Passion Project’s Guide to LightBox Expo
With the business season of animation in full swing, we thought we’d share this comprehensive guide for the unsure creative looking to attend one of the biggest art expos in Hollywood: LightBox Expo. In this post, we’ll give you an insider story to determine whether LightBox Expo will be the answer to your next big break, a much needed power-hour with fellow artists, or an opportunity to have an exciting weekend in sunny California meeting your heroes. We’ll break down the pros, the cons, and the madness of this massive event to lead you to your verdict: to attend, or not to attend. (That is the question… )
This is the article we wished we had 2 years ago when we took a leap of faith to Hollywood. It was our first ever art expo and we had no expectations for the journey ahead. We’d never set foot in California before and barely had an idea of what California was truly like other than “that big state over there where movies are made.”
That will not be you. You will be equipped to navigate this expo with finesse and confidence to make your visit to LightBox an enjoyable experience. We’ve got a surprise, so be sure to read to the end~❀
What is LightBox Expo?
LightBox Expo (abbreviated as LBX) is an annual event held on the last weekend of October where creators, fans, and emerging creatives collide for a 3-day weekend of all things animation, art, and entertainment. This expo is not a fan event, it’s a business exhibition for those interested in careers and networking in the animation industry. In the artist alley, giants like Disney and Pixar hold booths among start-up studios, all presenting networking opportunities, job recruiting, and project pitches. Dozens of artists sell fan and original character merch, and former and current animation pros hold panels and sessions each day about the latest developments in animation as well as gems from past projects. It’s truly a wonderful experience.
Who Attends LightBox Expo?
Anyone! Industry professional, novice, or curious explorer, anyone can attend LBX. Even though it’s not like a comic con where fans unite to gush over their favorite projects, LBX isn’t stuffy and encourages attendees to have fun — you can even dress up if you want (within reason, of course, heh).
We hope you get these references 😏
Is It Just for Artists?
LightBox is specifically for creatives. Whether you’re an animator, writer, artist, or something in between, LBX welcomes you regardless of your current professional level. Animation enthusiasts are also welcome to attend.
Is It Expensive?
We’re not gonna lie, LightBox is expensive. Tickets per person are around $70 per day, with Saturday badges costing the most at almost $80. Three-day tickets are a little over $200 per person.
SUPER TIP: When buying tickets online, carefully consider whether or not you want to buy ShowClix’s ticket insurance for an extra fee. We figured that the insurance would cover us if one of us couldn’t attend the event due to illness and get our money back if that were to happen. We were mistaken. More about that chaotic adventure here. Unfortunately, ticketing insurance only covers a medical emergency, serious accident, or fatality so you might be out of an extra $100 if that doesn’t happen…
LBX is a great opportunity, but realistically, going all three days might be a bit much — especially if this is your first expo. We recommend attending on Saturday, the day where the most events happen.
Ticket Mailing
Ticket Badges
Tickets are actually badges that can be attached to lanyards. Bring your favorite one or get one for free at the expo!
Tickets go on sale every May and are shipped out in mid-September. Ticket purchases can also be made on-site, though be aware that that can bite into your time. If you already have your ticket badge, be sure to bring your favorite lanyard if you have one to save time. Lanyards are given out for free too.
Can I Attend Online?
As of the writing of this post, LightBox Expo is exclusively held in person at the Pasadena Convention Center, in Pasadena, California. During the Covid-19 pandemic, there was an online event held in lieu of the lockdown in 2021 — in fact, that was our first time “attending” LightBox. It was a list of online panels held over Zoom and YouTube Live from artists and other professionals in the industry. You could bounce back and forth from live sessions with a click, which, honestly, was pretty great.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like LightBox has any intention of offering a live option to the event anytime soon, but thankfully they do release panel recordings on YouTube. It just takes a while for them to be released after the event, so keep checking back regularly on their channel and stay updated on Instagram.
Is There an Artist Alley?
Yup! You’re guaranteed to find something you’ll like and you’ll be weighed down with so much merch! Even if you don’t buy anything, many booths give out freebies to passerby and some booths like Copic have attendees draw doodles for prizes. Art can sell out quickly, so if there’s something you really want, be sure to snag it while you can. We bought merch from and got a picture with visual development artist Kat Tsai (Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, KPop Demon Hunters) and many others.
Clockwise, Kat Tsai, Payton, Juliet, and Mena
Are There Panels?
Absolutely!! There are SO. MANY. PANELS. Be prepared to see animation legends and emerging artists spill their industry secrets and share their advice for making it in animation. We ran into pros like Tony Bancroft (creator of Pumbaa from The Lion King), and I (Payton) almost got to meet Chris Sanders (creator of Lilo and Stitch). More about that here.
Can I Get Info About Art Schools?
Info booths for art schools can be found throughout the main building in Artist Alley. Schools like CalArts, SCAD, and LCAD are some of the many schools that are open for students. Ask as many questions as possible and be sure to take booklets and brochures for more information.
Snacks???
There’s a Starbucks on-site, but it’s tiny and, you guessed it, CROWDED. My heart goes out to the baristas who will prepare to battle the caffeine deprived those three days. There’s also a concessions stand that sells drinks and small warm snacks, like fries.
With the preliminaries out of the way, let’s dig into the pros and cons.
