A True AVATAR REVEALED!! *SPOILERS*

**SAME DAY UPDATE: Looks like this facial photo of an avatar is already out there in some capacity. I am sure a reader will post a link to it if it is available. This post will allow a logical discussion about the pics and that it is not a great representation of final product.

**SPOILER ALERT** Do NOT view this post if you want a pristine viewing experience of James Cameron's AVATAR.

Jim here. What better way to follow up our 1,000th post than with something to excite you from AVATAR. I have been holding back publishing *anything* to do with the spy video footage I have from Comic-Con as it is NOT the best way to see the results. You see watching 3D without 3D glasses leaves distortions on the screen - far from ideal.

But there are times when the distortion is somewhat reduced. It happens for various reasons, but mostly because what both eyes are seeing are just about the same.

The greatest contributing factor to this post is that a fine reader of ours, Julia from Brazil, discovered some images on a well known photo sharing site that originated from this same clip that I have. Therefore I know it to be 100% authentic.

I am posting this avatar photo here as they would be public in a matter of time anyway - just as the hands and feet became. Julia was kind enough to tell me first. I will never post the full clip though. It is NOT in the best interest of the movie. So please do not ask anymore! :-)

The photo of Jake's avatar is not a good one as far as resolution is concerned - it is blurry. Further, the angle in which this video was shot was one of the worst in the theater - about 50 to 60 degrees off to the right side and angled well up by another 20 to 30 degrees. It seems this photo was retouched to try to compensate for the angles. It did not totally succeed as the eye is distorted. But you get the idea. It was also a brightly lit up lab.

The second and third photos show the hands and feet of an avatar and they are definitely from the clip as well. These were originally available on the IMDb AVATAR boards. Have a look.

It is exciting to be able to talk about these photos because they will begin to give you a sense of just how majestic AVATAR will be. It is EXTREMELY well made. What you are seeing in these pictures do not do the final product full justice by any means, but it does give you a further connection.

When we have more info that we can pass on, we will be sure to do so. So enjoy the look at an avatar!

Jim Has Seen Spy Cam Clip Of AVATAR Footage... **SPOILERS**

Jim here. Yes - I have in my possession a spy cam clip of the AVATAR footage shown at Comic-Con and I have to say that even though it is a blurry 2D clip of a 3D movie shot by a hand held camcorder while trying to stay out of sight, it is fairly good.

However, because it is not the ideal way to see AVATAR by any means, I will not be posting it. And it reminds me too much of piracy which I despise. I know, I know. You want to see it anyway. Sorry - you will thank me later for it. AVATAR Day is right around the corner and the wait will be worth it. You will see parts of AVATAR that will whet your appetites even more (if that's possible) whereas if I show you this clip, you will not have that truly special experience. I am glad I did not see all the clip in this fashion!

That said, my jaw dropped when I watched this. It still drops, after playing it over and over again 50 times. I will have the benefit of being able to press the pause button while reviewing this, so this will be the most detailed explanation of what happened in these scenes - others had to write brief notes in the dark.

Remember that I am in the same boat as most of you. Due to personal reasons I could not get down to Comic-Con this year (I know - of all years to miss it). So while I took one for the team here and viewed it in this very raw and un-ideal way - it was mesmerizing. Michael was lucky enough to have seen it in person.

The most impressive thing about the scenes I saw was the intense feeling of being a child again. More on that later.

WARNING **SPOILERS BELOW**

In the first scene Jake (Sam Worthington) is introduced to the fellows in the lab on Pandora where they have the avatars submerged in water (growing them from the mix of Na'vi and human DNA?) and is then shown his own avatar. "There's yours" a technician says to him.

This is where one of the screen caps that has emerged on the Interwebs was grabbed from. To show you I have the real deal here, I have included another photo of the same scene, but a different frame. Sorry, I won't give you more than that. Think AVATAR Day!

The Na'vi are muscular, yet svelte. The water in the tanks surrounding the Na'vi is very well done, showing the slight nuances and distortions required for photoreal. "Looks like you" the tech says. "This is your avatar now Jake". The music and the emotion from the screen is not unlike viewing your newborn child for the first time - a sense of wonder and of a miracle as Jake examines his avatar. A slight smile from Jake at the end of the scene solidifies it. He is emotionally attached already.

