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:
Ratatouille (2007) WALL·E (2008) Cars 2 (2011) The Good Dinosaur (2015) Finding Dory (2016)
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" (kū), 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 premiered 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(s)2007RatatouilleStory Artist2008WALL-EStory Artist2011Cars 2Story Artist2015The Good DinosaurStory Artist2016Finding DoryStory Lead2025In Your DreamsDirector & Co-Writer Short Films +YearTitleRole(s)2004Rex Steele: Nazi SmasherDirector & Producer TV Episodes and Specials +YearTitleRole(s)2003The Venture Bros.Animator & Storyboard Artist2020-2021Go! Go! Cory CarsonExecutive Producer2020A Go! Go! Cory Carson Summer CampExecutive Producer2020A Go! Go! Cory Carson HalloweenExecutive Producer2020A Go! Go! Cory Carson ChristmasExecutive Producer2020Go! Go! Cory Carson: The ChrissyExecutive Producer2020Go! Go! Cory Carson: Chrissy Takes the WheelExecutive Producer
Awards and nominations +YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef2004Student Academy Award (Gold)AnimationRex Steele: Nazi SmasherWon2021Day Time Emmy AwardOutstanding Directing Team for a Preschool Animated ProgramGo! Go! Cory CarsonWon2022Children & Family Emmy AwardsOutstanding Directing Team for a Preschool Animated ProgramGo! Go! Cory CarsonNominated
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