A guide on HOW TO ATTEND PANELS AT LIGHTBOX EXPO
SCHEDULE
78 schedules found.
Schedules
Storyboard Portfolio Reviews All Day (Storyboard Deli)
Storyboard Deli is a one-stop shop for all your story needs. Take a number and get in line for a portfolio review (with cheese), live demos (on rye), or just hang and chat story with animation industry veterans (but keep it kosher). Lead sandwich makers Michael Daley, Josh ‘Hat’ Lieberman and Christian Roman have a collective 66 plus years of experience behind the animation counter serving up story hits and comedy slices. We will also have a rotating menu of seasonal special guests. Find us in the Exhibit Hall Lobby outside ballroom doors D/E at Booth 1500. Come on down to Storyboard Deli!
Skill Level: General Audience
Lecture: Layered Workflow in Animation
In this presentation, veteran animator Michal Makarewicz shares his practical approach to building performances through a layered animation workflow. Drawing on decades of experience in feature animation, Michal demonstrates how to break complex shots into manageable passes—starting with core storytelling poses and timing, then progressively adding body mechanics, facial performance, and subtle polish. He will discuss how this method helps animators stay organized, make stronger creative choices, and maintain flexibility throughout production. Ideal for students and professionals alike, this session offers actionable techniques for creating more believable, emotionally engaging character animation.
Skill Level: General Audience
The Fight for Artists Against Generative AI
Join us for a discussion on how you can continue to protect your art from generative AI, updates on the laws and regulations to protect artists that are actively underway, and ways to stay motivated in creating your art in the current landscape.
Panelists: Karla Ortiz (concept artist and activist), Ben Zhao (University of Chicago Profesor behind the team that created Glaze, Nightshade, and Hemlock), Deana Igelsrud (legislative and political advocate), Matthew Butterick (lawyer on the artist-led class action lawsuit against generative AI companies) and Tim Friedlander (voice actor, advocate, and NAVA President). Moderated by Rob Salkowitz (Forbes journalist).
Skill Level: General Audience
Life Drawing: Anatomy in Motion
Join Dr. Michael Habib, anatomy professor and animation/VFX advisor, as he collaborates with a professional model to demonstrate how anatomy moves – and how to build for effective motion in your character (and creature) designs. Rather than a traditional life drawing session, this presentation will give you the chance to practice rapid sketching of a model in motion – all while Dr. Habib gives you key tips about how our bodies move. Dr. Habib will leverage his 20 years of VFX and Animation consulting experience, along with his 20+ years of teaching anatomy (USC, COC, UCLA) to provide key insights on how to design characters that will translate effectively to dynamic 3D assets.
Skill Level: General Audience
Memory Jar – Making An Animated Short Film In Unity 3D
Ruel Pascual is the writer, director, and producer of “Memory Jar,” an animated short film currently screening on the 2026 film festival circuit. "Memory Jar" has premiered on the big screen at multiple U.S.-based international film festivals, continues to be selected by additional festivals, and has received awards at several festivals.
In this presentation, Ruel will discuss the inception and development of the film, detailing the creative process of producing it with a small, resourceful team and a limited budget, as well as the technical approach to building the project in the Unity 3D engine while navigating the film festival circuit.
“Memory Jar” is a film about the everyday struggle of balancing work and family, and the choices we make about how and where we spend our time.
Skill Level: General Audience
Out of the Blue: Culture and Legacy of Blue Sky Studios
A group of renowned Blue Sky Studios artists — Andrea Blasich, Michael DeFeo, Mike Knapp, and Jason Sadler — look back on their uniquely formative years at the studio. Situated far from Hollywood, Blue Sky cultivated a creative environment enabling genuine collaboration and a distinct artistic culture shaped by its East Coast roots. Their conversation explores the studio’s rare atmosphere, unforgettable stories, and the profound impact it had on their careers.
Skill Level: General Audience
Paint Volumetric Lighting in Three Steps
In today’s fast-paced creative industry, efficiency is more important than ever. In this demo, Lynn shares her approach to painting volumetric lighting in three clear steps. She’ll explore essential lighting fundamentals, break down different types of light sources, and demonstrate practical approaches to painting light with confident, expressive brushstrokes—helping you work more efficiently while developing a flexible workflow that you can adapt to your own paintings.
Skill Level: Beginner
The Art of Wicked For Good: Costumes
A rare and inspiring glimpse into the whimsical sketches, illustrations, and behind-the-scenes concept art that helped shape the beloved costumes, key character looks, and props of Wicked: For Good. A magical and inspiring panel for aspiring artists and film lovers alike.
