Podcast Summary

Podcast: The Town with Matthew Belloni
Episode Title: ‘Zootopia 2,’ China, AI, and the Battle for Originals With the Head of Disney Animation
Date: January 14, 2026
Guest: Jared Bush, Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios

Overview

This episode dives deep into the unprecedented international success of Zootopia 2—now the highest-grossing US animated film ever, the unique creative process at Disney Animation, and the future of animated storytelling amid pressures from AI and streaming. Host Matthew Belloni interviews Jared Bush, Chief Creative Officer at Disney Animation and writer/co-director of Zootopia 2, exploring everything from why Zootopia resonates in China, to whether AI will disrupt animation jobs, and how Disney maintains its tradition of original storytelling.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Record-Breaking Success of Zootopia 2

• Zootopia 2 is about to surpass Inside Out 2 as the top-grossing US animated film, earning around $1.7B worldwide, with over $600M from China.
• The film’s resonance in China partly stems from its narrative of “leaving a small hometown for the big city”—a story relatable to many Chinese audiences.
  • Jared Bush: "[It's] the story of Judy...this underdog, moving from a rural town to the big city to make a difference...really resonated." ([05:02])

Collaboration Between Disney Animation and Pixar

• Despite being separate entities, Disney Animation and Pixar regularly exchange feedback.
  • They share early cuts (about two-thirds into their 5-year process) for critical outside perspectives.
  • Jared Bush: "We actually bring our films to Pixar, Pixar brings their films to us to get some fresh opinions on it." ([03:35])

Comedy and Localization for Global Success

• Disney Animation adapts scripts for local humor and languages; jokes and puns are altered not just translated.
  • Jared Bush: "If there’s a pun here that’s funny for an American audience, they do a very different pun there...It’s not a direct one to one translation." ([06:29])

Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Animation

• Bush is cautious about AI's creative role; values human storytelling and collaboration.
• Disney Animation isn’t currently using AI for major creative tasks, welcomes tools that speed up workflow but not those that replace artistry:
  • Jared Bush: "Everything you’re seeing, every frame is by hand...I don’t want AI to tell me what to create. There’s no fun in that." ([07:41])
• Skeptical of bold claims that AI will replace most animation jobs soon:
  • Jared Bush: "I would say [Katzenberg is] not right...the type of movies that we make at Disney Animation, I don’t believe holds for that, because…we’re trying to make stories that stand the test of time." ([08:58])

Economics & Theatrical Viability of Original Animation

• High costs ($200M per film) and competition with streaming mean originals must be exceptional to draw audiences.
• Bush strongly believes there is still space for original theatrical animation—if the standards are met:
  • Jared Bush: "You have to have originals to build the next thing that people want to see more. That’s critical...The bar for originals is very high." ([12:05])

What Makes an Original Worthy?

• The combination of a compelling world and characters with novel, resonant journeys is critical.
  • Jared Bush: "It’s the combination of a world that people want to spend time in and characters whose journeys you want to go on." ([12:45])
• Music plays a significant role, especially in fairy-tale musicals, but must continually feel fresh and earned through character journeys. ([13:45])

Disney’s Creative Process and Leadership

• Bush splits time between leading the studio and actively working on the next big film.
• Emphasizes maintaining creative health at the studio—ensuring staff are valued and creatively fulfilled.
  • Jared Bush: "We do our best work when people are feeling creatively fulfilled...when they are able to take creative chances." ([15:13])

Green Lighting at Disney Animation

• Ongoing, conversational approval from leadership (Bob Iger, Alan Bergman), with faith in creative teams:
  • Jared Bush: "It’s way more of a conversation than it is like a scary moment of thumbs up or thumbs down…you’re constantly needing to prove that this is worthy of five years of people’s time." ([17:05])

Adapting External IP vs. Disney's Homegrown Storytelling

• Despite the success of licensed properties (e.g., Super Mario), Disney Animation remains focused on internal creation.
  • Jared Bush: "We have brilliant people that want to build something, and that’s why they’re here." ([20:23])
  • Doesn’t rule out external IP in the future, but it’s not the current studio focus.

Disney and Anime

• Many Disney artists are inspired by anime and Miyazaki, but anime has a very different production process.
  • Bush hints at more anime influence in visual evolution for future films, but not direct anime projects.
  • Jared Bush: "There’s going to be a really exciting evolution in the way that our movies look...People are excited about that." ([22:48])

Sequels: Frozen and the Space Between Films

• Jennifer Lee is deeply involved in producing Frozen 3 and 4.
• Sequels to musicals require longer gaps for creative and emotional freshness:
  • Jared Bush: "Four years, five years, that’s a good zone...Musicals, 100%, need to have a gap...you want to learn to love new music..." ([31:27])

Adult Humor in Family Films

• Disney intentionally writes layered jokes for both kids and adults; avoids talking down to younger audiences.
  • Jared Bush: "I always say that animation is for everyone—and also kids...Our audience is everybody from young to old." ([26:09])
  • Kids often pick up more in test screenings than adults.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On why Zootopia resonates in China:
  • "It felt like, oh, this is made for us. This is telling our story." – Jared Bush ([05:42])
• On AI’s limits:
  • "I don't want AI to tell me what to create. There's no fun in that." – Jared Bush ([07:41])
• On Disney’s unique creative environment:
  • "We do our best work when people are feeling creatively fulfilled. It's a building full of creative folks." – Jared Bush ([15:13])
• On meeting the high bar for originals:
  • "You have to have originals to build the next thing that people want to see more. That's critical." – Jared Bush ([12:05])
• On the need for time between sequels:
  • "Four years, five years, that's a good zone...there's something really helpful in getting a little bit of...distance." – Jared Bush ([31:27])
• On Disney’s openness to anime influence:
  • “There’s going to be a really exciting evolution in the way that our movies look.” – Jared Bush ([22:48])
• On adapting or licensing outside IP:
  • “Ultimately, the reason why creative folks come here…is because people want to create that." – Jared Bush ([20:23])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:01] – Jared Bush joins the show; relationship between Disney Animation and Pixar
• [05:00] – Why Zootopia is a hit in China
• [06:14] – Localizing jokes and visual comedy internationally
• [07:12] – AI in animation: what’s hype, what’s real
• [08:58] – Skepticism over AI replacing animation jobs; the importance of collaboration
• [10:17] – Budgets, quality, and the imperative for exceptional theatrical originals
• [12:45] – What raises an original to Disney’s greenlight bar?
• [15:35] – Bush on leadership and fostering creativity at Disney Animation
• [16:00] – The greenlight process at Disney Animation
• [19:45] – Discussion on licensing external IP vs. in-house creation
• [21:24] – Disney and anime; influence and style evolution
• [24:34] – Bush’s Star Wars work and thoughts on creativity across franchises
• [26:04] – How Disney balances adult humor in family animation
• [29:10] – Jennifer Lee and the challenges of musical sequels (Frozen 3 & 4)
• [31:27] – The ideal turnaround time between sequels; valuing creative “gaps”
• [33:24] – Thoughts on future Zootopia sequels and world-building

Final Thoughts

Bush and Belloni offer rare insight into the balancing act faced by Disney Animation: maintaining legacy, fostering original creation, adapting for a global audience, and pushing forward amid technological and business shifts. The episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in film, animation, or the future of creative industries.

End of Summary.