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Legendary Disney Director Ron Clements “Unretires” to Mentor a New Generation at Walt Disney Animation Studios
He went the distance… and now he’s back! Ron Clements, the Disney animation legend behind such classics as The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Hercules, and Moana, is making a triumphant return to Walt Disney Animation Studios—but this time, he’s swapping his director’s chair for a mentor’s seat.
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Clements, who was officially inducted into the Annecy Walk of Fame during a heartfelt presentation at the renowned animation festival, reflected on both the honor and his unexpected return. “This is so cool,” he told the crowd. “It’s such an honor to be memorialized this way… I really have been enjoying retirement, but I’m excited about just returning to kind of mentor.”
According to Variety, Clements’ comeback isn’t about helming another feature, but rather about shaping the future of Disney animation from behind the scenes. As studio execs like Disney Animation’s Andrew Millstein and Jennifer Lee continue to usher in new creative voices, Clements’ wealth of experience adds priceless perspective. As Disney Animation President Clark Spencer put it, “The legacy he helped build is the foundation we walk on.”
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With decades of storytelling magic under his belt—including his work with longtime partner John Musker—Clements’ resume reads like a treasure trove of Disney gold. From helping usher in the Disney Renaissance with The Little Mermaid to redefining modern musical adventures with Moana, he has a unique understanding of what makes Disney animation sing (sometimes literally).
In a panel conversation with studio heads and Variety’s Peter Debruge, Clements shared the origin of his passion for animation. “I was nine years old… and I saw a reissue of Pinocchio in our local theater,” he said. “I couldn’t get it out of my mind… I decided at that point that I wanted to be an animator, and I wanted to work for Walt Disney.”
Looks like that childhood dream is still going strong—and now it’s inspiring a whole new generation of dreamers at the studio he helped shape. Welcome back, Ron!
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