Context:

Disney is pursuing a bold visual shift with its upcoming feature Clay, moving away from its traditional animation look toward a tactile CG world inspired by claymation, as described by Disney Animation chief creative officer Jared Bush. The story centers on Flip, a reluctant mentor voiced by Kieran Culkin, and a clay ball named Mushy, set in a magical forest, with production led by director Fawn Veerasunthorn and a planned 2028 theatrical release announced at D23. The project is framed as a significant stylistic experiment intended to serve the story through a new art direction that remains CG rather than stop-motion. While not a musical, Clay is being developed with the flexibility to accommodate varied musical moments and needle drops, reflecting Disney’s willingness to take big swings. The team emphasizes early exploration and world-building over polishing a single version of the movie, signaling a multi-path approach to the final look.

Dive Deeper:

• Clay represents Disney Animation's first major swing toward a new art style, described as tactile and clay-like while remaining CG—not stop-motion. The aim is to make the world feel tangible and unique to this project.

• The protagonist duo consists of Flip, a reluctant mentor voiced by Kieran Culkin, and Mushy, a young ball of clay, whose journey unfolds in a magical forest that is a fresh setting for the studio.

• Director Fawn Veerasunthorn, noted for Hexed and Lilo & Scratch, pitched the concept centered on a parental mentor dynamic and a character uneasy about being a role model, a premise Disney sees as universally relatable.

• Clay was publicly announced at D23 with a 2028 theatrical release target, indicating a long development window that emphasizes experimentation and world-building over a finalized, traditional look.

• Disney envisions a broader stylistic approach for Clay, suggesting the possibility of multiple musical cues and needle-drops, drawing on Hexed as a reference for integrating music within a non-musical framework.

• Jared Bush emphasizes that early exploration is intentional to allow big stylistic swings, with the final look likely to differ markedly from prior Disney animations while serving the core human story.