Jennifer Lee Steps Down as Disney Animation’s Chief Creative to Make ‘Frozen’ Sequels

As a movie enthusiast with a keen eye for creativity and a deep appreciation for the art of animation, I am utterly thrilled by this latest development at Disney Animation Studios. Jennifer Lee’s shift back to filmmaking is a testament to her unwavering passion for storytelling, and I can hardly contain my excitement for the next installments of “Frozen.


Jennifer Lee, the esteemed animation chief creative officer and Oscar winner at Disney, is moving her attention back to filmmaking by relinquishing her role as the studio’s CCO. Instead, she will dedicate herself entirely to scriptwriting and direction for “Frozen 3” and potentially “Frozen 4.” In her stead, Jared Bush, a winner of an Academy Award for “Encanto,” who also contributed as both writer and executive producer for the upcoming sequel “Moana 2,” has been appointed as Disney’s new chief creative officer.

Lee is currently working on directing “Frozen 3” and penning the script for “Frozen 4,” which are the upcoming sequels to Disney Animation’s 2013 hit, “Frozen,” inspired by the Snow Queen tale. She previously served as both writer and director for this movie that grossed $1.3 billion globally and won two Oscars, one for best animated feature and another for the catchy song “Let It Go.

For several years, the creative mind behind Disney’s projects has been Glen Keane. Recently, he was awarded an Oscar for his work as a writer and director on the 2021 film “Encanto.” Prior to this, he served as executive producer for “Raya and the Last Dragon,” and co-directed and co-wrote the Academy Award-winning “Zootopia.” He also received an Emmy for his contributions to “Zootopia.” In addition, he wrote the screenplay for the Oscar-nominated film “Moana” and is currently working as a writer and executive producer on its sequel. His upcoming projects include directing and writing “Zootopia 2,” which is scheduled for release next fall.

Jared Bush, a remarkable filmmaker and gifted executive, has been a significant creative influence at Disney Animation for the past ten years. Alan Bergman, co-chair of Disney Entertainment, expressed his excitement about Bush taking charge of this esteemed studio in a statement. I also want to acknowledge Jennifer Lee’s passionate leadership of the studio over the past few years – her impact on Disney Animation and the industry will endure. I am confident that she has many more stories to share, and there is no one more suited to guide the ongoing tale of Frozen.

In 2018, Lee was appointed as the Chief Creative Officer of the animation studio, filling the position vacated by John Lasseter. At that time, she was also working on co-writing and directing “Frozen II”, a project she collaborated on with Chris Buck, which debuted in 2019 and grossed $1.45 billion globally. However, it didn’t receive the same level of acclaim as the first installment.

Lee expressed his heartfelt appreciation towards Bob and Alan for their endorsement of his decision to devote himself completely to filmmaking again. He has long admired Jared’s exceptional skills in the field, and eagerly anticipates witnessing the unique contributions he will make as the new Chief Creative Officer, given his enthusiasm and commitment to animation.

Bush expressed his heartfelt gratitude towards Bob Iger, Alan Bergman, and Jennifer for their trust in him. He also acknowledged Jennifer’s leadership and generous support during her journey with Frozen. Bush is thrilled about collaborating with all Disney Animation filmmakers, artists, and team members to jointly determine the future of this esteemed studio.

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2024-09-19 18:46