Have you watched Disney’s latest animated feature movie, Wish? Well, if you haven’t, you should ASAP, so you do not miss out on its wonderful story, since it already made its way to theaters on November 22, 2023!
But of course, if you haven’t watched the movie or the trailer yet, we’ll give you the synopsis for this new movie:
Set in the magical kingdom of Rosas, the story introduces a 17-year-old girl named Asha, an optimist with a sharp wit who deeply cares about her community. When Asha turns to the sky in a moment of need and makes a wish, her plea is answered by a cosmic force — a little ball of boundless energy called Star. Together, they face the most formidable of foes to save her community and prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars, wondrous things can happen.
Cute, right?
It was an adorable, emotional, and female-driven story that made us feel nostalgic, entertained, sad, inspired, and empowered. But in case you’re wondering what we mean about the female-driven part, it’s because aside from the main character Asha, who was voiced over by Ariana DeBose, the movie was written by Jennifer Lee and Allison Moore, and last but not the least, was co-directed by Fawn Veerasunthorn.
A Wish came true
The Thai film director and animator talked about her story, and what led her to where she is now with the New York Times.
Back in a small town in her home country, Thailand, Veerasunthorn didn’t grow up with many animation films or series to watch. She, in fact, just watched Dumbo several times with her siblings because they didn’t have many options. When she turned 15 years old, she studied computer science in Thailand and then proceeded to medical school and graduated in 2000.
Veerasunthorn got accepted, but during her studies, she mailed a letter to Paitoon Ratanasirintrawoot, a guest lecturer from her high school, who is a visual effects animator at the Walt Disney Company — the one that her heart always desired to work for.
Following your dreams
Ratanasirintrawoot answered her questions about the company, and Veerasunthorn then explained her plans to work there to her parents, which they eventually supported. After that, she dropped out of medical school to pursue her passions and dreams of working in the animation industry.
She moved to the United States and transferred to an art school while juggling to work for Disney’s animation studio in Florida, but unfortunately, it closed in 2004. That’s why she applied to Pixar and Disney’s California offices, but she was rejected many times.
For some, rejection means the end of trying, but Veerasunthorn thought otherwise as she applied to Disney again and finally got accepted in 2011! Such a determined and hardworking woman!
She has worked since then on many Disney films, like Moana, Zootopia, Frozen, and, of course, Wish.
“The journey that a person takes toward a goal — that is what this movie is about. It took me a few tries to get here. If I were to be discouraged the very first time, this would never have happened,” Veerasunthorn said, relating herself to the plot of Wish.
Truly, this new animation movie is not the only empowering and inspiring thing, especially since it features diverse ethnicities and body types for a wide range of characters, but it also shows the story of the woman behind the film. It shows how she had big dreams living in a small town in Thailand, how she handled rejections, and how she motivated herself despite the obstacles to achieving her dreams. She’s an inspiration for the creatives in the making!
For the latest news about Disney’s movies, series, theme parks, rides, festivals, merch, and restaurants, stay tuned to Famvia. Send us a message if you want to talk to Wish and discuss possible plots for a sequel, or if you want to plan your dream trip to the Happiest Place on Earth. We are here to help.
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