Television series comprise a huge chunk of the schedule for San Diego Comic-Con — and every year it seems like they become a larger and larger piece of the pie. The lines for Ballroom 20 rival even those of Hall H, and they won’t be getting any shorter any time soon.
As the anticipation builds for the official announcements from networks and CCI as to which television shows will be on the panel schedule, we like to take time out earlier in the year to speculate which shows have the best chances of appearing at SDCC. We’ve broken up our picks into three segments, including the Cable & Streaming Networks and the Broadcast Networks, and we’re wrapping up today with the family channels — Cartoon Network, Disney XD/The Disney Channel, and Nickelodeon.
So what do we think you’ll be seeing at Comic-Con this summer? Let’s take a look:
Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network tends to be very generous in their offerings at San Diego Comic-Con, and we’re not expecting that to change anytime soon. While there’s no official release date yet beyond “2024” for Invincible Fight Girl (about a young girl who dreams of becoming the greatest professional wrestler of all time), the first episode premiered earlier this year at a film festival, so we know it’s queued up and ready to go. They’ve also got Iyanu: Child of Wonder (which follows a teenage heroine who must uncover the mystery behind her newfound powers to save her people from an ancient curse), which will air jointly on Cartoon Network and Max later this year. Both seem like they fit right in with the Comic-Con crowd, and would make for a great introduction for fans to the series.
For their current series, both Craig of the Creek and We Baby Bears have a few episodes left in their current seasons, but there’s no word yet on a return date. For Craig at least, the final episodes of the current season are intended to serve as a series finale, so it’s possible Cartoon Network may choose to have it skip the con since there’s not much promo left.
Batwheels, which got a big push at the con in 2022, also has episodes left to air in its current season, and depending on where it is in production, it also seems likely to make a return to the convention. Likewise for Tiny Toons Looniversity and the second half of its second season, which is surely invading your TV (and your con) again soon.
And finally there’s Teen Titans Go!, which we’re beginning to think may just run until the end of time. Last year it was one of the very few DC animated panels (as part of their screenings), and if they’ve got something to show at SDCC, expect them to show it.
Disney XD / The Disney Channel
Similar to Cartoon Network, everything with Disney’s animated fare is just going to depend on where in production it is. But if it’s far enough along to show, we think they’d be crazy not to bring along the return of Phineas & Ferb, which has another 40 episodes ordered after going off the air in 2015. It’s set to air sometime later this year, and the series has a huge fanbase at the con.
For everything else, again, it just depends on where they are in production. Will we see the return of Hamster & Gretel? It was renewed for a second season that has yet to air (and the same goes for Kiff). Moon Girl and the Devil Dinosaur has aired some episodes this year but has more to go. There are also more episodes to go in the current seasons for Big City Greens and Chibiverse. On the other hand, Hailey’s On It! seems to have finished its current season and is awaiting renewal news, so that one seems less likely, but never say never.
There are several other series that could also make an appearance, including Cookies & Milk, Primos, and Zombies: The Re-Animated Series. It really just depends how close they are to airing.
Nickelodeon
Is it even Comic-Con without a panel for Nickelodeon’s longest-running series, SpongeBob SquarePants? We don’t think you’ll have to find out this year, as we’d be surprised if the beloved series skipped. And it’s a big year for SpongeBob, as the latest film, Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie, is set to hit Netflix in early August (which also puts it in prime position for any promo Netflix might want to do at the con, as they tend to focus on things coming out only in the next month or so at the con).
We also bet you’ll see something for Monster High, which has episodes left to air in its second season. The second season of Transformers: EarthSpark begins airing in early June, and also seems likely to make a return to the con.
We also think you’ll see most of Nickelodeon’s stable of shows represented in some fashion at the con, even if it’s only at their fan-favorite booth. The newest season of The Loud House still has episodes left to air, as does Rock Paper Scissors and The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish. The two SpongeBob spinoffs are also likely to be represented in some way — The Patrick Star Show has episodes left to air in its second season, and Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years‘ second season hasn’t premiered yet but should sometime later this year.
For Nickelodeon’s newest series, there’s Max & The Midnights, based on the graphic novel series written and illustrated by Lincoln Pierce. Given its graphic novel pedigree, San Diego Comic-Con seems like a logical place to show it off to fans.