Skill Level: General Audience
Balancing Personal Projects and Character Design for Feature
As AI changes the animation industry, personal projects can offer artists more than a creative escape—they can help us rediscover our voice, strengthen our craft, and build a direct relationship with an audience. Character designer and art director Shiyoon Kim shares lessons from his work in feature animation and his experience developing independent projects. This presentation explores how professional and personal work can nourish each other, how artists can protect their curiosity within a changing creative landscape, and why developing a distinct point of view matters more than ever.
Skill Level: Beginner
Annie Award Legends: Crafting Excellence Then and Now
What does it take to create award-winning animation—and where can that career lead?
This panel features past Annie Award winners in craft categories such as character animation and storyboarding, exploring the work that earned them recognition and the career paths they've taken since. From breakthrough moments to industry shifts, you'll gain insight into how top artists continue to grow and adapt.
Designed for LightBox Expo artists and aspiring professionals, this session highlights the creative decisions, storytelling skills, and dedication behind award-winning work, while offering practical advice you can apply to your own creative journey.
Skill Level: General Audience
Creating Atmospheric Fantasy Art with Light & Color
In this panel, illustrator and concept artist Kiuyan Ran will share how she approaches atmospheric fantasy illustration through light, color, texture, and mood. Using examples from her personal and professional work, she will discuss how to build emotional visual storytelling, create a strong sense of atmosphere, and use Clip Studio Paint as part of the illustration process. The session will also include practical insights on developing fantasy imagery, refining visual direction, and balancing painterly detail with readability.
Skill Level: General Audience
WIA – Making Mentorship Happen
Whether you're a mentor or a mentee, this panel is for you. Looking for a mentor, but unsure where to start? Interested in helping others and giving back, but not sure how much time you can give? Let's talk about it! Mentorship can take many forms from an official 1:1 or group program, to an occasional coffee, to a conversation with a colleague that stays with you for years. Join WIA for a lively discussion about the importance of mentorship and how to find, build, and make the most of these relationships throughout your animation career.
Skill Level: General Audience
Special Screening: “IRON BOY” (Animated Feature)
Winner of the Special Jury Prize at Cannes Festival and 3 Awards in Annecy Festival last spring, Pixar animator Louis Clichy’s gorgeous hand-painted animation tells the story of a boy in need of a back brace who seeks the courage to stand alone. For anyone who has felt alone or out of place in their surroundings, Christophe’s tale reminds us that we can all use some form of support, regardless of where it comes from. The film will be introduced by its writer/director Louis Clichy.
Please arrive early as seating will be limited. Note: you will need your LightBox badge to be admitted the screening.
Skill Level: General Audience
Concept Art Awards
The annual Concept Art Awards are judged by a panel of industry experts and recognize excellence in character, creature, vehicle/prop, environment, keyframe, color keys, and visual development. The 2026 Concept Art Awards will be held on Saturday, October 24th at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium during LightBox Expo and celebrates professional, personal, and student work, along with a Rising Star, LBX Luminary, and Lifetime Achievement Awards.
Skill Level: General Audience
The Very Best Animated Shorts of the 2026-2027 Awards Season
Experience a rollercoaster of emotions and a dose of inspiration with The Best Animated Shorts of the 2026–2027 Awards Season. Curated by The Animation Showcase, this exclusive collection brings together some of the year's most acclaimed animated shorts, selected from the world's leading festivals. Previous editions have featured films that went on to earn Academy Award® nominations and wins. Following screenings at the world's leading animation studios, the program now comes to Lightbox.
Skill Level: General Audience
Alla Prima Cheat Code: Portrait Demonstration
Join professional oil painter Kai Lun Qu for a live alla prima portrait painting demonstration focused on wet-on-wet oil painting and the universal fundamentals that apply across all visual art. Using oil paint as the vehicle, Kai will break down the intellectual side of painting: shape design, value relationships, edge control, color temperature, simplification, and visual decision-making in real time. Rather than teaching formulas or medium-specific tricks, this demo emphasizes the foundational concepts that strengthen drawing, painting, and observation regardless of medium. Attendees will get an inside look at how a professional artist approaches a portrait from block-in to finish while learning practical ways to think more clearly and intentionally about image-making itself.
Skill Level: General Audience
How Visa Taught Me to Look Beyond the Classic Animation Path
Studios are restructuring, jobs are harder to find, and a lot of artists are waiting to see what happens next. This talk is about expanding the definition of the animation career.
As an international student on a visa who graduated right on the AI boom, strikes, and studios shutting down, Anastasia Rykova shares her journey and how she found that animation lives in a lot more places than entertainment.
