Jennifer Yuh
Jennifer Yuh Nelson is a South Korean-born director and storyboard artist renowned for her significant contributions to animated films, most notably directing *Kung Fu Panda 2* (2011). Born on May 7, 1972, in South Korea, she moved to Lakewood, California, at the age of four, where a passion for drawing and storytelling developed alongside her two older sisters. Yuh Nelson's career began in the animation industry as a cleanup artist, eventually leading her to HBO, where she directed episodes of *Spawn*.
Her tenure at DreamWorks Animation saw her rise through the ranks, contributing to various projects, including *Madagascar* and *Kung Fu Panda*. She played a crucial role in developing the character Po and directing *Kung Fu Panda 2*, which became a landmark film as only the second animated feature directed by a woman. The film's success was notable, grossing over $665 million worldwide, and it earned Yuh Nelson several accolades, including nominations for an Academy Award and Annie Awards.
Beyond animation, she directed the young-adult thriller *The Darkest Minds* (2018) and contributed to the Netflix anthology series *Love, Death, and Robots* (2021). In recognition of her influence and achievements, she received an honorary doctorate from California State University, Long Beach, in 2023. Nelson's work has not only garnered critical acclaim but has also paved the way for future female directors in animation.
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Subject Terms
Jennifer Yuh
Director
- Born: May 7, 1972
- Place of Birth: South Korea
Contribution: Jennifer Yuh Nelson is a South Korean–born director and storyboard artist who is best known for her work on the animated film Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011).
Background
Jennifer Yuh Nelson was born on May 7, 1972, in South Korea. When she was four years old, her parents moved her and her two older sisters to Lakewood, California. She and her sisters grew up drawing and watching their mother draw. Even at a young age, Nelson was mentally writing movies in her head, and she has said that drawing helped her express those movies. She studied illustration at California State University, Long Beach, as had both of her sisters.
Background
Nelson’s first job in the film industry was as a cleanup artist for Jetlag Productions. While her job was mainly to trace drawings and make photocopies, she occasionally worked on character designs and also had the chance to observe the entire animation process. Nelson was next hired by HBO to work on its animated series Spawn (1997–99), based on the comic book of the same name. She began as a storyboard artist and character designer but soon graduated to director, helming all six episodes of the second season and two episodes of the third. Around this time, Nelson also worked as a production illustrator and storyboard artist for the live-action film Dark City (1998).
In 1998, Nelson applied for a job with DreamWorks Animation because she knew that they were producing Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002) and she enjoyed drawing horses. One of her sisters, Catherine Yuh Rader, was already working for Pacific Data Images (PDI), which was first partly and then fully owned by DreamWorks. After finishing work on Spirit, Nelson continued working with the company, becoming head of story for Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (2003). After working as a story artist on Madagascar (2005), she served as head of story, action-sequence supervisor, and dream-sequence director for Kung Fu Panda (2008). She also helped develop the personality of the main character, the panda Po, who was voiced by Jack Black. Nelson won a 2009 Annie Award for her work as storyboard artist on the film.
Next, Nelson directed Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011), working with Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, and Jackie Chan, among others. In the film, Po learns that he is adopted and searches for his birth parents. Gary Oldman voices villain Lord Shen, a white peacock whose character was developed by Nelson and character designer Nico Marlet. Kung Fu Panda 2 was only the second animated picture ever to be directed solely by a woman, the other being The Tigger Movie (2000), directed by Jun Falkenstein. Some of the animators for Kung Fu Panda 2 had been working together for over seven years, and the movie took three years to produce. Rader worked as a story artist on the film.
Kung Fu Panda 2 brought in over $665 million internationally, making it the highest-grossing film of the year. It was also the highest-grossing female-directed film to date, surpassing Shrek (2001) and Happy Feet (2006), which were both codirected by women. While the sequel did not do as well as Kung Fu Panda in the United States, it made a strong showing overseas. For her work on the film, Nelson received the Whistler Film Festival’s first ever Trailblazer in Animation Award and, in 2012, became the first woman ever to be nominated for an Academy Award for best animated feature film. She also won the 2012 Annie Award for best director—the first woman to do so since 2001, when Vicky Jenson won for codirecting Shrek. Kung Fu Panda 2 was nominated for eleven other Annie Awards, including one for best production design, which it won.
In 2012, DreamWorks officially announced that it would be making a third film in the Kung Fu Panda franchise, with Nelson returning as director. Nelson codirected Kung Fu Panda 3, which was released in January 2016, with Alessandro Carloni.
The first live-action feature film Nelson directed was 2018's young-adult science-fiction thriller, The Darkest Minds. In the film, 98 percent of the world's children have been killed by a disease. The survivors have been deemed dangerous and forced into government-run camps, while the few who have managed to escape, including the sixteen-year-old protagonist Ruby (Amandla Stenberg), are being tracked down by armed "tracers." In 2021, Nelson directed two episodes of the popular Netflix series Love, Death, and Robots. In 2023, she received an honorary doctorate from California State University, Long Beach.
Impact
When Nelson took the helm of Kung Fu Panda 2, she broke new ground for female directors, and her success has paved the way for many women to follow. The lively action scenes in the 3-D version of the film also increased interest in 3-D movies.
Personal Life
Jennifer Yuh Nelson is married. She supports the Burbank Animal Shelter and the Red Cross.
Bibliography
Barker, Andrew. “Laurels Rest Here.” Variety. Variety Media, 25 Nov. 2011. Web. 28 Aug. 2013.
Chang, Richard. "Honorary Degree: The Beach Inspires Creative Spark for Alumna Directer Jennifer Yuh Nelson." California State University, Long Beach, 9 May 2023, www.csulb.edu/news/article/honorary-degree-the-beach-inspires-creative-spark-for-alumna-director-jennifer-yuh. Accessed 24 Sept. 2024.
Jolie, Angelina, and Jennifer Yuh Nelson. “Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Yuh Nelson: Newest Members of a Very Small Club.” Interview by Pamela McClintock. Hollywood Reporter. Hollywood Reporter, 8 Dec. 2011. Web. 28 Aug. 2013.
Kilday, Gregg. “DreamWorks Scores Two for the Home Team.” Hollywood Reporter 17 Feb. 2012: 93. Print.
Nelson, Jennifer Yuh. Interview by Geoffrey Gagnon. Atlantic. Atlantic Monthly Group, 2 Apr. 2011. Web. 28 Aug. 2013.
Nelson, Jennifer Yuh. “Interview with Kung Fu Panda 2 Director Jennifer Yuh Nelson.” CineMovie. A La Brava Entertainment, 31 May 2011. Web. 28 Aug. 2013.
Nelson, Jennifer Yuh, et al. “THR’s Animation Roundtable: 7 Top Filmmakers Debate R-Rated Toons and If Tintin Should Be Eligible for Ani Oscar.” Interview by Matthew Belloni and Noela Hueso. Hollywood Reporter. Hollywood Reporter, 22 Dec. 2011. Web. 28 Aug. 2013.
Sperling, Nicole. “Tough Enough.” Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2011. Web. 28 Aug. 2013.