Jacob Frey, Animator, Walt Disney Animation Studios

JACOB FREY (Presto Animation Lead) began his career with Walt Disney Animation Studios in 2014 as an animation trainee, before becoming an assistant animator on the Academy Award®-winning film, “Zootopia.” He then went on to work as an animator on “Moana,” “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” “Frozen 2,” “Raya and the Last Dragon” and the Oscar®-winning “Encanto.” He also animated on two Short Circuit Experimental Films, “Cycles” and “Puddles,” before directing his own film for the program, “Going Home.”

Born in Hilden, Germany, Frey was initially interested in pursuing a career in graphic design but changed his path to animation after seeing Pixar Animation Studios’ “Finding Nemo.” He attended Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg in Ludwigsburg, where he directed multiple animated short films including his viral hit, "The Present.” His work has garnered more than 100 awards from various international film festivals.