This talk follows her path from short films and commercial animation into product visualization and brand cinematics — how the same skills travel across industries, how to advocate for yourself when additional barriers stand in your way, and how to create opportunities when there aren't any obvious ones. The talk will hopefully inspire you to be creative with your career choices.
Skill Level: Beginner
Moho and Blender Playing Together: 2D Rigging for 3D Scenes
Creating and animating 2D and 3D characters are two very different worlds. While 3D offers a huge advantage in terms of possibilities, 2D animation has become fast, fun, and incredibly powerful.
Could these advantages work together? In this talk, Víctor Paredes, animator and co-owner of Moho, will show you how to quickly create 2D rigs in Moho and export them to Blender, preserving all their animation, bones, and smart actions. Moho's ease of use for getting results quickly, combined with Blender's incredible power, creates an ideal hybrid workflow.
Skill Level: Beginner
Oops! I Became a Content Creator: Social Media & Burnout
Hosted by JumpyJune, Meppity, Milky Tomato, and Here Comes KO, we crack the code on making engaging art-related content without selling your soul to the social media grind. We will give our personal tips on growing your account, keeping a healthy relationship with social media, avoiding burnout, and how sometimes these platforms can pay your rent! Join the discussion to learn how our platforms have led to funding an Indie Series, opening an Online Shop, and sharing our artwork with millions of followers!
Skill Level: General Audience
Re-Sharpening the Blade: Inside Blue Eye Samurai Season 2
Jump back into the world of Blue Eye Samurai as co-creators Michael Green and Amber Noizumi, Production Designer Toby Wilson, and Character Design Lead Emily Sasaki talk through creating Season 2 of the critically acclaimed series. Together, they’ll dive into the new London setting, the new and evolved character designs, and the meticulous crafts at work behind the highly anticipated second season.
Skill Level: General Audience
SketchCrawl
The annual tradition returns! Join Director Dave Pimentel and Story Artist Nick Sung for SketchCrawl—a community event where we slow down, draw from life, and get a chance to meet one another. It’s a fun way to practice quick sketching, make new friends, and spend some time drawing together. Meet by the LIGHTBOX letters and get ready to draw!
Skill Level: General Audience
Storyboard Portfolio Reviews All Day (Storyboard Deli)
Storyboard Deli is a one-stop shop for all your story needs. Take a number and get in line for a portfolio review (with cheese), live demos (on rye), or just hang and chat story with animation industry veterans (but keep it kosher). Lead sandwich makers Michael Daley, Josh ‘Hat’ Lieberman and Christian Roman have a collective 66 plus years of experience behind the animation counter serving up story hits and comedy slices. We will also have a rotating menu of seasonal special guests. Find us in the Exhibit Hall Lobby outside ballroom doors D/E at Booth 1500. Come on down to Storyboard Deli!
Skill Level: General Audience
Your Voice Is What Gets You Hired
When you develop your voice and stay true to what excites you, you do not just become more fulfilled as an artist, you become more hirable.
In this panel, professional artists share how developing a personal artistic direction helped them stand out, avoid burnout, expand into new opportunities, and build lasting careers. Learn how what makes you different can become your greatest advantage.
Skill Level: General Audience
Illustrating The Point: Tales from ADG's Greats!
Who's behind your favorite scenes and designs from your favorite big-budget Hollywood movies? Join IATSE Local 800 (Art Directors Guild) concept artists Warren Manser (Spider-Man, The Matrix, Speed Racer), Neville Page (Cloverfield, Star Trek, Avatar) and Sean Hargreaves (Heat, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Avengers: Endgame); alongside storyboard artists Eric Ramsey (Project Hail Mary, Iron Man, Detective Pikachu) and Benton Jew (Wonder Woman, Logan, The Phantom Menace). The panel will discuss the process and technique behind some of the most memorable designs and sequences in cinema.
Moderated by Matthew Cunningham (Westworld, Godzilla x Kong, Suicide Squad).
Skill Level: General Audience
Life Drawing with Wouter Tulp
A casual life drawing session, where I'll join you in this LBX exclusive drawing session.
Skill Level: General Audience
Game Development and Cross Collaboration
Learn from the Game Development production at Otis and how they collaborate with other institutions to create games to market
Skill Level: General Audience
Show Me Something I've Never Seen Before
Show me something I've never seen before. These words can be exhilarating—or completely paralyzing. In an industry where millions of images are only a click away, how do you create work that genuinely feels new? Is originality a gift, a process, or just the result of endless iterations?
