Meet Domee Shi: The Ingenious Mind Behind Pixar's Turning Red

“Just relax a little bit, and don't be afraid to have fun

and to try things and don't take everything too seriously.

Not everything is life and death.”

~ Domee Shi

Domee Shi should be recognized as a premier digital creator in addition to being Pixar Animation Studios’ female filmmaker of many firsts! The Chinese-Canadian writer-director and animator has blessed the world with so many iconic and wholesome animation moments for fans of all ages! Inspired by the innovative mind of Studio Ghibli’s Hayao Miyazaki, and early Disney animators, Shi designed her craft around animated artistry that’s quirky, value-oriented, and at times a bit outlandish captivating!

The Sheridan College alumn maintains a thrilling 10+ year career with the historic Pixar Animation Studios with one of her most powerful and recent works- Disney’s Turning Red(2022) crafting a refreshing take on a coming of age tale! Some of her other works include the groundbreaking animated short, Bao(2018), an 8-minute tale of a steamed bun come to life shocking the woman preparing what she thought was an average meal. Domee Shi has a history of crafting somewhat outlandish stories, animations, and even comics that adhere to her own rules around the genres of fantasy and magical realism. Some of her more well-known works comprise story artists for Inside Out (2015) and The Good Dinosaur(2015). And some of her older pieces range from the webcomic My Food Fantasies(2014) in addition to storyboarding for various projects while at Sheridan College.

Telling an assortment of animated stories and taking on multiple roles as the director, storyboarder, animator, and screenwriter, Domee Shi expands the art of storytelling with unconventional humor and narrative styles that don’t solely revolve around themes of romantic love, but rather the intricacies of youth growing up and interpersonal relationships and raw humanness. The lighthearted nature of her work still resonates with audiences of all ages, striking essential chords when it comes to comprehending the chaos and nostalgia of growing up.

Breaking in headlines most recently, Domee Shi along with filmmaker Lindsey Collins has been promoted to executive leadership roles as vice president of creative and senior vice president of development both at Pixar, respectively.

Featured Creators

Meet: Princess Nokia

Allow us to reintroduce the one and only Nuerorican queen, Princess Nokia! The Harlem native songwriter and rapper popped on the underground scene as early as 2010, gaining more traction as of 2017.

Meet: Christina Oh

Film producer/ writer-director Christina Oh has reentered the headlines as she’s taken an executive position with Annapurna Pictures!

Radhika Apte Defines Badassery in "Ghoul"

Unnerved, unhinged, unafraid! We need y’all to watch Ghoul before it leaves Netflix!

How Bridgerton's Sharma Sisters Personify Limitless Love

Netflix’s Bridgerton has captivated audiences with its alternate universe approach to a historical romance series.

Euphoria: Empowerment or Expliotation?

Let’s talk about it! What’s up with Euphoria fans’ love-hate relationship with Sam Levinson and character sexualizations on the show?

Meet Atsuko: The Genius Behind Tiktok's Drop Challenge

Atsuko Okatsuka, better known by her stage name of ‘Atsuko’. If you’ve been keeping up with the latest on TikTok, Atsuko keeps things fresh, recently spearheading an incredible cultural reset in 2022 with her simple #YonceDropChallenge.

Meet Faye Wong: Always A Diva, Always In Blue

As the ‘Diva of Asia’ herself turns 52, looking iconically fabulous, it’s vital to recognize the ever-lasting influence of Faye Wong’s craft and conceptualization of genuine aesthetics on and off-screen.

Meet Domee Shi: The Ingenious Mind Behind Pixar's Turning Red

Domee Shi should be recognized as a premier digital creator in addition to being Pixar Animation Studios’ female filmmaker of many firsts!

Watch Lizzo's Watch Out For the Big Grrrls Immediately

Did y’all miss out on the audition casting call too?! The versatile Lizzo breaks bounds with her new streaming series, Watch Out For The Big Grrrls, showcasing an array of 13 of the best plus-size dancers across the country, all competing for their spot in Lizzo’s tour dance troupe!

Meet: Ruth Carter

Y’all- Miss Ruth E. Carter is the fashion diva making sure Black folks stay looking fabulous on screen! If you haven't heard of Ruth Carter, get familiar!

Meet Jenny Beaven : Still Making Waves With Another Oscar Win

What we see characters sport on-screen carries direct significance to how we interpret the overall story and costume designer Jenny Beavan has successfully crafted an exquisite brand around delivering some pretty awe-inspiring character costume creations!