✨ You Get First Dibs on New Releases ✨
Up-and-coming studios and apps are presented and pitched at LBX. At LBX 2024, Cara, the anti-AI art app, was presented and a first look at the animation app Procreate Dreams was shown at LBX 2023. At booths in Artist Alley, you can play around with unreleased apps and get info about new products!
Here’s a sneak peek ❣︎
✨ Networking ✨
The heart of LBX lies within networking. You never know who you might run into, what they’re working on, or who they know. Something as simple as talking to someone while waiting in line, or chatting over coffee can land you a big opportunity. Stay chatty!
✨ Hotel and Restaurant Discounts ✨
Discounts for Pasadena hotels and restaurants make attending LBX just that sweeter! With the Show Your Badge program, there’s a list of discounted restaurants, cafés, and a whole trail of boba shops (!!!) to choose from.
It. Is. CROWDED.
With over 600 artists ALONE attending LightBox last year, it’s a nonnegotiable to arrive after 7AM at the very least if you have any intention of making your rounds, getting checked in at a timely fashion, and getting tickets to your panels. This is not a time to lallygag. It’s a madhouse and we think the Fireflies (the LBX production assistants) would totally agree.
Navigating Between 4 Buildings is Inconvenient
Prepare to Naruto-run between buildings at LBX. There are four buildings at the event. The first two are the Exhibit Hall and the Ballroom Building. This is where Artist Alley and some of the panels are held. Registration, the concessions stand, and Starbucks are also at these buildings.
A few minutes walk away from there is the Conference Center which holds the majority of the panel rooms. It’s not too bad of a problem, unless you want to make it to your panels on time because…
Their Panel Ticketing System is a Logistical Nightmare
Each attendee must acquire a ticket to enter a panel at LightBox Expo. The ticketing system for LBX 2025 has updated the process since its implementation in 2023.
How Ticketing Works (as of LBX 2025)
Tickets for panels are handed out 60 minutes before the panel begins in Exhibit Hall C (East Entrance Only). Only one ticket per person is permitted and tickets can’t be held for other people. Return no earlier than 15 minutes before the panel time so that you may be seated. You must arrive at least 5 minutes prior to the beginning of the panel. If you fail to do so, your seat will be forfeited. These rules exclude any Civic Auditorium programs.
It seems that the LBX team attempted to mitigate the issue of the overcrowding problem, however, the ticketing system to attend panels leaves much to be desired. With a busy day filled with artist alley shopping sprees, getting your portfolio reviewed, and making friends (all while carrying merch) it’s simply not possible to attend panels unless one camps out in front of the door several hours before their panel is held.
(Seriously, don’t do that. They won’t let you do that.)
Not only that, prepare for scheduling conflicts. There are dozens of panels happening all at the same time in different locations. Hence our complaint of the event being spread across 4 buildings (!!!).
Also, be aware that getting a ticket doesn’t guarantee a seat as the rooms fill up quickly, so DO NOT leave the area of your panel room after you get one.
Over 2 consecutive years we missed ALL the panels we planned to attend — and we thought we had it down pat. We even considered a buddy system of sorts sending our friends on reconnaissance missions to attend panels in spread out groups, but even that didn’t work. Though, with a bigger group this idea still may prove helpful.
The big idea? If panels are your main event, then carefully consider skipping some of the other activities for the day. Better yet, if you’re attending for more than one day, try to get all your artist alley shopping done on a specific day and leave the rest of the event for panels. Only time will tell if this year’s paneling update will be a better solution to the ticketing issue.
The Internet is HORRIBLE.
I recall the Exhibit Hall having the worst reception. If you want to present a pitch or a portfolio, remember to have it downloaded to your device to ensure that you have easy access to it. If you need to contact someone, try stepping outside for a better connection.
Bring Your Own Food
This isn’t exactly a con but a suggestion. Trying to wade through a sea of people to make it to a restaurant or the on-site Starbucks might not be your best bet if you’re low on time and funds (the concession stand is expensive too). We suggest shopping the day before the expo for some small snacks you can fit in a backpack that’ll tide you over till you leave the expo. You’ll save money, and leave room for a good dinner with friends later. You might even be fortunate enough to run into the giant chicken for discounted wings across the street!
The Verdict
With all that said, we hope this guide gave you an idea of whether or not you’d be interested in trekking to Hollywood for a weekend full of wonder. And we were only scratching the surface. LightBox has parties, portfolio reviews, vlogging contests, and live drawing sessions to name a few. It’s a lot.
In short, if you:
❀ Are a creative who knows what you wanna do and just need the right people to steer you in the right direction to get your project off the ground
❀ Have enough coins to invest in a trip for the betterment of your career
❀ Seriously want to network to form a fellowship with other creatives and follow up with them
Then great, LightBox Expo is for you❣︎
Now, it’s surprise time!!
We’ve paved the way, so get your Guide to LBX here, a gift from us to you. It’s a master plan for you and your party to navigate the expo and get the most out of the event.
And with that, we hope whatever event you attend you can successfully make those connections, find inspiration, and above all have fun with friends!
Been to LightBox or another animation expo? Let us know all about your experience in the comments below!
❀ ~Mena and Payton
Curious about our experience at LBX 2024? Check it out here!
