In September 2008, Pictoplasma is crossing the Atlantic and to host the first ever US-conference devoted to the wealth of a visual culture driven by characters. Creatives, producers, critics and fans are invited to gather and celebrate the diversity of character design.

For one weekend the PICTOPLASMA NYC conference transforms the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts into a character design Mecca. The event brings together an international scene of artists, designers and agencies and offers a unique forum for all those working with the visualization and application of character design. Whether illustration, animation, graphic design, urban vinyl, underground plush, street or fine art - the emphasis is not on the limits of style or format, but on the shared dedication to explore character-driven aesthetics. The lively exchange between the various disciplines highlights the importance of character design in contemporary visual culture.