Alex Woo (filmmaker)
Alex Woo | |
|---|---|
| Education | |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2003-present |
| Employers |
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| Awards | Student Academy Award (2004) Emmy Award (2021) |
| Website | kukustudios |
Alex Woo is an American animator, filmmaker, and the founder and CEO of Kuku Studios, an independent animation studio. Woo has contributed to several acclaimed animated films and television series, including The Venture Bros., Ratatouille, WALL-E, Cars 2, The Good Dinosaur, Finding Dory and Go! Go! Cory Carson.[1] He is also the director and co-writer of the Netflix animated feature In Your Dreams.[2]
Early life and education
Born and raised in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Woo moved to Hong Kong as a teenager where he attended the Chinese International School.[3] He later enrolled at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film and Television Production.[4]
Career
Early work
Woo began his filmmaking career as an animator and storyboard artist on The Venture Bros. while studying at NYU. His short film Rex Steele: Nazi Smasher won a Student Academy Award.[5] After graduating, he worked as a director in development at Lucasfilm Animation.[6]
Pixar Animation Studios
In 2005, Woo joined Pixar Animation Studios as a story artist. During his decade-long tenure, he worked on several major films, including:
Kuku Studios
In 2016, Woo left Pixar to found Kuku Studios, an independent animation studio. The name "Kuku" is derived from the Chinese word "哭" (kū), meaning "cry," reflecting the studio's goal of producing stories that make people "cry tears of laughter and tears of pathos".[2]
At Kuku Studios, Woo was the creator and executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning animated series Go! Go! Cory Carson. He also directed and co-wrote the original animated feature film In Your Dreams, which is set to premiere on Netflix on November 14, 2025. The film follows two siblings who enter the world of dreams to find the Sandman and have their ultimate wish granted.[7]
Filmography
Films
| Year | Title | Role(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Ratatouille | Story Artist |
| 2008 | WALL-E | Story Artist |
| 2011 | Cars 2 | Story Artist |
| 2015 | The Good Dinosaur | Story Artist |
| 2016 | Finding Dory | Story Lead |
| 2025 | In Your Dreams | Director & Co-Writer |
Short Films
| Year | Title | Role(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Rex Steele: Nazi Smasher | Director & Producer |
TV Episodes and Specials
| Year | Title | Role(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | The Venture Bros. | Animator & Storyboard Artist |
| 2020-2021 | Go! Go! Cory Carson | Executive Producer |
| 2020 | A Go! Go! Cory Carson Summer Camp | Executive Producer |
| 2020 | A Go! Go! Cory Carson Halloween | Executive Producer |
| 2020 | A Go! Go! Cory Carson Christmas | Executive Producer |
| 2020 | Go! Go! Cory Carson: The Chrissy | Executive Producer |
| 2020 | Go! Go! Cory Carson: Chrissy Takes the Wheel | Executive Producer |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Student Academy Award (Gold) | Animation | Rex Steele: Nazi Smasher | Won | [5] |
| 2021 | Day Time Emmy Award | Outstanding Directing Team for a Preschool Animated Program | Go! Go! Cory Carson | Won | [8] |
| 2022 | Children & Family Emmy Awards | Outstanding Directing Team for a Preschool Animated Program | Go! Go! Cory Carson | Nominated | [9] |
References
- ^ "Alexander Woo | Producer, Writer, Director". IMDb. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
- ^ a b Lang, Jamie (2025-06-14). "'We Hatched Hairbrained Schemes to Save Our Family': Alex Woo's Childhood Memories Fuel Netflix's New Animated Film 'In Your Dreams'". Variety. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
- ^ "Alex Woo '99 – CEO, Film Director & Storyboard Artist – CIS Alumni Connect". 2019-02-18. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
- ^ "Animator Alex Woo is proud of his AAPI roots, but doesn't let it define his work". ABC7 New York. 2025-05-30. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
- ^ a b Ball, Ryan (2004-06-16). "Rex Steeles Student Oscar". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
- ^ Zahed, Ramin (2025-03-08). "Rising Stars of Animation 2025". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
- ^ Taylor, Drew (2025-06-13). "Annecy: 'In Your Dreams' Director Alex Woo Talks Netflix's Animated Epic". TheWrap. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
- ^ Schneider, Michael (2021-07-18). "Lupita Nyong'o, Mark Hamill Among Daytime Emmy Children's and Animation Winners". Variety. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
- ^ Hailu, Selome (2022-12-11). "2022 Children's & Family Creative Arts Emmy Winners (FULL LIST, NIGHT 1)". Variety. Retrieved 2025-09-07.