TigerCon ’26 Inspires Creativity, Career Exploration at RCC

Riverside City College’s (RCC) annual TigerCon returned April 29-30, filling the Hall of Fame and Business, Law & Computer Information Systems (BLCIS) Building with two days of creativity, cosplay and professional insight. Students, faculty and community members gathered to celebrate animation, illustration and storytelling through panels, workshops and contests that highlighted RCC’s growing artistic community.

Moderated by Will Kim, director of RCC Animation, TigerCon featured industry professionals including Andy Manley (The Simpsons), Travis Hanson (Life of the Party and The Bean), Patrick Scullin (RCC professor and illustrator), Max Winston (Emmy Award–winning director) and Abril Aiello Fregozo (Nickelodeon background painter and production assistant).

During his How to Make Comics session, Patrick Scullin, a tenured and highly respected professor at RCC, shared his passion for storytelling and visual art.

“TigerCon gives students a chance to see that comics and animation are not just hobbies, they are viable careers built on imagination and discipline,” Scullin said. “It is an honor to help ignite that spark of inspiration and remind them that creativity can shape their future.”

Cosplayers brought beloved characters to life with costumes fashioned from popular animated series and video games, including Sailor Moon, Naruto and Call of Duty. Contest winners received gift cards to local Riverside businesses Back to the Grind Coffee Shop and Nacho Ann’s Fabrics, celebrating craftsmanship, character design and the dedication of RCC’s creative community.

“Our goal is to connect education with inspiration,” said Will Kim, director of RCC Animation. “Seeing so many RCC organizations come together to create this impact was incredible. The collaboration we witnessed will be revolutionary for students’ education and careers.”

The event was supported by the Associated Students of Riverside City College (ASRCC), RCC Makerspace, RCC Library, the Department of Art & Art History and Applied Digital Media & Printing Services. Booths lined the promenade with vendors selling collectibles, stickers from fan-favorite animated series, ceramics and offering services such as face painting. Interim President Bishop, Ed.D., visited the booths, spoke with students and vendors, and absorbed the knowledge shared by panelists alongside attendees, reinforcing the college’s commitment to fostering creativity, connection and opportunity.

With packed rooms, vibrant cosplay and hands-on workshops, TigerCon ’26 stood as one of RCC’s most influential events for aspiring artists and animators, proving that when education and imagination meet, the results are nothing short of transformative.

Note: Student produced article by Sha-phan Welsh, edited and approved by Jessica Vierra, public affairs officer.