The animation landscape is shifting. As franchises revisit familiar territory – and sometimes face criticism for aesthetic changes – Disney is signaling a potential evolution in its own animation style. Jared Bush, Chief Creative Officer at Walt Disney Animation Studios, recently indicated that the studio is open to exploring new visual approaches, including influences from anime.
The conversation around animation styles has intensified in recent years, with successes like Sony’s Spider-Verse films and Paramount’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem demonstrating the appetite for innovation. These projects have pushed boundaries, offering distinct visual experiences that deviate from traditional CGI. Disney, however, has largely maintained a consistent aesthetic for the past two decades, a look instantly recognizable in films like Tangled, Frozen, Encanto, Wish, and last year’s Zootopia 2.
Bush’s comments came during an appearance on The Town podcast with Matt Belloni. He acknowledged the potential for significant changes in Disney’s animation approach, stating, “Those things can change quite a lot, and that’s something I’m very excited about. Over the next… even the next five years, there’s going to be a really exciting evolution in the way that our movies look. I think people are excited about that.”
The possibility of leaning into anime-inspired styles was directly addressed. Bush revealed a clear awareness and appreciation for the medium, particularly the work of Hayao Miyazaki. However, he also cautioned against oversimplification. “Oh well, for sure,” he said. “I mean, so many of our artists here are really inspired by anime. Obviously, [Hayao] Miyazaki’s work is something that I study myself. I think when people hear anime, it means a lot of different things. It’s a medium, just the same way that CG animation is a medium. And so I think there’s a lot of different ways to tell stories in my experience. A lot of the times, anime is either 2D artist or a very specific way of doing things. That’s not exactly the way that we do things. That said, inspired by anime is something different, and that’s something that we’re looking to the next several years of how we tell stories and the visual style of our stories.”
This isn’t a sudden impulse. Bush previously hinted at a significant departure with the studio’s next original release following Frozen 3, describing it as “very different” from anything Disney has done before and confirming it would not be set in a human world. While details remain scarce, this suggests a willingness to experiment with settings and visual styles beyond the studio’s established norms.
Disney’s move towards potential stylistic changes comes at a time when the industry is increasingly open to diverse animation techniques. The success of films like Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, lauded for its groundbreaking visual style, has demonstrated that audiences are receptive to innovation. The shift also reflects a broader trend within the entertainment industry of revisiting and reimagining established franchises, often with a focus on appealing to new audiences.
For Disney, this evolution represents a balancing act. The studio must honor its legacy of classic animation while simultaneously embracing new technologies and artistic approaches. The challenge lies in finding a visual language that is both fresh and consistent with the Disney brand. The upcoming 2028 release, whatever form it takes, will be a key indicator of the studio’s direction and its commitment to pushing the boundaries of animation.
The studio’s current slate includes ‘s Hexed and ‘s Frozen 3, which will likely continue to reflect the established Disney aesthetic. However, Bush’s comments suggest that the studio is already looking beyond these projects, actively exploring new possibilities for the future of Disney animation. The next five years promise to be a period of significant change and experimentation, potentially reshaping the visual landscape of the studio’s films for years to come.
