When Akira creator Katushiro Otomo was announced as the winner of the Grand Prix d'Angoulême earlier this year, it was a notable moment because he's the first Japanese artist, and one of only five non-French creators, to be honored with the Angoulême International Comics Festival's top prize.

Part of the award is an invitation to serve as the president of the following year's festival. Although the previous winner, Calvin and Hobbes creator Bill Watterson, didn't make the trip to France, it was announced Friday that Otomo will not only come to Angoulême but will star in a two-and-a-half-hour presentation, alternating interviews with audio-visual presentations, on the making of Akira.

In addition, his French publisher, Glénat, is organizing an exhibit of tributes to his work that will be created by 40 cartoonists. Otomo's official poster for next year's event was also unveiled, and, the announcement says, there's more Otomo news to come.