In this panel, concept designers discuss how they generate fresh ideas when the obvious answers aren't good enough. This is a conversation about the craft of originality—how to recognize it, cultivate it, and consistently deliver it under the pressures of real production.
Whether you're staring at a blank canvas, buried under references, or trying to solve the seemingly impossible brief, you'll leave with practical tools to escape clichés and surprise your audience.
Skill Level: General Audience
Character Design and Storyboard: A Necessary Collaboration
A reflection, based on my years of professional experience, on the benefits of a close partnership between the Story and Character Design departments
Skill Level: General Audience
Designing The Bloody Universe Of Invincible
Everything you see on screen in Skybound Entertainment's hit adult animated series INVINCIBLE on Prime Video was thoughtfully designed by an individual artist. Every character, every weapon, every wild outer space locale, and every streak of blood spraying across the screen was thoughtfully created by a team of designers and artists making bold choices.
Join INVINCIBLE Art Director Dou Hong, Background Paint Supervisor Corwin Woo, Color Supervisor Victoria Thornberry, and Environment Design Supervisor Edwin Fong as they share BTS production designs for scenes from Season 4, to go deep on each of the specialties that contribute to the final image you see: environments and sets, characters, props, background paintings, color, FX, and more.
Skill Level: General Audience
Indie Animation, Creator-Owned Futures
Let’s get real about the challenges and opportunities faced by emerging and established artists looking to work independently in the creator space.
Join Kiana Khansmith (Pretty Please I Don’t Want to be a Magical Girl), Studio Heartbreak (The Lovers), Uzoma Ngwu (Zoma Studios, Mmanwu), & Emily Brundige (Li’l Toughy, Strawberry Vampire) for a candid conversation with production designer Lillian Chan about IP creation outside of traditional systems. From viral YouTube releases & Kickstarter campaigns to grassroots screenings & collabs, learn about what it takes to make ambitious independent work sustainable today.
Stay until the end to discover Sheridan College's exciting new free global program for emerging and established artists ready to grow as independent creators.
Skill Level: General Audience
The Story Art of HBO's The Last of Us
Join story artist Colin Lorimer as he walks you through the process from script to storyboard, and everything in between, for HBO's The Last of Us.
Skill Level: General Audience
The Rise of Indie Animation: Breaking the Studio System
The animation industry is changing, and creators are taking ownership of their stories like never before.
Join a panel of artists building original films, series, comics, toys, and creator-owned worlds outside the traditional studio pipeline. Learn how they're financing projects, growing audiences, assembling teams, and transforming passion projects into thriving creative businesses.
Skill Level: General Audience
From Reference to Cinematic Design
In this demo, we will explore how to take real world references and analyze their visual elements (lighting, mood, materials, and composition), and use them to create cinematic keyframes and designs. We will also look at storytelling, how to build believable worlds in these early and creative explorations, and how to use effective 2D and 3D techniques to create high quality visual pieces.
Skill Level: General Audience
Illustrations in Motion with Procreate Dreams
Explore the space between illustration and animation. Join artist and educator Lisa Bardot as she brings a static Procreate artwork to life through animation, demonstrating how thoughtful motion can enhance storytelling, evoke emotion, and transform the way your art is experienced. Along the way, she'll share practical tips for working in Procreate Dreams, including some of its newest features.
Skill Level: General Audience
Making Coyote vs Acme: Classic Animation in the Modern World
What happens when the chaotic, hand-drawn magic of Wile E. Coyote collides with the cutting-edge tech of Hollywood's tomorrow?
From the dancing penguins of Mary Poppins to the seductive siren song of Jessica Rabbit, to Bugs Bunny's dominance on the court with Michael Jordan, animated hybrid movies have captivated audiences for generations. This August, Coyote vs. Acme charged onto the screen to continue that legacy with bold execution.
Join us as we pull back the curtain on the modern hybrid filmmaking pipeline. This panel will explore the craft, collaboration, and creative problem-solving required to honor the spirit of classic Looney Tunes performances while navigating a modern hybrid filmmaking pipeline.
Skill Level: General Audience
From First Step to First Credit: Careers in Animation
Discover how to build a career in animation, no matter where you’re starting from. In this panel, artists and production staff from Netflix Animation Studios will share how they broke into the industry—from early portfolios or resumes and networking strategies to landing their first credit and growing their careers. Learn practical tips on developing your skills, collaborating with teams, and finding opportunities in today’s evolving animation landscape.
Skill Level: General Audience
The Making of Jentry Chau vs The Underworld
In 2024 Jentry Chau vs The Underworld released on Netflix to critical and fan acclaim.
