Jared Bush is an American screenwriter, director, and producer, currently serving as the chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios as of 2024. Born on June 12, 1974, Bush is widely known for his work on several hit Disney films, including co-writing and co-directing Zootopia (2016) and its anticipated sequel Zootopia 2 (2025), writing the screenplay for Moana (2016) and its sequel Moana 2 (2024), and directing and co-writing the Academy Award-winning Encanto (2021). A graduate of Harvard University, Bush has also been involved in television as the co-creator and executive producer of the Disney XD animated series Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero.

Bush began his Disney career on a short-term contract but quickly established himself as a creative force. He joined the Zootopia team early, initially attracted to its spy-thriller concept due to his family’s background in the CIA. As the project evolved into a buddy-cop narrative, Bush remained a key contributor and even pitched the film personally to then-CEO Bob Iger. His writing credits on Moana and its sequel helped define Disney’s modern animated storytelling, blending cultural depth with family-friendly appeal.

In 2021, Bush took the helm as director of Encanto, a musical about a magical Colombian family, co-directed with Byron Howard and Charise Castro Smith. The film won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and became a cultural phenomenon. His leadership and storytelling skills led to his appointment as chief creative officer at Disney Animation in 2024, succeeding Jennifer Lee as she shifted focus to the Frozen franchise. Bush’s ongoing work positions him as a major architect of Disney’s creative future.

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