Jared Bush

{{Infobox person

| name = Jared Bush

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|06|12}}

| birth_place = Gaithersburg, Maryland, U.S.

| education = Harvard University (BA)

| occupation = {{Flatlist|

Screenwriter
producer
director

}}

| years_active = 1998–present

| spouse(s) = Pamela McDonald

| employer = Walt Disney Animation Studios (2014–present)

| awards = Academy Award for Best Animated Feature
Encanto (2021)

}}

Jared Bush (born June 12, 1974) is an American filmmaker, who has served as the chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios since 2024. He is best known for co-writing and co-directing the company's animated films Zootopia (2016), its upcoming sequel Zootopia 2 (2025) and Encanto (2021), with the latter he won an Academy Award for the Best Animated Feature, and writing the screenplays for Moana (2016), its sequel Moana 2 (2024) and the 2026 upcoming live-action remake. He also co-created and executive produced the Disney XD animated series Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero.{{cite web |title=D23 Expo: Disney Reveals Animated 'Zootopia' for 2016|url=https://variety.com/2013/film/news/d23-expo-disney-reveals-animated-zootopia-for-2016-1200576434/|access-date=December 9, 2015|work=Variety|date=August 9, 2013}}{{cite news|title=Walt Disney Animation Studios Reveals New Zootopia Concept Art|url=http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/415933-walt-disney-animation-studios-reveals-new-zootopia-concept-art#/slide/1|access-date=December 9, 2015|work=comingsoon.net|date=March 3, 2015}}

Early life and education

Bush was born and raised in Gaithersburg, Maryland. He graduated Harvard University, which he earned his Bachelor of arts degree.{{Cite web |title=Jared Bush |url=https://animationisfilm.com/filmmakers/jared-bush/ |access-date=2025-01-02 |website=Animation Is Film |language=en-US}}

Career

Bush was originally hired by Walt Disney Animation Studios on a "provisional eight-week contract".{{cite news |last1=Grimes |first1=Christopher |title=Disney Animation’s new CCO Jared Bush: ‘The goal is to make a timeless film — that’s the bar’ |url=https://www.ft.com/content/52e2ba62-24ec-48e3-9e5e-5860c2a84134 |work=Financial Times |date=December 1, 2024 |url-access=subscription}} He joined the Zootopia project early on, before it evolved from a spy film into a police procedural; he was excited to work on a spy film because both his father and grandfather had worked for the Central Intelligence Agency.{{cite book|last1=Julius|first1=Jessica|title=The Art of Zootopia|date=2016|publisher=Chronicle Books|location=San Francisco|isbn=978-1-4521-5405-3|page=9|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0rp1CwAAQBAJ&pg=PA9|access-date=February 6, 2017}} Several months after joining Disney, he had to personally pitch Zootopia to Disney chief executive officer Bob Iger.

He went on to write the screenplays for the films Moana and its sequel Moana 2.

Bush co-created the animated television series Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero.{{cite news|last1=Siegel|first1=Lucas|title=Penn Zero: Become A Part-Time Hero with Sam Levine, Jared Bush, and Balls|url=https://comicbook.com/news/penn-zero-become-a-part-time-hero-with-sam-levine-jared-bush-and/|access-date=June 27, 2022|work=ComicBook|date=March 27, 2015}} In 2021, Bush directed Encanto about a Colombian magical family alongside Byron Howard with Charise Castro Smith as co-director.{{cite web |last=Evans |first=Greg |title=Lin-Manuel Miranda Confirms New Disney Animated Movie Set In Colombia |url=https://deadline.com/2020/06/lin-manuel-miranda-new-disney-animated-movie-colombia-good-morning-america-1202966143/ |date=June 22, 2020 |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=June 22, 2020 }} Bush also co-wrote the screenplay alongside Castro Smith.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

On September 19, 2024, Disney Animation announced that chief creative officer Jennifer Lee was stepping down from that position to direct and write Frozen 3 and to write and executive produce Frozen 4.{{cite news |last1=McClintock |first1=Pamela |title=Disney Animation Shake-Up: Jennifer Lee Exiting as Chief Creative Officer, Jared Bush Takes Over |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/disney-animation-jennifer-lee-exit-jared-bush-1236006859/ |access-date=September 19, 2024 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=September 19, 2024}} Bush was named as her successor.

