Conclave 2026

The last day of Conclave starts off strong with a buffet breakfast and time to mingle with friends before the program kicks off promptly at 8:30 a.m. First, you will hear from Bryan Moeller, CGA, President of the AGS International Board of Directors, as well as get a “State of the AGS” update from AGS CEO Katherine Bodoh, RJ, who will also present the John J. Kennedy Award. Then it’s time for the keynote, and this is where the magic happens.

Deanna Marsigliese is an Italian-Canadian art director, character designer, and 2D animator based in San Francisco who has worked at Pixar Animation Studios since 2012, contributing to films such as Luca, Soul, Onward, Toy Story 4, Incredibles 2, Bao, Inside Out, and The Good Dinosaur, with her creative process also featured in the Disney+ documentary series Inside Pixar. Most recently, she designed the characters Anxiety and Ennui for Pixar’s record-breaking Inside Out 2 (2024) and has contributed new characters to the Toy Story franchise ahead of its next installment in 2026, while currently conceptualizing additional projects in development.

A two-time Annie Award nominee and Academy member, Marsigliese is also a dedicated educator who has written and directed Pixar’s art internship programs, piloted courses at Pixar University and The Walt Disney Family Museum, and previously served as Professor of Classical Animation at Seneca College in Toronto, in addition to delivering keynotes and workshops worldwide and headlining major events such as SXSW, D23, and LightBox Expo. A vintage fashion enthusiast with a love of bold costume jewelry, she often finds inspiration while traveling the world with a surprisingly small backpack.