Disney Prepares to Reinvent Its Animation Style After Two Decades

After two decades of a familiar look, the studio hints at a fresh creative direction inspired by global art forms.

Walt Disney Animation Studios is preparing audiences for a noticeable shift in how its animated films may look in the coming years. While no immediate changes are planned, the studio’s leadership has confirmed that a new visual evolution is on the horizon, one that could gently reshape some of Disney’s most iconic storytelling.

Speaking on The Town podcast with Matt Belloni, Jared Bush, Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios, said the company is actively exploring how animation can grow beyond its long-established style. “Over the next five years, there’s going to be a really exciting evolution in the way that our movies look,” Bush said, adding that the creative teams are energized by the possibilities ahead.

Disney’s current animation style has remained largely consistent since its transition from hand-drawn animation to computer-generated imagery in the mid-2000s. Films such as Tangled, Frozen, Encanto, Wish, and Zootopia 2 share a recognizable visual identity that has become closely associated with the Disney brand. Upcoming releases, including Hexed and Frozen 3, will continue in this familiar style.

However, Bush revealed that Disney artists are drawing inspiration from a wide range of influences, including anime. He emphasized that anime is not a single style but a broad storytelling medium, and while Disney will not directly copy it, the influence could shape future visual approaches.

Hints suggest that the studio’s next original film after Frozen 3, expected in 2028, will look very different and explore an entirely new kind of world. For Disney, this marks the beginning of another chapter in its long history of animation reinvention.