Prasansook "Fawn" Veerasunthorn is a Thai-American animator and story artist, who works for Walt Disney Animation Studios. She is known for her work on films, such as Zootopia, Moana, Frozen, Raya and the Last Dragon, and Wish, which she co-directed with Chris Buck. Veerasunthorn is also the first woman of Southeast Asian descent to serve as the head of story for a Disney animated feature film.
Early life and career[]
Veerasunthorn was born and raised in Bangkok, Thailand. She developed a passion for drawing and storytelling from a young age, inspired by her father who was a comic artist. She also loved watching Disney movies and anime, which influenced her style and vision. She moved to the United States when she was 19 years old to pursue a career in animation. She studied at the Columbus College of Art and Design in Ohio, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Animation in 2006.
Veerasunthorn began her professional career as a character animator at Sony Pictures Imageworks, working on films, such as Beowulf, I Am Legend, and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. She then joined Walt Disney Animation Studios in 2010 as a story artist, contributing to films, such as Wreck-It Ralph, Frozen, Big Hero 6, Zootopia, and Moana. She also worked on the short films Paperman and Feast, which won Academy Awards for Best Animated Short Film.
In 2018, Veerasunthorn was promoted to the head of story for Raya and the Last Dragon, a fantasy adventure film set in a fictional world inspired by Southeast Asian cultures. She led a team of story artists who collaborated with the directors, writers, producers, and consultants to create the storyboards and animatics for the film. She also helped shape the characters and themes of the film, drawing from her own personal experience and cultural background. She said that working on Raya and the Last Dragon was a "dream come true" for her, as she felt proud to represent her region and heritage on the big screen.
Personal life[]
Veerasunthorn is married to Ryan Green, who is also an animator and story artist at Walt Disney Animation Studios. They have a daughter together. Veerasunthorn is active on social media platforms such as Instagram and Twitter, where she shares her artwork and insights on animation. She is also involved in mentoring programs and workshops for aspiring animators and storytellers. She has been recognized as one of the most influential women in animation by various publications and organizations.
External links[]
Fawn Veerasunthorn on Wikipedia
Fawn Veerasunthorn on IMDb- Fawn Veerasunthorn on Facebook
- Fawn Veerasunthorn on Instagram
