Former Disney Director Don Hall Joins John Lasseter At Skydance

Another day, another former Disney creative leaves the studio to join another. This time, it is Don Hall, perhaps best known for his directorial work on films such as Big Hero 6, Moana, and Raya and the Last Dragon.

When he joined the studio his first major project was 1999’s Tarzan. He would go on to work on films such as The Emperor’s New Groove, Brother Bear, and Chicken Little. 



He eventually climbed the ladder and wrote the screenplay for 2007’s Meet the Robinsons. His directorial debut finally came with 2011’s Winnie the Pooh. He would make back-to-back hits with Big Hero 6 in 2014 and Moana in 2016. His later films, such as Raya and the Last Dragon and Strange World, however, left much to be desired.

In addition to writing and directing, Hall would also be part of the creative leadership team on films such as Zootipia, Ralph Breaks the Internet, Frozen II, Encanto, and Wish.



Hall will be leaving Disney to join Skydance Animation, headed up by former Disney animation head John Lasseter. He will develop brand-new, all-original stories for the studio. Nothing is known yet about what kind of films he will be working on.

Skydance Animation is slowly becoming one of Disney’s biggest competitors, with multiple former directors, writers, and animators heading over to the relatively new studio. This somewhat mirrors when Jeffery Katzenberg co-founded DreamWorks Animation to compete directly with Disney/Pixar. If the Skydance-Paramount merger takes place, the team will have access to a large number of properties from the studio.

With more creatives leaving every day, the magic at Disney seems dimmer and slimmer. Without the audience’s faith and trust, there can be no pixie dust.

What do you think of Hall joining Skydance? Let us know your thoughts. 

Source: The Hollywood Reporter