Directing at Pixar with Producer Jonas Rivera and Directors Carrie Hobson, Mike Jones, Peter Sohn, and Michael Yates

Looking for a new “direction” this Spring? Join us for an exclusive panel discussion moderated by Pixar producer Jonas Rivera with directors Carrie Hobson, Mike Jones, Peter Sohn, and Michael Yates as they share insights about their experiences working in various departments at Pixar Animation Studios and directing projects encompassing television shows (including this year’s Disney+ series, Win or Lose), animated short films, and animated feature films.

Tickets for Directing at Pixar with Producer Jonas Rivera and Directors Carrie Hobson, Mike Jones, Peter Sohn, and Michael Yates will be available as follows:

• Walt’s Circle Donors: Purchase tickets beginning Tuesday, April 15 at noon PST by emailing membership@wdfmuseum.org.
• Supporter, Founding, and Friend-level members: Purchase tickets beginning Wednesday, April 16 at noon PST by emailing membership@wdfmuseum.org.
• All member levels: Purchase tickets beginning Thursday, April 17 at noon PST via the Member Portal.
• Public (non-members): Purchase tickets beginning Friday, April 18 at noon PST online.

Join as a member or upgrade your current membership to receive priority access and discounts to programs like these. For more information, please visit our Membership page

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Carrie Hobson began at Pixar Animation Studios as an art intern in 2012. She was hired full time in the Story Department in 2016 and worked as a story artist on the Academy Award®-winning feature Toy Story 4 (2019) and was also the Associate Executive Producer of Luca (2021). Hobson most recently wrote, directed, and executive produced the new series Win or Lose, along with Michael Yates, which debuted on Disney+ on February 19, 2025.

In her most recent role on Win or Lose, Hobson wrote and directed episodes throughout this unique, multi-protagonist series. Following the perspectives of eight different main characters across the show, Hobson and Yates partnered to deliver a series that is jam-packed with bold stories and animation styles throughout the ambitious project.

Prior to joining Pixar, Hobson interned at Disney Consumer Products and was also an art trainee with Walt Disney Animation Studios. She then worked as an illustrator at Jib Jab Media and a background designer at Cartoon Network.

Hobson grew up in Mesa, Arizona, and attended Red Mountain High School before moving to California to attend California Institute of the Arts. She currently resides in Oakland, California. 

Michael Yates joined Pixar Animation Studios in 2015 as a story artist. Yates worked on Cars 3 (2017), in addition to Academy Award®-winning films Toy Story 4 (2019) and Soul (2020). Yates is Director and Executive Producer of the new Pixar series Win or Lose, along with Carrie Hobson, which debuted on Disney+ on February 19, 2025.  

In his role on Win or Lose, Yates wrote and directed episodes throughout this unique, multi-protagonist series. Following the perspectives of eight different main characters across the show, Yates and Hobson partnered to deliver a series that is jam-packed with bold stories and animation styles throughout the ambitious project. 

Yates was also the co-author and illustrator of the acclaimed comic book Urban Legendz (2019). Prior to joining Pixar, he interned at Walt Disney Animation Studios before working at Cartoon Network and DreamWorks Animation.  

Yates grew up outside of Chicago in Northwest Indiana and attended Ringling College of Art and Design. He currently resides in Oakland, California.

Peter Sohn joined Pixar Animation Studios in September 2000 and has worked on Academy Award®-winning feature films including Finding Nemo (2003), The Incredibles (2004), and WALL•E (2008). Sohn made his directorial debut on the Pixar short Partly Cloudy (2009), and then went on to direct his first feature The Good Dinosaur (2015). He was an Executive Producer on Luca, which debuted on Disney+ in June 2021. Most recently, Sohn directed Disney and Pixar’s feature film Elemental, which opened in theaters on June 16, 2023 and is now streaming on Disney+. Elemental was nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature.

In his role as a Creative VP, Sohn is involved in key creative decision-making at the studio and consults on films in both development and production. 

In addition to his contributions as a filmmaker, Sohn has lent his voice talents to several of Pixar’s feature films. In Ratatouille (2007) he voiced the character of Emile, and in Monsters University (2013) he is the voice of Scott “Squishy” Squibbles. For Lightyear (2022), Sohn voiced Buzz’s lovable robotic feline sidekick, Sox. 

Prior to Pixar, Sohn worked with Ratatouille director Brad Bird at Warner Bros. on The Iron Giant (1999). He also worked at Disney Television Animation. He grew up in New York and attended California Institute of the Arts (CalArts). He currently lives in the Bay Area.

Mike Jones has been a writer and story consultant at Pixar Animation Studios since June 2013 and he joined the studio full-time in March 2017. He co-wrote Pixar’s Academy Award®-winning feature film Soul, which debuted on Disney+ on December 25, 2020, and Luca, which released on Disney+ on June 18, 2021. He has served on the brain trusts for many Pixar films including Finding Dory (2016), Incredibles 2 (2018), and the Academy Award®-winning features Inside Out (2015), Coco (2017), and Toy Story 4 (2019). He also serves on the story trusts for many SparkShorts as well as features in early development. Most recently, Jones wrote, directed, and executive produced the original series Dream Productions, inspired by the world of Inside Out, and released on Disney+ in December 2024. Dream Productions also won the 2025 ASIFA Annie Award for “Best Limited Series.”  

As the series director, Jones oversaw all creative aspects of Dream Productions while also directing the series finale. In his capacity as the studio’s senior story and creative artist, Jones also works with other directors to develop their stories in their early stages. After early development, Jones continues to work with the production departments as needed: by writing sequences, consulting on storyboards, and advising on editorial assemblies. 

Before joining Pixar, Jones was a working screenwriter for 20 years. He also served on the editorial staff of Filmmaker Magazine, Indiewire, and Variety. 

Jones grew up in San Antonio, Texas. He resides in Northern California.