Picto●●NYC
12th
Pictoplasma
NYC
SEPTEMBER 17 + 18, 2026
In its 12th NYC edition, the world’s leading conference on character creativity returns for a dense 2 days celebration, full of fresh inspiration, cutting-edge artist talks and presentations, lovingly curated animation screenings, with a stern focus on contemporary visual story telling, plus plenty of opportunities to mix, mingle and meet with bright-eyed character enthusiasts—as new friends, professional contacts, and future collaborators.
The accompanying animation program awaits with further visual stimuli—a far cry from family entertainment, while the overall event invites attending talent and industry to connect, network, and exchange strategies for the future of character design as a narrative device that can carry empathy, emotion, edginess, and meaning – all at the same time..
●●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
Brian Blomerth
US
Illustrator, cartoonist, musician, and veteran of the underground music and arts scene whose work has graced numerous album covers, posters, clothing and his own line of T-shirts
Camila Rosa
BR
Brazilian artist and illustrator using vibrant colors, bold compositions, and expressive female figures to explore themes of identity, diversity, and representation from a contemporary Latin American perspective
Duolingo
US
Duolingo’s Senior Animator Derek Gieraltowski and Senior Creative Producer Shandy Tsai are in charge of keeping the famous, iconic mascot of the world’s most popular online learning platform on track
Frank Ape
US
Artist working across media whose character driven practice explores identity, emotion, shared social experiences and the relationship between the individual and the collective
Gemma Correll
UK/US
British illustrator and cartoonist imbuing her simple line drawings with narrative and humour, creating illustrations that catch the eye and tell a story
Karlotta Freier
US
Award winning artist recognized for her distinctive approach to illustration and detailed, atmospheric style, working for clients such as Hermès, Dior, Coldplay or The Balvenie
Kevin Walker (Buck)
US
Chief Creative Officer of BUCK, working with organizations big and small to shepherd brand-defining output with a focus on campaigns and branding
Samuel Jerome Mason
US
Visual artist and director weaving narratives through tactile dream worlds across animation, live action, and mixed media
Sawako Kabuki
JP
Japanese animator and illustrator known for her distinctive hand-drawn style, colors, irreverent point of view, and a passion for butts
Spencer Gabor
US
Illustrator and animator looking for moments of color and joy, building around zany and expressive characters and a love of bright palettes and wonky perspectives
●●ANIMATION SCREENINGS
Big screen psychedelic eye-candy …
… and storytelling genius: Pictoplasma NYC presents a feature film length selection of 18 fresh animated shorts and experimental narration a far cry from family entertainment, featuring the latest generation of characters in motion.
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We're Kinda Different
2025 / CA / 3’17’’ Ben Meinhardt A singing butt has an adventure through a mundane office building with profound results.
I Have A
2025 / UK / 4’00’’ Rory Waudby-Tolley A man lists the things that he has.
Robert Yoghurt – Bath Time
2025 / UK / 0’35’’ Sacha Beeley Robert Yoghurt has his bath time.
Night Boots
2024 / FR / 10’00’’ Pierre-Luc Granjon Leaving home in the middle of the night, a child and a curious little creature explore the forest to meet its nocturnal inhabitants.
Fury
2025 / ES / 4’00’’ Choche Hurtado A pair of twin sisters hate each other, because they remind each other of themselves – and where they come from.
Fit Check
2025 / US / 1’00’’ Kyle Brooks 1 man with a problem.
The 12 Inch Pianist
2025 / US / 7’28’’ Lucas Ansel What begins as a bar joke quickly unravels into a darkly funny, unexpected story about self-acceptance, desire, and queer identity.
Kriill – Other I
2025 / FR / 2’56’’ Alina Popescu A young girl offers gifts of devotion to an otherworldly deity, soon escalating into brutal sacrifices of her body.
The Tragedy of Madame Esther, An Unfortunate Incident, A Long Way Home
2019-2022 / IL / 0’30’’ Anat Efrati A burst of story fragments unfolding through rhythm, sound, humour, and composition.
Crossing the Road Guide
2026 / UK / 1’45’’ Barney Abrahams A short didactic guide on how to cross a road.
Un peu plus d'action
2025 / FR / 1’00’’ Alexis Beaumont During a protest, two law enforcement teams face off on the field.
Paul Y Sus Amigos
2025 / US / 1’18’’ Rafillo Paul brings home a date.
Mr Legs
2024 / AU / 1’43” Sean Zwan A lonely man has an unexpected encounter with an entity that has the mind of a toddler.
OK Go – Impulse Purchase
2025 / UK, FI US / 3’13’’ Lucas Zanotto, Will Anderson A procedural character rolls toward the singularity.
POOB
2026 / UK / 6’30” AJ Jefferies POOB is ready to LEARN and have FUN!
Smokedog
2025 / AU / 6’00’’ Andrew Onorato Smokedog goes about his day.
Car Park
2025 / AU / 3’37” Aaron McDonald, Leanne Lee Two strangers meet in a car park for a secretive rendezvous.
A Pint of Bitter
2025 / IE / 8’58’’ Conor Kehelly You are trying to enjoy a quiet pint in the pub but a patron and his son seemingly have a problem with your demeanour.
●●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’s rapid-fire networking event grants conference attendees private face-to-face time with ten industry leaders, agencies, production companies and talent scouts.
Portfolio Review registration opens Friday noon, September 18, at the nearby SVA Teaching Learning Center, 136 West 21st Street (between 6th and 7th Ave)
First come—first served, 1 slot per person! The sessions will then take place 1-2PM.
