Domee Shi

Domee Shi became the first woman to direct a short film at Pixar with the release of Bao in 2018. Her career transition from a student at Sheridan College to a pivotal creative leader at the studio reflects the shift toward original, character-driven animation in the modern streaming era.

Early Development and Education

Born in Chongqing in 1989, Shi moved to Canada at age two. Her artistic foundation was built under the guidance of her father, a landscape painter and fine arts professor. During her youth in Toronto, she engaged with online art communities and served as vice president of her high school anime club. She pursued formal training at Sheridan College, graduating in 2011 after completing coursework under Nancy Beiman that solidified her interest in storyboarding.

THE FREE TEST

How high is yours?

Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.

Take the IQ test →

Professional Ascent at Pixar

After a brief period as a cartooning instructor, Shi secured an internship at Pixar in 2011. Her role as a storyboard artist led to contributions on Inside Out, The Good Dinosaur, and Toy Story 4. She also performed storyboarding tasks for Incredibles 2, focusing on sequences involving Jack-Jack and Edna Mode. In 2014, she created an animated webcomic titled My Food Fantasies, which helped clarify her interest in narrative storytelling centered on food.

Directorial Breakthroughs

Bao was approved for production in 2015 and earned Shi the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 2019. Following this, she directed the 2022 feature Turning Red, which marked her as the first woman to solo direct a film in Pixar's history. The film was released on Disney+ in March 2022. Subsequently, she was appointed vice president of creative at the studio. Her involvement with the film Elio, scheduled for 2025, continues her trajectory as a key filmmaker for the company.