Filmography

= Films =

class="wikitable"
Year ! Title ! Director ! Writer ! Executive Producer ! Other ! Voice ! Note
2000 \| What Lies Beneath \| {{No}} \| {{No}} \| {{No}} \| {{Yes}} \| \| Assistant: Mr. Rapke
2014 \| Big Hero 6 \| {{No}} \| {{No}} \| {{No}} \| {{Yes}} \| \| rowspan="11" \| Creative Leadership
rowspan="2" \| 2016 \| Zootopia \| {{Partial\|Co-Director}} \| {{Yes}} \| {{No}} \| {{Yes}} \| Pronk Oryx-Antlerson
Moana \| {{No}} \| {{Yes\|Screenplay}} \| {{No}} \| {{Yes}} \|
2018 \| Ralph Breaks the Internet \| {{No}} \| {{No}} \| {{No}} \| {{Yes}} \|
2019 \| Frozen 2 \| {{No}} \| {{No}} \| {{No}} \| {{Yes}} \|
rowspan="2" \| 2021 \| Raya and the Last Dragon \| {{No}} \| {{No}} \| {{Yes}} \| {{Yes}} \|
Encanto \| {{Yes}} \| {{Yes}} \| {{No}} \| {{Yes}} \|
2022 \| Strange World \| {{No}} \| {{No}} \| {{No}} \| {{Yes}} \|
2023 \| Wish \| {{No}} \| {{No}} \| {{No}} \| {{Yes}} \|
2024 \| Moana 2{{cite web\|title=Jared Bush Named Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios\|url=https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/jared-bush-walt-disney-animation-studios/\|date=19 September 2024\|access-date=19 September 2024\|work=TheWaltDisneyCompany.com}} \| {{No}} \| {{Yes}} \| {{Yes}} \| {{Yes}} \|
2025 \| Zootopia 2{{Cite web \|last=Dunn \|first=Jack \|date=August 9, 2024 \|title='Zootopia 2' Casts Ke Huy Quan, First Sequel Footage Introduces Reptiles and New Animals \|url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/zootopia-2-casts-ke-huy-quan-first-footage-1236093574/\|access-date=February 7, 2024 \|website=Variety}} \| {{Yes}} \| {{Yes}} \| {{No}} \| {{Yes}} \|
2026 \| Moana \| {{No}} \| {{Yes\|Screenplay}} \| {{No}} \| {{no}} \| \| Post-production

class="wikitable"

Year

! Title

! Director

! Writer

! Executive
Producer

! Other

! Voice

! Note

2000

| What Lies Beneath

| {{No}}

| {{Yes}}

| Assistant: Mr. Rapke

2014

| Big Hero 6

| {{No}}

| {{Yes}}

| rowspan="11" | Creative Leadership

rowspan="2" | 2016

| Zootopia

| {{Partial|Co-Director}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{No}}

| {{Yes}}

| Pronk Oryx-Antlerson

Moana

| {{No}}

| {{Yes|Screenplay}}

| {{No}}

| {{Yes}}

2018

| Ralph Breaks the Internet

| {{No}}

| {{Yes}}

2019

| Frozen 2

| {{No}}

| {{Yes}}

rowspan="2" | 2021

| Raya and the Last Dragon

| {{No}}

| {{Yes}}

Encanto

| {{Yes}}

| {{No}}

| {{Yes}}

2022

| Strange World

| {{No}}

| {{Yes}}

2023

| Wish

| {{No}}

| {{Yes}}

2024

| Moana 2{{cite web|title=Jared Bush Named Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios|url=https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/jared-bush-walt-disney-animation-studios/|date=19 September 2024|access-date=19 September 2024|work=TheWaltDisneyCompany.com}}

| {{No}}

| {{Yes}}

2025

| Zootopia 2{{Cite web |last=Dunn |first=Jack |date=August 9, 2024 |title='Zootopia 2' Casts Ke Huy Quan, First Sequel Footage Introduces Reptiles and New Animals |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/zootopia-2-casts-ke-huy-quan-first-footage-1236093574/|access-date=February 7, 2024 |website=Variety}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{No}}

| {{Yes}}

2026

| Moana

| {{No}}

| {{Yes|Screenplay}}

| {{No}}

| {{no}}

| Post-production

= Television =

class="wikitable"
Year ! Title ! Creator ! Producer ! Writer ! Story Editor ! Composer
2000 \|DAG \| {{No}} \| {{No}} \| {{Partial\|Assistant}} \| {{No}} \| {{No}}
2002 \| Baby Bob \| {{No}} \| {{Yes\|Co-Producer}} \| {{Yes\|Staff}} \| {{No}} \| {{No}}
2003 \| Totally Outrageous Behavior \| {{No}} \| {{No}} \| {{Yes}} \| {{No}} \| {{No}}
2003 \| Dumber and Dumber \| {{No}} \| {{No}} \| {{Yes}} \| {{No}} \| {{No}}
2003–04 \| Who Wants to Marry My Dad? \| {{No}} \| {{No}} \| {{Yes}} \| {{No}} \| {{No}}
2003–07 \| All of Us \| {{No}} \| {{Yes\|Co-Producer}} \| {{Yes}} \| {{Partial\|Executive}} \| {{No}}
2014–17 \| Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero \| {{Yes}} \| {{Partial\|Executive}} \| {{Yes}} \| {{No}} \| {{Yes}}

class="wikitable"