Next scene we jump to Jake muscling his way into the Na'vi link bed (sorry - no technical terms were used) from his wheelchair, refusing help from the tech. He slides on the bed and grabs each leg by his pants one after the other, swinging them over to rest in front of him. Enter Sigourney to rapturous applause from the Comic-Con crowd. Dialogue is inaudible due to the clapping and hollering. The machine looks like an MRI machine, only the front of it has spinning, clockwise lights making it look very cool. They talk about what is going to happen: Jake will be entering the Na'vi "without any training of any kind". She instructs him to lie down on the light greenish bed and she lowers a transparent, thin sheet of electronics down over him. Very interesting! Jake keeps humorously raising his head over and over like a curious kid and Grace keeps pushing it back down. "Just relax, and let your mind go blank... that shouldn't be hard for you" says Grace (a hint at their relationship I am sure). Some dialogue I can't put in here as it is garbled. "Initiate link". Flat transparent screens then reveal Jake's brain with glowing regions associated with the brain activity and link preparation. In fact, you can swipe the screen right off of the monitor and carry it with you as a portable device! A technician speaks to Grace, "That's a gorgeous brain... nice activity." We're going in," says Grace. Jake's eyes enter into rapid eye movement and the camera zooms to his face - then... a flash of light followed by falling through what looks a lot like a wormhole of light for several seconds. Eyes open to reveal a blurry room and a technician looking over him... "He's in. Jake, can you hear me?"

The avatar eyes are STUNNINGLY real. After checking some vital signs a tech asks "How you feeling Jake?" Jake's avatar smiles, "Hey guys." "Welcome to your new body Jake. We're going to take this nice and easy Jake." Another avatar sits up with his new body and literary dwarfs the human technicians in the room. "Can you touch your thumbs to your fingers?" "No problem." (Looks like Joel Moore - could be wrong).

Then Jake sits up. He starts moving his feet right away while still half lying down on the bed - remember he is a paraplegic in his human form. He is awed and excited by it. Smiling. Jake turns now and places his blue feet on the floor - they are HUGE. Camera close up on them. He stands up and his tail is now waving around excitedly. "Please sit down on the table Jake!" He spins around ignoring the technicians' calls to sit back down. His own tail wraps around his arm, startling him slightly - then he whips his tail backward, knocking over something. "Sedate him!" calls out a tech. Jake rips off the wires that are on him and starts walking. "Jake listen to me... You are not used to your avatar body." Jake smiles, "This is great." The other avatar warns him "They are gonna put you out." Again Jake ignores them and walks quickly to the doorway - an intentionally tall doorway - and hits the release. Jake is walking quickly out of view down the hallway. And then opening another door leading to a great deal of light (outside?). The technicians are frantically giving chase. End of scene. End of clip.

I can attempt to describe it, but I really can't do it justice and that is from the limited exposure I have had through this clip. I consider myself very lucky to have sources that trust me enough with it and believe me when I say this is a great job I have.

The overwhelming feeling I have gotten from just this limited look was one of awe and wonder - just like a child growing up. I felt like I was Jake. You are meant to engage in what it must have felt like to suddenly be able to use your legs again and walk. But not only just walk, but control a wonderfully beautiful and powerful creature.

The biggest jaw droppers for me was the first look at the avatar's face - a close up with the eyes open. Photo-freakin' Real. In my opinion, don't believe a word from those odd few sites out there claiming not to be overly impressed. This is history here guys. The technican shines a light into his eyes testing for dialation. Just superb movie making. Mainly yellow and black eyes. The avatar body is amazing. Light blue with dark blue striping. A very long "braided ponytail" on the back of his head and a tail (same blue pattern) with a black tip. The avatar's teeth look to be very similar to humans.

I can say without hesitation that you will be astounded on AVATAR Day. Make sure you get into the screens to see it - it will be a hard ticket to get. I really can't believe what i just saw - moviemaking is really switching gears here. And to think that I didn't even see it in 3D! :-) Can't wait! I know there will be some questions from you guys about the scenes - ask away...

Avatar Toys Show Off Augmented Reality "i-TAG" System

Hi, Michael here with video of the augmented reality "i-TAG" system being demoed in the Avatar section of Mattel's booth here at Comic-Con.

Each Avatar toy will come with a special card. After a one-time software download, any card can be scanned with a webcam, summoning an AMP Suit, RDA Gunship, or other model onto the screen, which can then be moved around or given special commands.

