ASIFA-Hollywood will host a panel discussion during Anime Expo 2026 this Saturday, July 4 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA. The panel will meet in Room 409AB at 4:15 p.m., and seating is first-come, first-served. 

            A dynamic group of animation and creative movers and shakers will join the panel including Mitsuhisa Ishikawa – Chairperson, Production I.G, Maki Terashima-Furuta – President, Production I.G USA, Frank Gladstone – President, ASIFA-Hollywood, Stephanie Sheh – Writer, Producer, and Voice Actor, Michael Sinterniklaas – Producer and Voice Director Moderator, and Charles Solomon – Animation Historian, Author, and Film Critic.

            The discussion will explore what employers look for in artists, writers, animators, voice actors, and other creative professionals, while offering practical advice for breaking into one of the entertainment industry’s most competitive fields. Attendees will gain firsthand insights into the hiring process, portfolio expectations, career paths, and the skills that can help aspiring creators stand out in today’s global animation industry. 

            ASIFA-Hollywood is the world’s first and foremost professional organization dedicated to promoting the Art of Animation and celebrating the people who create it. Today, ASIFA-Hollywood, the largest chapter of the international organization ASIFA, supports a wide range of animation activities and preservation efforts through its membership. Current initiatives include the Animation Archive, Animation Aid Foundation, Animation Educators Forum (AEF), animated film preservation, open source software support, special events, classes, screenings, and the annual Annie Awards™.

            For more information about ASIFA-Hollywood, please visit www.asifa-hollywood.org.