Jennifer Lee, director of Disney Studios. “We’ve come so far since Snow White, our princesses have changed and so has society.”

Once upon a time there was a little girl in Rhode Island who was raised by a single mother. Little Jennifer in threadbare clothes is bullied at school, but regularly escapes to the land of dreams. her escape is books and cartoons, led by Cinderella. Then the tale begins. in adulthood, he decides to tell stories in turn to heal wounds, to inspire, to brighten everyday life. First in publishing in New York, then with the animation giant when Phil Johnston, a former classmate at Columbia University, asked him to co-write. Wreck-It Ralph For Disney.

But it was in 2013 that the wave of the magic wand changed his fate. he revived Mickey’s dormant world (and finances) by imagining and co-directing the story of two sisters facing an endless winter. An unprecedented phenomenon, which was crowned with an “Oscar” for an animated film. The Snow Queen allowing him access to the throne of the enchanted kingdom. The first woman to direct a theatrical animated feature film for Uncle Walt and bring in more than a billion worldwide at the box office, she was named creative director of Walt Disney Animation Studios in 2018.

Cartoons

We find her five years and marriage later (to actor Alfred Molina, the voice-over narrates Frozen 2:At the Annecy International Animated Film Festival, which celebrated the 100th anniversary of the studio established in 1923 with great pomp this year. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs In 1937 Our princesses have changed, society has changed. When I came on board, I made it my goal to represent all the faces of our world in our stories, and that first and foremost meant revamping the creative teams. When there’s only one profile among the people imagining the stories, it’s impossible to think outside the box and break down archetypes. I want to carry the voice of future generations, to find more comprehensive stories in line with the developments of our society. Never has our creativity been stimulated as much as by all these collaborators from different backgrounds. »

He takes his inspirations from literature, his first love and the authors he respects, from Toni Morrison to Haruki Murakami through Shakespeare, his obsession. “What I like about literature is that we project the images we want. Enforcing representations in film is a huge responsibility that should not be taken lightly. The examples we set should inspire all children, wherever they come from. »

Usual sexism

Also under his leadership, a warrior princess from Southeast Asia followed each other Ryan and the last dragon is a Colombian teenager EncantoDisney’s first gay and mixed-race character Avalonia, or a young girl from the Iberian Peninsula wish, the studio’s latest, in theaters on November 29. The eclectic characters, however, have one thing in common. not the shadow of romance at the heart of their narrative arc. “There is only one prince charming. may he spend happy days with Cinderella.” There are other ways to tell love than through a love story.” Sisterhood, friendship, and filial relationships thus took center stage, sometimes allowing her to deal with her own life.

Her bond with her older sister, her unwavering support in her youth, and especially after the brutal death of her first love, was thus a major inspiration for building the dynamic between Elsa and Anna that would soon return. Frozen 3:. If there’s a familiar theme she doesn’t dare touch on in her stories, it’s harassment. “I don’t understand how we can get any satisfaction from mockery and meanness. When you’ve been abused, it’s hard to heal. Bullies often have issues or trauma to deal with, but to write about a topic you also have to put yourself in their shoes, and I don’t think I have the guts…”

There are other ways to tell love than a love story

Jennifer Lee

However, it took courage for her to chart her course in a field where everyday life for women does not always have the air of a fairy tale. If things are improving, casual sexism still reigns in the small world of animation, often relegating women to the background. “Women’s voices in publishing were more valued and respected. When I started in cinema, I realized that it is not like that everywhere. But thanks to my first professional experiences and my feminist education, I came to animation with a certain confidence that allowed me to put forward my ideas. What’s more, I had the support of men at Disney who believed in me. Others, of course, think I don’t deserve my job, but I focus on work. The rest doesn’t matter to me.”

Pledge of Equality

He will not say that his story is borderline, but, in addition to his talent and success The Snow QueenThe firing of John Lasseter, who was accused of inappropriate behavior amid MeToo, will also contribute to his joining the administration. So Disney had to signal its openness to women. “I am aware that I am an exception, but it is already the beginning. Young women see my journey as a form of permission to dive in, to dare, to believe in their dreams. I have a 20-year-old daughter (born of his first union, Editor’s Note) and I don’t want him to deny himself anything. And at my level, I take advantage of the opportunity given to me to try to advance my colleagues.”

No longer the sole director in Walt Disney’s animation department, he accordingly entrusted co-directors;Encanto and: wish to two wives, Charise Castro Smith and Fawn Wirasunthorne. It’s not a solo project yet, but it’s already in progress… Yeah, like the characters wishJennifer Lee could see one of her wishes come true, equality will be at the forefront. “It may sound idealistic, but isn’t my job to write fairy tales?”

Wish, Asha and lucky star, By Chris Buck and Fawn Wirasunthorne. In cinemas from November 29.