20th Anniversary Of ‘Corpse Bride,’ Tim Burton To Be Celebrated At LightBox Expo
A partial cover of “Corpse Bride’s” release on 4K UHD.
Warner Bros.
A 20th anniversary panel discussion of the stop-motion animated classic Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride and a lifetime achievement award for its namesake filmmaker are among the highlights of the 2025 LightBox Expo, which is set Oct. 24-26 in Pasadena, Calif.
The LightBox Expo, aka LBX, announced on Wednesday the lineup for the 7th annual three-day event, which will be held at the Pasadena Convention Center. Last year, the event that highlights the best in animation, live-action, illustration and video games attracted more than 16,000 attendees.
Directed by Burton and Mike Johnson, Corpse Bride, which stars the voices of Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Emily Watson and Christopher Lee, was released in theaters on Sept. 23, 2003.
Corpse Bride went on to be nominated for a Best Animated Feature by the Oscars, the Annie Awards and Critics’ Choice Awards, and was named Best Animated Feature in 2005 by the National Board of Review. To commemorate the film’s anniversary, Warner Bros. is releasing Corpse Bride on 4K Ultra HD on Sept. 23, and the film will also return to theaters for a limited time in October.
Also celebrating the 20th anniversary of Corpse Bride is LBX, which is hosting a special screening of the film, followed by a panel conversation with three of the artists who worked on the classic movie: Ian Mackinnon, Carlos Grangel and Anthony Scott.
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – AUGUST 11: Tim Burton attends the Netflix series ‘Wednesday – Season 2’ press conference at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul in Jongno-gu on August 11, 2025 in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by HLL/Imazins via Getty Images)
ImaZins via Getty Images
In addition to Corpse Bride, the Concept Art Association is honoring Burton with its Lifetime Achievement Award. The ceremony, which will honor Burton and another Concept Art Association Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, the late Stan Winston, will be held Oct. 25 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.
Panels are also planned for two Disney animated movies celebrating their landmark releases this year. The Emperor’s New Groove’s 25th anniversary is in 2025, while A Goofy Movie is celebrating its 30th anniversary.
What Else Will Be Featured At The LightBox Expo?
Per a press release from its organizers, LBX is “an event not to be missed by art professionals and aspiring students in illustration, animation and special effects. There are opportunities for portfolio reviews and one-on-one interactions with more than 30 companies, schools and studios that are advancing the opportunity for artists to grow in their disciplines.”
The Corpse Bride panel is one of the hundreds scheduled for LBX. In addition, event organizers noted, creatives involved in projects from Disney Television Animation, ILM, Lucasfilm Animation, Pixar, 20th Television Animation and Walt Disney Imagineering, Netflix Animation, Laika, Sony Pictures Animation, DreamWorks, Skydance Animation, Warner Bros. Pictures Animation and Titmouse, among others, are holding panels.
According to LBX, other artists participating in the 2025 LBX include John Musker (Aladdin) and Ron Clements (The Little Mermaid), Maggie Kang, Chris Appelhans and Michelle Wong (KPop Demon Hunters), Alex Woo, Nicky Lavender and Sacha Kapijimpanga (In Your Dreams), Fede Álvarez (Alien: Romulus), and Kevin Lima and Jymn Magon (A Goofy Movie).
In addition, Angela Sung (Bad Guys), Patrick McHale (Over the Garden Wall), SamDoesArts, Jorge R. Gutierrez (El Guapo vs. The Narco Vampires), Meg Park, Limei Hshieh and Griselda Sastrawinata (Zootopia 2), Darrell Warner and Paul Tazewell (Wicked) will be participating at the event.
LBX noted that this year’s event will include 200 hours of programs, demos, panels and workshops. In addition, a sing-along screening of KPop Demon Hunters and Q&A is planned.
“LightBox Expo is a time to celebrate the creators, visionaries, and storytellers who ensure that dreams and magic exist in the world,” Maggie Kang, co-director and creator of KPop Demon Hunters, said in a statement. “It is a reminder that we are a community brought together by our shared passion to create, to ignite joy, to bring hope, and today we are needed more than ever.”
LBX is the creation of character designer and illustrator Bobby Chiu (Disney’s Alice in Wonderland) and event organizer and filmmaker Jim Demonakos (Mike Mignola: Drawing Monsters). Per the LBX press release, “LightBox Expo is the only place where you can get a behind-the-scenes look at new and beloved franchises including Lord of the Rings, Alien, Wicked, Star Wars, Wednesday, DOOM and A Goofy Movie.”
LBX co-creators Jim Demonakos and Bobby Chiu take the stage during an event at the Expo.
LightBox Expo
“This year we are honored to host so many incredibly talented artists, directors, creators and visionaries who are sharing the unique stories and processes behind our favorite films, animation, games, TV shows and illustrations,” Chiu said in a statement. “We hope each attendee leaves feeling inspired, empowered and a bit smarter, too.”
Demonakos also added in a statement that he’s thrilled over how LBX brings the community of artisans together.
“LightBox wouldn’t be possible without the community and we’re excited to see artists gather in and around the Convention Center for a weekend of community building, artistry and more,” Demonakos said.
The 7th Annual LightBox Expo is set for Oct. 24-26 in Pasadena, Calif.