Who is Domee Shi?

Domee Shi is an animation director, story artist and former Pixar animator best known for directing the first-ever feature-length Pixar animated short film Bao in 2018. She also worked as a story artist on Inside Out (2015) and Incredibles 2 (2018) and as a co-director on Toy Story 4.

High School Start in Film and Animation

She was born in Toronto, Canada, in 1989. She took her first steps into film-making in high school while participating in the 2010 Global Harmony Film Festival. From there, she became interested in animation after taking an animation class at George Brown College of Applied Arts & Technology.

Joining Pixar

She started her career as a story artist at Pixar Animation Studios in 2013. After five years with the renowned animation studio,  she directed the short film Bao which won more than one dozen awards, including the Academy Award for Best Animated Short at the 91st Annual Academy Awards. Bao tells the heartwarming story of a Chinese-Canadian mother’s relationship with her dumpling come-to-life son”. Through this project, Shi became the only female director of an Oscar-nominated Animated Short Film created by Pixar or Disney.

Toy Story 4 Co-Director

In 2019, Shi was promoted from story artist to co-director alongside Josh Cooley on Toy Story 4 —the first woman ever to hold that position within Pixar. The film was critically acclaimed, grossing over one billion dollars across worldwide box offices earning Domee Shi even more fame in Hollywood circles.

Educational Outreach Programs

Alongside all of her professional achievements, Domee Shi has also been extremely active with educational outreach programs to inspire young women to pursue their creative dreams within both films and animation industries. As a testament to those efforts, Domee became part of Makers’ “Women Makin History” campaign…

On top of all this, she has been openly critical of many industry issues such as representation, pay gaps, industry stagnation, toxic work environments etc.

Is Domee Shi Gay?

It is currently not known whether Domee Shi is gay. She has not publicly discussed her sexuality, and there have been no reports of her being in a relationship with another person. However, she has been an active ally for the LGBTQ+ community, speaking out in support of equal rights and working to create more inclusive stories in animation. She also recently won the Human Rights Campaign’s Visibility Award for her work in creating LGBTQ+ inclusive stories.

Domee Shi – Biography

Career

She has a long and successful career in the animation industry. After completing her education at George Brown College of Applied Arts & Technology, she started her career as a story artist at Pixar Animation Studios in 2013. She rose to become the first woman ever to be promoted from story artist to co-director alongside Josh Cooley on Toy Story 4. This earned her critical acclaim and a massive following. She also directed the first Pixar original animated short, Bao, which won over one dozen awards, including the Academy Award for Best Animated Short at the 91st Annual Academy Awards.

Philanthropy and Social Activism

She has also been actively involved in philanthropic and social activism initiatives. She has used her platform to advocate for diversity and representation in the animation industry, pay gaps, toxic work environments, and other industry issues. She was part of Makers’ “Women Makin History” campaign to inspire young women to pursue their creative dreams.

Innovation and Creativity

She has become a leader in innovation and creativity within the animation industry. Her work on Bao was praised for its unique blend of traditional Chinese culture with modern story-telling techniques, which earned her numerous awards. Additionally, her promotion to co-director of Toy Story 4 broke boundaries and showed that women could be successful in a traditionally male-dominated industry.

Shi’s work has inspired many in the animation industry and beyond. Her commitment to pushing boundaries and creating innovative, thought-provoking projects has made her a leader in the field. Her passion for education, diversity, and representation has been instrumental in furthering these causes. In addition to her professional accomplishments, she has also been involved in various philanthropic initiatives that have improved many people’s lives worldwide.

Achievements

She has won multiple awards for her work, including an Academy Award for Best Animated Short at the 91st Annual Academy Awards. Additionally, she was part of the team that earned a Golden Globe nomination for Toy Story 4 and a visual effects society award.

Due to her success in animation, Shi has also been honoured with a Coca-Cola New Generation Artist Grant and Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia.

Family/Personal Life

Domee Shi has kept a low profile regarding her personal life. She is believed to be of Chinese descent and was born in Toronto, Canada. Shi’s parents have supported her career and are believed to have encouraged her ambition and creativity from an early age. However, details regarding her family life remain unknown at this time.

Professional Network

She has made a name for herself in the animation industry by connecting with successful professionals and building relationships. She has been praised for her collaborative spirit, evident in her work on Bao and at Pixar, where she was part of a team that earned multiple awards. She has also worked with some of the top names in the animation industry, including directors Josh Cooley and Pete Docter. Additionally, she is a part of the Women in Animation organization, which brings together female professionals from various disciplines to support one another.

Before Fame

Domee Shi was born in Toronto, Canada and graduated from George Brown College of Applied Arts & Technology with an animation degree in 2012. After college, she began working as a story artist at Pixar Animation Studios and quickly rose through the ranks to become the first woman director to helm a Pixar short film. During her early years at Pixar, Shi worked on projects such as Inside Out, The Good Dinosaur, and Cars 3.

Trivia

Domee Shi has become the first woman to create and direct a Pixar short film. She directed the 2019 short Bao, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.

Although she is very private about her personal life, much has been speculation about whether Domee Shi is gay. While there is no confirmation, she has supported the LGBTQ+ community and has even attended events like the GLAAD Media Awards. Additionally, she has posted several pictures on her Instagram account with friends that may suggest she is a member of the LGBTQ+ community.

Domee Shi’s Net Worth

Since making her mark in animation, Domee Shi has earned a nice fortune from her career. She is estimated to have a net worth of around $2 million. Her wealth primarily comes from her work as an animator and director for Pixar Animation Studios. Also, she has earned several awards for her work, including the Annecy Cristal Award, Annie Awards, and the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.

Conclusion

Domee Shi is a critically acclaimed animator and director who is the first woman to direct a Pixar short film.

She inspires many in the animation industry and beyond, and her commitment to pushing boundaries and creating innovative projects has made her an important voice. Shi’s work has been recognized with several awards, including an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.

Although she is private about her personal life, Shi has supported the LGBTQ+ community, and there is speculation that she may be a member. She has an estimated net worth of $2 million.

Domee Shi – FAQs

– What films has Domee Shi directed?

Domee Shi is a renowned animator and director who has worked on some of the most successful films in the animation industry. She is best known for directing Bao, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 2019. Additionally, she co-directed Toy Story 4 and has been involved in various projects at Pixar Animation Studios.

– What awards has Domee Shi won?

Domee Shi is a highly decorated animator and director who has won numerous awards for her work. She won an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 2019 for Bao and a Golden Globe nomination for Toy Story 4. She was also honoured with a Coca-Cola New Generation Artist Grant and Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia.

– What are Domee Shi’s upcoming projects?

Domee Shi is working on her first feature film, which Disney will release. She will also collaborate with director Dan Scanlon for an upcoming Pixar project. Additionally, she continues to work on various television projects and commercials with her team at Pixar Animation Studios. Some of her most recent projects include the Netflix original series “Go! Go! Cory Carson” and the upcoming film “Luca”.

– How did Domee Shi get her start in the movie industry?

Domee Shi began her animation career in 2012 after graduating with an animation degree from George Brown College of Applied Arts & Technology. She then started working as a story artist at Disney’s Pixar Animation Studios and quickly rose. During her early years at Pixar, she worked on projects such as Inside Out, The Good Dinosaur, and Cars 3. In 2018, she was the first man to direct a Pixar short film.