Fawn Veerasunthorn

Prasansook "Fawn" Veerasunthorn is a Thai film director, animator and storyboard artist. She worked on the Disney Animation films Frozen (2013), Moana and Zootopia (both 2016) as a storyboard artist, as head of story on Raya and the Last Dragon (2021), and is set to make her directorial debut with the 2023 film Wish. Early life and education Veerasunthorn was born in Chonburi Province, Thailand. As a child, she was inspired by the film Dumbo, especially by a scene designed by Mary Blair. She later attended Triam Udom Suksa School in Bangkok. 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. Career After graduating in 2004, Veerasunthorn worked at studios such as 6 Point Harness, Warner Bros. Animation, Nickelodeon Animation Studios and Illumination, the latter where she worked as a story artist on the films The Lorax (2012) and Despicable Me 2 (2013). In 2011, Veerasunthorn began working on 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. She subsequently worked as a story artist for 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 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. Veerasunthorn was recognized by the Government of Thailand as the first Thai artist to direct a Disney animated film.