Sitting at her desk in Pixar Animation’s Emeryville, California studio, she might absentmindedly tap her pen to conjure the flutter of fabric or the sweep of wind through a character’s hair. Each frame she helps bring to life carries echoes of her own story — from childhood hums of creativity in Mesquite, to the shimmering heights of her work as a Simulation Technical Director on Elio, Pixar’s newest cosmic escapade coming to theaters on June 20.
For Derry, the path to the stars has been both grounded and extraordinary.
"Every stitch, every ripple, every flow of motion carries a story," Derry tells us, her voice exuding both humility and passion.
For nearly five years, she’s carefully spun these threads into the woven artistry of Pixar films, contributing to Turning Red, Lightyear, and now Elio, which soars into theaters on June 20. But before Hollywood turned its gaze toward her work, Mesquite nurtured her as an artist and thinker. This, she emphasizes, is where the spark began.
Mesquite Roots and Artistic Foundations
Raised in the Dallas suburb of Mesquite, Derry’s introduction to art was a happy byproduct of curiosity. She fondly recalls her childhood spent exploring the expanses of Ruby Shaw Park and, when indoors, honing her craft with pencil and paper.“I was a bit of an indoor kid, but the art programs in school just pulled me in,” she recounts. “The National Art Honor Society and Art UIL competitions were really eye-opening for me. They introduced me to the idea of a larger art community.”
Though her initial plans didn’t explicitly include animation, life has had a way of bending trajectories for the animator.
"It wasn't until late in high school, maybe my sophomore or junior year, that I realized I wanted to work in animation," Derry reveals.
Her art teachers, including the unforgettable Ms. Rojosic and Ms. Corpus, played a critical role.
“They were incredible," she says. "They really drilled into us the fundamentals of art and art theory, which built my foundation.”
Bolstered by those early lessons and fueled by her growing passion, Derry went on to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Visualization at Texas A&M University. It was there that she discovered the powerful union of art and technology, setting her on a course to bring characters to life in ways that feel achingly real to audiences.
Turning Passion into Pixar Magic
By September 2020, Derry had landed at Pixar Animation Studios, the Mecca of imaginative storytelling. There, she immersed herself in an entirely new rhythm of creative collaboration, learning to weave her technical expertise into Pixar’s larger-than-life vision. Over the years, she’s been part of projects that hold special places in audiences’ hearts, representing the convergence of talent, hard work and precision of detail."With Turning Red, I was working on things like panda poofs and tears. Lightyear sharpened my technical eye in completely different ways," she reflects.
Her latest work, Elio, took her craft to new heights. The film, directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Adrian Molina, introduces audiences to the titular character, a young boy mistakenly identified as Earth’s leader during an intergalactic misunderstanding. While navigating an interstellar identity crisis, Elio learns to turn what makes him unique into his strength. It’s a cosmic comedy packed with stunning visuals — including Elio’s show-stealing cape.
“It’s the details in that cape I’m proudest of,” Derry says. “When you watch the movie, notice how it moves when Elio turns, how it rests on his shoulders, and how it catches space winds.”
Her team worked tirelessly to make the cape’s movement believable, blending science with heartfelt artistry. Every flow and swirl of fabric required rigorous attention to realistic variables like weight, velocity and gravity.
“We built from real-life references,” Derry explains. “The tailoring department even created a real cape for us to study. We looked at how the fabric swished and moved, testing it in different contexts.”
This layered process highlights the thoughtful interplay between departments at Pixar, where collaboration and innovation converge.
"Most of the time, simulation begins after animators have locked down a character's movement and expressions," Derry explains. “Our job is to support that performance while adding another layer of believability. It’s a balance of respecting the animation while responding to environmental forces like wind, gravity or even zero-gravity in space.”
A Journey of Belonging and Reflection
While working on Elio, Derry found herself reflecting on the film’s themes of individuality and belonging. Elio’s story of feeling like an outsider struck a chord with her, echoing her own adolescence in Mesquite."[Elio] may be surrounded by people, but he still feels that loneliness," she says. "I think that’s a feeling many of us connect with, especially during our tween and teenage years.”
For Derry, finding her community at Pixar has been a source of both inspiration and pride.
“The studio has these wonderful Studio Resource Groups where we celebrate different cultures and identities,” she shares. “Whether it’s through Black Light or Pixie Pride, these communities make me feel a strong sense of belonging.”
Derry worked on 2022's Turning Red, which was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 2023 Academy Awards.
Pixar Animation Studios
That connection has extended beyond her own experience as outreach has become one of the most meaningful aspects of her role at Pixar.
“I love opportunities to speak with kids, give them campus tours, or talk about what we do behind the scenes,” she says. “It’s one of those things where you think, 'If I had seen someone in this job as a kid, it might have opened doors for me.’”
Rediscovering Childhood Wonder
Though Derry once admitted to feeling “above” animated films in her middle school years, working on movies at Pixar has put her back in touch with the unfiltered wonder of childhood."When you're working on films that speak to kids, it takes you back to being that kid yourself," she says. "It reminds you of what it felt like to dream big and believe in endless possibilities."
Despite her success and technical achievements, Derry remains grounded. She fondly recalls the local spots that shaped her upbringing — from the iconic Blockbuster and Ruby Shaw Park to the warm, comforting buzz of Whataburger.
“It’s funny how a chain restaurant can feel like home,” she laughs.
Now, with nearly five years at Pixar under her belt, Derry is as passionate as ever. Her advice to young Dallas-area artists is simple yet profound.
“Find what makes you happy and pursue it relentlessly,” she says. “It’s not about working for the biggest name. It’s about finding your place in the process and pouring all your passion into it.”
From the art classrooms of Poteet High School to Pixar’s cutting-edge simulation department, her path is one marked by belief — in herself, in her craft and in the magic of storytelling.
With Elio set to dazzle audiences this weekend, her work will once again light up the big screen, inviting viewers to dream just as she once did in Mesquite. If the cape swirling in Elio bears an emotional weight, it’s because of Derry’s care. And as hearts lift with the fabric’s motion, perhaps they’ll feel a part of her story, too.
