Animation Aspirations: Greene travels to Lightbox Expo

Large yellow letters spelling “LIGHT” are arranged outdoors on a paved area near a building with columns. A person is leaning against the letter “L” wearing a black jacket and purple pants. Other people are nearby, including one sitting on the ground to the left. In the background, there are green hedges, trees, and a tall streetlamp. A red and white sign is visible on the right side near the trees.

While studying abroad at Nottingham Trent University in England, third-year fine art student and Brinkley-Lane Scholar Taylor Greene saw her peers’ interest and excitement to attend the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. Their ambition sparked her motivation to pursue similar professional conference opportunities in the U.S., such as the LightBox Expo in California.

Greene said, “I decided to attend – not only because I was excited to meet other students, professionals, and animation lovers alike – because the opportunity to make connections and get a head start in such a highly competitive industry is valuable beyond words.”

After attending panels featuring top talent from iconic studios like Disney Animation and Pixar Animation Studios, Greene’s initially unclear aspirations suddenly sharpened into focus. Hearing industry leaders speak firsthand revealed the wealth of real opportunities available and clarified exactly what she needed to do to pursue them.

“It was through attending the LightBox Expo that I realized how to get my start and realize my dreams in the industry, which until that point were just vague ideas and eventualities in my head,” Greene said.

Additionally, Greene was fascinated by the strong technology focus at the LightBox Expo. She highlighted cutting-edge, industry-driven tools such as generative AI, 3D modeling in software like Blender, and the longtime powerhouse Maya. Yet despite the current hype around generative AI, Greene noted that LightBox deliberately shifted the conversation toward the understated importance of human creativity, handmade craftsmanship and original art.

“Generative AI is a highly controversial piece of technology,” she said. “Right now, Sony Pictures Animation is on the cutting edge of the industry, so I would love to be involved in one of their productions.”

Reflecting on her LightBox Expo experience, Greene now dreams of one day working as an animator at an independent studio like Dream Well Studio, the Latvian team behind the Academy Award-winning animated film Flow. She traces this renewed ambition back to her time in the UK, where she first felt a deep urge to tell stories through animation and realized just how much success in this industry depends on building genuine connections.

“The biggest takeaway from those I talked to and panels I attended is that, while technical and creative skills are crucial, it’s the people you connect with that really dictate how you grow in the industry,” Greene said.