Walt Disney Family Museum Hosts Star-Studded ‘Directing at Pixar’ Panel

The Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco is spotlighting the creative minds behind some of Pixar’s most beloved films and series with a special panel event titled “Directing at Pixar.” Scheduled for Saturday, May 17 at 1 p.m., this exclusive discussion brings together a lineup of acclaimed Pixar directors for a deep dive into the storytelling, production, and vision behind their animated works.

Ticket Information:

• April 15 – Walt’s Circle donors

• April 16 – Supporter, Founding & Friend-level members

• April 17 – All members

• April 18 – General public
  More details available at waltdisney.org.

A behind-the-scenes journey into Pixar’s creative process

Moderated by Jonas Rivera, producer at Pixar Animation Studios, the panel will feature a conversation with directors Carrie Hobson, Mike Jones, Peter Sohn, and Michael Yates. Together, they will reflect on their diverse paths within Pixar—covering everything from short films to streaming series and theatrical features.

Carrie Hobson

Carrie began her Pixar career as an art intern in 2012, later joining the Story Department in 2016. She served as a story artist on the Oscar-winning Toy Story 4 and was Associate Executive Producer on Luca. Hobson recently co-wrote, co-directed, and executive produced the new Disney+ series Win or Lose, which debuted on February 19, 2025.

Michael Yates

Joining Pixar in 2015, Yates contributed to Cars 3, Toy Story 4, and Soul. He co-created Win or Lose with Hobson, serving as both director and executive producer. His journey from story artist to showrunner reflects Pixar’s strong internal development model.

Peter Sohn

A Pixar veteran since 2000, Sohn has worked on animated classics like Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and WALL•E. He made his directorial debut with the short Partly Cloudy before helming the feature film The Good Dinosaur. Most recently, he directed Pixar’s 2023 theatrical release Elemental, now streaming on Disney+. The film earned an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature.

Sohn also serves as a Creative VP at Pixar, advising on projects across development and production.

Mike Jones

With Pixar since 2013, Mike Jones has contributed to several award-winning films including Soul, Luca, Inside Out, and Coco. He played a key role in Pixar’s “brain trust” and most recently wrote and directed the original Disney+ series Dream Productions, inspired by the world of Inside Out. The series, which premiered in December 2024, went on to win the 2025 ASIFA Annie Award for Best Limited Series.

Key details in one place

Why this panel matters

This rare public event offers fans, students, and aspiring creators a chance to gain firsthand insight from the visionaries shaping Pixar’s future. From navigating story development to directing for new platforms like Disney+, these filmmakers represent the evolving scope of animation today.