Participating Industry
B&A
Matthew Palizay
B&A is a leading artist representation agency, acting as a strategic partner to agencies, production companies, and brands. Illustration Agent Matt Palizay looks forward to meeting illustrators, CGI artists, and animation studios who have a unique and established voice. Matt would like to review portfolios with work applicable to editorial briefs, ad campaigns, and brand collaborations.
BUCK
Max Vogel, Tucker Klein
BUCK is an Emmy award-winning, style-agnostic, creative company that crafts design, stories, and technology experienced by billions every day. 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.
HORNET
Natalie Labarre
Hornet is a multidisciplinary production studio with more than two decades of experience producing award winning Motion Design, 2D, CG, Stop Motion and Artful Live Action films. Director and Creative Director Natalie Labarre is keen to meet multidisciplinary designers and art directors focusing on motion & 2D. Artists working in Unreal, Blender, Maya, C4D, Houdini, and new technologies.
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 illustrators, animators and visual content creators 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.
JELLY
Larisa Kline
Jelly is a woman-led and employee-owned creative studio with offices in London, New York, and Barcelona, representing a global roster of 2D and 3D illustrators, lettering artists, live action directors, puppeteers, and more. We partner with ambitious brands to bring projects to life with craft, character, and creative edge. Jelly NY’s Senior Creative Agent Larisa Kline is excited to meet artists who have distinct point of view, have a tactile-touch, think boldly, and want to create bespoke, long-lasting work.
SCHOLAR
Liam Elias, Kyle Switzer
Scholar is a creative production company built on a love for design, boundless curiosity, and a drive to move viewers on an emotional level. A full-service studio with offices in Los Angeles and New York, we’re fueled by a diverse roster of award-winning creators. Style-agnostic by nature, we move fluidly between concept, 2D, 3D, live-action, and VFX. If you’re an artist with a flexible mindset and real love for your craft, we’d love to meet 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.
TITMOUSE
Matthew Palizay
Titmouse is an Emmy-winning animation studio known for creating bold, boundary-pushing animated series and films with a distinct, irreverent style. Art director Niko Guardia looks forward to meeting you.
WALTER SCHUPFER MANAGEMENT
Christine Cavallomagno
WSM is a premier global management agency representing an elite roster of artists and creatives.
Its Illustration Department, led by Christine Cavallomagno, brings together a sharp mix of distinctive illustration and animation talent. Christine always has an eye out for what’s next and would love to meet you at PictoNYC 2026!
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* subject to change
THU, SEPT 17
2:30 PM
D●●RS OPEN
At SVA Theatre, 333 West 23rd Street
4 — 5:30 PM
LECTURES:
Gemma Correll, Frank Ape
6:30 — 8 PM
LECTURES:
Samuel Jerome Mason, Sawako Kabuki
8:30 — 10 PM
ANIMATION SCREENING
FR, SEPT 18
1 — 2 PM
PORTFOLIO REVIEWS
at SVA Teaching Learning Center, 136 West 21st Street, Ground Floor
4 — 5:30 PM
LECTURES:
Brian Blomerth, Camila Rosa
6:30 — 8 PM
Industry Focus:
Duolingo, Buck
8:30 — 10 PM
LECTURES:
Karlotta Freier, Spencer Gabor
10 PM
G●●DBYE DRINKS
●●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.
2nd wave:
TICKETS
AVAILABLE
NOW!!!
Attendee registration for the 12th Pictoplasma NYC Conference is available.
PICTO●●NYC 2026
Registration payments are handled by secure credit card transaction and PayPal.
No physical tickets are sent out prior to the event. All attendees receive a unique registration code via email (sent a bit closer towards the event to the attendee email address provided during purchase). The full festival passes (wearable, non-transferable wrist-bands) will be awaiting you directly at the venue.
Please read our terms & conditions before making the online payment.
Remote:
ONLINE
BROADCAST
ACCESS
If you can’t come to Pictoplasma, Pictoplasma comes to you!
We are live broadcasting all 2026 conference lectures (September 17 + 18) as a real-time online stream – for you to enjoy from the comfort of your couch …
PICTO●●ONLINE 2026
Online access to the live broadcast as realtime stream will be served on tv.pictoplasma.com, starting from Thursday, September 17 at 4 pm until Friday, September 18, 10 pm.
PictoTV requires PRO membership, and offers 24/7 on demand access to our broadcasts and growing archive of 350+ past PictoTalks. You can choose between monthly or annually billed access—and cancel and renew at any time.
FREQUENTLY
ASKED
QUESTIONS
… and a hand full of answers:
CODE OF
CONDUCT
Pictoplasma continuously works to keep the conference a welcoming, safe and friendly experience for all guests, staff, volunteers and artists. In other words, we do not tolerate threats of violence, unwelcome sexual attention, slurs or hate speech, including hurtful comments involving race, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, physical appearance, disability, age and religious or political belief, whether they are personal or general. Anyone asked to stop any harassing behavior is expected to comply immediately.
If you can’t help make the world (at least during our conference) a welcoming, harassment-free and supportive place for all characters and humans alike, Pictoplasma is not for you. Whoever violates these rules will be expelled from the conference without a refund at the discretion of the organiser.
If the behavior of anyone makes you (or anyone else) feel unsafe or unwelcome, please report it as soon as possible. Incidents can be reported to any member of venue staff or the conference team at the info desks onsite, where we will be happy to help, contact security or local law enforcement, provide escorts, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment to feel safe.
HOSTED BY
PRESENTED BY