At LBX, Show-runner/Creator Echo Wu & Character Design Supervisor Kal Athanassov sit down with panel moderator Nick Manfredi to discuss creating, pitching, and ultimately making the show a reality. This talk is a great look into how projects evolve from pitch to final product and what artists can expect when working on big productions.
All audiences are welcome! Fans of Jentry are HIGHLY encouraged to not miss this panel.
Skill Level: General Audience
Life Drawing with Karla Ortiz
Inspired by LBX and itching to draw? Then you won’t want to miss Life Drawing with Karla Ortiz! Come join us for a laid back life drawing session, complete with good music, occasional art tips and overall just a good artistic time! Come early as seating is limited!
Skill Level: General Audience
Producing the Vision: Latino Creatives Leading the Way
Step behind the scenes of some of the most imaginative worlds in television and film with this exclusive conversation featuring today’s leading Latino animation showrunners, directors, and producers. In this panel, creative leaders pull back the curtain on the storytelling, artistry, and production that bring animated productions to life.
From early concept to writers’ room collaboration, casting, design, production pipelines, and the ever-evolving animation landscape, these industry leaders will share their unique approaches to building compelling narratives and managing the complex creative ecosystems that make animated storytelling possible.
Hosted & Moderated by LatinX in Animation
Skill Level: General Audience
Storytelling Through Design
Every design decision can tell a story. Join veteran Production Designer and Visual Development Artist Michael Knapp (Spies in Disguise, Epic, the Ice Age franchise, Robots) as he illustrates how effective world building and design choices create visual rules that imbue character and environment designs with logic, purpose and visual subtext which enrich the stories we tell and leave lasting impressions on audiences long after the credits roll.
Skill Level: General Audience
Leveling Up a Career in Gaming Animation
Building a lasting career in game animation takes more than talent or a nice reel. Join leaders from Agora Studio and Steamroller Studios as they share what they learned collaborating on the Annie Award–winning South of Midnight.
From the technical skills studios look for to the soft skills that matter just as much, this panel explores how adaptability, teamwork, and a learning mindset help you thrive in a competitive and ever‑evolving industry.
Whether you’re blocking out your first hit reaction or directing epic cinematics, you’ll leave with practical insights to help you level up your game animation career.
Skill Level: General Audience
NEVATARS | When Characters Break Free From the Screen
What happens to the beautifully designed characters that never make it beyond an artist's hard drive? Join the creative team behind NEVATARS for a behind-the-scenes look at the development of a groundbreaking mixed reality animated experience. From the project's earliest sketches to worldbuilding, character design, animation, and the creative challenges along the way, discover how an original idea evolved into an immersive story where animated characters step beyond the screen and into our world. Featuring exclusive footage, concept art, and an audience Q&A, this session explores the future of storytelling at the intersection of animation, immersive technology, and human creativity.
Skill Level: General Audience
Beyond the Frame: Motion Graphics & Paths into Animation
What does a Motion Graphics Artist do at a feature animation studio? Join Sony Pictures Animation's Motion Graphics team for a behind-the-scenes look at the creative work that helps bring films to life through design, animation, and visual storytelling. Through exclusive artwork, project breakdowns, and personal career stories, discover how two artists transformed graphic design backgrounds into successful careers in animation. Moderated by Sony Pictures Animation Recruiter and former designer Christina Harder, this session explores the power of transferable creative skills, nontraditional career paths, and the many ways artists can find their place in feature animation.
Skill Level: General Audience
Farm to Tablet: Cultivating Characters for Big City Greens
Join a team of designers to discuss how we fill the Big City full of memorable characters from scratch. Join us afterward for an interactive Halloween drawing activity at the Disney booth!
Skill Level: General Audience
Wheels, WIPs & Weight: Stylized Vehicle Design
Join Dustin d’Arnault for a demonstration on designing stylized hero vehicles for production. This session will take you through the design journey of sketching rough concepts, exploring silhouettes, and fleshing out a finalized design. Along the way, we will cover how to blend references, design theory and techniques to effectively balance the wonderful trinity of form, function and style. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to sharpen your skills, you’ll walk away with practical insights, tips and techniques that you can use to expand your process for creating striking vehicle designs!
Skill Level: Beginner
Storyboard Like a Boss
I will be demonstrating how I start from a thumbnail to a finished frame on Procreate.
