Turning Red Director Domee Shi to Helm Pixar’s First-Ever Feature Musical

Domee Shi Set to Direct Pixar’s First Feature Musical

Even as Pixar pivots toward its major franchises, the studio is still betting on bold, original ideas. Leading this charge is Domee Shi, who is set to break new ground by helming the studio’s very first full-length musical—a historic departure for the animation powerhouse.

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A recent profile from The Wall Street Journal exploring Pixar’s evolving company culture and box office strategy has offered a first glimpse into a historic new project: the studio’s inaugural feature musical.

While Pixar has yet to officially announce the film, reports from “insiders familiar with the project” indicate it will be helmed by Domee Shi, the visionary director behind the streaming hit Turning Red and the Academy Award-winning short Bao.

Though specific plot details are still under wraps, Pixar’s Senior Vice President of Development, Lindsey Collins, hinted at a bold creative direction for the film:

“One of the things that brought the initial group together here was a desire to rebel against the traditional Disney musical,” Collins shared. “This next generation grew up on Pixar, and they’re figuring out their version of rebellion.”

Domee Shi has quickly emerged as a leading voice in what Pixar’s SVP of Development, Lindsey Collins, calls the studio’s “next generation” of filmmakers. Since joining Pixar in 2011, the Chinese-Canadian animator built an impressive resume as a storyboard artist on blockbusters like Inside Out, The Good Dinosaur, and Incredibles 2.

Shi’s directorial breakthrough came with the 2018 short Bao, a poignant blend of cultural heritage and family dynamics inspired by her own upbringing. The film made history as the first Pixar short directed by a woman and earned the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.

Building on that momentum, Shi made her feature directorial debut with Turning Red. The film, which centers on a 13-year-old girl in Toronto who transforms into a giant red panda when overwhelmed by emotion, continued Shi’s tradition of using personal, semi-autobiographical storytelling to explore complex themes of identity and generational pressure.

What do you think of a Pixar musical?

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