Walt Disney Animation Studios Teases 2D Animation Revival

Could hand-drawn animation be returning to Walt Disney Animation Studios? That’s the tantalizing hint dropped by Chief Creative Officer Jared Bush at the recent Annecy International Animation Film Festival. In an interview with TheWrap, Bush, who stepped into the CCO role last year, teased exciting possibilities for the future of Disney’s animation style, even winking when pressed about 2D.

Related – Disney Legend Ron Clements Coming Out of Retirement, Returning to Disney Animation as a Mentor

“I love 2D. Right now we have 2D artists who are doing some bonkers amazing things. I’ll leave it at that,” Bush revealed, sparking speculation about a potential revival of the classic animation style that hasn’t seen a fully hand-drawn feature from Disney since 2011’s Winnie the Pooh.

Balancing Innovation with Legacy

Bush’s comments come amidst a broader discussion about stylistic experimentation within the studio. He reiterated his stance from a previous interview with Variety: any shift in animation style must be driven by a “deep narrative reason.” He also emphasized the importance of maintaining consistent character designs for sequels, acknowledging Disney’s century-long legacy of animation.

“I think continuing to surprise is important,” Bush told TheWrap, highlighting Disney’s history of revolutionary strides in the medium. He noted that unlike other studios, Disney characters, even in continuing stories, “have to sit within that legacy.”

Referencing past projects, Bush mentioned that Encanto initially explored a “vastly different art style.” However, the team ultimately opted for a more traditional look to align with audience expectations for a Disney musical. Despite this, Bush expressed a strong desire for “a visual shift” in future films.

Pushing Boundaries with Purpose

Bush hinted at stylistic pushes in upcoming projects, stating, “You’re going to see some things in Zootopia 2 that pushes into some of that, actually.” He was likely referring to the film’s use of the new Presto system, a technological advancement in animation. However, he quickly added a crucial caveat: “But the biggest question is, why? You can’t just do it to do it.”

Drawing a comparison to the stylistically groundbreaking Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Bush pointed out that many attempted to copy its aesthetic rather than learn its core lesson. “They were bold and made a choice,” he said. “And that was something very special but deeply tied to comic books. It wasn’t just, we want to do this stuff. It was deeply rooted in the world of comic book language.”

For Disney Animation, the question remains: “As we’re stepping forward and wanting to continue to push those boundaries, is that organic to what this movie is?” Bush elaborated, stressing the importance of the audience feeling that stylistic changes are driven by “a filmmaker’s vision or that story needs to be another step,” rather than being “different for different sake.”

Mentorship and a Vision for the Future

To support this exploration of animation, Bush has even brought legendary Disney animator Ron Clements out of retirement to mentor young artists. Clements was a pivotal figure in the Disney Renaissance, a period defined by its classic 2D animation in films like The Little Mermaid.

Beyond stylistic innovation, Bush is focused on cultivating new talent and diverse voices within the studio. He revealed at Annecy that Disney Animation’s 2026 film will be an original story from a new filmmaker, set for release on November 25, 2026.

“It’s really critical that life experiences find their way into the story,” Bush emphasized. “I think it’s really important to continue to do that no matter what it is, because our movies have to be global and reach a global audience.” He believes that having “different types of people lead those stories is crucial.”

As a self-proclaimed “planner,” Bush is currently working on a “10-year slate” for the studio. For him, the excitement lies in identifying the “nugget of an idea” and determining if it “can hold a giant movie.”

“Our movies have to be giant movies,” he explained, highlighting his personal preference for immersive, entertaining films that evoke a full range of emotions. Bush views his primary role as identifying these strong concepts early on, finding filmmakers whose natural inclinations align with such stories, and ensuring “everyone at Disney Animation is on board for that ride.”

Bush, who co-wrote and co-directed Zootopia, wrote Moana and its sequel, and co-wrote and directed Encanto, is now co-directing Zootopia 2, set to release on November 26, 2025. He initially planned to direct it solo but brought back Byron Howard (co-director of the first film) after his CCO promotion.

While admitting some initial apprehension about stepping into the chief officer role, Bush is embracing the challenge. “It’s been really exciting to start to work with those teams,” he said, valuing his ability to provide an objective viewpoint. His passion for “transporting audiences somewhere – immersive worlds, characters that you fall in love with, more entertainment-forward [films]” remains at the forefront of his leadership.