Jennifer Lee to Depart as Chief Content Officer of Disney Animation

Director-writer Jared Bush replaces Jennifer Lee as creative director of Walt Disney Animation Studios, as Lee returns to filmmaking full-time at the company and oversees the Frozen franchise, Disney announced Thursday. Bush will report immediately to Alan Bergman, co-chairman of Disney Entertainment.

Lee, who held the top position for six years, will direct and write Frozen 3and write Frozen 4.

Her departure as COO is not a complete surprise. During her tenure, the legendary animation studio suffered major failures, including the Strange world and last year’s WishBut she also had victories: Enjoy won an Oscar and was a huge commercial success once it found its feet. And the company’s upcoming series includes the long-awaited sequel Vaiana 2in theaters from November 27.

Both Bush and Lee are responsible for billion-dollar films for the studio (Bush with ZootopiaAnd Frozen And Frozen 2 for Lee, respectively). Furthermore, Bush’s Enjoy and Lee’s Frozen are the only two feature films in Disney Animation history to win an Oscar, Golden Globe and BAFTA Award 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. “Working with them every day is a masterclass in creativity, business, community and integrity. I have always believed in Jared’s incredible talent and can’t wait to see what he brings to the role of CCO with his passion and dedication to animation. It is a great privilege for me to collaborate with this studio of artists, animators and storytellers, and I look forward to all we will create together.”

Bush and Lee are executive producers of Vaiana 2with Bush also co-writing the film. Bush was the screenwriter for the original Vaianawhich was watched more than a billion hours on Disney+ earlier this year.

“Jared Bush is an incredible filmmaker and talented executive who has been a prominent creative force at Disney Animation over the past decade, and I am thrilled that he will be taking the helm of this legendary studio,” Bergman said in a statement. “I also want to thank Jennifer Lee for her passionate leadership of the studio over the past few years — she has left 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.”

Bush added: “I am so grateful to Bob Iger and Alan Bergman for their confidence in me, and I am grateful to Jennifer for her leadership and her generous support as she embarks on the next chapters of her life. Frozen“Disney Animation is home to some of the greatest stories and characters of the past century, and I am so excited to collaborate with all of our filmmakers, artists and Disney Animation team members as we shape the future of this legendary studio together.”

Clark Spencer, a veteran of Disney, will remain president of Walt Disney Animation Studios.

As CCO, Bush will oversee the iconic animation studio’s creative output, including its films, series and associated projects. Bush has been with the studio for more than a decade and won an Oscar in 2022 for EnjoyIn the same year he produced the Oscar-nominated film Raya and the Last Dragonand was co-director/co-writer of the Oscar-winning 2016 film Zootopia (he also directs and writes Zootopia 2for release in fall 2025.

Lee is the Oscar-winning screenwriter and director behind Frozen And Frozen 2two 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 Enjoy, Wish And Raya and the Last Dragon.

Below is a message Lee sent to staff Thursday morning:

Good morning everyone,

For many of us here, our dreams became reality 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 greatest honor to serve as CCO for the past six years. I am so proud of all that we have built together, endured together and discovered together. The love, dedication, talent and passion that you all show every day is not only an inspiration to me, it is an inspiration to the world.

As you know from Alan’s email, I’m returning to filmmaking full-time to write and direct with Marc Smith on FROZEN 3 and FROZEN 4. I’ll admit that from the moment Marc first pitched this new adventure to our gang, I was hooked and have been in awe of the incredible work he’s done since then to develop this powerful story. As a studio, we’re fairly new to musical sequels and this will be our first story to be told across two films simultaneously. I’m excited for the challenge and so grateful for this opportunity to return to filmmaking and I can’t think of a better way to do it 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 become our new Chief Creative Officer. Jared’s talents as an animation writer and director extend far beyond ZOOTOPIAs, MOANAs and ENCANTO. He is dedicated to this studio and its future, and I truly believe that his passion, tireless work ethic and commitment to 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 have had the privilege of working with them has been a masterclass 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 best partner anyone could ever have. He is brilliant, patient, and like Kristoff from FROZEN, the honest truth. He is our rock and always will be. And I couldn’t have gotten through the hours without Eileen Aguirre. Her care for this studio, her knowledge, and her thoughtful spirit remain a beacon for all of us.

I can’t wait to be back in the rooms with you! Thanks again for everything; you are all worth melting for.

Honestly,

Jenn