Jed Diffenderfer

Story | Writer | Director

I’m a storyteller and filmmaker with 25 years shaping animated features from the blank‑page stage through major studio development. I’ve contributed to the core story foundations of projects like Kung Fu Panda, Wreck‑It Ralph, Big Hero 6, The Secret Life of Pets, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and K‑Pop Demon Hunters, helping build the narrative bedrock that characters, worlds, and franchises grow from.

I’ve spent my career inside the story departments of Sony, Pixar, Illumination, Disney, DreamWorks, and more — often brought in during pivotal phases to define structure, strengthen character arcs, and guide creative direction when the stakes are highest. The work is rarely visible, but it’s where films truly take shape: line by line, sketch by sketch, idea by idea.

In recent years, my focus has expanded into writing and directing, including developing a series adaptation of Octopath Traveler and pitching original feature concepts to Lucasfilm Animation and other studios. I’m continuing to build new original IP while consulting on story structure and worldbuilding across features and series.

– Come, Learn the Story Arts of Feature Animation!!! –

STORY ARTS ACADEMY

“STORY ARTIST: FOUNDATIONS” is a comprehensive 15-week course in the foundations creating and developing stories as a story artist for feature animation studios, packed with over 150 lectures, lessons, quizzes, exercises, and assignments direct from first-hand feature animation studio experience over the past 25 years from Kung-Fu Panda to KPOP Demon Hunters and so much more. Writers, Filmmakers, Actors, Designers, and Visual Storytellers of all kind are welcome to start adding this rare, invaluable skillset to your repertoire.

Sign up at:
STORYARTS.ACADEMY

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World Class Storyteller & Filmmaker

25+ years experience as a world class storyteller in story departments across the industry's top studios in a range of key creative and leadership roles, forming stories successfully into the narrative bedrock of globally beloved characters and worlds of record breaking franchises!

Character & Worldbuilding

A central part of our story work is creating original characters from blank page into personas of worldwide celebrities. Understanding what makes a character and their world not only work, but worth returning to is something I excel at consistently whenever the opportunity arises.

Examples of character story & persona development from past films

Leadership & Collaboration

As part of a team or leading one, I choose my roles—and my departures—with intention, guided by a balance of creative fit, professional integrity, and room to grow. The health of the show and wellbeing of the people behind it are inseparable to me, demonstrated by a career of consistently standing by those beleifs even when it’s inconvenient, especially then, refusing to compromise one for the other.

Beyond the work you can see, that commitment defines everything you can’t, and I’ll fight to defend it until I’m nothing but a story myself. Finding the collaborators sharing these values has always resulted in the best experiences and outcomes for all.

Game Designer & Publisher

Alongside my career as a storyteller and filmmaker, I’ve always loved designing games as well. Since one of my earliest college jobs as a pixel artist, I’ve always had a passiona for exloring the storytelling potential of games and interactive mediums, doing that as a side hustle that often overlaps with my film work on projects like Super Mario Bros, Wreck-It Ralph, and more TBA!

– Recently Released –

K-POP DEMON HUNTERS
Head of Story

MEET THE GIRLS (PLANE FIGHT)
KPOP Demon Hunters

Story Pitch | Story Reel | Comp1, Comp2

Intro of the film I was asked to re-write as an Intro to the characters, their world, tone, music-video fighting style, and just to be an overall tentpole target to aim for.

I also used my brother as insp for Mira. Alex Chiu also did some incredible work in the following iteration! Without an actual film to show back then, this was used in securing the original music deals with Black Label (BTS, BlackPink) - yes, that is cool.

*Due to licensing restrictions, Story Reel is only viewable by special request at this time.

MEET UGLY

Story Pitch | Story Reel | Comp

First encounter with the Saja boys, and a K-Drama “meet cute–but ugly”, between Rumi and Jinu to kick off their relationship with a love/hate foundation.

I think Maggie was the only one who believed in ‘Ab-eyes’ at first, and Jessie Wong took it to the next level. Story Reel includes boards by Jessica Stanley.

DERP TIGER

Story Pitch | Story Reel | Comp

My first take on “Derpy”. Helen and Maggie really wanted Derpy in the movie so this was my attempt to sell how our Derp Tiger could work on screen for studio buyoff.

VO for Derp and pots sfx in my garage. Helen did the original painting of Derpy’s appearance based on Korean traditional artwork. His performance was inspired by our family’s cat Mister Meowgi (who is incredibly clumsy and overall bad at being a cat). The birdie performance was inspired by Meowgi’s sister Cleopawtra Jones who was by contrast the perfect cat, and always low-key ashamed of her clumsy brother. Rad and Omar finalized the design for Derpy and this final story Reel includes boards by Jessie Wong and Christina Chang as well.

– Past Projects –

Films for SONY, PIXAR, ILLUMINATION, DISNEY, DREAMWORKS, and MORE!

Writer, Director

Head of Story

Story Lead

Story Dev / Story Artist

Story Artist

Writer, Director,
Narrative Design

Story Artist

Editor, Author, Illustrator

Story Artist, Narrative Design

Story Artist

Game Designer, Publisher

Writer / Director

Story Artist

Game Designer, Publisher

Development, Story Artist, Writer, Fight and Action Choreography, Look Dev Anim (2D Intro), Voice Over, Franchise Developmet, Game Design (An abnormally large role on this project).

Story Development, Writer

Additional Contributions

In between primary projects I’m usually asked to do little helpy helps on other shows.