Let us draw you a picture. ✏️

“The Simpsons.” “Scooby-Doo.” “Gumby.” Looney Tunes. Disney. Those are just a few of the cartoon icons taking center stage at the Comic Con Museum, which reopened over the weekend with new exhibitions.

The traveling exhibition, “The Animation Academy: From Pencils to Pixels” is the museum’s new headliner, all about the pioneers of animation — think Art Clokey, Chuck Jones, and studios like Hanna-Barbera — and their indelible marks on pop culture.
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The display features 20+ interactive stations where visitors can create their own stop-motion animated shorts and illustrations. There are also life-size props everywhere so fans can snap photos inside the sets of their favorite TV shows and movies. 📸

This Zoetrope hits up to 25 mph and the characters move before your eyes. | Photo via Monica Garske + SDtoday

Oh, and don’t miss the “world’s largest traveling 3D zoetrope,” an early form of animation tech that spins at 25 mph, literally showing you the animation of several characters — the Simpson family, Felix the Cat, and the Pink Panther — right before your eyes.

This one made us real nostalgic — a look at Comic-Con art through the decades. | Photo via Monica Garske + SDtoday

Meanwhile on the second floor, visitors can now explore “Cover Story: Five Decades of Comic-Con,” a look at the vibrant souvenir program books created by artists for San Diego Comic-Con International from its humble beginnings in 1970 through present-day. Decade by decade, the display shows the history and staying power of the city’s famous pop culture event.

Both exhibitions will remain on view through this fall. In keeping with its focus on animation, the museum says it also plans to offer regular drawing classes with professional artists and animators — just keep an eye on its calendar. Get tickets for the Comic-Con Museum Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.