Jennifer Michelle Lee (born Rebecchi; October 22, 1971)[1] is an American filmmaker and playwright. She served as the chief creative officer (CCO) of Walt Disney Animation Studios from 2018 to 2024, before stepping down to return to full-time filmmaking.[2][3] She is best known as the writer and one of the directors of Frozen (2013) and its sequel Frozen 2 (2019), the former of which earned her an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Besides being the first female CCO of Walt Disney Animation Studios, Lee was the first female director of a Walt Disney Animation Studios feature film[4] and the first female director of two feature films that each earned more than $1 billion in gross box office revenue.[5][6]
Early life
Jennifer Michelle Rebecchi was born on October 22, 1971[4][7] to Linda Lee and Saverio Rebecchi, who were living in Barrington, Rhode Island at the time.[8] After their divorce, Lee and her older sister Amy, who later became an English teacher, lived with their mother in East Providence, Rhode Island.[7][8] Both Lee and her older sister graduated from East Providence High School and the University of New Hampshire.[8] Lee earned a bachelor's degree in English in 1992[9][10] and relocated to New York City, where she worked as a graphic artist in publishing; she designed audiobooks for Random House.[7][8] As an adult, she began using her mother's maiden name, Lee, in a professional capacity[8] and in January 1995, legally changed her last name from Rebecchi to Lee.[1]
In March 2011, Phil Johnston, a former classmate at Columbia, called Lee to ask her to join him at Disney Animation in Burbank to help him write Wreck-It Ralph.[7] What was supposed to be a temporary eight-week writing gig eventually turned into a much longer commitment.[7] First, she was asked to stay on until Ralph was finished.[7] She then became involved with Frozen, initially as screenwriter and later as director alongside Chris Buck.[7] When Lee was brought on board, she helped transition the film from an action-adventure to "more musical, with more comedy."[12] She worked closely with the songwriters (Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez) in the writing of the script.[12]Frozen gave her the opportunity to celebrate "wild and wonderful" girls like her childhood self, and her daughter, Agatha.[12] It was also the highest-earning film with a female director in terms of domestic earnings, until surpassed by Warner Bros.' Wonder Woman.[13]
On May 17, 2014, Lee delivered the commencement address to the class of 2014 at her alma mater, the University of New Hampshire.[14][15][16] She revealed that she had struggled with self-doubt while growing up,[17]: 2:00 and then in April of her junior year of college, her boyfriend was killed in a boating accident, after which she felt "no doubt, only grief ... and for a brief moment ... [knew] better than to waste a second doubting."[17]: 6:18 Years later, that memory would help her overcome her initial doubt over whether she was good enough to apply to Columbia.[17]: 7:10 At Columbia, Johnston recognized she was talented but insecure, and one day asked her to "promise ... that you'll leave it out of your work, just know that you're good enough and move on."[16] She concluded: "If I learned one thing it is that self-doubt is one of the most destructive forces. It makes you defensive instead of open, reactive instead of active. Self-doubt is consuming and cruel and my hope today is that we can all collectively agree to ban it ... Please know, from here on out, you are enough and dare I say, more than enough."[16] UNH then awarded her the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters.[18]
In September 2014, it was announced that Lee and Buck would co-direct a short film featuring the Frozen characters called Frozen Fever. It was released in March 2015.[19] Lee was one of several Disney writers and directors who received credit for "Creative Leadership" on the 2014 film Big Hero 6 and the 2016 film Moana, and received screen credit as one of the writers who developed the story for the 2016 film Zootopia.[20][21][22]
On March 12, 2015, Disney announced that Lee and Buck would co-direct a full length sequel to Frozen.[28]
In June 2018, Lee was named the chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios, following John Lasseter's departure from Disney.[2] Lee is also set to write and produce a film titled The Way Between, for Tooley Entertainment, with Kyra Sedgwick set to direct.[29]
In September 2022, Lee was announced to write the screenplay for Disney's animated film Wish, released in November 2023.[30]
In September 2024, Lee announced that she was stepping down from her position as Disney Animation's chief creative officer to return to full-time filmmaking at the studio—specifically, to direct and write Frozen 3 and to also write and executive produce Frozen 4.[3]Jared Bush was named as her successor.[3]
^ abPerry, Valerie A. (January 21, 1995). "Legal Notices (Probate Court of the City of East Providence)". Providence Journal. The Providence Journal Company. p. B-14. This article lists various matters noticed for hearing before the probate court, of which the relevant one is as follows: "REBECCHI, JENNIFER MICHELLE, estate - Change of name to Jennifer Michelle Lee; for hearing January 24, 1995." Available via ProQuest NewsStand.
^ abcKit, Borys (December 18, 2013). "'Frozen' Director Wants to Break a Sci-Fi Blockbuster Barrier". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 26, 2022. Lee, 42, is the first woman in the studio's history to act as a director on one of its animated features (she co-directed with Chris Buck).
^ abcdefghiStewart, Jill (May 15, 2013). "Jennifer Lee: Disney's New Animation Queen". LA Weekly. Retrieved November 8, 2019. Raised in East Providence, R.I., Lee, 41, was a flute-playing band nerd who "became a cheerleader — a nerd cheerleader."