Year

! Title

! Creator

! Producer

! Writer

! Story
Editor

! Composer

2000

|DAG

| {{No}}

| {{Partial|Assistant}}

| {{No}}

2002

| Baby Bob

| {{No}}

| {{Yes|Co-Producer}}

| {{Yes|Staff}}

| {{No}}

2003

| Totally Outrageous Behavior

| {{No}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{No}}

2003

| Dumber and Dumber

| {{No}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{No}}

2003–04

| Who Wants to Marry My Dad?

| {{No}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{No}}

2003–07

| All of Us

| {{No}}

| {{Yes|Co-Producer}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{Partial|Executive}}

| {{No}}

2014–17

| Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero

| {{Yes}}

| {{Partial|Executive}}

| {{Yes}}

| {{No}}

| {{Yes}}

= Short films =

class="wikitable"
Year ! Title ! Executive Producer ! Other ! Voice ! Notes
2022 \|Zootopia+ \| {{Yes}} \| {{Yes}} \| Pronk Oryx-Antlerson \| Disney+ Original short films

class="wikitable"

Year

! Title

! Executive
Producer

! Other

! Voice

! Notes

2022

|Zootopia+

| {{Yes}}

| Pronk Oryx-Antlerson

| Disney+ Original short films

= Unrealized projects =

Mancation{{cite news |last1=McNary |first1=Dave |title=New Line, Bush take a Mancation |url=https://variety.com/2007/film/markets-festivals/new-line-bush-take-a-mancation-1117963288/ |accessdate=January 12, 2017 |work=Variety |date=April 17, 2007 }}