Skill Level: General Audience
An Hour with Yoshitaka Amano
One of the most celebrated artists of our time comes to the LightBox Expo stage for a rare live conversation. Join legendary illustrator and character designer Yoshitaka Amano as he reflects on a remarkable career spanning Character designs, animation, fine art, and some of the most iconic imagery in video games. Hear stories behind his creative journey, his artistic philosophy, and the inspirations that continue to shape his work. Whether you've admired his illustrations, followed his groundbreaking designs, or simply want to hear from one of the industry's true visionaries, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity you won't want to miss. Moderated by Charles Solomon.
Skill Level: General Audience
The Primal Eye: A Feral Approach to Composition
This feral talk covers the primal brain and how it informs why effective compositions are effective, based on our instincts, ingrained needs, and what attracts or repels our eye. This talk applies to illustration, vis dev, character design disciplines, and more.
Skill Level: General Audience
The Business of Art: Building a Sustainable Career
Talent alone is not enough to build a long-term creative career. In this talk, artist and creative director Santiago “Samlo” López shares lessons from a 10-year journey turning art into a profession: building an audience of millions, collaborating with global brands, creating meaningful projects, and navigating the challenges of making creativity sustainable. Attendees will learn practical insights on personal branding, networking, creating opportunities, and transforming passion into a career without losing purpose or authenticity
Skill Level: General Audience
Starting Your Indie Story: How We’re Making LUNAIIRA Happen
Ready to bring your indie story to life but don't know where to start? This is the panel for you! In 2023, childhood best friends Morgan Clae and Samantha Timple stopped waiting for permission and began developing their original high-fantasy musical, LUNAIIRA: Soul's Rift. Three years later, LUNAIIRA has raised over $60k on Kickstarter, expanded into many departments, premiered Episode 1 in January 2026, and is currently in production on the remaining 11 episodes of Season 1. Learn how to run a successful Kickstarter, build a social media fan base, grow a team with little to no budget, and experience EXCLUSIVE never-before-seen visuals... :)
Skill Level: Advanced
Lets Draw a Live Model While I Drop Drawing Tips!
We will draw the live model costumed with a theme and I drop drawing insights from my 43 year career. Q and A as well. I LOVE doing this at LightBox Expo. Ask me anything just draw and learn.
Skill Level: General Audience
Designing Avatar: Fire and Ash - Environments and Vehicles
Join the production designers and concept artists of Avatar: Fire and Ash as they walk through the design process of bringing the countless environment and vehicle designs to life for James Cameron's epic film. From the Windtrader Gondola and Ash Village, to Bridghead City and the Factory ship, see and hear insights from the creative team responsible for these iconic designs.
Skill Level: General Audience
Believable by Design—How Industrial Designers Make the Unreal, Real
Want to know how fictional worlds, vehicles, and props are made to feel real? Please join Phil Saunders, Ed Natividad, Andrés Parada, and myself Jim Martin to find out how we use our unique, specific skillsets as Industrial Designers to create convincing fictional designs. We will dive into their design philosophies, techniques, and processes and learn what goes into creating believable designs that help make previously unseen worlds feel real.
Skill Level: General Audience
The Art of Predator Badlands
A deep dive into the art of the mech, worldbuilding, and costume design of the hit movie, featuring key designers from the film whose work spans environment art, creature design, industrial design, alien flora and fauna, and the visual language that defines its world.
Skill Level: General Audience
What to Expect When Making Your Own Indie Pilot
With more and more artists turning to Indie Animation to get their stories told, what does the dream of making your own pilot actually entail, and how can you make it a crowdfunding success? As the creator of the Stormfellers pilot and it's fully funded Kickstarter, we'll talk about everything I've learned in the process.
Skill Level: General Audience
The Legacy of Eyvind Earle
Join us as we discuss and celebrate the legacy of and the inspiration that is Eyvind Earle, one of this year's Concept Art Awards recipients. It will look at his wide reaching influence on modern animation and the impact he made on 20th Century illustration. The conversation will be moderated by artist and historian Stacia Martin with panelists, Director and Screenwriter Jill Culton, Marvel Studios Animation Production Designer Craig Elliott and Disney Animation Associate Production Designer Griselda Sastrawinata.
Skill Level: General Audience
The Essence of Landscape Painting with Angela Sung
Grab your MovinkPad, fire up Clip Studio Paint, and get ready to see landscapes differently! Join Angela Sung for this LightBox session as she breaks down how to Capture the Essence of a Landscape using nothing but color and shape- no fussy details required. Come curious, come ready to experiment, and let's have some fun with it!
