LBX Community Picnic
Are you looking to connect with fellow attendees ahead of the Expo? Bring your own food, a sketchbook, your drawing tool of choice, and join us at our Community Picnic!Date: Thursday, October 23rd
Time: 1:00pm-3:00pm PT
Location: Pasadena Central Park (275 South Raymond Avenue)
Draw'n Together
A Pre-LBX Ice Breaker: Mingle, Sketch, and bring a Coffee if you'd like!If you feel shy about not knowing anyone, want to meet some friends to enjoy the convention with, or just want to sketch, then this is the event for you!
Come join host Airi Pan (@pix_bun), Janet Lin (@_ebsie_) and other friends for conversation and sketching!
Date: Thursday, October 23rd
Time: 3:00pm-5:00pm PT
Location:In front of the LIGHTBOX letters outside the Civic Auditorium
Paint the Scene with Angela Sung and Warrior Painters
In this brand-new plein air painting experience, you will step out and recreate your memories at LightBox Expo! Let's gather outside the iconic Pasadena Civic Auditorium, then spread out to capture the vibrant street scenes on location. Whether you’re painting a quiet architectural moment or a bustling character-filled vignette, this is your chance to observe, imagine, and create right in the heart of LA with Warrior Painter hosts! Bring your sketchbooks, painting supplies, or digital tablets—whatever you like to work with! Artists of all levels are welcome, and professional mentors will be on-site to offer feedback, tips, and encouragement throughout the session. Every participant will also receive an official event button to commemorate the day. Mentors include: Angela Sung, Michelle Lin, Sean Bodley, Jennifer Wang, Qianjiao Ma, and Jeff Hong. Let's create some amazing paintings at LightBox Expo together - see you there!Date: Friday, October 24th
Time: 10:00am-12:00pm PT
Location: Pasadena Convention Center Plaza (outside in front of the Civic Auditorium)
Screening: KPop Demon Hunters Sing-Along and Q&A
Help seal the Honmoon with a sing-along screening of KPop Demon Hunters featuring the unforgettable, chart topping soundtrack of the year. Stay after for a Q&A with directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans and producer Michelle Wong!Date: Friday, October 24th
Time: 6:30pm-8:45pm
Location: Civic Auditorium
Screening: The Best of Animayo International Film Festival
Come see the very best international animated short films in one showcase!We are pleased to present the Official Awards - Animayo 2025.From over 2,000 submissions across 80+ countries, only 50 films entered the official competition, and 15 were awarded by the International Jury. Animayo is the first and only Spanish “Qualifying Festival” by the Academy for the Oscars® in two categories: International Animated Short Film (since 2018) and Best Short in Spanish – “Animación con Ñ” (since 2023). In five years, Animayo shorts have earned 4 Oscar® nominations and 1 win (In the Shadow of the Cypress). This screening showcases award-winning shorts for their artistic, narrative, and technical excellence, including Playing God (Grand Jury Prize 2025) and Nube (Best “Animación con Ñ”), both Oscar®-qualified, plus winners in 3D, VFX, Screenplay, Comedy, New Talent, and more.
Date: Friday, October 24th
Time: 9:00pm-10:30pm
Location: Civic Auditorium
Portrait Painting in Oils w/ Jon Hardesty
Join Schoolism instructor, Jon Hardesty, for a live oil painting demonstration, where he will create an alla prima style portrait over the course of three days.Jon will guide the audience through his process of completing a fresh portrait in a single sitting, showcasing the techniques and spontaneity of this direct painting approach. Come watch as the portrait unfolds, ask questions, and explore the dynamic world of oil portraiture.
Date: Every Day (Friday/Saturday/Sunday)
Time: 1:00pm-4:00pm PT
Location:Exhibit Hall & Ballroom Building Lobby (outside Ballrooms D/E)
Drag & Draw - Figure Drawing, but Fabulous
Charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent- You’ve never seen costumed figure drawing like this before!! Join us for Drag & Draw: a fabulous and queer friendly life drawing event where the model’s a professional drag queen.Hosted by the staff at ActuallyRea, with special guest: Hitchcock Blonde! The first 60 people to arrive will be gifted one of June's favorite highlighters to get funky and experimental with traditional art, but all mediums are welcome! So bring your sketchbook, grab your favorite pens or pencils, and let’s celebrate the art of drag together.
Date: Saturday, October 25th
Time: 2:00pm-3:00pm PT
Location: Civic Auditorium Plaza (top of stairs)
The Concept Art Awards
Join us for the Concept Art Awards at LightBox Expo, where we honor and celebrate the remarkable talents and achievements of artists in the fields of movies, games, and animation. This prestigious event shines a spotlight on the creative minds whose visionary works bring our favorite stories and characters to life, showcasing the depth, diversity, and innovation of concept art. 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.Be part of this inspiring celebration, witness the recognition of artistic excellence, and connect with the vibrant community of creators and enthusiasts!
Date: Saturday, October 26th
Time: 6:30pm-8:30pm
Location: Civic Auditorium
Screening: The 2025-26 Awards Season Very Best Animated Shorts
The annual collection of The Animation Showcase presents the cream of the crop of the most creative, moving and beautiful animated shorts of the year. This screening includes the most celebrated shorts film of the year in the biggest animation event and festivals around the world. This collection is being screened in the top animation studios such as Pixar, Netflix, Disney, Aardman, Illumination, Sony and many others.The shorts in the collection gathered more than 35 Academy Award® nominations and always included the Oscar® Winner since its creation, making this event as the screening with the highest Oscar® predictive collection.
Date: Saturday, October 25th
Time: 9:30pm-11:00pm
Location: Civic Auditorium
Sketchcrawl
The annual tradition returns! Join Director Dave Pimentel and Story Artist Nick Sung for a SketchCrawl—a casual, public gathering to draw from life, slow down, and connect with friends from across the industry and around the world. Founded in 2004 by Director Enrico Casarosa, SketchCrawl began as a celebration of the places we find ourselves and the people we find ourselves with—a spirit we’re proud to carry forward today. Dust off your sketchbook and come draw with us!Date: Saturday (10/25) and Sunday (10/26)
Time: 10:00am-11:30am
Location: In front of the LIGHTBOX Letters outside the Civic Auditorium
