Alex Woo (filmmaker)


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. He is also the director and co-writer of the Netflix animated feature In Your Dreams.

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. He later enrolled at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film and Television Production.

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. After graduating, he worked as a director in development at Lucasfilm Animation.

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", meaning "cry," reflecting the studio's goal of producing stories that make people "cry tears of laughter and tears of pathos".
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.

Filmography

Films
YearTitleRole
2007RatatouilleStory Artist
2008WALL-EStory Artist
2011Cars 2Story Artist
2015The Good DinosaurStory Artist
2016Finding DoryStory Lead
2025In Your DreamsDirector & Co-Writer

Short Films
YearTitleRole
2004Rex Steele: Nazi SmasherDirector & Producer

TV Episodes and Specials
YearTitleRole
2003The Venture Bros.Animator & Storyboard Artist
2020-2021Go! Go! Cory CarsonExecutive Producer
2020A Go! Go! Cory Carson Summer CampExecutive Producer
2020A Go! Go! Cory Carson HalloweenExecutive Producer
2020A Go! Go! Cory Carson ChristmasExecutive Producer
2020Go! Go! Cory Carson: The ChrissyExecutive Producer
2020Go! Go! Cory Carson: Chrissy Takes the WheelExecutive Producer