Skill Level: General Audience
The Art of Performance in Animation
How do animated characters connect with audiences? Join animator Renato dos Anjos as he shares insights into the animation process and the role of performance in storytelling. Through examples from his work at Walt Disney Animation Studios, Renato will explore how movement and emotion bring characters to life, and how collaboration helps shape memorable films.
Skill Level: General Audience
Iconic 3D Character Modeling with Rakan and BirD
How do we translate a 2D concept into an iconic, animation friendly 3D character for companies like Epic and Blizzard? Join industry veterans BirD and Rakan as they share their favorite tips and tricks for creating iconic characters inside ZBrush!
Skill Level: General Audience
Cartoon Saloon @ 25: Untold Stories from Our Founders
From a small studio in Kilkenny, Ireland to becoming one of the world's most celebrated animation companies, Cartoon Saloon has spent the past 25 years creating visually distinctive, emotionally resonant films that have captivated audiences across the globe - a legacy beautifully documented in the recently released book The Art of Cartoon Saloon 25 Years by Charles Solomon. Join founders Tomm Moore, Nora Twomey, and Paul Young - on stage together for the first time in North America - for a conversation reflecting on the studio's remarkable journey. Expect candid insights, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and a look ahead at what's next for one of animation's most influential studios.
Skill Level: General Audience
The 3-Part Content Strategy That Will Sell Your Art
The content you post selects for the audience you build, and most creatives are accidentally building an audience of peers instead of customers.
In this session I'll break down the three-part content strategy I've used with hundreds of creatives to fix that. You'll see real before-and-afters, including a fantasy illustrator who went from 4K views a reel to 400K, and a ceramicist who 10x'd her views without changing a single thing about her work.
You'll leave this session with a filled-out content strategy for your own business, and more clarity on how to market your work than you've ever had before.
Skill Level: Advanced
Ravensburger: What We Look For in Freelance Illustrators
Join the creative team behind Disney Lorcana TCG and Ravensburger tabletop games for an inside look at Ravensburger’s freelance illustration process. Featuring Matthew Eng, Creative Director of Illustration; Liz Richards, Art Director for Disney Lorcana TCG; Jake Breish, Art Director and Creative Manager, Ravensburger NA, and Dawn Yamazi, Sr. Artist Relations Manager, this panel will share what Ravensburger looks for in artist portfolios across products including Disney Lorcana, Disney Villainous, and other Ravensburger tabletop games. Learn how artwork evolves from concept to publication, gain portfolio and submission tips, and explore real-world examples from recent releases. Ideal for illustrators seeking insight into the creative process and hiring expectations.
Skill Level: General Audience
Quick Moment Painting
I will do a quick moment painting based on my personal project. I will cover composition, color, lighting, characters, mood.
Skill Level: General Audience
Showcase of the 24 Hours Animation Contest for Students
Screening of the 24 HOURS Animation Contest for Students—a global challenge where teams create a 30-second animated film in just 24 hours! Entries are judged by top industry pros, with prizes from sponsors like Toon Boom, Disney, Pixar, Netflix, Sony, DreamWorks, and more. Over 15,000 students from 240 schools in 35+ countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, India, Israel, Kenya, Lebanon, Mexico, Spain, the UK, the USA, and more have competed simultaneously worldwide. The screening includes a Q&A with select filmmakers, , moderated by Nathan Brown from Wacom. Sponsored by Legends Animated, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting impactful, independent animation.
Skill Level: General Audience
Peaking & Peeking: A Look at Autism in Animation
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
Figure Drawing - Jam Session Open to All - PART 2!
Join us for a live costumed model session with quick 1–5 minute gestures and longer 10-20 minute poses. Illustrator and Disney Lorcana Art Director Andrew Theophilopoulos will be projecting their iPad painting demo while attendees are encouraged to draw along. Whether you’re working traditionally or digitally, this is a relaxed, welcoming figure drawing jam focused on gesture, observation, color and light. Artists of all skill levels are welcome!
Bring your sketchbook or tablet and hang out!
Skill Level: General Audience
Beyond the Internship and Into Forgotten Island
Meet the former interns who turned early opportunities into careers on Forgotten Island. From Production Assistants to Vis Dev artists and creative support roles, they'll share how they helped bring the film's breathtaking world to life and offer insights for those hoping to follow a similar path.
Skill Level: General Audience
Introducing the Art of Star Wars: Unlimited
Discover your next creative adventure with Star Wars: Unlimited! Meet our lead Art Directors for an inside look at how we bring this exciting trading card game to life. We'll discuss what makes Star Wars: Unlimited unique, explore our current concept-to-card pipeline, and learn what our Art Directors look for when reviewing artist portfolios. Whether you're a professional illustrator, or still building a name for yourself, come and join us for an insider's perspective on how artists can become part of the Star Wars: Unlimited creative experience.
