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Hayao Miyazaki's Comic-Con Int'l Visit Set for July 24 (Updated)

The New York Times newspaper reports that Ponyo director Hayao Miyazaki's first visit to San Diego's Comic-Con International is scheduled for July 24. According to the newspaper, the director of Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, and other award-winning classics will "address a room full of 6,500 admirers." CCI's Hall H is the only room in the convention that can handle an audience that big. CCI will not officially post its schedule until Thursday.

After his CCI visit, Miyazaki will travel to the University of California, Berkeley to accept the second annual Berkeley Japan Prize on July 25. He will then travel to Hollywood for the American premiere of Ponyo on July 27. The next day, he will appear in Beverly Hills for a July 28 tribute by his longtime friend John Lasseter at the headquarters of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS of Oscar fame). Lasseter is the chief creative officer of Pixar and Disney Animation Studios and the director of Toy Story and Cars. Lasseter said he encouraged Miyazaki to make his rare American visit by saying, "If you come over, I'll be by your side the whole time." Miyazaki had not come to America in person to receive his 2002 Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film for Spirited Away. Ponyo opens in North America on August 14.

Update: Walt Disney Studios has confirmed that Miyazaki and Lasseter's CCI appearance will be at 12:45 p.m. on July 24.