Pixar Animation Studios has promoted Lindsey Collins and Domee Shi, the producer and director of the film Turning Red, to the positions of Vice Presidents, who will lead the development and creative departments at the organisation, respectively.
Pixar is a subsidiary of Disney that primarily focuses on computer animated feature films and shorts.
Turning Red is a coming-of-age story that revolves around Mei Lee, a 13-year-old Chinese-Canadian student who finds herself trapped in a hereditary curse that transforms her into a giant panda whenever she expresses strong emotions.
It released in March, and is the first Pixar feature film to be solely directed by a woman.
As the Vice President of Creative, Shi joins directors Andrew Stanton, Peter Sohn and Dan Scanlon, who also carry the same title, in guiding the studio’s filmmakers on their own productions as part of the Pixar Braintrust.
Shi joined Pixar as an intern in June 2011, and was soon hired to work as a story artist on the Academy Award-winning feature film Inside Out. She has also worked on other feature films such as The Good Dinosaur, Incredibles 2 and the Oscar-winning Toy Story 4. Shi wrote and directed the animated short film Bao, which went on to win an Oscar. Turning Red is her feature directorial debut.
On the other hand, Collins will lead the development group at Pixar for features and streaming, where current and upcoming filmmakers pitch story ideas for movies. She will report to Jim Morris, President of Pixar, and join the creative VP team, which supports Pete Docter, Chief Creative Officer, in guiding the studio’s creative direction.
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Collins joined Pixar in May 1997, and has 25 years of experience at the studio. She has worked on films like A Bug’s Life, Toy Story 2, the Academy Award-winning films Finding Nemo, Ratatouille, and WALL-E. Before joining Pixar, Collins worked at Disney Feature Animation for three years, managing creative teams on the films Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Hercules.
“Pixar has always been a place that seeks to delight and surprise audiences and I am thrilled to be able to expand on that legacy and help shape what comes next, surrounded by some of the most diverse, unique and inspiring filmmakers and voices working today,” said Collins about her new role.