center is a lovely stone honoring Diana Gabaldon, and donated by the Ladies of Lallybroch!
I stood on a picnic table to create this short video of Culloden Battlefield and Drumossie Moor. The building in the distance is the Visitor’s Center. The video was actually made in 2017 as my daughter and I returned to Scotland one a year later! 💙
So, now you know why I didn’t go to the 2016 SDCC. I have been to every SDCC since then except during COVID shutdown.
The following is a short history of this fantastic event.
The first SDCC was held in 1970 with 100 attendees! Now, the attendance is well of 135,000 people, annually. These are attendees with badges or press passes. Many more people gather outside the venue to participate in associated events and activities.
Today, SDCC is held in the beautiful San Diego Convention Center. It is the long building to the right of the palm tree-lined boulevard and is located near the waterfront. It is huge – 2.6 million square feet of floor space. This year, it offered over 2,000 hours of comics, anime, gaming, discussions, workshops and other events relating to the popular arts.
The exhibit hall part is 460,00 square feet of floor space with over 1,000 exhibitors. Aisles are always packed with attendees buying all types of merchandise associated with the Comic-Con genre.
SDCC even spreads onto nearby buildings outside the San Diego Convention Center.
This year, I attended several panels, walked the exhibit hall, visited various exhibits, met with friends, and spoke with attendees.
I have already posted about two panels related to Outlander: “A conversation with Ron D. Moore,” and Bear McCreary and “World Music Building.” Click on the links if you want to catch up with these two excellent panels.
Ron
Bear
But, one of my favorite parts of SDCC is the cosplay! What is cosplay? According to Wikipedia, the term “cosplay is a portmanteau of “costume play;” it is an activity and performance art in which participants called cosplayers wear costumes and fashion accessories to represent a specific character.”
And, believe me, cosplayers take their characters very seriously!
The following are some of my favorites!
This is Ruby Rhod from “The Fifth Element.” Many claim he was the original influencer! You may not know, but Prince was originally cast for this role but withdrew because of costuming issues so the part went to Chris tucker.
Check out this cosplayer of Ruby!
Group ensemble from Lord of the Rings! Sorry, I know zip about the guy in black with the pingpong balls. 😜
This is Roz from “Monsters Inc!” Roz is a grouchy, slug-like creature with a perpetual frown who is head of the CDA (Child Detection Agency)! 😂
Lego characters!
Captain Jack Sparrow associates! 😉
The Witcher! Maybe Yennifer and Ciri?
No comment required! 😄
And, my personal favorite: Day of the Dead character. I now wish I had asked to photo the back of her magnificent hat. It was covered with flowers, skulls, candles, and other symbols. Stunning costume! 😍
This is my final post of 2024 SDCC. Saying farewell until next year with shaka sign (hang loose) from me and my longtime Comic-Con buddies, Jody and Jim from Hawaii.
The deeply grateful,
Outlander Anatomist
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Photo and video credits: Outlander Anatomy, Jody Chang, www.wikipedia.com, www.disneyfancom.com, www.imbd, www.starz, www.sandiegoconventioncenter, www.youtube.com