Tech Crunch estimates that 20% of Pixar’s workforce of 1,300 employees may lose their jobs, although they report company officials claim the number is much lower.
New year, same studio push to cut costs. First reported at Tech Crunch and then THR, Pixar will layoff as much as 20% of its 1,300 employee workforce, though the studio claims nothing is imminent and that this number is too high as it is still being determined. According to Tech Crunch, the layoffs won’t happen until later this year and will be based on future production schedules and project greenlights as the company focuses on making less content.
Last June, 75 employees were laid off at the animation studio, including Lightyear director Angus MacLane and producer Galyn Susman, whose departure conveniently coincided with the underwhelming box office performance of the Toy Story character’s origin tale. And while Elemental has generated $500 million at the box office while earning six Annie Award noms, audiences are just not heading back to theaters in huge numbers consistently, and there haven’t been any global animated feature film blockbusters coming from U.S. studios in quite some time. Pixar’s business is primarily predicated on theatrical success, which has left them especially vulnerable.
One bright note is that Disney and Pixar’s Soul (2020), Luca (2021), and Turning Red (2022) are heading to the big screen nationwide for the first time ever. Pushed to Disney+ due to the pandemic, these three films will finally get the theatrical release they had always planned for. Tickets went on sale January 2, 2024, for the special engagement theatrical runs, which invite moviegoers to experience the Pixar films the way they were meant to be seen, ahead of the studio’s June 2024 theatrical release of Inside Out 2. Audiences will also be treated to a Pixar animated short film ahead of each of the features.
Pixar has not been reached for comment.
Cybersecurity specialist by day, investigative journalist by night.
