Domee Shi Named VP by Hollywood’s Pixar

By Jennie L. Ilustre

Domee Shi, director of “Turning Red,” has been promoted as vice president of Creative at Pixar Animation Studios, in recognition of her consistently outstanding work.

The announcement was made following the success of “Turning Red” as a certified hit, beginning with its debut as the No. 1 film premiere on Disney Plus.

Shi first gained international fame in 2019, when she won at the 91st Academy Awards for “Best Animated Short” for directing “Bao.” The award is more popularly known as the Oscar, Hollywood’s most prestigious honor.

Chinese Canadian Shi, 32, broke barriers twice while working at Pixar, according to the New York Times’ Jennifer Liu. When Shi directed “Turning Red,” she became the first woman with sole director’s credit on a feature film for Pixar in the studio’s 36-year history.

With “Bao,” Shi became the first woman to direct a Pixar short. She also made history as the first woman of color to win an Oscar for best animated short film.

“I think it’s really fabulous that Domee has been promoted at Pixar,” Donald Young, Director of Programs at the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) in San Francisco, California, said in an email. He added he usually does not comment on issues in the media. CAAM’s main work involves “making documentaries for PBS, developing filmmaker talent, and CAAMFest, our film festival.”

 

Praise from CAPAW

Sue Ann Hong, President & CEO of the Center for Asian Pacific American Women (CAPAW), lauded Shi’s groundbreaking achievements and her uplifting impact on the community, and to women and girls in particular.

She said in an email: “It’s a historic time for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities. We continue to experience both anti-Asian hate sentiments and breaking the ceiling to be the first AANHPI women to be in these spaces.”

“It’s important for women and girls to see representation of leaders like Domee Shi being promoted in an executive role and receiving the recognition for her work,” she pointed out. “It gives hope to what’s possible.”

On reading the News Link forwarded to her, CAPAW President & CEO Hong said two things caught her attention. She said, “With ‘Turning Red,’ Shi became the first woman ever to be a solo director on a Pixar feature, and that according to Disney, the movie was the No. 1 film premiere on Disney Plus in the streamer’s history.”

 

From Intern to VP

Shi, 32, accomplished animator, director and screenwriter, started as an intern at Pixar in 2011. Disney and DreamWorks turned her down when she applied as an intern. But her father, a college professor and an artist, advised her to try again, according to the Times. At Pixar, she got accepted to a three-month internship as a storyboard artist.

Shi was Pixar’s storyboard artist for multiple films, including “Inside Out” (2015), “Incredibles 2” (2018), and “Toy Story 4” (2019).

In her new position as vice president of Creative, Shi will work with directors Andrew Stanton, Peter Sohn and Dan Scanlon for Pixar Braintrust, according to an article by Bryan Ke. She will be in charge of guiding the company’s filmmakers as they work on their own projects.

Pixar announced Shi’s promotion on April 5 along with Lindsey Collins, producer of the hit film “Turning Red.” Collins was promoted as senior vice president of Development.

 

Background

Shi, an only child, came to Canada with her parents when she was two years old, according to Wikipedia. She studied animation at Sheridan College in California. But her earliest teacher was her father, who was a fine arts professor and landscape painter in China.

When directing “Bao,” she said she was inspired by her mom. “My Chinese mom was always making sure I never wandered away too far. That I was safe,” she recalled.

“Bao” is the story of an elderly mother who gets lonely when her child moves out. When one of her dumplings comes to life, she becomes its mother. (Chinese dumplings are steamed buns with pork, beef or shrimp fillings.)

As a high school student, Shi watched anime or Japanese-style animation. She also read manga, which are graphic novels illustrated in black and white.

 

Asian Stories

Through “Bao” and now “Turning Red,” Shi told the New York Times she is “encouraged to tell stories that reflect her experience as an Asian woman from Canada,” while tackling issues such as complicated parent-child relationships.

“Turning Red” tells the magical story of Meilin “Mei” Lee, a Chinese Canadian girl who navigates the roller-coaster experience of an adolescent, as well as her relationship with her mom.

Mei, 13, turns into a giant red panda whenever she gets overwhelmed by emotions typical of a female teenager, and as a daughter of an Asian mom. “Turning Red” is available to stream on Disney Plus.