Creatives with a shared passion for entertainment art will converge on the Pasadena Convention Center for LightBox Expo, from Friday, Oct. 25, to Sunday, Oct. 27.
The three-day entertainment industry event will host the likes of Chris Sanders (“The Wild Robot”), Colin Lorimer (“The Last of Us”), Constantine Sekeris (“Black Panther”), Deanna Marsigliese (art director, “Pixar”), Doug Chiang (“Star Wars”), John Musker (“Moana”), Neysa Bove (“WondLa”), Nick Park (“Wallace & Gromit”), Paul Lasaine (“Lord of the Rings”), Phillip Boutte Jr. (“Wakanda Forever”), Rich Moore (“Zootopia”) and Sarah Andersen (“Sarah’s Scribbles”).
“LightBox Expo is where I go to be inspired,” Sanders said in a statement.
“It is one of the greatest gatherings of comic, film, game and graphic artists anywhere.”
Created by character designer and illustrator, Bobby Chiu (Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland”) and Jim Demonakos, event organizer and filmmaker (Mike Mignola: “Drawing Monsters”), LightBox is the only place where guests can get a behind-the-scenes look at franchises including “Star Wars,” “Devil May Cry,” “Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl,” “Moana 2” and “Star Trek: Lower Decks.”
Plus, watch “Dinotopia” creator James Gurney paint “Colossal Characters” in front of the Pasadena Convention Center, go on a Sketch Crawl with Netflix story artist Nick Sung and Dave Pimental, head of story on “Moana,” and meet up with artists specializing in multiple disciplines.
“The collective inspiration, passion and expertise that blends under one roof is exactly why we call LBX ‘for artists and by artists,’” said Bobby Chiu, LightBox Expo co-creator.
Building on the success of last year’s event that attracted nearly 15,000 attendees, from Friday, Oct. 25, to Sunday, Oct. 27, the Pasadena Convention Center will be home to panels given by those spearheading productions at Disney, Netflix, Illumination, Pixar, Laika, Sony Pictures Animation, Dreamworks, Skydance Animation, Warner Bros. Pictures Animation and Marvel Animation.
LightBox Expo’s other co-creator, Jim Demonakos, added, “We are excited to welcome new sponsors such as 20th Television Animation, Laika, Walt Disney Imagineering and ILM Immersive, and are thankful for the support of more than 30 companies, schools and studios that are advancing the opportunity for artists to grow in their disciplines.”
Disney and Netflix programming rooms
More than 20 hosted panels from Netflix and The Walt Disney Family of Companies are part of this year’s programming.
The expansive list includes “Walt Disney Animation Studios presents: “Diving Into the Creative Process Behind ‘Moana 2,’” a panel on storytelling through character design at Pixar, a behind-the-scenes look at developing concept art for the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Career Journeys to the Star Wars Universe with Lucasfilm Animation. Netflix will host panels and signings for “Ultraman: Rising and Arcane: League of Legends,” a panel for its longest-running adult animated series entering its eighth and final season, “Big Mouth,” as well as a featured talk from Academy Award-winning director Nick Park and Emmy-nominated director, Merlin Crossingham for their upcoming film “Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl.”
International animation
The first Pakistani 2D hand-drawn animated feature, The Glassworker, an official Annecy and Cannes film selection, will have its U.S. premiere at this year’s LightBox Expo on Friday, Oct. 25. The screening is open to anyone with a LBX event badge.
Animayo, the first and only animation festival in Spain designated a qualifying festival by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, will showcase the award-winning international short films on Friday night. Following that, the Animation Showcase, curated by Benoit Berthe Siward, is screening top animation productions from around the world, historically many of the projects he has screened have gone on to win numerous awards, including Oscars.
Video games
Adi Shankar, the creator, showrunner and executive producer of the upcoming animated series, “Devil May Cry” based on the popular video game will present. On Sunday, fans of League of Legends will be treated to a panel and signing for “Arcane: League of Legends – The Alchemy of Animation.” Another featured Sunday panel is “The Art of Video Games: Panel with Top Industry Artists” that includes: Raf Grassetti (“God of War”), Loish (“Horizon: Zero Dawn”), Bruno “Noxizmad” Gore (“Death Stranding”), Alexandria Neonakis (“The Last of Us”) and Alvin Lee (“League of Legends”).
Concept Art Awards
Every year, LightBox Expo presents The Concept Art Awards, which recognizes the best concept art from film, TV, video games as well as independent and student artists, presented in partnership with the Concept Art Association. Among the recipients of the sixth annual Concept Art Awards being honored are Lifetime Achievement recipients, “Star Wars” legends, Doug Chiang and Terryl Whitlatch. The annual award ceremony presentation will be on Saturday night, Oct. 26, at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. The awards are open to anyone with a LBX event badge.
