Native American Women in Animation

On Thursday November 18th at 7pm, We are hosting a Native American Women in Animation panel. The panel features Native American women storyboard artists, writers and content creators working on animated television series. This In-Person panel discussion will share the unique point of view of indigenous women working in the animation industry.

Date/Time: 7:00 P.M. on Thursday, November 18th, 2021
Location: The Ray Stark Family Theatre, SCA 108, George Lucas Building, USC School of Cinematic Arts Complex, 900 W. 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007

CLICK HERE TO RSVP

Panelists:

Sofia Alexander is the executive producer and creator of Crunchyroll’s Onyx Equinox and was storyboard artist on Books One and Two of Cartoon Network’s Infinity Train. Other credits include Netflix’s Invader ZIM: Enter the Florpus and The Powerpuff Girls. In September, Alexander announced that she is working with Marvel Studios.

Marie Bower is a freelance storyboard artist and character designer from Pawtucket Territory (Massachusetts) and has worked for Comedy Central, Netflix, Disney Television Animation, Fox Animation, and Cartoon Network. Marie is a non-enrolled Native with Mi’kmaq and Cherokee heritage, who graduated with a BFA in Animation from the Laguna College of Art and Design.

Stella Longfish is a Seneca/Tuscarora color designer and illustrator living in Los Angeles. She graduated from SJSU’s animation/illustration program in Spring 2017. She is currently a color designer at Netflix, and has previously worked with Cartoon Network and Warner Bros.

Nicolette Ray is a storyboard artist and member of the Acoma Pueblo tribe of New Mexico who graduated from San Jose State University in 2015 with a BA in Animation/Illustration. She has worked professionally in the animation industry since 2016, starting her career as a storyboard revisionist at Wild Canary on the first season of Disney Jr’s Puppy Dog Pals. Nicolette has worked as a storyboard artist on the same show for the following five seasons.

Jinko Gotoh (moderator) is an Oscar-nominated producer and consultant for the animation industry. Her strengths and passion include the discovering and nurturing of diversified and creative talent and charting new technologies and creative processes. Her producing credits include 2020 BAFTA winner and Oscar-nominated Klaus, The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, The Little Prince, Oscar-nominated The Illusionist, 9, and Oscar-winning Finding Nemo. Jinko is currently producing her second animated feature for Netflix.

The event is presented in conjunction with the USC School of Cinematic Arts, Outside the Box (Office), Our Voices, USC Visions and Voices: The Arts and Humanities Initiative.