Head of Disney Animation Out After Misconduct Allegations

John Lasseter, the head of animation at Disney, is leaving the studio after taking a leave of absence last year following accusations of misconduct. In a statement released Friday, Disney said Lasseter will take on a consulting role through December, after which he will completely cut ties with the company. Lasseter, who’d been on leave since November after his “unwanted hugs” reportedly made colleagues feel uncomfortable, said in a separate statement that he’d made the decision to leave after reflecting on his “personal priorities.” “While I remain dedicated to the art of animation and inspired by the creative talent at Pixar and Disney, I have decided the end of this year is the right time to begin focusing on new creative challenges,” he said. One of the founders of the Pixar animation studio, Lasseter had been credited with reviving Disney’s animation with recent family favorites Frozen and Moana.