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
scope="col"\| Award ! scope="col"\| Date of ceremony ! scope="col"\| Category ! scope="col"\| For ! scope="col"\| Recipient(s) ! scope="col"\| Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable"\| {{Ref heading}}
BET Comedy Awards \| 2005 \| Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series \| All of Us \| Jared Bush, Arthur Harris, Stacy A. Littlejohn, Lori Lakin, Jewel Wormley, Josh Wolf, Demetrius Andre Bady, Byron Hord, Ray Lancon, John Simmons, Rob Rosell, Chad Drew, Betsy Borns \| {{Nominated}} \|
Seattle Film Critics Award \| 2017 \| Best Animated Feature \| rowspan ="4" \| Zootopia \| rowspan=2 \| Jared Bush, Byron Howard, Rich Moore \| {{Won}} \|
Alliance of Women Film Journalists \| December 21, 2016 \| Best Animated Film \| {{Won}} \| {{cite news\|url=http://awfj.org/eda-awards-2/2016-awfj-eda-award-nominees/ \|title=2016 AWFJ EDA \| Award Nominees \|first=Jennifer \|last=Merin \|publisher=Alliance of Women Film Journalists \|date=December 16, 2016 \|access-date=December 17, 2016}}
Annie Awards \| February 4, 2017 \| Outstanding Achievement for Writing in an Animated Feature Production \| rowspan="2" \| Jared Bush and Phil Johnston \| {{Won}} \| {{cite news\|url=http://www.wearemoviegeeks.com/2016/12/arrival-la-la-land-hell-high-water-among-nominees-2016-awfj-eda-awards/ \|title='Arrival', 'La La Land', 'Hell or High Water' Among The Nominees for the 2016 AWFJ EDA Awards \|first=Michelle \|last=McCue \|website=We Are Movie Geeks \|date=December 16, 2016 \|access-date=March 7, 2017}}
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America \| May 20, 2017 \| Ray Bradbury Award \| {{Nominated}} \|{{cite web\|url=http://nebulas.sfwa.org/award/ray-bradbury-award/ \|publisher=Nebula Awards \|access-date=August 2, 2017 \|title=Nebula Awards Nominees and Winners: Ray Bradbury Award for Outstanding Dramatic Presentation \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170501102322/http://nebulas.sfwa.org/award/ray-bradbury-award/ \|archive-date=May 1, 2017 }}
Annie Awards \| March 12, 2022 \| Best Animated Feature \| rowspan ="6" \| Encanto \| Jared Bush, {{sort name\|Byron\|Howard}}, and {{sort name\|Charise Castro\|Smith}} \| {{Nom}} \|
British Academy Film Awards \| March 13, 2022 \| Best Animated Film \| rowspan="2" \| Jared Bush, {{sort name\|Byron\|Howard}}, {{sort name\|Yvett\|Merino}} and {{sort name\|Clark\|Spencer}} \| {{won}} \| {{cite web \|last1=Hipes \|first1=Patrick \|date=March 13, 2022 \|title=BAFTA Film Awards: The Power of The Dog Named Best Film; Dune Leads with Five Wins and Dominates Crafts – Full Winners List \|url=https://deadline.com/2022/03/2022-bafta-film-awards-winners-list-1234977084/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314054335/https://deadline.com/2022/03/2022-bafta-film-awards-winners-list-1234977084/ \|archive-date=March 14, 2022 \|access-date=November 28, 2024 \|website=Deadline Hollywood}}
Academy Awards \| March 27, 2022 \| Best Animated Feature \| {{Won}} \| {{cite news \|last1=Nordyke \|first1=Kimberly \|date=March 27, 2022 \|title=Oscars: Full List of Winners List \|work=The Hollywood Reporter \|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/2022-oscars-winners-list-1235119314/ \|url-status=live \|access-date=November 28, 2024 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328074401/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/2022-oscars-winners-list-1235119314/ \|archive-date=March 28, 2022}}
Hugo Awards \| September 4, 2022 \| Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form \| rowspan="2" \| {{sort name\|Charise\|Castro Smith}}, Jared Bush, and Byron Howard \| {{nom}} \| {{Cite web \|last=Codega \|first=Linda \|date=September 6, 2022 \|title=The 2022 Hugo Award Winners Are Here \|url=https://gizmodo.com/hugo-award-winners-2022-arkady-martine-teixcalaan-serie-1849499818 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220906164832/https://gizmodo.com/hugo-award-winners-2022-arkady-martine-teixcalaan-serie-1849499818 \|archive-date=September 6, 2022 \|access-date=November 28, 2024 \|website=Gizmodo}}
Imagen Awards \| October 2, 2022 \| Best Director – Feature Film \| {{won}} \| {{cite web\|first=Kimberly\|last=Nordyke\|title=Imagen Awards: Encanto, Love, Victor Top Winners List\|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/imagen-awards-encanto-love-victor-full-winners-list-1235231576/\|date=October 2, 2022\|access-date=November 28, 2024\|website=The Hollywood Reporter\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221003222033/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/imagen-awards-encanto-love-victor-full-winners-list-1235231576/\|archive-date=October 3, 2022\|url-status=live}}
Nebula Awards \| May 21, 2022 \| Ray Bradbury Nebula Award for Outstanding Dramatic Presentation \| {{sort name\|Charise Castro\|Smith}}, Jared Bush, {{sort name\|Byron\|Howard}}, {{sort name\|Jason\|Hand\|nolink=1}}, {{sort name\|Nancy\|Kruse}}, and {{sort name\|Lin-Manuel\|Miranda}} \| {{nom}} \|{{Cite web \|date=May 21, 2022 \|title=2021 Nebula Awards Winners \|url=https://locusmag.com/2022/05/2021-nebula-awards-winners/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523002219/https://locusmag.com/2022/05/2021-nebula-awards-winners/ \|archive-date=May 23, 2022 \|access-date=November 28, 2024 \|website=Locus}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

scope="col"| Award

! scope="col"| Date of ceremony

! scope="col"| Category

! scope="col"| For

! scope="col"| Recipient(s)

! scope="col"| Result

! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Ref heading}}

BET Comedy Awards

| 2005

| Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series

| All of Us

| Jared Bush, Arthur Harris, Stacy A. Littlejohn, Lori Lakin, Jewel Wormley, Josh Wolf, Demetrius Andre Bady, Byron Hord, Ray Lancon, John Simmons, Rob Rosell, Chad Drew, Betsy Borns

| {{Nominated}}

Seattle Film Critics Award

| 2017

| Best Animated Feature

| rowspan ="4" | Zootopia

| rowspan=2 | Jared Bush, Byron Howard, Rich Moore

| {{Won}}

Alliance of Women Film Journalists

| December 21, 2016

| Best Animated Film

| {{Won}}

| {{cite news|url=http://awfj.org/eda-awards-2/2016-awfj-eda-award-nominees/ |title=2016 AWFJ EDA | Award Nominees |first=Jennifer |last=Merin |publisher=Alliance of Women Film Journalists |date=December 16, 2016 |access-date=December 17, 2016}}