I was very impressed with the quality of the digital models and the speed and fluidity with which the on-screen models responded to user movements or "button" input.

Check out the video below for a demo of the AMP Suit:



RDA Gunship:



The Mattel representatives were giving out the following scannable cards. http://www.avataritag.com/ should have more info soon.

Cameron Still Wants to Do Battle Angel! Plus more from Cameron/Jackson Panel

Michael here with a report on the James Cameron / Peter Jackson panel. I'll be updating this post soon with videos and audio.

Here is our podcast of the entire panel:




Both the best news and funniest line of the night came when an audience member asked Cameron whether he was still interested in making Battle Angel Alita.

Cameron said that he really wants to do it, but that asking about his next project now is like asking a mother-to-be about her next baby while she's crowning.

Cameron talks Battle Angel:



Cameron also revealed that he hopes to include a feature on the Avatar Blu-Ray where you can see the actors' performances and those of their CG counterparts side by side so the audience will be able to see how perfect the facial capture has become, and how even the smallest details are replicated.

There was also a great discussion on the absolute importance of story and emotion in film that generated a huge audience applause.

More Videos-

Cameron on Filmmaking Tech in 20 Years (including higher frame rates):



Cameron on 3D Titanic, Jackson on Lord of the Rings 3D, and 3D Industry Discussion:



Also, head over to Movies Online, which has a transcript of yesterday's post-footage press conference with Cameron. It's a very good read.

Avatar Panel Vids!

Michael here with videos of the Avatar panel.

I'll be posting this in parts. If a video is not yet working, it means that Youtube hasn't finished processing it yet.

Part 1:



Part 2:



Part 3:



Part 4:

Avatar Trailer on Aug. 21 & 15 Minutes of Footage!

Hi, Michael here with the news so many of us have been waiting for: the Avatar trailer will be released on August 21 in all formats.

This day has been announced by Fox as "Avatar Day."

Also on August 21, an extended (15 minute) look at Avatar will unspool only in 3D in IMAX and select theaters.

Click images for the official press release. And stay tuned for more to come!

Avatar Footage Report: Pandora is REAL

UPDATE 07/24/09: a bit more on the "photorealism" question some are asking about. Avatar is a revolutionary leap forward in that it is the manifestation of a huge number of first-time achievements in filmmaking. Cameron has created an amazingly cohesive, detailed, and beautiful world that I believed I was there, and, like the Time magazine writer, I wish I could go back now.

As for photorealism, the humanoid chararacters are at least two steps ahead of the best CGI characters to date (King Kong and Davey Jones).

In the first few seconds of seeing Jake's avatar my mind was a bit boggled - *very slightly* rejecting it because I knew on a *factual* level it does not exist (or at the very least, humans have never laid eyes on any alien creature). But this wore off after about 4 seconds. The CG is perfect. The aliens exist. Cameron and his team have achieved their goals with flying colors.
If such aliens were real, that is what they would look like. Their clothing, the lighting, the interaction with the jungle, the dirt and cuts they may get...all are real.

Michael here. Right now I am mindblown from experiencing 24 minutes on Pandora. Cameron has visited another planet and shot footage there.

Jaws were dropped, minds were blown, and people are still processing how far beyond anything we've seen this is. I'll be updating with more detailed impressions soon.

SAME DAY UPDATES:

There aren't any "effects" in this movie: everything is real. The world - from the huge trees to the smallest insects to the retracting, spiral-shaped plants to the moss that lights up when stepped upon - simply exists. I believe that Avatar is such a remarkable accomplishment in so many different ways that I would agree that it looks 10 years ahead of anything out there. And the 3D is the most seamlessly immersive I have ever seen.

But the most important point I want to get across: the characters work, the performances pop off the screen and already come across as iconic.

Emotion and tension are not only present, they infuse every scene. I was immediately reminded of Aliens and the amazing chemistry between the characters in that film. Jake, Ney'tiri, Quaritch, Dr. Augustine, Spellman, Tsu'Tey all vibe with each other wonderfully, creating some great moments of interaction. These characters WORK.

And the non-human characters are real. You will not only believe that the Na'vi and Avatars exist, but you will immediately begin forming the audience / character bond. There is no problem with the uncanny valley here - we are now looking at it firmly from the other side. The way in which the avatars resemble their human controllers goes a long way towards accomplishing this, as do their large, catlike eyes (the eyes of the na'vi seem even larger).

