After completing the short Bao in 2017, Pixar invited filmmaker Domee Shi to pitch 3 ideas for a full-length film. Her proposed concepts were all coming-of-age stories involving teenage girls. The one becoming Turning Red was based on a girl going through “magical puberty,” which Shi based on her own personal experiences. Shi said, “Everyone has been there. Everyone has been thirteen and feeling like they’re turning into some wild, hairy, hormonal beast, and I think that’s why Pixar was drawn to it.” According to producer Lindsay Collins, the Pixar staff were drawn to the Turning Red idea as “it was so clear that Domee had such a sense of who these two main characters were, that Mei and Ming were really clear and special and unique, more than any of the other ideas” and that “she had this really personal experience with these two characters that were kind of versions of her own life. That’s like the magic equation, right there.” Shi would later be announced as writer and director. While the creative leads comprised of Pixar’s first all-female team. Although the film takes place in Toronto in Canada, the entire environment was stylized to convey a specific feeling of what Shi described as an “Asian tween fever dream.” According to executive producer Dan Scanlon, “It feels more like a very soft, colorful, magical, idyllic, almost youthful version of the city.” Part of this desired setting was capturing boy bands’ popularity around the turn of the millennium and how teenage girls reacted to them. Pixar animators also visited around Northern California for inspiration and visual references. They studied red pandas at the San Francisco Zoo and looked at architecture in Chinatown in San Francisco and the Bok Kai Temple in Marysville. Other influences included anime, Nintendo video games, and the plot of A Goofy Movie. While Turning Red can be an allegory of menstruation (a topic that I think should be perfectly appropriate to discuss around children), it also reflects other feelings that teenagers experience like embarrassment and lust. Given that the world was only emerging from the Covid 19 pandemic in 2022, Turning Red was released on Disney+ with critical acclaim, earning $21 million. In this post, you’ll meet the voices behind 2 characters from Encanto as well as Mei, Priya, Jin, Mr. Kielowski, Chen, Helen, Robaire, and Jesse.

551. Adassa

Dates: 1981-present

Early Life and Career: Born Hadassa Nohemi in Miami, Florida to Colombian parents. Raised in St. Croix, Virgin Islands. Has been active in the music industry since 2004.

Movies and Cartoons: Encanto (2021)

Characters: Dolores Madrigal

Also Known For: Urban reggaton singer and songwriter known for her Latin-infused dance pop music and has released several albums throughout her career. Music spans from urban reggeton to Christian music. Has toured and collaborated with artists such as Daddy Yankee, Lil’ Flip, Pitbull, Taino, Ivy Queen, Don Omar, Lil Jon, Kevin Lyttle, Vico C, Baby Rasta & Gringo, R.K.M & Ken-Y, Wisin & Yandel, Sasha, Baby Bash and Juvenile.

Personal Life: Married to Gabriel Candiani. They’re said to have 6 children.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: Performed the US National Anthem at the Homestead Miami Speedway for the Dixie Vodka 400 NASCAR.

552. Maluma

Dates: 1994-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Medellin, Antioquia in Colombia. Took an interest in soccer that he played from toddler to middle school, competing in the lower divisions in the reserve teams of Atlético Nacional and La Equidad. Developed a keen interest in music during his teenage years and was famed as a good singer in his high school. Graduated from Hontanares School in El Retiro where he was encouraged by many of his friends to enter local singing competitions. Got his first musical break at 15 when he composed “No quiero” with a close friend. A year later his uncle offered him an opportunity to record it in a studio as a birthday present. After impressing a group of music producers, he was asked to choose a name that would be easy to remember and be accepted by followers of the urban genre. He chose the name Maluma, a combination of the first syllable of his parents’ and sister’s names. Began his musical career in 2010.

Movies and Cartoons: Encanto (2021)

Characters: Mariano Guzman

Also Known For: Colombian singer who’s sold more than 18 million records and has become one of the best-selling Latin music artists. Specializes in genres such as reggaeton, Latin trap, and pop. Singles include “Felices los 4”, “Borró Cassette”, “Corazón,” “Chantaje,” “Medellin,” and “Hawai.” Albums include Magia, Pretty Boy, Dirty Boy, F.A.M.E., 11:11, Papi Juancho, and Don Juan. TV appearances include Desperter contigo and La Voz…Mexico.

