Jennifer Yuh Nelson, the director of Kung Fu Panda 2 has become the highest grossing female director. These are worldwide numbers and they are big. The tally now is at $645 million. She wins the crown from Phyllida Lloyd who held it since Mamma Mia grossed $609 million.

Here’s a quote from the director from a press release:

I am humbled and happy that audiences around the world continue to respond to the story and characters in Kung Fu Panda 2. No animated movie gets made without a huge team of people so I want to offer my sincere thanks and shared congratulations to all of the talented and inspiring artists who worked with me on the movie.

The number is significant because it is breakthrough in the world of animation which is not a world full of women. Yuh Nelson holds another distinction in the world of animation — she is the first woman to direct an animated film solo. The animation world regularly goes through directors and it was big news a year or so ago when Brenda Chapman got fired from Brave.

Here’s to hoping Yuh Nelson will get more opportunities to direct now that she hit this one out of the park.

Kung Fu Panda 2' becomes highest-grossing film directed by a woman (EW)