The studio just confirmed to AWN that Disney’s ongoing cost-cutting moves have finally hit the venerable animation studio in a big way, as roughly 14% of its employees are being let go.
Though long expected, the news is no less jarring. As just reported by The Hollywood Reporter and confirmed by a studio spokesperson to AWN, Pixar is laying off 175 people, roughly 14% of its estimated 1,300 employees.
First rumored last year when Lightyear director Angus MacLane and producer Galyn Susman were let go along as part of a 75-person layoff, and more recently discussed in a Tech Crunch article this past January, the Disney Company continues with its plan to eliminate 7,000 employees and cut costs across the company. It is the biggest such cut in Pixar history, though it reportedly doesn’t include senior leadership. Last year’s cuts were the biggest at the venerable animation studio since a 5% reduction in 2013.
Studio employees have been aware of an impending layoff since the beginning of the year, which appear to have been pushed off because of production schedules. The report also mentioned that the studio will no longer focus on streaming series production, only features, once the upcoming Win or Lose, set for release later this year, finishes up.
The studio’s next big feature release, Inside Out 2, the long-awaited sequel to is critically acclaimed, Oscar winning Inside Out, is set for June 14 in North America. Hopes for success at the theater run high, as the film’s trailer was the most watched in studio history.
Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.