At the press conference following the Hall H presentation Cameron mentioned that Sigourney Weaver recently saw the film, and cried afterward. Cameron knows that this has to be an emotional journey at the core, and that the action - as mind-boggling as it is - must have stakes. He said that this is the reason a chase scene in the first Terminator film still holds up so well today.

I'm looking forward to an extraordinary film this December. As Cameron said at the press conference, it's firing on all cylinders.

More details soon.

More Pictures from Mattel's Avatar Booth!

Michael here with more pics from the Avatar section of Mattel's booth.

The Ampsuit is making a huge impression - everyone loves it. A ton of people can't wait to see the footage tomorrow. Comments I overheard ranged from "I've got to see this" to "this is as cool as the Owlship last year" to talk about how great a director Cameron is.











Here are the pics:

AVATAR Toys Make Comic-Con Debut!!

Jim here. Comingsoon has got the goods this time on a display of AVATAR toys at Comic-Con - Check out these images! I have to say I can't believe we are finally seeing these things - it has been forever.

Click to enlarge the photos.

Obviously we have to buy these darn things (available in October) - its the closest we have been to actual characters yet! :-)

What do you think guys? Personally, the video game has me hyped up more than these figures, but - what the heck... AVATAR is upon us! Check out the huge fires burning in the background of pic #2 - Care to speculate what is going on there? Taking out a village? Thanks again Buzzz!

MarketSaw is at Comic-Con!

Hi everyone, Michael here. As of about 3:30 pm the line for Thursday's Hall H events is already at least 150 plus, with groups of people waiting underneath tents or with blankets and sleeping bags.

Many of the chairs are unoccupied, so it seems people are taking turns waiting in line, or holding seats for people who have not yet arrived. So the actual number of people holding spaces could be 300 or even higher.

And, yes, I spotted lots of Twilight shirts, and one of the Comic-Con staff asked me if I was looking for the "Twilight line." However, I did talk to a few people while waiting in line for my badge who were at Comic-Con for Avatar. One of them could barely contain her excitement for it.

Stay tuned to MarketSaw for the very latest from CC09!

3D At Comic-Con: List of Events

Hi, Michael here with a list of 3D-related panels at Comic-Con 2009. Thursday is the huge day for 3D, but Friday's "The Visionaries" discussion with James Cameron and Peter Jackson on the future of film promises to be incredible.

The main floor should have lots of displays relating to many of these 3D projects. And, of course, there may be surprise announcements!

Thursday, July 23

11:00-12:30 Disney: 3D Panel— Walt Disney Pictures presents key filmmakers, select cast members and previously unseen footage from its upcoming slate, including Disney’s A Christmas Carol, Alice In Wonderland and Tron. Special guests include Robert Zemeckis, Tim Burton, Sean Bailey, Steve Lisberger, and moderator Patton Oswalt. Hall H

12:00-1:00 Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey— Key production personnel and cast members discuss the making of Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey, the 3D, CGI Large Format film that combines beautiful animated sequences with actual space imagery captured during seven ongoing NASA and NASA/ESA space missions. Featuring a stellar voice cast that includes Neil Armstrong, Chris Pine, Samuel L. Jackson, Hayden Christensen, Amanda Peet, Robert Picardo, Jason Alexander, Tom Kenny, Sandra Oh, Brent Spiner, James Earl Jones, Williams Shatner, Mark Hamill, Doug Jones, Abigail Breslin and Gary Graham, Quantum Quest has been endorsed by the X Prize Organization, the International Space University, Challenge Center for Space Science Education, and the Young Astronauts Council. Producer, screenwriter, and co-director Dr. Harry Kloor, whose writing credits include Star Trek: Voyager, the animated series Godzilla, and Earth: Final Conflict, is joined by co-director Daniel St. Pierre (co-director, Everyone's Hero, production designer, A Shark's Tale, art director, Tarzan), space scientists, and key cast members. The panel will offer new work-in-progress clips and an in-depth exploration of the science behind the film. Ballroom 20

12:45-1:30 3D Showcase: Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, The Hole, The Final Destination— Get a first look at 3 brand new films in stunning 3D! First up, it's Columbia Pictures and Sony Animation's Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, inspired by the classic children's book, the film focuses on a town where food begins to fall from the sky like rain. See an extended 3D clip from this eagerly awaited animated film!

