Chris Nee

Christine[lower-alpha 1] Nee[1] is an American children's television screenwriter and producer.[2][3][4] Nee is best known as the creator of Doc McStuffins, which she conceived as Cheers for preschoolers.[1][5] She has previously worked as an associate producer on several international versions of Sesame Street.[3][1][5]

Chris Nee
Nee pictured accepting the Peabody for Doc McStuffins
NationalityAmerican
Occupations
Years active1996–present
Notable workDoc McStuffins
Vampirina
Children1

Career

Nee said that while she did not originally connect with any shows because she did not see herself "represented onscreen," she first tried to be an actor. Realizing she couldn't fit in, she worked on scripts for Blue's Clues in 2001 and Wonder Pets, continuing to work as a producer, the latter on Deadliest Catch for two episodes.[3][6]

Nee conceived of her award-winning show, Doc McStuffins while in the shower after her son had visited the doctor for asthma a few days before. It was her idea to make the lead character female and she readily agreed when Nancy Kanter, the creative head of Disney Junior, suggested that she should be African-American.[6] Although some at Disney were hesitant originally that a show with a female lead "might not have mass appeal," this did not deter Kanter, and within a year of the show's release in 2012, "merchandise generated about $500 million in sales." Nee said she was very pleased that her character had unusual background for a TV character, and hoped this would influence the next generation.[2]

Nee was the executive producer of a Disney Junior series, Vampirina, based on the children's picture book Vampirina Ballerina.[7] The series, which featured many of the same staff who worked on Doc McStuffins, premiered on October 1, 2017, and ended on June 28, 2021 after 3 seasons and 75 episodes during its 4-year run.

In April 2019, Nee joined other WGA writers in firing their agents as part of the WGA's stand against the ATA and the practice of packaging.[8]

On July 4, 2021, a 10-part series of animated music videos, which Nee created, titled We the People, premiered on Netflix. Kenya Barris was also a showrunner and the series was produced by Michelle Obama and Barack Obama.[9][10] On July 13, 2021, Ridley Jones, an animated series meant for children, is set to debut on the same network. It is part of a slate of animated preschool series on the streaming service, with others including Spirit Rangers, and Ada Twist, Scientist, of which Nee is the showrunner.[11] Dino Daycare was originally part of this slate.

On April 29, 2022, it was announced Dino Daycare was scrapped.[12]

Personal life

Nee is of Irish descent. At age 18, during the 1980s, Nee came out as lesbian. In June 2021, she described herself as a gay and "relatively butch" woman.[6] She has one child, a son.[6]

Filmography

Television
Year Title Notes
2001 Blue's Clues Writer (2 episodes)
2001–03 Little Bill Writer (5 episodes)
2003–05 Oobi Head writer (season 2), staff writer (season 3)
2004 Maya & Miguel Writer (3 episodes)
2004-07 Unfabulous Writer (16 episodes)
Higglytown Heroes Writer (4 episodes)
2005 Deadliest Catch Producer (2 episodes)[3]
2005–07 American Dragon: Jake Long Writer (6 episodes)
2006–08 The Backyardigans Writer (3 episodes)
2006-09 Wonder Pets! Writer (unknown episodes)
2007 Johnny and the Sprites Teleplay, writer (3 episodes)
2008–10 Ni Hao, Kai-Lan Writer, story editor (12 episodes)
2009 Cyberchase Writer (ep. "Spellbound")
Casper's Scare School Writer (3 episodes)
2010 Olivia Writer (ep. "Olivia Talks Turkey")
2011 Guess How Much I Love You Writer (ep. "The Nest")
2011–12 Special Agent Oso Writer (2 episodes)
2012–2020 Doc McStuffins Creator, executive producer, voice of Emmie and Alma's mom
2013–14 Henry Hugglemonster Writer, lyricist (9 episodes)
2017 Nella the Princess Knight Writer (1 episode)
2017–2021 Vampirina Creator, executive producer

Streaming television
Year Title Notes
2021 We the People Creator, executive producer
2021 – 2023 Ridley Jones[13] Creator, executive producer
2021 – present Ada Twist, Scientist[14] Creator, executive producer
2022 – present Spirit Rangers[15] Executive producer

Notes
  1. Christine – Chris is short for "Christine".

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chris Nee.
  1. Karpel, Ari (March 20, 2012). "How The Creator Of "Doc McStuffins" Bucked The Norm And Made "Cheers" For Preschoolers". Fast Company. Archived from the original on January 28, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  2. Ruiz, Lorena (October 2013). "Meet Chris Nee, creator of Disney's 'Doc McStuffins'". MSNBC. Archived from the original on February 19, 2020. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  3. Bierly, Mandi (July 2, 2015). "'Doc McStuffins' Creator Chris Nee: From 'Deadliest Catch' to Disney Junior". Yahoo! News. Archived from the original on April 1, 2019. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  4. "Doc McStuffins". Peabody Awards. Archived from the original on June 22, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  5. Jarlath Regan (April 9, 2016). "Chris Nee". An Irishman Abroad (Podcast) (134 ed.). SoundCloud. Archived from the original on January 11, 2017. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  6. Gupta, Alisha Haridasani (June 20, 2021). "She Never Saw Herself in Children's TV Shows. So She Created Her Own". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 22, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  7. Steinberg, Brian (March 4, 2016). "Disney Junior Renews 'Lion Guard,' Orders 'Vampirina,' 'Puppy Dog Tails'". Variety. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  8. Andreeva, Nellie (April 12, 2019). "Writers Share Signed Termination Letters As Mass Firing Of Agents Begins After WGA-ATA Talks Fail". Deadline. Archived from the original on March 13, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  9. Framke, Caroline (July 4, 2021). "Netflix's 'We the People,' From Executive Producers Barack and Michelle Obama, Puts Optimistic Spin on Civic Duty: TV Review". Variety. Archived from the original on July 4, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  10. "H.E.R, Lin-Manuel Miranda among artists featured in We the People, the Obamas' Netflix series on civics". Firstpost. Associated Press. July 4, 2021. Archived from the original on July 4, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  11. Halcombe, Daniel (October 15, 2020). "Chris Nee Unveils First Slate of Netflix Animated Preschool Series for Kids Around the World" (Press release). United States: Netflix. Archived from the original on December 30, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  12. "Netflix Shuts Down 2 Animated Kids' Series". The Hollywood Reporter. 30 April 2022.
  13. "Netflix Releases Trailer and Poster for Chris Nee's 'Ridley Jones'". Animation World Network. June 8, 2021.
  14. "'Ada Twist, Scientist' Series In The Works At Netflix From The Obamas, Kerri Grant". Shadow and Act. October 1, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  15. "Chris Nee Unveils First Slate of Netflix Animated Preschool Series For Kids Around The World". Netflix Media Center. 15 October 2020.
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