Personal Life: Has been in a relationship with Susana Gomez since 2020.

Later Life: His music video for “El Perdedor” that showcased the racism and discrimination of Latino people in the US by the police. Song “Cuatro Babys” received controversy over its lyrics, alleged to objectify women. That a Change.org petition demanded the removal of the song from digital platforms. At the 2022 FIFA World Cup, he left a live TV interview broadcast on Israeli public television after the reporter suggested that he could be accused of whitewashing Qatari human rights abuses. Has done a number of venture capital investments, including TREBEL Music and Colombian proptech company La Haus.

Trivia: Was a presenter at Colombia’s Kids’ Choice Awards in 2014. Has won a Latin Grammy Award, an MTV Video Music Award, and two Latin American Music Awards. Also has been nominated for a Grammy.

553. Rosalie Chiang

Dates: 2005-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Fremont, California. Mother’s Taiwanese. Father’s Singaporean. Mother used to call her “Mei-Mei” as a child. Before acting, Chiang wrote 2 poetry books called A is for Albatross: Birds A to Z and A is for Arowana: Freshwater Fish A to Z. The former received a Skipping Stones Award. Started out in short films and commercials before she was hired for the lead in Turning Red (2022). Chiang auditioned using her mom’s iPhone 6. During the film’s development, Pixar hired Chiang to record scratch vocals as a temporary placeholder, with the understanding that director Domee Shi and producer Lindsay Collins would later cast a professional actress to re-record her lines before the film’s release. However, Chiang’s scratch vocals were so strong that Shi and Collins couldn’t envision anyone else in the lead role.

Movies and Cartoons: Turning Red (2022)

Characters: Meilin “Mei” Lee

Also Known For: Actress best known as Meilin “Mei” Lee in Turning Red (2022). TV appearances include American Born Chinese, The Simpsons, and Sakamoto Days.

Personal Life: Is fluent in Mandarin Chinese.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: None.

554. Maitreyi Ramakrishnan

Dates: 2001-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Mississaugua, Ontario in Canada to Sri Lankan Tamil parents who came to the country as refugees fleeing the country’s civil war. Attended Lisgar Middle School and graduated from Meadowvale Secondary School. Decided to pursue an acting career in her senior year and got the lead role in Never Have I Ever for Netflix.

Movies and Cartoons: Turning Red (2022)

Characters: Priya Mangal

Also Known For: Canadian actress best known as Devi Vishwakumar in Never Have I Ever. TV appearances include My Little Pony: Make Your Mark and Big Mouth.

Personal Life: Once said in an interview that she doesn’t care about labels or the gender of the person she dates. Described herself as “very much a personality person.”

Later Life: Has deferred her acceptance to York University in Toronto where she planned to study in the theater program. In 2021, she deferred a second time but switched her major to human rights and equity studies. In 2020, she became a global ambassador for Plan International in Canada to promote girls’ and women’s rights. The next year, she starred in a campaign for Nobis’ #No Cold Shoulder initiative, which focuses on collecting and donating used jackets every November. In 2022, she fronted a spring campaign, “Members Always: Future Together,” for American Eagle.

Trivia: None.

555. Orion Lee

Dates: 1980-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Hong Kong. Later lived in Malaysia, Australia, New York, San Francisco, Zurich, and London. Was a fund manager in the finance industry before attending the London Academy of Dramatic Art. Has performed at various theaters in Scotland, Ireland, and England.

Movies and Cartoons: Turning Red (2022)

Characters: Jin Lee

Also Known For: Hong Kong-born Chinese-Australian theater and film actor. Film appearances include X+Y, Narcopolis, I Am Vengeance, Catacombe, Only You, First Cow, Followers, Zack Snyder’s Justice League, and The Pirate Queen. TV appearances include Silent Witness, Critical, Tyrant, and Rematch.

Personal Life: Can’t find anything about his personal life.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: None.

556. Sasha Roiz

Dates: 1973-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Tel Aviv, Israel to Russian Jewish parents. Family moved to Montreal in 1980. Studied history before joining a theater school there. Later graduated from the Guildford School of Acting in Guildford, Surrey in England. Made first screen appearance in 2001.

