Schedules

Ever wonder what it takes to build a career in feature animation? Join artists from Warner Bros. Pictures Animation working in Story, Visual Development, and Previs as they share their journeys, creative processes, and the skills that helped them succeed at a studio like WBPA. Through behind-the-scenes insights from the upcoming releases of The Cat in the Hat and the animated short Daffy Season, our panelists will discuss how ideas evolve from early concepts to the screen, what studios look for when hiring, and how aspiring talent can stand out through strong portfolios.

Hosted by Savannah College of Art and Design, this session brings together leading names in the fields of character design, concept design and visual development for animation and video games to discuss the expanding set of core skills that students need to develop in response to these rapidly changing industries.

Presented by ArtCenter College of Design, Illustration: Mastering techniques in drawing, painting, and illustrating for media, art and design brings multi-disciplined artists forward in the fields of Entertainment Arts, Publishing, Editorial Illustration, Consumer Products and more. Our graduates have sharpened their individual voices to work both independently and on dynamic team projects with leading film, television, themed entertainment, game, and commercial studios. Join a distinguished panel of alumni and recent graduates as they share how their craft moves them forward, not always in a straight line, on their creative journey.

Step behind the curtain of the Disney Lorcana TCG and discover how the creative partnership between Ravensburger and The Walt Disney Company brings new stories, characters, and worlds to Lorcana. Join Creative Director and Illustrator Matthew Eng, Senior Narrative Designer Nicole Smith, Principal Artist John Loren, and moderator Shane Hartley, VP of Creative, Ravensburger, for an inside look at the art, storytelling, and vision behind the magical realm of Lorcana. Through concept art, behind-the-scenes development, and a look into Hyperia City, learn how Disney storytelling, original world building, illustration, narrative development, and game design come together to create immersive experiences for players and collectors worldwide.

Join Directors Alyce Tzue and John Ripa for a behind-the-scenes look at Steps, a fresh and heartfelt reimagining of the Cinderella story from Netflix Animation Studios. Together with Production Designer Shelly Wan and Art Director Dan Casey, the team will dive into their reinvention of the familiar tale, exploring the enchanting world of Alouette, the artistry behind the quirky cast of characters, and the healthy dose of style and technical brilliance sprinkled throughout.

In animation, the edit is the movie. Long before final frames are rendered, editors shape story, timing, and emotion using storyboards, animatics, and scratch dialogue—working closely with directors to build the film from the ground up. But how do you cut a scene that doesn’t exist yet? And how can understanding editorial make you a stronger, more hirable artist? Tailored for LightBox Expo’s community of aspiring and professional animators, this panel explores how animated films are crafted in the edit—how sequences evolve, how decisions impact the entire pipeline, and what skills studios are looking for today. Featuring Bret Marnell, ACE (Ultraman: Rising, Smurfs: The Lost Village), along with editors from Netflix, Disney, and Pixar.

This panel traces Shannon’s creative and professional journey from the School of Visual Arts (SVA), founding the Titmouse Animation Studios, to the founding of Titmouse Foundation, culminating in a screening of The Fisherman’s Lullaby, the first short animated film fully funded and supported by the Foundation.

Go behind the scenes of The Legend of Vox Machina with the creative team who brings the hit series to life, from script to final delivery. A panel of writers, character designers, storyboard artists, retake animators and directors break down how each of their roles shape the production pipeline—and how collaboration transforms ideas into finished episodes. Through production artwork, marked-up scripts, animatics, and scratch-to-final animation, the panel will reveal the creative process behind the series, while crew members share their non-linear journeys towards their respective roles in the animation industry. Plus, discover what it's like working on an established IP not beholden to legacy characters or a commercial studio, and the benefits of having access to the original creators.

Humor in animated films has a long diverse history – and we've come far from the days of Gertie the Dinosaur getting a laugh by throwing an elephant into a lake or Felix The Cat using his tail for an umbrella. Max Fleischer, Tex Avery, Chuck Jones and Jay Ward defined animated humor in the past and have influenced much work of the present. This panel will invite five current animators to discuss humor in animated films, they will also show clips from their favorite classic cartoons – and explain how that has influenced their work. Panelists include Chris Prynoski (Titmouse), David Silverman (The Simpsons), Eric Bauza (Looney Tunes), Lauren MacMullan (Get a Horse!), and Yvette Kaplan (Beavis and Butt-head). Animation Historian Jerry Beck (The 50 Greatest Cartoons) will moderate. Also, ASIFA-Hollywood will make an announcement during this panel about their latest Award for Humor in Animation.

Go behind the scenes of Disney Lorcana TCG and explore the creative partnership between Ravensburger and The Walt Disney Company that brings beloved Disney characters and stories to life. Join celebrated illustrator Nicholas Kole and Ravensburger Principal Artist John Loren, moderated by Creative Director of Illustration, Disney Lorcana TCG Matthew Eng, for an inside look at the collaboration behind some of the game’s most iconic cards. Learn how Ravensburger artists work with Disney to honor classic characters while developing Lorcana’s unique visual identity. Discover the artistic process, creative decision-making, and storytelling that shape this growing Disney trading card game.

Discussing the human factors that make the I bigger than the A. A group of industry professionals discuss the organic, and inherently human, characteristics that will outlast the pervasive tech trends that are disrupting and reshaping the industry.

Join and hear from Community partners representing TAG, BRIC, CCA, ASIFA-Hollywood alongside Wacom to discuss the importance of finding, fostering, and leaning into the creative community.

In Waves, the first animated film to open Critics' Week at the Cannes Film Festival, tells the true story of two young surfers who embrace love and life, hand in hand. Join director Phuong Mai Nguyen and graphic novelist AJ Dungo as they discuss adapting AJ's autobiographical work for the screen. Dive into the deeply personal story at the heart of the film, the unique artistry behind its visual style, and discover how the intimate memoir became a moving cinematic experience.

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).

Learn from the Game Development production at Otis and how they collaborate with other institutions to create games to market

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 other Design leads 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.

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.

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.

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.