The last 15 years have seen a massive transformation in how audiences consume entertainment. As pop culture has become synonymous with comic books, gaming, and anime, it’s clear that the way brands tell stories and engage with consumers is undergoing a massive shift. In order to connect with today’s content hungry audiences, studios must embrace a fundamental shift of authenticity towards the material they adapt. Only by embracing the DNA of these beloved franchises will studios earn the necessary trust with fans that’s essential for them to succeed in today’s competitive and finicky market. This panel will see an array of renowned storytellers and world-builders share how they apply their passion as fans, gamers, and pop culture enthusiasts, to excite existing fandoms while simultaneously helping the beloved franchises they work on achieve mainstream success.