After five years in existence, Fox Animation Studios is laying off nearly
70% of its Phoenix-based toon factory's staff. The restructuring of the
animation department will include more contract work outside the studio.
President of animation at Fox, Chris Meledandri said a foundation of 65-100
of the now 320 employees will remain, including, of course, studio staples
Don Bluth and Gary Goldman. Fox will continue to perform pre-production
work including storyboarding, character design, production design and
layout work. Key animation and editing will also be done at the Phoenix
studio. All additional work after key animation and special effects will be
subcontracted outside of Fox. The new animation division is sending home
many of the animators they recruited from around the world five years
prior. Thus far the division has only produced ANASTASIA and its
direct-to-video spinoff BARTOK THE MAGNIFICENT. The upcoming TITAN A.E is
currently finishing up production after several false starts. "It's very
difficult to let people go who have worked so hard and done such good
work," Meledandri said. "We are currently helping in as many ways as we
possibly can to find them other work and help them transition to their next
opportunity." It is possible that some staff will move over to sister
company, Blue Sky Studios, to help on their new fully-digital feature
entitled ICE AGE.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
