Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images North America
Whenever I’m asked the question, “What’s your favorite movie genre?” I laugh a little thinking if my answer would be age-appropriate and say, “Animation.” Call me a kid, but who could resist the cute animated characters and humorous story lines? Recent announcement from DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. confirms that I can’t possibly be the only adult who enjoys watching movies that remind me of my childhood times. The summer sequel Kung Fu Panda 2 has grossed over $645 million globally to date. You would’ve never guessed that Jennifer Yuh Nelson, now the highest-grossing female director for a film at the worldwide box office, was once hesitant to take up the position. It’s a really notable achievement for an Asian American woman, especially considering this is Nelson’s directorial debut.
The polite, soft-spoken director is passionate for martial arts so it’s not a wonder that she makes the perfect director for the film. Plus, she grew with the characters; she was there from the start, serving as head of story and “dream sequence director” in Kung Fu Panda, one of the top ten animated movies of all time. But she doesn’t give herself all the credit; being the humble woman that she is, she claimed that no animated movie could be made without a huge group of talented and inspiring artists. She thanks and congratulates her entire team for the success of Kung Fu Panda 2. Click here to read more in the cover story of Nelson in KoreAm.
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