DreamWorks Co-Director Stephanie Ma Hosts Animation Masterclass for Local Philadelphia Kids

DreamWorks Animation co-director of Kung Fu Panda 4, Stephanie Ma Stine visited Philadelphia's Crane Chinatown Community Center for a special opportunity for local children to attend an animation masterclass.

Highlights from Stephanie’s resume include working as a storyboard artist for DreamWorks’ How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World and The Adventures of Puss in Boots — and most recently, co-director of the forthcoming DreamWorks film, Kung Fu Panda 4.

As Stephanie took the stage, the kids were ready to follow along — and over the next half-hour, a sea of sketches of Po, the beloved Kung Fu Master in Kung Fu Panda, came to life in notebooks throughout the room.

For Dustin, an 11th grade student, representation served as inspiration: “Seeing Asian-directed movies makes me feel heard and understood. … Asian American directors bring their own unique experiences to the table and create movies that culturally resonate with me.”

Today was really about expanding horizons. To have a superstar like Stephanie Ma Stine come to Chinatown from Hollywood gives our children an idea that they can be anything. John Chin -- Executive Director of the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation (PCDC)

“What a wonderful role model for the children,” added Carol Wong, Executive Director and Owner of the Chinatown Learning Center, which calls the Crane Community Center home. “Stephanie’s story is so inspirational — our kids can do it, too, if they try. Nothing should stop them.”

“I am really hopeful that my visit and my presence here today can open up a lot of eyes as to, wow, we really can do anything,” Stephanie reflected on her visit to the Crane Community Center. “We can choose any path. We can choose an artistic career, we can be creative, we can tell meaningful stories.”

Stephanie brought the magic of DreamWorks’ Kung Fu Panda 4 to the young — and young at heart — in our parent company, Comcast’s hometown. And that same magic can be experienced by all, in theaters now. 

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