Jared Bush

Biography

Jared Bush is an American filmmaker, screenwriter, producer, and director, widely acclaimed for his significant contributions to Walt Disney Animation Studios. Born on June 12, 1974, in Gaithersburg, Maryland, Bush has become a pivotal figure in modern animated cinema, known for his work on critically and commercially successful films.

Early Life and Education: Bush was raised in Gaithersburg, Maryland. He pursued his higher education at Harvard University, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree. Before his career at Disney, he began as a script reader for director Robert Zemeckis.

Career Highlights:

Jared Bush's career has been primarily centered around animation, particularly at Walt Disney Animation Studios.

Television Work: Bush's early career included television projects. He served as a staff writer on the series Baby Bob and was an executive story editor and co-producer for the series All of Us. He also co-created, executive-produced, and wrote for the Disney XD animated series Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero (2014-2017).

Walt Disney Animation Studios: Bush joined Walt Disney Animation Studios in 2014, contributing to "Creative Leadership" on films like Big Hero 6 (2014).

His rise to prominence came with his work on several major animated features:

• Zootopia (2016): Bush co-directed and co-wrote this Academy Award-winning film. His involvement began early in the project's development.
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• Moana (2016): He served as a screenwriter for this Oscar-nominated film.
• Encanto (2021): Bush co-directed and co-wrote this film, which earned him an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
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• Raya and the Last Dragon (2021): He served as an executive producer for this film.
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• Upcoming Projects: He is currently involved in several anticipated sequels, including writing and directing Zootopia 2 (2025) and writing and executive producing Moana 2 (2024), which is already in cinemas, as well as the upcoming 2026 live-action Moana. He is also listed as an executive producer for Frozen III (2027).

In 2024, Jared Bush was named the Chief Creative Officer (CCO) of Walt Disney Animation Studios, overseeing the creative output of the iconic studio's films, series, and associated projects.

Awards and Recognition: Bush's work has been recognized with significant awards, including an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature for Encanto. He also received an Emmy Award for Zootopia+. His films have won and been nominated for numerous other accolades, including Annie Awards and Seattle Film Critics Awards.