Skill Level: General Audience
YouTube 101: How to Make Videos Worth Watching
Whether you're an aspiring student or industry professional, YouTube can change your life. But how do you stand out from the crowd? By making videos worth watching. I'm Brokendraw, and I gained over 100,000 subscribers in one year by following this principle. In this talk I'll tell you exactly how to go from script to screen in a way that feels authentic and worthwhile. If you've EVER wanted to make YouTube videos - this talk will tell you exactly how to do it.
Expect to learn:
- Why every creative NEEDS a YouTube channel
- How to FIND video Ideas
- How to WRITE valuable videos
- How to RECORD videos authentically
Skill Level: General Audience
Betting on Animation in the Age of Disruption
The pace of technical disruption in animation keeps climbing — real-time engines, AI, creator platforms, shortform, and whatever's next. This opens up new business models and experiences that couldn't have existed a few years ago. However, it can also create anxiety. We've been around long enough to see how the animation industry evolves and ends up for the better. We will always bet on animation. We discuss the skillsets that stay relevant and how we have adapted and revelled in the disruption.
Skill Level: General Audience
Stop Drawing the Same Face: Casting and Character Design
Let's explore how to create memorable characters by designing faces that communicate personality, history, and narrative role at a glance. Instead of relying on the same polished superhero features, this demo focuses on treating character design like casting for a film: every feature should support who the character is and the story they tell. Industry veteran and teacher Hardy Fowler will demo concepts and techniques for varying facial structure, age, proportions, expression, and visual rhythm to build more distinctive and believable characters. Perfect for illustrators, concept artists, comics creators, and character designers looking to push beyond generic stock-model faces and create characters that feel alive.
Skill Level: General Audience
That's a Wrap! with Disney Recruiters
Join recruiters from across the Disney company as we reflect on this year's talks, experiences, tips and takeaways in this interactive Q+A session.
Skill Level: General Audience
Stylized 3D Blender Speed Sketch
How much can we get done in Blender in just an hour? I want to show that Blender is an amazing tool for expressive, impressionistic sketching. You can quickly create something interesting when thinking like a painter & combining the power of implying shapes with 3D tools, lighting, compositing, etc. Furthermore, when familiar with this approach, building up your idea is simply about spending time crafting more personality and specificity into each element established in the beginning stages. My aim is to show how easy, fun and explorative 3D can be, and how far it can help take your ideas and overall creativity. Hopefully it resonates with you as much as it does for me! For those interested in learning more, I teach about these ideas on Schoolism.com :)
Skill Level: General Audience
The Art of Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender
Discussing the process for crafting the unique 2D/3D style for the recently released Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender. This talk will break down the visual pillars for the films art style, early explorations and paintings all the way through the production art and the cinematic compositing style of the movie.
Skill Level: General Audience
Using a Limited Palette for Plein Air
In this demo, Misa will be showing her process of painting a plein air landscape using oil paints. Misa will go over her process of underpainting, color washes, and building up her oil paints quickly as she mixes colors studying the scenery from life. This demo will be focusing on the limited palette using the colors: Ultramarine Blue, Alizarin Crimson, Titanium White, Burnt Sienna, and Cadmium Yellow.
Skill Level: General Audience
The Artist’s Roadmap To Multiple Streams of Income
One of the biggest struggles facing artists and animators today is having a solid plan to succeed at art/animation in the internet age and even more so in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). The Artist’s Roadmap to Multiple Streams of Income focuses on a modern approach for the technology-driven world. The core ideas of this talk will focus on mindset and tools an artist/animator needs, to marketing your art on social media, licensing your work, and getting jobs in the industry. You will learn how to set up an art/animation career with multiple sources of income coming in, how to set goals, and develop a personalized plan for artistic success.
Skill Level: General Audience
Billion Dollar Janitor
Join Kris Wimberly as he walks through his 18 year career and the mindset he used to build bridges of opportunity as a custodian at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, to his role as Supervising Director on the return of the billion-dollar, award-winning Disney franchise "Sofia the First"! Talk will include time for Q&A.
Skill Level: General Audience
Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender Special Screening
We are pleased to host a special screening of Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender on Sunday, Oct 25 that will take place at 5:00pm in the Civic Auditorium, immediately following The Art of Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender panel (which is slated for 4:00-5:00pm in the Civic). As the convention wraps up this will be the only event on the schedule at 5:00 p.m., making it a special closing event for the weekend!
Skill Level: General Audience