Next up, legendary director Joe Dante (Gremlins 1 & 2, Innerspace, Explorers, The Howling) makes his return to the genre he knows best with the 3D thriller The Hole. Three kids come face to face with their darkest fears after they unlock a bottomless hole in the basement that makes their nightmares come to life. Join Dante—along with actress Haley Bennett (The Haunting of Molly Hartley)—as he discusses his return to thrillers, working in 3D, and The Hole.

Catch a sneak peek at New Line Cinema's 3D visceral thrill-ride horror film The Final Destination. Producer Craig Perry introduces a clip from the film. Hall H

1:00-2:00 Spotlight on Kevin Eastman— TMNJ co-creator Kevin Eastman not only reflects on his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle years (with a preview his Comic-Con exclusive 25th Anniversary hardcover collection of favorite TMNT stories!), but also shares sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes teasers or trailers for his upcoming animated film projects—War of The Worlds: Goliath! and Underwhere—and introduces the new Tor Books Novel line Heavy Metal Pulp and the in-development Biz and Buzz animated series. Last but not least, Kevin will give you an update on the new David Fincher/James Cameron–produced Heavy Metal film! Room 5AB

3:00-4:15 20th Century Fox and James Cameron present Avatar— In this first public screening of footage in 3D from his much-anticipated action/adventure/fantasy, James Cameron, producer Jon Landau, and cast members take you to a spectacular new world beyond imagination. Conceived 14 years ago and over four years in the making, Avatar breaks new ground in delivering a fully immersive, emotional story and reinvents the movie-going experience. Hall H

Friday, July 24

10:30-11:30 Coraline— Visionary director and screenwriter Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas) and Newbery Medal-winning author Neil Gaiman discuss the making of the LAIKA/Focus Features 2009 breakout animated hit film Coraline. In celebration of Universal Studio's Blu-ray Hi-Def and DVD release of the critically acclaimed stop-motion film, Selick and Gaiman will be joined by lead animator and LAIKA CEO/president Travis Knight, producer Bill Mechanic (CEO of Pandemonium and producer of Dark Water and The New World), character fabrication supervisor Georgina Hayns (Corpse Bride), and voice talent Keith David (Crash). Panelists will offer an in-depth, behind-the-scenes glimpse at how this astonishing and suspenseful adventure—the first stop-motion animated feature originally produced in stereoscopic 3D—was painstakingly brought to life. The panel wis moderated by IGN movies/DVD editor-in-chief Eric Moro. Room 6A

6:30-7:30 Entertainment Weekly: The Visionaries— A discussion with iconic filmmakers James Cameron (Avatar) and Peter Jackson (District 9) on the Future of Film—EW moderates an in-depth conversation with these two cinematic giants about the art of film narrative and how technology and global culture will alter the art of on-screen storytelling in the next 20 years. Hall H

Comic-Con Avatar Panel Announced!!!

Michael here. Here we go!!!

Thursday, July 23:

3:00-4:15 20th Century Fox and James Cameron present Avatar— In this first public screening of footage in 3D from his much-anticipated action/adventure/fantasy, James Cameron, producer Jon Landau, and cast members take you to a spectacular new world beyond imagination. Conceived 14 years ago and over four years in the making, Avatar breaks new ground in delivering a fully immersive, emotional story and reinvents the movie-going experience. Hall H

Click here for the full Wednesday night and Thursday Comic-Con programming schedules

Avatar Figures & Models Available for Pre-Order! Plus Comic-Con Advice

Michael here. Two Mattel models from Avatar are up for Pre-Order on Amazon, and from the descriptions they seem to be detailed, high quality collectibles. No pictures are up yet, but I would expect to see these and the other models and figures very soon

Desciptions and details from Amazon.com:

James Cameron's Avatar Na'vi Leonopteryx Collectible Figure This item will be released on November 1, 2009. Click for Amazon.com product page Product Features From James Cameron's film, Avatar The fiercest and most feared Na'vi creature in all of Pandora! Giant 20-inch wingspan 20 points of articulation and the ability to carry any basic Avatar figure on its back Great collector's item! Product Details Product Dimensions: 14 x 2.2 x 12 inches Shipping Weight: 8.7 pounds James Cameron's Avatar RDA Scorpion Chopper This item will be released on November 1, 2009. Click for Amazon.com product page Product Features From James Cameron's film, Avatar Scorpion Chopper, recreated here in intense, movie-accurate detail Comes with over 24 points of articulation Includes dual firing projectiles, quadruple spinning blades, and rotating gun barrel Articulated cockpit that fits all basic Avatar RDA and Na'vi figures Product Details Product Dimensions: 14 x 4 x 12 inches Shipping Weight: 7.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies). Also, Acme Archives Limited will be selling a Comic-Con exclusive print of Avatar: Avatar Exclusive Print Acme Archives Unlimited will have an exclusive print of James Cameron's Avatar... More to follow.

