In the sleek downtown offices of Pixar Animation Studios’ Toronto satellite, Domee Shi sits with a quiet confidence that belies her groundbreaking achievements. The Oscar-winning director’s latest feature, “Elio,” represents not just another milestone in her impressive career, but a deeply personal exploration of identity, belonging, and the universal experience of feeling like an alien in your own world.
“I’ve always been drawn to stories about outsiders,” Shi tells me, gesturing to concept art scattered across the table. “Growing up in Toronto as a Chinese-Canadian kid, I constantly navigated between cultures, much like Elio navigates between Earth and intergalactic civilizations.”
This sentiment resonates powerfully through “Elio,” Pixar’s upcoming feature about an 11-year-old boy who accidentally becomes Earth’s ambassador to the cosmos. The film’s themes of displacement and discovery mirror Shi’s own journey from immigrant child to animation powerhouse—a trajectory that has fundamentally reshaped the landscape of mainstream animation.
Shi’s rise has been meteoric yet methodical. After joining Pixar as a storyboard artist on “Inside Out,” she created the Oscar-winning short “Bao,” a tender meditation on maternal love through the lens of Chinese culture. Her feature directorial debut, “Turning Red,” set in Toronto’s Chinatown, further established her singular voice, earning acclaim for its authentic portrayal of adolescence and cultural specificity.
“Toronto shaped me as a storyteller,” Shi explains. “The multicultural fabric of this city taught me that universal stories can emerge from highly specific experiences.” This philosophy infuses “Elio” with a remarkable authenticity despite its cosmic setting. Beneath the dazzling alien worlds and interstellar adventures lies a story fundamentally about finding connection—a theme that feels particularly resonant in our increasingly fragmented world.
What distinguishes Shi’s work is her unwavering commitment to emotional honesty. While animation has traditionally skewed toward simplistic emotional landscapes, Shi’s characters navigate complex feelings with nuance rarely seen in the medium. “Animation isn’t just for kids,” she insists. “It’s a powerful medium to explore human complexity in ways live action sometimes can’t.”
This approach has revolutionized Pixar’s storytelling approach. Data from the studio reveals that “Turning Red” attracted unprecedented adult viewership, challenging long-held assumptions about animation’s demographic appeal. Cultural critics have noted that Shi’s work represents a significant shift in the industry’s willingness to embrace diverse storytelling perspectives.
“When I first started at Pixar, I never saw myself directing,” Shi admits. “There weren’t many women in those roles, let alone Asian women. Now I hope young artists see my path and realize those barriers are breaking down.” Indeed, since Shi’s directorial debut, Pixar has significantly expanded its development pipeline for women and BIPOC creators.
As our conversation winds down, Shi reflects on the personal significance of “Elio.” “This film explores what happens when someone unexpected becomes a bridge between worlds. That’s been my experience as a storyteller—translating between cultures, finding universal connection points.” She pauses, thoughtfully. “Maybe we’re all aliens in some way, just looking for our cosmic community.”
“Elio” arrives in theaters next month, but its impact on animation’s evolving landscape is already evident. Through Shi’s distinctly Toronto-influenced lens, Pixar continues its evolution from beloved children’s entertainment to a studio creating multi-layered narratives that resonate across generations. In doing so, they’ve found their perfect ambassador in Domee Shi—a visionary who transforms feeling “alien” into something profoundly universal.
As I leave the studio, I can’t help wondering: in our increasingly diverse yet divided world, might storytellers like Shi be our most important cultural translators? Perhaps through their work, we can all feel a little less alien to one another.
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