This weekend, from October 24 to 26, marks the 7th annual return of the highly anticipated LightBox Expo to the Pasadena Convention Center in Los Angeles County, California, and, for the first time, I am set to attend LightBox as press and showcase how it has helped bring together and empower thousands of talented artists and enthusiastic fans from all corners of the world.
Established in 2019 and co-founded by director, filmmaker, event organizer, and comic book enthusiast Jim Demonakos, along with illustrator, character designer, and YouTuber Bobby Chiu, LightBox Expo, or LBX, has become a must-attend annual event among pop culture professionals, aspiring creators, and artistry enthusiasts. As a highly respected and established professional in the comics industry, Demonakos founded the Seattle-based premier comic book and pop culture convention, known nowadays as Emerald City Comic Con, in the early 2000s, long before establishing LightBox Expo in 2019. On the other hand, character, creature, and concept designer Bobby Chiu got his big break in the entertainment industry by designing the fantastical creatures in the 2010 Gothic dark fantasy adventure film, Alice in Wonderland. Together, Demonakos and Chiu created an annual gathering for artists, animators, and other creative sorts in the entertainment industry to connect, learn, celebrate the creation of famous and niche examples of animation, video games, TV shows, films, and illustrations, and encourage aspiring creators to new artistic heights.
As a three-day weekend event, LBX offers attendees hundreds of insightful panels, special events, educational presentations, incredible interview opportunities, and hands-on experiences with established entertainment industry professionals. Like L.A. Comic Con and other iconic pop culture events, LBX offers an Artist Alley marketplace, where artists can showcase their work and attendees can buy art and connect directly with individual creators. From this Friday to Sunday, attendees also have the opportunity to network, make meaningful connections, and visit the booths of major studios, companies, and schools deeply rooted in the entertainment industry. And for the first time, fans can anticipate the global storytelling platform and the rapidly rising star in the comics industry, WEBTOON Entertainment, to debut this weekend and bring a pair of panels designed for aspiring and professional artists interested in exploring comics as a medium. Set to be moderated by Josh Cain, host of the What’s Up, Fandom podcast, two brand-new WEBTOON-related panels will take place this weekend and go into depth about what it takes to create comics for the digital space, engage with your audience, and tell unforgettable stories that keep your readers hooked from start to end.
This weekend, LBX attendees can look forward to a multitude of multimedia panels that range from discussions on costume and character design, collaboration and camaraderie between creatives, and the impacts of AI use in the entertainment industry. Panels will also explore how creatives can adapt story formulas, address burnout, and develop ethics and etiquette that will help them procure and secure a career. Readers interested in attending LBX this weekend can click here for more information about the special events LightBox Expo will offer, click here for a closer look at the panels scheduled for LBX 2025, and click here to see the lineup of LBX exhibitors and artists set for Artist Alley. For more up-to-date information and navigation tips, event staff encourage attendees to download the official LBX Mobile App for FREE from the App Store. As said, LBX offers a diverse abundance of panel discussions, lectures, workshops, screenings, and Q&As this weekend, and as of now, tickets for Saturday and the 3-Day Pass have officially sold out, but interested parties can still purchase tickets for this Friday and Sunday, which individually cost 60 dollars plus a service fee.
Each day of this 3-day weekend event in Pasadena will present attendees with an abundance of panels, workshops, and other opportunities to choose from, explore, and enjoy, and oftentimes, it can be difficult to choose. But with this expo attracting multi-media creators, artists, animators, and more from all stages of life, there is no wrong way to spend your time attending LightBox. Whether you’re attending with friends, members of your creative circle, or touring solo, choose what interests YOU most. The most up-to-date information on panels and more will be found on the official LBX website and mobile app, but as someone who has already been scouring the LBX site and app and has been itching to attend LightBox Expo for years, allow me to offer some epic examples of what this expo has to offer attendees this year.
On Friday, October 24, attendees can sit down for the 3:15-4:15 PM Working Neurodivergent In Animation panel with neurodivergent concept and character artist Sam Kestin, who will explore strategies they have applied throughout ten years of animation experience. If you are interested in this panel and want to attend for one day only, consider purchasing a one-day ticket and looking into other panels and special events set for this Friday. For instance, Friday attendees and aspiring webcomic creators can also sit down for the 4:45-5:45 PM Creator to CEO: The Rise of Webcomic Entrepreneurs panel with the creators of the supernatural smash hit, I’m the Grim Reaper, the hit romantasy series Suitor Armor, the endearing romance series Not So Silent, and the standout comedy series Vibe Check! During this panel, WEBTOON Originals creators will share their experiences bringing successful series to the digital platform and list tips for becoming a webcomic creator while staying true to their individual artistic visions. And at the end of the day, Friday attendees can enjoy a 6:30-8:45 PM sing-along screening of KPop Demon Hunters with a follow-up Q&A with directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans and producer Michelle Wong.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, October 26, attendees and sci-fi fans can sit down for the 10:30-11:30 AM The Art of Alien Romulus panel to go behind the scenes with the concept artists who were in charge of researching, sketching, and designing the sets and vehicles for the major motion picture from 2024. Likewise, Sunday attendees can also sit down for the 11:30 AM-12:30 PM Ron Clements & John Musker: The Art of Story Masterclass panel to learn epic storytelling secrets from the legendary duo responsible for Disney classics like The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and Moana. According to the LBX website, this panel will appeal to any writer, artist, or animator looking to learn how to craft compelling characters, build emotional arcs that’ll resonate with all ages, and transform simple ideas into timeless stories. Disney fans and Easter egg seekers may recognize Clements and Musker from their cameos in The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Hercules, Treasure Planet, The Princess and the Frog, and Moana. And if you are a webcomic enthusiast who couldn’t attend on Friday, WEBTOON Entertainment returns on Sunday with a 1:15-2:15 PM Telling Stories That Stick: What Makes a Comic Stand Out panel with top WEBTOON-employed editors behind leading series like Lore Olympus and The Mafia Nanny, who will share their insights into what factors make for a truly compelling comic in the digital space. Step by step, the panelists will break down the creative elements that compose a webcomic that will stand out among the rest.
But make note that to attend panels outside the historic Civic Auditorium, attendees must collect a panel ticket handed out an hour before the panel of choice begins. First-time attendees must also note that tickets are limited to one per person. If you are attending with friends or coworkers, you cannot hold tickets for them. To be courteous to the panelists, attendees are encouraged to arrive 15 minutes before the panel starts to be seated or risk forfeiting their spot. Many aspiring creators and enthusiasts of the arts travel cross-country to attend LightBox and learn from the many professionals enlisted by the expo, so please be mindful and practice proper convention etiquette.
In less than a decade, LightBox Expo has been established as a highly anticipated annual gathering that inspires and empowers creatives from every corner of the entertainment industry. It has provided a collaborative and supportive community for artists and fans to learn, connect, grow, gain new skills and tools, receive constructive feedback on projects and concepts, and celebrate their passions unjudged. Over the years, LBX has become a home for artists, but remember that aspiring and professional artists of all levels, plus enthusiasts of the arts, are welcome to attend each year.
Tell us in the comments if reading this article got YOU excited to attend LightBox Expo 2025. If yes, I hope you have an unforgettable time, learn something new, and make great memories that’ll last a lifetime! And if this weekend’s expo in Pasadena is too soon or out of the question for you, consider following the official LBX social media channels to see if LightBox may be up your alley in 2026!
