Chongqing – In the second masterclass of the 2026 Chongqing International Animation Film Week, celebrated director Mike Mitchell delivered a candid and career-spanning session on the art and craft of animation, leaving a packed audience of students and industry professionals with a clear message: technology is a tool, but storytelling is human.

The second masterclass of the 2026 Chongqing International Animation Film Week was held on June 11 at the Yongchuan International Convention Center, under the theme "The Animated Career of Mike Mitchell: From Shrek to Kung Fu Panda." (Photo/The Organizer)

“AI is a powerful tool, but it cannot create for us. It takes an artist’s hand,” Mitchell told the audience at the Yongchuan International Convention Center.

Drawing on his work directing major franchise installments including Shrek Forever After (2010), The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water (2015), Trolls (2016), The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part (2019), and Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024), Mitchell offered an unvarnished look at the creative engine behind Hollywood’s biggest animated blockbusters.

Mike Mitchell, Director of Shrek Forever After, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water, Trolls, The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, and Kung Fu Panda 4. (Photo/The Organizer)

The director began his career as a storyboard artist, collaborating with Spike Jonze and Tim Burton. He described the raw, early stages of filmmaking as a process of free experimentation—one where rough sketches and “terrible” test screenings are not just tolerated, but essential. “We make mistakes, and that’s fun,” he said. “We can fail and rebuild. That’s why I love this medium.”

Audience members asked questions to Mike Mitchell. (Photo/The Organizer)

Mitchell emphasized that successful characters—whether an insecure ogre, a couch-potato panda, or a hyperactive sponge—are built on contrast: a clumsy, food-obsessed giant panda trying to become a kung fu master; a manic, joyful creature forced to confront a cynical rival. “Contrast creates interest,” he said. “Good stories come from two very different things colliding.” He stressed that every sequel must also work as a standalone story, citing Pixar’s universal emotional resonance as a model for global audiences.

The 2026 Chongqing International Animation Film Week attracted animation professionals from around the world. (Photo/The Organizer)

Turning to Kung Fu Panda 4, Mitchell revealed the team drew heavy inspiration from classic Chinese cinema, including Drunken Master, Shaolin Soccer, and the Ne Zha films. “I loved Ne Zha 2,” he said. “It was funnier than I expected—and we had to match that.” The production also employed more Chinese and Chinese-American artists and cast members than any previous installment, including eight storyboard artists of Chinese descent and veteran actor James Hong, 97, who reprises his role as Mr. Ping. “He has so much energy. He loves the work,” Mitchell said.

Mike Mitchell shared the creative stories behind the making of Kung Fu Panda 4.(Photo/The Organizer)

He also previewed experimental hybrid work combining handmade puppets with CGI backgrounds and eye-tracking technology, calling the fusion of old and new methods “the future.” A short clip of a puppet-based The Wizard of Oz-inspired office comedy drew warm laughter from the audience.

Audience members recorded videos on their mobile phones. (Photo/The Organizer)

When asked about guiding young storyboard artists, Mitchell advised them to resist the urge to polish too early. “Keep it rough. Keep it simple. If a rough sketch doesn’t work, a polished one won’t either.”

The 2026 Chongqing International Animation Film Week, themed “Boundless Creativity, Excelling Together” and held June 9-13, has drawn 501 animated submissions from around the world, with 45 finalists shortlisted for top honors. The masterclass series has been a highlight of the week’s industry programming, which includes screenings, forums, and technology exhibitions.

Mitchell concluded with a personal note: “I love Chongqing. The buildings lit up at midnight look like an animated film. And the food is incredible—just like in Kung Fu Panda.”

As the host put it in closing: “Good stories have no borders. True cultural expression finds resonance through respect and understanding.”