Oct 2, 2019

Walt Disney Animation Studio highlights the diversity of its new slate of directors

Walt Disney Animation Studios announced on Tuesday that four filmmakers will develop animated features for the studio. Two of them are live-action filmmakers who are new to the studio, and two are Disney veterans. At least three of the filmmakers have an ethnic background (Mexican, Iranian, and Filipino).

The two newcomers are:

The two studio veterans are:

The announcement was made by Disney Animation's chief creative officer Jennifer Lee. Since taking over the chief creative officer role from John Lasseter in 2018, she has not spoken at length about her vision for the animation studio, beyond an early statement in which she expressed a hope to “support the incredible talent we have, find new voices, and work together to tell original stories.”

For the announcement of these four new directors, Lee said in a statement:

It remains to be seen whether the projects that these filmmakers are developing will move forward into production, but at the very least, the new slate of directors is a nod to diversity and inclusion at the directorial level, something that has previously eluded Disney's animation department.

In its 82-year history of animated features, the Disney studio has never released a film by a solo woman director. Lee became the first woman to co-direct a feature film with Frozen in 2013. She is also co-directing the upcoming Frozen 2.

Pictured at top, from left: Carlos Lopez Estrada, Josie Trinidad, Suzi Yoonessi, Marc Smith