Movies and Cartoons: Turning Red (2022)

Characters: Mr. Kieslowski

Also Known For: Israeli-Canadian actor best known as Sam Adama in Caprica and Captain Sean Renard in Grimm. Film appearances include The Day After Tomorrow, Assault of Precinct 13, Land of the Dead, 16 Blocks, Man of the Year, Unthinkable, Extracted, and Pompeii. TV appearances include Playmakers, Tilt, Show Me Yours, Beautiful People, G-Spot, The Jane Show, The Path to 9/11, Jeff Ltd., NCIS, CSI: Miami, Across the River to Motor City, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Victor, Lie to Me, The Mentalist, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, House, Castle, Warehouse 13, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Husbands, Salvation, Lucifer, Suits, Departure, 9-1-1, The Endgame, and Chicago Med. Video game appearances include The Godfather II and Wolfenstein.

Personal Life: I can’t find anything about his personal life.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: None.

557. Lori Tan Chinn

Dates: 1948-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Seattle, Washington to Hoisan Chinese immigrants. Moved to New York City by herself in 1969. Began her acting career on Broadway. Was also a notable member of the Katherine Dunham Dance Company and performed African dance with Syvilla Fort. Made screen debut in 1982.

Movies and Cartoons: Turning Red (2022)

Characters: Chen

Also Known For: Actress and comedian best known as Miss Higa Jiga in Lovely Ladies, Kind Gentlemen, Mei Chang in Orange Is the New Black, and Nora’s Grandmother in Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens. Film appearances include Author! Author!, She-Devil, What About Bob?, Glengarry Glen Ross, Living in Oblivion, Ransom, Mickey Blue Eyes, Year of the Fish, The Guitar, Final Recipe, Joy Ride, and Kung Fu Panda 4. TV appearances include South Pacific, Roseanne, Spin City, Law & Order, Law & Order: Trial by Jury, Strange Planet, A Man on the Inside, and Jentry Chau vs. the Underworld. Stage appearances include G.R. Point, M. Butterfly, Gotta Dance, and Triassic Parq.

Personal Life: Can’t find anything about her personal life.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: None.

558. Sherry Cola

Dates: 1989-present

Early Life and Career: Grew up in Temple City, California. Parents ran a restaurant and have her the Americanized name “Sherry.” Attended California State University Fullerton for 7 years where she did campus radio. Majored in communications with an emphasis on entertainment studies. After graduation, she worked at 97.1 FM in Los Angeles. Devised her name “Sherry Cola” as a stage name in 2011 as her username for Yelp. Later worked on Carson Daly’s radio show on 97.1 AMP Radio. Soon began pursuing comedy by taking Upright Citizens Brigade classes and doing stand-up comedy. During this time, Cola developed her Lil Tasty persona for the online parody web series, Drive Luber. The character went viral online which caught Daly’s attention. This gave her the opportunity to host comedic segments on AMP radio, which eventually led to her own show, The BAE Show at the station. Got her break in television in 2017.

Movies and Cartoons: Turning Red (2022)

Characters: Helen

Also Known For: Actress and comedian best known as Alice Kwan in Good Trouble. Film appearances include Joy Ride, Shortcomings, A Family Affair, Music, Sick Girl, The Tiger’s Apprentice, Thelma the Unicorn, and Bride Hard. TV appearances include I Love Dick, Nobody Wants This, Transparent, Life in Pieces, Claws, Baby Shark’s Big Show!, Transformers: EarthSpark, That ‘90s Show, Primos, Grimsburg, and Poker Face.

Personal Life: Is bisexual.

Later Life: Still working as of 2025.

Trivia: None.

559. Jordan Fisher

Dates: 1994-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Birmingham, Alabama. Grew up in nearby Trussville. Biological mother was 16 at his birth and struggled with substance abuse. Was legally adopted at 11 and grew up with his maternal grandparents. Began learning gymnastics at 2. Started musical theater in 5^th grade after being cast in as school production of School House Rock Jr. Was later home-schooled as a child and earned a high school diploma from Harvest Christian Academy. Joined the Red Mountain Theatre Company in Birmingham and was part of their youth performing ensemble for many years. There, a talent scout spotted him and offered to represent him. Enrolled in courses at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama in 2011. Later that year, he moved to Los Angeles with his grandparents and siblings. Released 3 pop soul songs at Radio Disney in 2014 before signing a record deal with Hollywood Records 2 years later. Made his screen debut in 2009.

