Jennifer Yuh Nelson Quotes

Powerful Jennifer Yuh Nelson for Daily Growth

About Jennifer Yuh Nelson

Jennifer Yuh Nelson, born on August 18, 1976, in California, is an acclaimed American animation film director, storyboard artist, and character designer, renowned for her work in the realm of animated films. Nelson's passion for art was evident from a young age. She pursued her interest in animation at the California Institute of Arts, where she studied Character Animation, honing her skills in drawing, painting, and storytelling. After graduation, Nelson joined DreamWorks Animation, where she contributed to various projects before moving to Fox Animation Studios. One of Nelson's most significant works is co-directing the 2010 blockbuster film "Kung Fu Panda 2." Her direction brought life to the characters and narrative, making it a critical and commercial success. The film earned her widespread recognition and numerous awards, including an Annie Award for Best Directing in an Animated Feature Production. In 2016, Nelson directed "The Good Dinosaur," a Pixar production that marked her first collaboration with the studio. While the film faced challenges during production, it showcased Nelson's ability to tell emotional and compelling stories through animation. Despite the challenges in the industry, Nelson continues to push boundaries and inspire new generations of animators. Her work not only showcases technical skill but also a deep understanding of storytelling and character development. Nelson's quotes reflect her dedication to her craft and her belief in the power of animation to create meaningful experiences. She once said, "Animation has always been my passion, and I love that it's a medium where you can take any idea, no matter how crazy, and bring it to life." Nelson continues to bring her unique vision to animated storytelling, leaving a lasting impact on the industry.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Believe in yourself and your dreams will come true."

This quote suggests that having self-confidence and believing in oneself is essential for achieving one's dreams or goals. The belief in oneself fosters the determination, resilience, and optimism required to pursue aspirations and overcome challenges that may arise along the way. In essence, the quote emphasizes the power of self-belief in realizing one's potential and making one's dreams a reality.


"The journey is often more important than the destination."

This quote by Jennifer Yuh Nelson emphasizes the significance of the process or journey over the end result, or destination. It suggests that personal growth, experiences, and the lessons learned along the way are just as important, if not more so, than achieving a specific goal or reaching a particular place. The idea is to enjoy and learn from the process of life rather than solely focusing on the outcome, as it's the journey that shapes us into who we become.


"Everyone has a story, and everyone deserves to have it told."

This quote emphasizes the importance of each individual's unique experiences and perspectives, suggesting that every person has a significant tale to share. It underscores the idea that every life story is valuable and worthy of being heard or told, regardless of one's background, status, or circumstances. In essence, it encourages empathy, understanding, and respect for all human beings as storytellers, acknowledging their inherent worth and the potential impact their stories can have on others.


"Embrace your uniqueness, for that's what makes you extraordinary."

This quote suggests the importance of embracing one's individuality, as it is this uniqueness that sets individuals apart and makes them extraordinary. Instead of striving to fit into a mold or conforming to societal expectations, acknowledging and celebrating personal differences can lead to self-acceptance and the discovery of one's true potential. By fully embracing their unique qualities, people can tap into their individual strengths, talents, and passions, leading to personal growth and success in life.


"In the face of adversity, we find our true strength."

This quote suggests that when faced with challenging circumstances or adversity, individuals have the opportunity to discover and exhibit their innate resilience, courage, and inner strength. Adversity serves as a crucible, revealing one's character and capacity for endurance. In other words, it is through overcoming obstacles that we can uncover our true potential and character.


I'm not aggressive by nature and it was tough for me to make the transition to directing.

- Jennifer Yuh Nelson

Nature, Me, Directing, Aggressive

Growing up, my sisters and I would always talk stories. One of my frustrations was I didn't know anything about cameras. I didn't know how to make a film and I obviously didn't have a special effects budget. I was a kid. So I was learning to draw to get down the stuff that was in my head, that I couldn't afford to actually do.

- Jennifer Yuh Nelson

Kid, Special Effects, About, Budget

Every movie goes through that U-shape where you start with 'Oh that's a great idea. I love it.' Everything's possible and then you face 'Oh, we can't do that, and that's impossible, and that's a bad choice.' You go the practicality of it. And then you come up to 'Great.' But that middle part is when you don't have results yet.

- Jennifer Yuh Nelson

Love, Through, Movie, Practicality

There aren't a lot of female story artists, and it's baffling to me. There are a lot of kids in school that are female and I wonder, 'Where did they all go?' People have brought it up, asking me, 'What did you do?' I don't really know. I puttered along, did my thing and gender has really never been an issue.

- Jennifer Yuh Nelson

Gender, Been, Brought, I Wonder

I've been drawing my whole life. My mom says my sister and I were drawing by age 1. Animation seems a real, natural extension of drawing as a way of telling a story visually.

- Jennifer Yuh Nelson

Been, Telling, Extension, Animation

A lot of the time in animation is spent getting the story right - that's something you can't rush.

- Jennifer Yuh Nelson

Getting, Lot, Spent, Animation

I don't think about the gender thing very much. But when I speak at schools, I've had female students say to me afterwards, "I never envisioned myself being a director, since I've never seen women do it." But after seeing me, they can picture themselves directing, so maybe we'll see more female directors.

- Jennifer Yuh Nelson

Gender, Maybe, Very, Directing

I'm a very soft-spoken person. I don't throw furniture. I don't throw tantrums.

- Jennifer Yuh Nelson

Furniture, Throw, Very, Tantrums

If you have a movie that doesn't strive to go to a certain emotional point, you can do anything and it will be fine and funny. But if you have something pretty emotional at its core, you have to make it right. You don't want it overwrought or unearned. Everything has to be moving towards this one thing.

- Jennifer Yuh Nelson

Anything, Movie, Point, Core

When you make a movie, it's just so personal and then you put it out in front of people and it becomes something else.

- Jennifer Yuh Nelson

Personal, Movie, Then, Something Else

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