Following the recent Annecy Animation Festival, Variety sat down with Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Jared Bush to discuss his upcoming film, “Zootopia 2,” and the future of Walt Disney Animation.
Jared Bush on “Zootopia 2”
When asked about how the creative process changed between the original film and “Zootopia 2,” Bush first commented on the new animation system being used by Disney. He confirmed the new system, called Presto, is being used for select “Zootopia 2” scenes but not the entire film, as the shift over to the new animation happened about halfway through production.
A great example is Presto, our new animation system. It’s changed our whole pipeline and is being used on the next “Zootopia” movie. We’re halfway into that system; some scenes use it, others don’t, depending on the characters.
Jared Bush via Variety
Explaining a bit further, Bush touched on the “tricky” nature of creating sequels to beloved films, saying “you can’t just change a character’s design for the sake of change.” He also detailed the work that goes into animating the reptiles for the upcoming “Zootopia 2” film, explaining that snakes are particularly challenging and haven’t been animated in CG prior to this movie.
Sequels are tricky. Audiences want familiarity but also expect growth. The key is making sure any evolution feels organic and integral to the story. You can’t just change a character’s design for the sake of change. People can sense when it’s unearned.
In “Zootopia,” we’re also introducing reptiles. They move and behave differently than mammals. Telling their story required a different approach. For instance, animating a snake, essentially a big rope, and everyone knows about the difficulty in animating ropes, is a big challenge. It’s something we haven’t done in CG before, even though Disney has this rich history of animated snakes.
Bush on Walt Disney Animation Studios
Bush was then asked about the current trend moving toward “more stylistic shifts in animated features.” Variety asked if Disney is exploring such changes with visual aesthetics in future films. Bush explained that yes, the studio does want to explore those shifts, but only if earned. He goes on to state that Disney has “the luxury and responsibility of being a 100-year-old studio. [Their] characters exist not just in their films but alongside all the other heroes from the Disney canon. [They] have to think about design in that broader context.” He continued by using “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” as an example of a stylistic shift in animation:
A movie like “Spider-Verse” pulled off a radical aesthetic because it was baked into the DNA of the story; it made sense with comic books. If we do something bold, it has to have a deep narrative reason. 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.
On that note, Bush is then asked about fresh voices and how important it is for Disney to maintain a balance between those new voices and legacy creators as they plan for future generations of storytellers and viewers.
In this discussion, he brought up how important institutional knowledge is, giving a nod to the return of former director Ron Clements to the studio in an advisory role, stating:
Experienced creators have a shorthand. They know why something works or doesn’t. At the same time, you absolutely need new ideas, fresh perspectives and people who will challenge the status quo. Whether it’s story, character, setting or even production process, innovation often comes from people asking, “Why not try this?”
He states that new ideas and fresh perspectives are “vital” to the company and that “blending all those perspectives” is part of his excitement moving forward. Although the chief creative officer, director and screenwriter can sometime get stuck in his own head in regard to watching each iteration of a film, he tries to “love each one, even if it’s not perfect, because that keeps it exciting.”
Upcoming Disney and Pixar Films
In other Annecy Animation Festival news, Pixar Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter showed exclusive footage from “Elio” and “Hoppers,” announced the new original film “Gatto,” and confirmed Joan Cusack is returning as Jessie in “Toy Story 5.”
Bush and Byron Howard (director “Zootopia,” director “Encanto”) are directing “Zootopia 2” alongside producer Yvett Merino (Oscar-winning producer “Encanto”). The film is set to release in theaters on November 26, 2025.
Watch the teaser trailer below.
Source: Variety.com
Are you excited for “Zootopia 2” and the future of Walt Disney Animation? Let us know in the comments.
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