Annie Awards

| February 4, 2017

| Outstanding Achievement for Writing in an Animated Feature Production

| rowspan="2" | Jared Bush and Phil Johnston

| {{Won}}

| {{cite news|url=http://www.wearemoviegeeks.com/2016/12/arrival-la-la-land-hell-high-water-among-nominees-2016-awfj-eda-awards/ |title='Arrival', 'La La Land', 'Hell or High Water' Among The Nominees for the 2016 AWFJ EDA Awards |first=Michelle |last=McCue |website=We Are Movie Geeks |date=December 16, 2016 |access-date=March 7, 2017}}

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America

| May 20, 2017

| Ray Bradbury Award

| {{Nominated}}

|{{cite web|url=http://nebulas.sfwa.org/award/ray-bradbury-award/ |publisher=Nebula Awards |access-date=August 2, 2017 |title=Nebula Awards Nominees and Winners: Ray Bradbury Award for Outstanding Dramatic Presentation |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170501102322/http://nebulas.sfwa.org/award/ray-bradbury-award/ |archive-date=May 1, 2017 }}

Annie Awards

| March 12, 2022

| Best Animated Feature

| rowspan ="6" | Encanto

| Jared Bush, {{sort name|Byron|Howard}}, and {{sort name|Charise Castro|Smith}}

| {{Nom}}

British Academy Film Awards

| March 13, 2022

| Best Animated Film

| rowspan="2" | Jared Bush, {{sort name|Byron|Howard}}, {{sort name|Yvett|Merino}} and {{sort name|Clark|Spencer}}

| {{won}}

| {{cite web |last1=Hipes |first1=Patrick |date=March 13, 2022 |title=BAFTA Film Awards: The Power of The Dog Named Best Film; Dune Leads with Five Wins and Dominates Crafts – Full Winners List |url=https://deadline.com/2022/03/2022-bafta-film-awards-winners-list-1234977084/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314054335/https://deadline.com/2022/03/2022-bafta-film-awards-winners-list-1234977084/ |archive-date=March 14, 2022 |access-date=November 28, 2024 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}

Academy Awards

| March 27, 2022

| Best Animated Feature

| {{Won}}

| {{cite news |last1=Nordyke |first1=Kimberly |date=March 27, 2022 |title=Oscars: Full List of Winners List |work=The Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/2022-oscars-winners-list-1235119314/ |url-status=live |access-date=November 28, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328074401/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/2022-oscars-winners-list-1235119314/ |archive-date=March 28, 2022}}

Hugo Awards

| September 4, 2022

| Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form

| rowspan="2" | {{sort name|Charise|Castro Smith}}, Jared Bush, and Byron Howard

| {{nom}}

| {{Cite web |last=Codega |first=Linda |date=September 6, 2022 |title=The 2022 Hugo Award Winners Are Here |url=https://gizmodo.com/hugo-award-winners-2022-arkady-martine-teixcalaan-serie-1849499818 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220906164832/https://gizmodo.com/hugo-award-winners-2022-arkady-martine-teixcalaan-serie-1849499818 |archive-date=September 6, 2022 |access-date=November 28, 2024 |website=Gizmodo}}

Imagen Awards

| October 2, 2022

| Best Director – Feature Film

| {{won}}

| {{cite web|first=Kimberly|last=Nordyke|title=Imagen Awards: Encanto, Love, Victor Top Winners List|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/imagen-awards-encanto-love-victor-full-winners-list-1235231576/|date=October 2, 2022|access-date=November 28, 2024|website=The Hollywood Reporter|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221003222033/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/imagen-awards-encanto-love-victor-full-winners-list-1235231576/|archive-date=October 3, 2022|url-status=live}}

Nebula Awards

| May 21, 2022

| Ray Bradbury Nebula Award for Outstanding Dramatic Presentation

| {{sort name|Charise Castro|Smith}}, Jared Bush, {{sort name|Byron|Howard}}, {{sort name|Jason|Hand|nolink=1}}, {{sort name|Nancy|Kruse}}, and {{sort name|Lin-Manuel|Miranda}}

| {{nom}}

|{{Cite web |date=May 21, 2022 |title=2021 Nebula Awards Winners |url=https://locusmag.com/2022/05/2021-nebula-awards-winners/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523002219/https://locusmag.com/2022/05/2021-nebula-awards-winners/ |archive-date=May 23, 2022 |access-date=November 28, 2024 |website=Locus}}