Lee Unkrich

Lee Unkrich Bio

Lee Edward Unkrich, born on August 8, 1967, in Cleveland, Ohio, is an American film director, editor, and writer best known for his long association with Pixar Animation Studios. Over a career that began in 1985, Unkrich progressed from editing early computer-animated shorts to directing some of the most acclaimed feature films of the twenty-first century. He is widely recognized for his solo directorial work on Toy Story 3 and Coco, both of which earned Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature.

After twenty-five years at Pixar, Unkrich stepped away in January 2019 to focus on his family and personal projects, including a published book about Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. He later returned to the studio, and in 2025 he was announced as co-director of a sequel to Coco alongside Adrian Molina.

Early Life and Background

Lee Edward Unkrich was born on August 8, 1967, and raised in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, the only child of Emilie Unkrich and Robert Unkrich. His father was a World War II veteran and artist, and Unkrich was raised in the Jewish faith. Growing up in the Cleveland area gave him early access to theatre and the arts, and he spent much of his youth acting at The Cleveland Play House, a regional institution known for training young performers.

His experiences on stage nurtured a lifelong interest in storytelling and visual storytelling, and they helped set him on the path toward a career in film. After completing high school, Unkrich enrolled at the University of Southern California, where he studied at the School of Cinematic Arts. He graduated in 1990, and in 2011 the school honored him with the Mary Pickford Distinguished Alumni Award for his contributions to the cinematic arts.

Path to Director

Following his graduation from the University of Southern California, Unkrich worked for several years in television as an editor and director, building the technical and narrative skills that would shape his later feature work. In 1994, he was hired by Pixar on what was supposed to be a four-week contract, but the assignment extended into a twenty-five-year tenure that defined his career. His earliest feature credit at the studio was as editor on Toy Story in 1995, followed by supervising film editor duties on A Bug’s Life in 1998.

In 1999, Unkrich received his first directing credit as co-director of Toy Story 2, working alongside John Lasseter and Ash Brannon. The film was a critical and commercial success, and it established Unkrich as a key creative voice within Pixar. He continued in co-director roles on Monsters, Inc. in 2001 and Finding Nemo in 2003, films that expanded his range within the animation process and deepened his collaboration with the Pixar team.

Lee Unkrich Career

Early Career (1985–1999)

Unkrich began his professional career in 1985, working in television as an editor and director before moving into feature animation. His breakthrough opportunity came in 1994 when he joined Pixar on a short-term contract that became permanent. He edited Toy Story in 1995, the first fully computer-animated feature film, helping to shape its pacing and structure alongside the directing team. He followed that success with supervising editing duties on A Bug’s Life in 1998, contributing to the studio’s growing reputation for visually inventive storytelling.

By the late 1990s, Unkrich had earned a reputation as one of Pixar’s most trusted creative collaborators. In 1999, he was elevated to co-director on Toy Story 2, a sequel that became one of the most beloved animated films of its era. The film also led to internal recognition, and Unkrich was eventually appointed Vice-President of Editorial and Layout at Pixar, a leadership role he held while continuing to direct.

Breakthrough (2001–2010)

Unkrich continued to take on larger responsibilities, co-directing Monsters, Inc. in 2001 alongside Pete Docter and David Silverman, and Finding Nemo in 2003 alongside Andrew Stanton. Both films were massive commercial and critical successes, and both earned Academy Award nominations, reinforcing Pixar’s status as a leading animation studio. By the end of the decade, Unkrich was positioned to take on his first solo directorial assignment.

That assignment came in 2010 with Toy Story 3, a film that reunited audiences with Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and the rest of the toy gang as they faced the transition from childhood to adulthood. The film received widespread praise for its emotional depth, animation quality, and storytelling. It won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and earned Unkrich a personal nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay, marking his arrival as one of the most respected directors working in animation.

Notable Works and Milestones

Unkrich’s signature works include Toy Story 3 and Coco, both of which he directed solo to Academy Award-winning results. Toy Story 3 stands as one of the highest-grossing animated films ever released and remains a defining achievement of his career. His follow-up feature, Coco in 2017, was inspired by the Mexican holiday Día de los Muertos and won two Academy Awards, including Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song for Remember Me.

Lee Unkrich Award Nominations

Lee Unkrich has received multiple Academy Award nominations across his career, reflecting both his editorial work and his directorial achievements. His nominations include recognition for Best Animated Feature for Toy Story 3, along with a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay for the same film.

Lee Unkrich Awards Won

Unkrich has won Academy Awards in connection with two of his directed features. His first win came when Toy Story 3 was named Best Animated Feature in 2011. His second Academy Award came with Coco in 2018, which won Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song.

Lee Unkrich Family

Lee Edward Unkrich was born to Emilie Unkrich and Robert Unkrich, and he was raised as an only child in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. His father, Robert Unkrich, was a World War II veteran and artist whose background influenced Unkrich’s early interest in visual storytelling. Unkrich was raised in the Jewish faith, a part of his identity that has shaped his personal outlook throughout his life.

Personal Life

Unkrich married Laura Century in 1993, and the couple has three children. After twenty-five years at Pixar, he announced his retirement in January 2019 to spend more time with his family. He came out as bisexual to his family in 2021 and publicly in 2022.