Jennifer Lee Steps Down As Disney Animation CCO, Succeeded By Jared Bush

Lee steps down to focus on 'Frozen' sequels as the 'Zootopia' and 'Encanto' director takes over

That’s Jared Bush, Full-Time CCO! Jennifer Lee is set to direct and write Frozen 3, and even co-write Frozen 4, but in order to do so, she has chosen to step down as Walt Disney Animation Studios Chief Creative Officer. Jared Bush, whose ascension at the studio includes work on Zootopia, Moana, and Encanto, has been talked to succeed her.

The Frozen franchise behemoth is basically Lee’s baby, as director with Chris Buck as well as its writer for both previous installments, with the first being Lee’s feature debut. The two films are the fifth and third highest-grossing animated films of all time. It wouldn’t shock me if her Frozen success was directly the reason she was picked to become Chief Creative Officer in the wake of disgraced predecessor John Lasseter’s “departure”. Likewise, Bush has had a hand in several of the studio’s post-Frozen successes, but he actually began at the television animation studio, co-creating Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero with Sam Levine which ran from 2014 to 2017 on Disney XD. It still hasn’t reached Disney+ yet. He subsequently co-wrote and co-directed Zootopia and wrote Moana, both 2016, an executive producer on Raya and the Last Dragon, and writer and director of Encanto, reteaming him with Byron Howard. He’s also a writer on both this year’s Moana sequel and 2026’s live-action remake, with Dana Ledoux Miller on both, and writing and directing Zootopia 2 himself, releasing next Thanksgiving. While Frozen 2’s documented production was chaotic, it seemed enough had happened with it and Soul, whose director Pete Docter was named Pixar CCO when Lee was named as Disney’s that they were able to juggle the new responsibilities without having to leave at that time.

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“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,” said Disney Entertainment co-chair Alan Bergman 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.” 

Lee and Bush each released their own statements as well, with Lee saying “I am so grateful to Bob and Alan for supporting my decision to return to filmmaking full time. 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.” Bush meanwhile said “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. 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.”

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Source: Variety