Byron Howard

Byron Howard (born December 26, 1968, in Misawa, Japan) is an American animator and filmmaker best known for his work as a director at Walt Disney Animation Studios. Over a career that spans animation, character design, story, writing, and producing, Howard has helped shape some of Disney’s most modern, character-driven hits.

He rose to global prominence as a co-director of Bolt (2008), then followed with the fairy-tale reinvention Tangled (2010) and the genre-savvy phenomenon Zootopia (2016). Howard later co-directed Encanto (2021), expanding his reputation for warm humor, emotional storytelling, and inventive world-building, and he continues that legacy with Zootopia 2 (2025).

In addition to directing, Howard has appeared in behind-the-scenes projects such as Imagining Zootopia and Untangled: The Making of a Fairy Tale, offering insight into the studio’s creative process. He has also contributed voice performances, including roles in Tangled and Zootopia, and is credited to voice multiple characters again in Zootopia 2.

Howard is recognized as the first openly LGBT director to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature twice, honored for Zootopia and Encanto.