Disney Animation Shake-Up: Jennifer Lee Exiting as Chief Creative Officer, Jared Bush Takes Over
Director-writer Jared Bush is replacing Jennifer Lee as chief creative officer of the Walt Disney Animation Studios as Lee returns to filmmaking full time at the company and stewards the Frozen franchise, Disney announced Thursday. Bush will report to Disney Entertainment co-chairman Alan Bergman, effective immediately.
Lee, who had been in the top gig for six years, will direct and write Frozen 3. She’s also set to write and executive produce Frozen 4.
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Her departure as CCO isn’t a complete surprise. During her tenure, the storied animation studio suffered major misses, including 2022’s Strange World and last year’s Wish. But she wasn’t without her wins: Encanto won an Oscar and was a major commercial success after finding its groove. And the company’s upcoming slate includes the highly anticipated sequel Moana 2, out in theaters Nov. 27.
Both Bush and Lee are responsible for billion-dollar films for the studio (Bush with Zootopia, and Frozen and Frozen 2 for Lee, respectively). Further, Bush’s Encanto and Lee’s Frozen are the only two feature films in Disney Animation history to receive the Oscar, Golden Globe and BAFTA awards for animated feature.
“I am so grateful to Bob and Alan for supporting my decision to return to filmmaking full time,” Lee said in a statement. “Every day working with them is a master class in creativity, business, community, and integrity. I’ve always believed in Jared’s incredible talent and can’t wait to see, with his passion and dedication to animation, what he brings to the CCO role. For me, getting to collaborate with this studio of artists, animators, and storytellers is such a privilege, and I look forward to all we will create together.”
Bush and Lee are executive producers on Moana 2, with Bush co-writing alongside the film as well. Bush was the screenwriter for the original Moana, which surpassed 1 billion hours viewed on Disney+ earlier this year.
“Jared Bush is an incredible filmmaker and a talented executive who’s been a prominent creative force at Disney Animation for the past decade, and I am thrilled that he’ll be taking the reins of this storied studio,” Bergman said in a statement. “I also want to thank Jennifer Lee for her passionate leadership of the studio over the past several years — she’s made an indelible mark on both Disney Animation and the industry. I know she has so many more stories to tell, and there is truly no one better suited to oversee the continuation of the beloved story of Frozen.”
Added Bush, “I am so deeply grateful to Bob Iger and Alan Bergman for their faith in me, and thankful to Jennifer for her leadership and for her generous support as she embarks on the next chapters of Frozen. Disney Animation is home to some of the greatest stories and characters of the past century, and I’m so excited to work with all of our filmmakers, artists, and Disney Animation team members as we shape the future of this legendary studio together.”
Longtime Disney veteran Clark Spencer continues as president, Walt Disney Animation Studios.
As CCO, Bush will oversee the creative output of the iconic animation studio, including its films, series and associated projects. Bush has been with the studio for over a decade, receiving an Oscar in 2022 for Encanto. In the same year he executive produced the Oscar-nominated Raya and the Last Dragon, and was co-director/co-writer on 2016’s Oscar-winning Zootopia (he’s also directing and writing Zootopia 2, set for release in fall 2025).
Lee is the Oscar-winning screenwriter and director behind Frozen and Frozen 2, two of the biggest animated films of all time. Lee joined Disney in 2011 and played influential roles in Wreck-It Ralph, Zootopia and served as executive producer on Encanto, Wish and Raya and the Last Dragon.
Below is a note that Lee sent staff Thursday morning:
Morning All,
For so many of us here, our dreams came true when we joined Walt Disney Animation Studios. I pinch myself every day that I get to be a part of the Disney magic with all of you, as our stories bring genuine hope, wonder, possibility, entertainment and joy to the world through the beautiful craft of animation. It has been my great honor to be CCO these past six years. I’m so proud of all we’ve built together, weathered together, and discovered together. The love, dedication, talent, and passion you all show every day is not just an inspiration to me, it’s an inspiration to the world.
As you know from Alan’s email, I will be returning to filmmaking full time writing and directing with Marc Smith on FROZEN 3 and FROZEN 4. I admit, I was hooked from the moment Marc first pitched this new adventure for our gang, and I am in awe of the incredible work he has done since then developing this powerful story. As a studio, we are fairly new to musical sequels, and this will be our first story told over two films at once. I’m excited for the challenge and so grateful for this opportunity to return to filmmaking, and can think of no better way to do so than with our FROZEN family.
One of the things that makes Disney so special is our commitment to having filmmakers as our studio leaders. This morning, Alan also announced that Jared Bush has agreed to be our new Chief Creative Officer. Jared’s talents as an animation writer and director stretch far beyond the ZOOTOPIAs, the MOANAs, and ENCANTO. He is committed to this studio and its future, and I truly believe that his passion, his tireless work ethic, and his pursuit of excellence will only make us stronger.
I am so grateful to Bob Iger and Alan Bergman for their incredible support and guidance over all these years. Every moment I’ve gotten to work with them has been a master class in creativity, business, community, and integrity. I want to thank them for supporting my decision to return to filmmaking at this studio that I love so much.
I also want to thank Clark Spencer, the greatest partner anyone could ever have. He is brilliant, patient, and, like Kristoff from FROZEN, he’s the honest goods. He is our rock and will continue to be. And I could not have made it through the hours without Eileen Aguirre. Her care for this studio, her knowledge, and her considerate spirit remains a beacon to all of us.
I can’t wait to get back in the rooms with you! Thank you again for everything; you’re all worth melting for.
Sincerely,
Jenn
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