Meet Samata Narra: SVP Diversity & Inclusion Warner Bros

Recently appointed as Senior Vice-President of Enterprise Inclusion Content Strategy at Warner Media Entertainment, Samata Narra joins the ranks of influential BIPOC executive women in TV who deliver on transformative approaches to storytelling in the genres of comedy and dramas!

Meet : Ellen Mirojnick

You may already be familiar with some of Ellen Mirojnick’s works. Anywhere from reimagining the new Cinderlla (2021) featuring Camilla Cabello, to livening up Hugh Jackman's showman’s and Zendaya’s aerial costumes in The Greatest Showman (2017), Mirojnick prominently established her presence on the fashion scene starting as early as the 1970s.

Meet Shygirl: Showing The World That Big Women Are Saucy Too

When I tell y’all we are thriving in the absolute best era for versatility in music and artistry, best believe that you need to add Shygirl to your next turnt up Spotify playlist!!

Ashin of the North: The Netflix Original Shifting Perceptions of Indigenous Peoples

The Netflix original series Kingdom (2019-Present), jetted off with massive international success as another Koren Hallyuwood zombie horror show for the horror history books!

The Cleaning Lady

In the U.S., there’s a common dialogue that places discussions of immigration on a binary of America ‘the great’ versus Mexico, when in reality, immigration occurs across all bounds.

Insecure's Series Finale Proves That Growth Can Be Messy

Growth don’t always look pretty! And Insecure offers self-reflection on how the healing, rectifying, and coping processes for loving and relationships can either leave you high and dry or rather content with steps for moving forward with your life.

Meet Simone Ashley

Before her role as Kate Sharma in Shonda Rhimes’ Bridgerton(2021), Simone Ashley had us cackling in Netflix’s hit comedy-drama, Sex Education(2021) as the vein wannabe cool girl, Olivia Hanan.

Meet Bela Bajaria : The Indian Executive Revamping Netflix

A board member of Women in Film, and executive head of Global TV at Netflix, Bela Bajaria has an extensive career in the business aspects of the film and television industries!

Meet Felicia Leatherwood: Black Hollywood's Slayage Queen

Leatherwood’s mission as a fashionista and hair connoisseur is grounded in healthier Black self-care and hair care routines!

Meet Kabir Akhtar : The Funny Mind of Never Have I Ever

Kabir Akhtar mirrors the blending of his Indian American identities with ultimate humor as he wields a sword against the typical troupes and depictions of BIPOC in media.

The Making of Insecure: The End

Issa Rae’s Insecure is an essential viewing! Not only have Black people and Black culture been more seen, more heard, more actualized into the mainstream in such a powerful way, but the show is also a stellar example of how to uplift one’s community on screen and in real-life practice.

Meet The TV Production Supreme: Shonda Rhimes

The Supreme TV production cinema queen, Shonda Rhimes holds a special place in the hearts of fans, actors, and behind-the-scenes crew, alike. Her significant and 27-year career is one to marvel at and learn from!

Meet MamaRika

MamaRika has worked consistently to become more than just a beautiful face in the music industry; holding music industry business knowledge to match her choral expertise.

Meet Kim Kimble

Kim Kimble has been in the game across two generations, inspiring Black stylists and design artists with her A-List celebrity clientele and the works’ she’s masterfully crafted for them.

Meet Tems

Tems Reaches U.S. Music Charts with an IHeart Radio Nomination!

Meet Anu Valia

An Indian woman is co-directing and reimagining Disney’s SheHulk, and we need to tune in!

Meet Lena Khan

Lena Khan has flipped the script with just her progressive presence in the film world, making a different subset of women feel seen!

Meet Geeta Malik

Geeta Malik has accomplished much amongst the screenwriting competition and film fellowship communities as a refreshing South Asian director and writer inspired by the dynamics of Desi culture and how she’s experienced it herself.

Meet Taika Waititi

Waititi has mastered peculiar and wacky envisionments of some iconic cinema characters, historical figures, and overall off-the-wall ideas about humanness and universal randomness.

CreatorSwathi ReddyOctober 6, 2022

Meet Domee Shi: The Ingenious Mind Behind Pixar's Turning Red

Breaking in headlines most recently, Domee Shi along with filmmaker Lindsey Collins has been promoted to executive leadership roles as vice president of creative and senior vice president of development both at Pixar, respectively.

HOME • ABOUT • LEARN • CONTACT