With the success of Zootopia 2 this Thanksgiving, Jared Bush — Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios — has given several interviews discussing the direction he sees for the studio following the release of the film which is circling $1 billion at the box office worldwide.
Jared Bush on the future of Walt Disney Animation Studios via The Walt Disney Company website.
“I know what the next 10 years of Walt Disney Animation Studios looks like, and it’s really exciting. The variety is honestly spectacular, and it all comes from filmmaker passion.” pic.twitter.com/t6dWrb4byG
— DTVA News (@DTVANews) December 5, 2025
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His comments offer insight as to where he sees the studio going.
Reflections on Zootopia 2’s Success
According to multiple box office trackers, Zootopia 2 opened to a global gross of roughly $556 million during its first five days — the second biggest Thanksgiving opening to date. Since then it has racked up over $900 million at the box office with strong showings from Asian markets like China, Japan, and South Korea.
Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps at the police station in Zootopia 2 – YouTube, Disney
Bush has tied that success to the film’s ambition: he described the sequel as “the most immersive environment you can imagine” among Disney Animation’s output over the past century.
“The cinematography takes you to places we have never put onscreen before,” he said. “But, more than that, it is filled with absolute joy.”
Bush talked about the significance of viewers seeing their own story played out onscreen with the animal characters.
“There’s something about animals that people can relate to,” he noted. “That’s one of the really fun things about Zootopia: you can identify with an animal. That’s you, that’s your friend, that’s your teacher, that’s a guy you saw at the DMV. There’s something very universal about that.”
Nick Wilde and Jusy Hopps in police uniforms in Zootopia 2 – YouTube, Disney
It was this character-driven thinking that led the storywriting process for Zootopia 2.
“I know Judy and Nick as characters; I know them really well. And in the first film, they only really got to hang out for about 48 hours. Stepping into the next story, the big question was: “What happens to them next?” As a storyteller, that’s really exciting to think about.
“We spent a lot of time looking into Judy and Nick’s pasts and [imagined] what they would do moving forward: Will they actually make a good team, or are they a one-hit wonder? Judy and Nick are always our true north. More than anything else, with all of Zootopia’s bells and whistles, what you really care about is this duo and what’s going to happen next.”
-Jared Bush
What’s Coming: Hints at 2028 and Beyond
In a recent interview, Bush described plans for another original animated film slated for 2028. He hinted at the upcoming project saying, “It’s not a human world. It’s a very different style than we usually do.”
Bush declined to elaborate on whether that difference would involve a shift toward a new animation style — such as hand‑drawn or experimental visuals — but noted that he often thinks a lot about the “evolution” of art styles.
Disney Chief Creative Officer Jared Bush – YouTube, Laughing Place
Bush has talked previously about experimenting with animation style in movies. He said the company is talking about how it could experiment with other styles, but that one can’t just do something experimental style for the sake of experimenting. It must serve a purpose as well as the “broader context” of Disney’s 100-years worth of storytelling.
He noted the comic-style of Spider-Verse worked because it was in “the DNA of the story.”
For upcoming Disney movies, he explained his thinking.
“If we do something bold, it has to have a deep narrative reason,” he said. “We’re definitely interested in those possibilities, especially with fresh voices coming into the studio. They’re excited to push boundaries, and that’s important.”
Why This Moment Matters for Disney Animation
This appears to be a pivotal moment for Disney Animation. After a string of underperforming films, the success of Zootopia 2 gives the studio renewed momentum. The willingness — as expressed by Bush — to risk new styles, embrace diverse storytellers, and pursue original content suggests a potential shift in how Disney approaches animation.
Nick Wilde pulls the tail off a female lizard in Zootopia 2 – YouTube, Disney
If the unnamed 2028 film delivers on its promise of novelty, it could mark the start of a new chapter: one where Disney balances familiar franchises with fresh, potentially unexpected stories and aesthetics.
For now, though, Bush seems focused on sustaining momentum: using Zootopia 2’s success as a springboard, while maintaining rigorous standards for story, character, and artistic purpose.
Has your family seen Zootopia 2? What did you think of the film? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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If I came out of the desert after a week and grabbed the first thing I saw, to quench my thirst, that doesn’t immediately make me a fan of whatever I just drank. I was just the only palatable option in front of me. If it was a Royal Crown cola it doesn’t mean I’m going to want a whole mess of RC down the line.
Forget the furries, dummy.
proving yet again that normies are a cancerous growth.