Pete Docter

Pete Docter (also credited as Peter Docter and Peter Hans Docter; born October 9, 1968, in Bloomington, Minnesota) is an American filmmaker and animator best known for shaping modern Pixar storytelling. Often described as a self-professed “geeky kid from Minnesota” who loved drawing cartoons, Docter turned that passion into a career defined by character-driven, emotionally resonant animation.

As a director, Docter helmed Pixar hits including Monsters, Inc. (2001) and Up (2009), followed by the acclaimed Inside Out (2015) and Soul (2020). Across multiple Academy Award nominations, he has won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature three times—an exceptional record that underscores his influence on the genre.

Beyond directing, Docter has appeared as himself in projects such as A Spark Story and the Pixar 2021 Disney+ Day Special, and has contributed voice work, including roles in Up and Mr. Incredible and Pals. Since 2018, he has served as Pixar’s Chief Creative Officer, guiding the studio’s creative direction while continuing to champion inventive, heartfelt animation.