AfroComicCon has announced that story artist Michael Yates will be among the Special Guests for this year’s virtual convention!

Join Pixar Animation Studios Story Artist Michael Yates as he discusses his background, professional path, and gives you an inside look at the story process for Disney and Pixar’s newest film, SOUL, releasing on Disney+ December 25. Michael will also discuss being part of Pixar’s Internal Culture Trust and the importance of authenticity in creating the studio’s first African American protagonist.

Michael Yates joined Pixar Animation Studios in 2015 as a story artist. Yates worked on the feature films Cars 3 and Toy Story 4. He most recently was a story artist on Pixar’s upcoming feature Soul, which is set to release on Disney+ on December 25, 2020. Yates is currently in development on an unannounced Pixar project. 

As a story artist, Yates helps craft the story by drawing storyboards that depict characters, action, and setting. Storyboards are edited together into sequences that provide early visualizations of the film that help demonstrate what works best for the story. 

Prior to Pixar, Yates interned at Walt Disney Animation Studios before working at Cartoon Network. He also worked on Guillermo del Toro’s Trollhunters at DreamWorks Animation. Yates also co-directed the award-winning short Legend of the Flying Tomato.

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AfroComicCon​‘s 1st virtual convention will be held on October 24, 2020. Due to COVID-19 concerns, the annual event started in 2017 by the ​Oakland Technology & Education Center (OTEC), ​will be held virtually and free through a portal on the organization’s website. Sponsored by the NNPA, the ​Oakland A’s, and Pixar Entertainment, AfroComicCon promises to be a day full of exciting panels, screenings, entertainment, gaming, cosplay and special guests. The 12-hour event is currently slated to be live-streamed across multiple platforms including YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook. You can register now.