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More than 9,000 artists, technologists,and storytellers working in animation, gaming and immersive media have descended on Burbank, California to attend AfroAnimation Summit 6.0. The event, which will run through Sunday, April 26, aims to bridge a crucial gap between creators and direct access to major studios and entertainment companies.
The summit was co-founded by media and technology executive Keith White and veteran of the industry, Rio Cyrus, who is the co-Chair and Head of Programming. It transitioned to an in-person event back in 2023 and has since grown into “the largest U.S.-based summit dedicated to empowering non-traditional and underrepresented creators,” per a press release.
This year’s gathering is happening at an inflection point in entertainment that will be defined not by who adapts the quickest but the smartest. Game-changing consolidations have disrupted the industry as has the rise of AI in every sector of the market. Massive layoffs, decreasing budgets and team reductions have resulted in a more competitive landscape.
Networking, not just talent, is paramount to success as is understanding the business.
When I asked Keith White how this event is supporting the new generation of creators navigating the upheaval in media, he shared, “AfroAnimation Summit supports the next generation of creators by equipping them with insights into alternative financing, new distribution models, community-building, emerging technologies and innovations.”
He described the indie creator of today as effectively being a “micro studio.” White’s comment takes into consideration the resources available to storytellers. He said they have "unprecedented access to low cost advanced 2D/3D tools, cloud infrastructure, and AI-driven workflows—lowering barriers and cost to producing studio-quality content.”
While White acknowledged that challenges have risen in the wake of these consolidations, he believes it’s creating opportunity, too. One new lane he mentioned is distribution platforms focused on micro creators.
He said they have a “strong upside,” when they “serve independent creators with sustainable monetization models.”
White’s preparing to launch his own venture in this space called Loopi. It’s being billed as “a high-quality cinematic short-form video platform designed to support premium storytelling and new monetization opportunities for creators and film studios.”
As for AfroAnimation Summit, he sees the event’s role as helping “creators gain insights and navigate this [industry] shift and position themselves to thrive in a rapidly evolving animation and entertainment landscape.”
Over the course of four days, attendees will learn from industry veterans like Lynne Southerland (executive producer, Disney Jr.’s Ariel), Peter Ramsey (director, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse), Carl Jones (producer, The Boondocks), and Jorge Gutierrez (co-creator, The Book of Life and El Tigre) through panels tailored to address niche topics with high impact, broader issues in the industry, and guidance on new technology affecting craft and how stories are being told.
Attendees will also be able to participate in workshops, learning labs, the creative expo, and competitions.
The summit is hosting a Creative Job Fair on Saturday, April 25 at Cambria Hotel Burbank from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. PT. Recruiters will be on site to discuss career opportunities and internships. Interviews and portfolio reviews will take place at this location as well.
The event’s partners include Walt Disney Animation Studios, Netflix, Bento Box, Visit Burbank, Wacom, and more.
Rio Cyrus will be celebrated along with Shabrayia Cleaver (Producer, DreamWorks Animation & Co-Lead of Black Employee Network) and Tiffany Navarro-Purkeypile (Lead Creative Recruiter, Laika) as Icon Awards 2026 Honorees.
Out of the full schedule, I’ve highlighted a few program offerings below:
From Margin to Mainstream: A 70-Year Evolution of Black Trailblazers — Keith White
Owning the Vision: How Creators Build and Scale IP - Eli Harris (Voice Actor, Star Wars: The Order), Samantha Goff (Talent Manager and Producer, Animated Perspectives), Tanesha Graham (PR Strategist, T. Nicole PR), Renard T. Jenkins (President and CEO, I2A2 Technologies, Studios & Labs), and Jason Ryan, (Writer/Producer, Odd Ninja Media, LLC)
Black Boys at the Center: Re-imagining Children’s Animation — Christopher Bell (President, Creativity Partners), Chaz Bottoms (Animation Director, CBA Studios), Kareem Edouard (Co-founder and Executive Producer, Ole Greens Group), and Senibo Myers (Television Writer)
Ink, Identity & Impact: Women Creating Cultural Shifts in Animation — Adele “Supreme” Williams (Showrunner /Writer, Undercooked Rice), Shabrayia Cleaver, Breana Navickas (Storyboard Revisionist, 20th TV Animation), and Ashley Van-De-Cruize Lampkin (Author/Director, Dirty Word Smith Presenting “Na Makasi: Ancestral Awakening”)
Responsible AI: What Every Creator Needs to Know Now — Minh Do (Cofounder, CEO, Machine Cinema), Tiffani Lee Joseph (Creative Technologist, AI Filmmaker, Storyteller and Creative Director, Independent), Tree Allen (Founder/Creative Director, Brilliance Limited), Eric Elder (Project Lead, LA Game Project), Charles H. Joslain (Co-Founder and Head Of Creative, VFX Los Angeles), and Keith White
