Prasansook "Fawn" Veerasunthorn[1][2] (Thai: ประสานสุข วีระสุนทร (ฝน)) is a Thai film director and animator. She worked on the Disney Animation films Frozen (2013), Moana (2016), and Zootopia (2016) as a storyboard artist, and as head of story on Raya and the Last Dragon (2021). The first feature film she directed was Disney's Wish (2023), in collaboration with Chris Buck.
Fawn Veerasunthorn | |
|---|---|
| Born | Prasansook Veerasunthorn Chonburi Province, Thailand |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2006–present |
| Employers |
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| Children | 1 |
Early life and education
editVeerasunthorn was born in Chonburi Province, Thailand. As a child, she was inspired by the film Dumbo, especially by a scene designed by Mary Blair.[1] She later attended Triam Udom Suksa School in Bangkok.[3] While studying medicine at Mahidol University, she assembled a portfolio to send to Paitoon Ratanasiritrawoot, another Triam Udom Suksa graduate and animator then working at Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida, who advised her to drop out of Mahidol and move to the United States to study fine arts at the Columbus College of Art and Design on a student visa.[4][5]
Career
editAfter graduating in 2004,[6] Veerasunthorn worked at studios such as 6 Point Harness, Warner Bros. Animation, Nickelodeon Animation Studios and Illumination, the latter as a story artist on the films The Lorax (2012) and Despicable Me 2 (2013). In 2011, Veerasunthorn joined the story department at Walt Disney Animation Studios, starting with the film Frozen (2013), which would go on to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2013.[1] She subsequently worked as a story artist on other Disney films, including Moana (2016), Zootopia (2016), and Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018). Veerasunthorn was later promoted to head of Disney's animation department[1] and served as head of story on Raya and the Last Dragon in 2021.
On September 9, 2022, during the 2022 D23 Expo Presentation, Disney Animation announced their next film as Wish, with Chris Buck and Veerasunthorn attached as directors.[7] Veerasunthorn was recognized by the Government of Thailand as the first Thai artist to direct a Disney animated film.[8]
Personal life
editVeerasunthorn currently lives in Burbank, California with her husband, daughter and two cats.[5]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Banana | Short film, story artist |
| Home Makeover | ||
| Orientation Day | ||
| 2011 | Hop | Storyboard artist |
| 2012 | The Lorax | Additional story artist |
| Hydee and the Hytops | Direct-to-video film, storyboard artist | |
| 2013 | Despicable Me 2 | Story artist |
| Frozen | Storyboard artist | |
| 2016 | Zootopia | Story artist |
| Moana | Story artist, visual development artist | |
| 2018 | Ralph Breaks the Internet | Story artist |
| 2021 | Raya and the Last Dragon | Head of story |
| 2023 | Wish | Director, story writer |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera | Key animator, 6 episodes |
| 2007–2008 | Kappa Mikey | Animator, 25 episodes |
| 2010 | Los Tres Trabajadores: Boss man | Television film, animator |
| Pink Panther and Pals | Storyboard artist, 16 episodes | |
| 2011–2012 | The Looney Tunes Show | Storyboard artist |
| 2012 | Robot and Monster | Storyboard artist, 8 episodes |
References
edit- ^ a b c d Holt, Nathalia (2019). The Queens of Animation: The Untold Story of the Women Who Transformed the World of Disney and Made Cinematic History. Little, Brown. ISBN 9780316439169.
- ^ Zahed, Ramin (March 20, 2020). "Animag's 2020 Rising Stars of Animation". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on August 31, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
- ^ Ruiz, Todd (May 14, 2014). "From Chonburi to the red carpet, Academy Award winner chased her dream". Coconuts. Archived from the original on July 27, 2023. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
- ^ Norapoompipat, Apipar (March 25, 2017). "Big draw in Hollywood". Bangkok Post. Archived from the original on February 24, 2024. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
- ^ a b ACMI. "Storyboarding at Disney Animation with Fawn Veerasunthorn". Archived from the original on February 24, 2024. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
- ^ "Notable alumni: Fawn Veerasunthorn (Animation, 2004)". ccad.edu. Archived from the original on July 27, 2023. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
- ^ Valentine, Rebekah; Kim, Matt (September 10, 2022). "Disney's 2023 Animated Film Is Called Wish". IGN. Archived from the original on September 11, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
- ^ "Fawn Veerasunthorn praised for being Disney's 1st Thai animation film director". Pattaya Mail. September 19, 2022. Archived from the original on July 27, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023.