11th
Pictoplasma
NYC
SEPTEMBER 25 + 26, 2025
This September, Pictoplasma — the leading character design conference from Berlin — returns to New York to present the freshest talents, probe the workings of their creative mind, and offer the chance to learn from and be inspired by some of today’s most innovative and avant-garde artists.
AVAILABLE NOW!
CONFERENCE
ARTIST TALKS & LECTURES
Pictoplasma NYC presents 10+ hand picked key lectures by the world’s most influential artists and upcoming talents, cutting-edge graphic, toy and game designers and leading animation filmmakers.
CONFIRMED SPEAKERS
Aaron Fernandez
USA
Filipino-Mexican American artist with a love of visual systems and driven to communicate ideas with surprise and empathy working across all kinds of industries and mediums
Cari Vander Yacht
USA
Award-winning multimedia illustrator, animator, and art director known for her fun and energetic style
Danny Casale
USA
(aka Coolman Coffeedan) self-titled ‘Bad Animator’ creating animations in his unique style, which have gone viral and reach hundreds of millions people around the world
Fran Meneses
CL, USA
Illustrator, author and content creator known as frannerd for her online comics depicting the ins and outs of freelancing and mental health
Isolina Minjeong
USA
Ceramic artist questioning cultural narratives of tradition by intricately weaving together ancient motifs and her expansive world of characters
Jon Burgerman
UK, USA
New York-based British artist whose works have been acquired by prestigious public collections such as London’s Victoria and Albert Museum and the OÖ-Kultur Museum in Linz, Austria
Julian Glander
USA
Artist and animator who has recently ventured into feature-length film with “Boys Go To Jupiter”
Laser Days
USA
Real-time rendering studio co-founded by Jack Wedge and Will Freudenheim creating worlds, stories and characters using game engines
Lauren Martin
USA
Multi-talented illustrator inspired by the humor and joy that can be found in day-to-day life
Portfolio Reviews
Networking
Do you want to showcase your animation project or hope for personal feedback on your illustration portfolio, crave to hook up with “the industry,” or just get some advice by someone who might be able to help recalibrate your character project?
Friday morning’s rapid-fire networking event grants conference attendees private face-to-face time with ten industry leaders, agencies, production companies and talent scouts, including the likes of Snyder, Hornet Inc., Jacky Winter, B&A and more.
Review slots are limited and pre-registration is required. Sign-up for all interested attendees begins on the first conference day during the first break, at the registration tables in the SVA Theatre lobby.
Participating Industry
B&A
Karol Wernek + Matthew Palizay
B&A is a leading artist representation agency known for partnering brands with top creative talent. Agents Matthew Palizay and Karol Kwernek look forward to meeting illustrators, animators, CGI and mural artists who have a unique voice that is applicable to editorial briefs, ad campaigns, and brand collaborations.
TITMOUSE
Antonio Canobbio + Niko Guardia
Titmouse is an Emmy-winning animation studio known for creating bold, boundary-pushing animated series and films with a distinct, irreverent style. VP/CCO Antonio Canobbio and art director Niko Guardia look forward to meeting you.
SNYDER
Kristina Snyder
Kristina Snyder is the founder of SNYDER, a woman owned artist and creative production agency representing a dynamic and diverse group of artists and directors from around the world. Kristina looks forward to meeting illustrators and directors that aspire to be working in the commercial world and want to know more about representation.
Jacky Winter
Bianca Bramham + Delaney Cavanagh
The Jacky Winter Group is an artist agency and production studio with offices in New York, London, and Melbourne, representing over a hundred commercial artists and producing thousands of creative projects annually for brands, agencies, and design studios. They are excited to connect with emerging talent who bring fresh perspectives to visual storytelling.
HORNET INC
Natalie Labarre + Pakorn Bupphavesa
Hornet is a multidisciplinary production studio with more than two decades of experience producing award winning Motion Design, 2D, CG, Stop Motion Animation, Mixed Media, and Artful Live Action films. Director and Creative Director instagram and Head of CG Pakorn Bupphavesa are keen to meet multidisciplinary designers and art directors focusing on motion & 2D. Artists working in Unreal, Blender, Maya, C4D, Houdini, and new technologies. Lighters, and technical artists.
WSM
Christine Cavallomagno
WSM is a premier global management agency representing an elite roster of artists and creatives. In 2025 WSM has started a new Illustration Dept where Christine Cavallomagno is representing a wide range of illustration talent—and after PictoNYC maybe also you?
ustwo
Yvonne Romano
ustwo is an independent digital product studio delivering breakthrough experiences that people love, want and need. Design Lead Yvonne Romano is eager to connect with creatives who are curious about, or already diving into, the world of digital product design.
BUCK
Mercy Lomelin + Joy Tien
BUCK is an Emmy award-winning, style-agnostic, creative company that crafts design, stories, and technology experienced by billions every day. With Mercy Lomelin, Head of 2D, and Joy Tien, Senior 3D Artist, we’re excited to meet talented and driven artists who are curious, sweat the details, are passionate about the craft, furthering their skills, and collaborative problem solving.
