Jennifer Lee, chief creative officer at Walt Disney Animation Studios, has stepped down from her executive role to focus on directing The Walt Disney Co.’s “Frozen” franchise, she said Thursday.
Jared Bush, director of Zootopia and Encanto, has been named his successor. The changes are effective immediately.
Bush has worked at Disney Animation for 13 years and is writing and directing next year’s “Zootopia 2.” He also served as a writer on 2016’s “Moana” and executive producer on 2021’s “Raya and the Last Dragon.”
“Disney Animation is home to some of the greatest stories and characters of the last century,” Bush said in a statement. “I am excited to work with the filmmakers, artists and all members of the Disney Animation team as we together shape the future of this legendary studio.”
Disney Entertainment co-chairman Alan Bergman called Bush “the preeminent creative force at Disney Animation over the past decade” and said in a statement that he was “thrilled that he will be taking over the reins of this storied studio.”
In a statement, Lee said he was “grateful” to Bergman and the Walt Disney Company, and that CEO Bob Iger “was supportive of my decision to return to filmmaking full time.”
“I have always believed in Jared’s incredible talent and can’t wait to see what his passion and dedication to animation will bring to the role,” she said. “For me, it’s a great honor to collaborate with this studio of artists, animators and storytellers and I look forward to creating something together.”
Lee headed the storied animation studio for six years, overseeing its creative output including films, series and related projects.
She served as director and writer for 2013’s Frozen and its 2019 sequel, Frozen 2. She will now focus on writing and directing the next film in the series, Frozen 3, due for release in 2027, and will co-write the screenplay for Frozen 4 with her colleague Mark Smith. Lee has worked at Disney Animation since 2011.