Movies and Cartoons: Turning Red (2022) as well as The Disney Family Singalong special, the Teen Beach and Teen Beach 2 TV movies, and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.

Characters: Robaire

Also Known For: Actor, singer, and dancer best known as John Laurens in Hamilton (2016-2017, Even Hansen in Dear Evan Hansen (2020-2022), Anthony Hope in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2023), Orpheus in Hadestown, Christian in Moulin Rouge!, and Sea Hawk in She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. Film appearances include To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You, Work It, and Hello, Goodbye, And Everything In Between. TV appearances include The Secret Life of the American Teenage, Liv and Maddie, Grease Live, The Flash, Rent: Live, Dancing with the Stars, Dancing with the Stars: Juniors, Fortnite World-Cup, iCarly, The Thundermans, The Chew, Teen Wolf, Bones, Archibald’s Next Big Thing, Butterbean’s Café, Royalties, It’s Pony, Robot Chicken, Star Wars: Visions, and Karma’s World. Stage appearances include Grease, Rent, MJ the Musical, Freestyle Love Supreme, Gutenberg! The Musical!, and Urinetown.

Personal Life: Married to his childhood sweetheart Ellie Woods since 2020. They have a son named Riley William born in 2022.

Later Life: Still actively working as of 2025.

Trivia: He and dance partner Lindsay Arnold won the 25^th season of Dancing with the Stars. Host of Dancing with the Stars: Juniors and commentator for the Fortnite World-Cup.

560. Finneas O’Connell

Dates: 1997-present

Early Life and Career: Born in Los Angeles. Mother is actress and screenwriter Maggie Baird. At 12, he took a songwriting class with his mom in 2010 and began writing and producing songs. Got his start in the music industry by writing songs and performing with his younger sister Billie Eilish. Yet, had originally written and produced his song “Ocean Eyes” for his band before giving it to Eilish when her dance teacher asked them to write a song for a choreography. They posted the song on SoundCloud garnering praise from various websites. O’Connell’s brother reached him in 2015 to talk of Eilish’s potential and he helped her sign to the A&R company Platoon. He then co-wrote and produced Eilish’s debut EP Don’t Smile at Me which peaked at #14 on the Billboard 200. Also co-wrote and produced Eilish’s debut album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? which debuted atop the US and UK charts.

Movies and Cartoons: Turning Red (2022)

Characters: Jesse

Also Known For: Singer-songwriter, record producer, and actor who’s written and produced for various artists, most notably, his younger sister Billie Eilish and is credited with all of her projects. Other artists he’s worked with include Drake, Kid Cudi, Nicki Minaj, Selena Gomez, Camila Cabello, Demi Lovato, Halsey, Justin Bieber, Karol G, Girl in Red, Rosalía, Tove Lo, Ringo Starr, and Tate McRae, and contributed to several film scores. Albums include Optimist, For Cryin’ Out Loud, Blood Harmony, The Fallout, Disclaimer, and Vengeance. Songs include “Break My Heart Again,” “Let’s Fall in Love for the Night,” “I Lost a Friend,” “Shelter,” “I Don’t Miss You at All,” “What They’ll Say About Us,” “Can’t Wait to Be Dead,” “Till Forever Falls Apart,” “The 90s,” and “Nobody Like U.” Film appearances include Bad Teacher, Life Inside Out, Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry, Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles, and The Trainer. TV appearances include Modern Family, Glee, Aquarius, Saturday Night Live, and Laid.

Personal Life: Older brother of singer Billie Eilish. Nephew of psychologist and politician Brian Baird. Has been in a relationship with YouTuber and actress Claudia Sulewski since 2018. Raised vegetarian before becoming a vegan.

Later Life: Lives in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Trivia: Has won 2 Academy Awards, 2 Golden Globes, and 10 Grammys. He and Eilish are among the youngest 2-time Academy Award winners ever.