POP MART
Emily Brough
Founded in 2010, POP MART is a rising global force in pop culture entertainment. Driven by the mission “to light up passion and bring joy”, POP MART focuses on intellectual property (IP) as its core, developing three major business segments: consumer products, experiences, and entertainment. Emily Brough, Head of IP Licensing, The Americas is on the lookout for emerging artists who are building original characters with a unique style and perspective.
Panel
Optimistic Futures
In times of AI disruption, cultural pushbacks, and fast-changing production realities, how do artists stay bold (and employed) without compromise?
Our panel Optimistic Futures invites Antonio Canobbio (Titmouse), Arabelle Liepold (Society of Illustrators), Kristina Snyder (SNYDER), and filmmaker Julian Glander (Boys Go to Jupiter) to explore pragmatic paths for creative industries. Together, they’ll reflect on how studios, clients, and independent creators can adapt to turbulent times while keeping originality alive.
ANIMATION SCREENINGS
Big screen psychedelic eye-candy …
… and storytelling genius: Pictoplasma NYC presents a feature film length selection of 16 fresh animated shorts and experimental narration a far cry from family entertainment, featuring the latest generation of characters in motion, including work by AJ Jefferies, Cat Johnston, Gabby Cherney, Will Anderson and Zohar Dvir..
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Ducks
2025 / UK / 04’45” AJ Jefferies A completely normal day in the park.
Normal Grey
2025 / HK, GER / 01’08” Jack Sachs A love letter to my favorite bird.
Long Distance
2024 / CH / 02’00” Michael Frei A fly takes flight to meet a close friend.
Brazey & D'Bruppy
2024 / USA / 04’50” Jared D. Weiss Brazey and D’Bruppy reconvene in a park after a period of time apart.
Gimme 5
2024 / NL / 00’30” YONK Two sweaty strangers attempt to connect in an absurd series of mismatched gestures.
Cowgirlies
2024 / USA / 01’37” Kate Costello Girls being girls in the wild, wild west.
Retirement Plan
2024 / IRL / 07’17” John Kelly At apathy with his life, Ray dreams of the beauty and joy he will find in retirement.
Robert Yoghurt - FaceTime
2024 / UK / 00’30” Sacha Beeley Robert Yoghurt wants to FaceTime.
Storytelling
2024 / CH / 07’00” Nils Hedinger From cave drawings to echo chambers: The history of humankind is a history of storytelling.
The Wickywock and the JubJub Berry
2024 / UK / 05’00” Cat Johnston and Joseph Wallace An exhausted mythical creature suffering from insomnia is offered a sedative.
Voicemails From My Dad
2024 / USA / 05’53” Gabby Cherney Only one person leaves me voicemails – an animated compilation of phone messages collected over the years from my dad.
Horizon
2024 / ARG / 03’00” Pablo Rafael Roldan “What will you do when I’m no longer here?” – a question evoking nostalgia, for both what has been and what is yet to come.
The Id, the Bad and the Ugly
2024 / UK/ 04’27” Hannah Eccles A short slapstick following the psychological journey of a cowboy, his truck and an elusive therapist.
Kokuruga
2022 / SP / 06’00” Choche Hurtado A compendium of childhood memories.
Butterfly Kiss
2024 / GER, ISR / 10’00” Zohar Dvir After quarreling with her girlfriend, Carol awakes to an apocalyptic reality.
Maurice
2025 / USA / 01’00” Nate Milton and Alix Bloom Alix attacks Nate after responding poorly to her Dawn of The Planet of The Apes bit.
Non-Fungible Therapy
2024 / UK / 03’45” Will Anderson A little cat in therapy dreams of success and ends up headed to the moon.
AVAILABLE NOW!
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* subject to change
THURSDAY, SEPT 25
12:00 PM
DOORS OPEN:
REGISTRATION
1:30 — 3:00 PM
LECTURES
Fran Meneses
Aaron Fernandez4 — 5:30 PM
LECTURES
Cari Vander Yacht
Danny Casale6:30 — 7:30 PM
PANEL:
Optimistic FuturesAntonio Canobbio (Titmouse), Arabelle Liepold (Society of Illustrators), Kristina Snyder (SNYDER), Julian Glander (Boys Go to Jupiter)
8:00 — 9:30 PM
ANIMATION SCREENING
Best of Pictoplasma 2025
FRIDAY, SEPT 26
11:30 AM — 12:30 PM
PORTFOLIO REVIEWS
Sign Up starting from 10 AM
1:30 — 3 PM
LECTURES
Isolina Minjeong
Jon Burgerman4 — 5:30 PM
LECTURES
Lauren Martin
Laser Days6:30 — 8:30 PM
LECTURE + ANIMATION SCREENING
Julian Glander / Boys Go to Jupiter
8:30 — 11 PM
GOODBYE DRINKS
Westside Tavern, 360 W 23rd St
VENUE
SVA THEATRE
333 West 23rd Street
between 8th and 9th Avenues
New York, NY 10011
www.svatheatre.com
Featuring two theaters, an elegant lobby and green room designed by Milton Glaser, the SVA Theatre hosts both intimate and extravagant events and has been home to red carpet premieres, awards shows, film festivals, and theatrical events.
FREQUENTLY
ASKED
QUESTIONS …
… and a hand full of answers:
HOSTED BY
PRESENTED BY
