Pasadena Convention Center
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Erica Milsom (She/Her)

Director Other
Hi! I'm the CEO and Chief Creative Officer of Ryzo Studios. We make fierce, fun animation and games and live experiences that are research‐supported and aimed to transform emotion into activation. Check out Release the Beast, Rage Fighters and the UnTilted live event to see how our first impact franchise gives boys permission to feel. I'm also an award-winning writer and director behind Emmy-nominated "Inside Pixar," groundbreaking "Loop" (Pixar's first film with a non-verbal autistic character), and the audience-adored documentary "Embrace the Panda." When I left Pixar, I was selected as a Bellagio Center Resident by The Rockefeller Foundation, where I served as the sole animation professional among a distinguished international cohort, including world leaders and thought leaders. During 20 years at Pixar Animation Studios, I was a creative executive who pioneered the studio's unscripted programming strategy for Disney+ and led multi-million dollar productions. I've served on the Advisory Board of Inevitable Foundation, NIAD Art Center, and I was the Programming Chair for Bay Area Women in Film & Media, where I secured Academy Award-winning speakers, including Geena Davis and Brenda Chapman. Passionate about stories that drive meaningful social change while reaching global audiences.

PARTICIPANT SCHEDULE

Peaking & Peeking: A Look at Autism in Animation

Room 207 | Autism in Entertainment | Britton Payne | Erica Milsom | Dani Bowman | Rob Kutner | Marlene Sharp | Niya Wright

Because Autism in Entertainment so thoroughly enjoyed the 2025 LBX AIE GENERATIONS panel experience and its overwhelmingly positive response(s) – such as hundreds of thousands of views/comments/claps on our corresponding social posts – we’re back with part 2! In multiple ways, present day is *peak* time for autism in animation. At 2026 LBX, we will discuss – and *peek* at – current animated projects that involve autistic talent. This stellar gathering will screen animated video clips and elaborate on employment of neurodivergent talent in key roles – such as voice actors, storyboard artists, character and background designers, color stylists, editors, writers, and more – on their projects, respectively. The speakers also will answer audience questions.

Skill Level: General Audience

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