Later today the Comic-Con programming schedule is expected to be released, so stay tuned for details on the Avatar panel as well as the other cool stuff we will see in San Diego in two weeks.

Some advice if you want to get in to the Avatar panel: (UPDATED to reflect actual Comic-Con schedule / panel times)

1. You need either a 4-day or Thursday badge to get in. The panel will be on Thursday, July 23, from 12:45 to 2:00.

2. You will need to get in line with your badge already in your possession *at least* 6 hours before the first Hall H panel - the Disney panel - starts at 11:00 am. That means you should get in line at 5:00 am to secure a good seat relatively close to the front and center. If you want to have one of the best publicly available seat in the house, you will likely need to camp out overnight or arrive at 3:00 am or so, since, unfortunately, the Twilight/New Moon panel is happening the same day directly after the Avatar panel, and those Twilight fans will clog up many of the seats. Bring earplugs, too, in case you decide to bite the bullet and endure the deafening banshee shrieking (trust me, I was there last year) of thousands of hormonal teenage girls and their parents as you wait for the afternoon panels.

3. Brings snacks, water, sunblock / hat, comics / books, etc for the wait outside (the lines stretch far outside the convention center, and there isn't much shade.)

4. I woudn't be surprised if there is cool stuff from the movie on the show floor, similar to the Owlship WB brought last year, and the Optimus Prime truck from 2005. Abrams, Harper Collins, Mattel, and Ubisoft are all exhibiting on the main convention floor, too - so I would definitely expect to see some of their Avatar products. (Thanks to Chrad for the heads up on some of these booths!)

Hope to see some of you there!

Avatar Taking Over San Diego! Comic-Con Banner Unveiled!

**UPDATE - July 2, 2009: Further info about differences between Na'vi and Avatars! Jim here again. Here is what my source has to say: "There is major difference between the Na’vi and the avatars. It was visible in the footage shown at Amsterdam, but the viewers were so stunned they didn’t notice. The Na’vi have four fingers and toes; the avatars have five. In addition to the eyes, the avatar’s nose is also slightly smaller than the Na’vi’s."

Pay attention guys! :-) That includes me!

**ANOTHER SAME DAY UPDATE: Exclusive insider info on the Na'vi image in the poster - this is from a trusted source: "Since one of the viewers of the Amsterdam presentation already mentioned it, the avatars do look somewhat like their human counterparts. This means the Na’vi look less human. Larger eyes for one. (Jim: Actually heard Neytiri has a striking resemblance to Zoe Saldana).

Unfortunately, geometric distortion was introduced when people photoshopped the banner picture, which was slightly oblique, to generate a full-frontal view. This made the facial features look smaller in relation to the size of the head, as well as distorting the nose.

The glowing spots are on the face, not an overlay of a star map. Whether they are naturally-occurring markings, tattoos made with bioluminescent bacteria, emanations of mysterious psychic powers, or simply applied dots of glowing makeup must be left to your readers’ imaginations at present."

Interesting!! Comicon is the place to be...

UPDATE: Now with the original, higher resolution pics from the official Comic-Con Twitter feed. Click for the big versions.

Michael here. This is awesome - It looks like Avatar will completely rule Comic-Con this year. The opening salvo of the marketing campaign are these banners that are appearing in downtown San Diego.

My guess is that this is Jake in avatar form, and that the dots of light are bioluminescent in origin. I love the design - it has enough "humanness" for the audience to relate to, but enough "other" to be definitively alien. That was the problem with most of the non-Davy Jones characters from the "Pirates" sequels - they're too cartoonish. But Davy and the Na'vis get it right.

I've heard from a number of sources that the Avatar panel will be first thing Thursday morning. So be sure you get to Comic-Con early if you want to see history in the making!

Another pic from the official Comic-Con Twitter page:

Here's an enhanced version of the poster and a full-face manip, courtesy of "Ludovic":