Pixar Has Begun Layoffs of 14% of Its Workforce as It Shifts Focus Away From Disney+
Following reports of impending layoffs from earlier this year, Pixar has begun letting go of 14% of its workforce as it switches its focus from series production for Disney+ to feature films.
As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, it appears that around 175 employees will be impacted by these job cuts and that they will bring Pixar’s total headcount from roughly 1,300 people to 1,125. It was also noted that top leadership will not be part of these layoffs.
It was reported back in January 2024 that the layoffs at Pixar could reach up to 20%, but it appears these 175 employees will join the first 75 that were part of the 7,000 people Disney let go in March 2023 as part of its “strategic realignment.”
In a letter to staff, Pixar president Jim Morris shared a few words on the decision and said the company would be supporting those impacted in the best way they can:
“Hello everyone,” Morris wrote. “I have spoken to you many times over the last year about our pending move away from series production for Disney+, the return to our focus on feature films, and the reduction in our team that would accompany that. That day is here, and while it is not coming as a surprise to anyone, it is one of the hardest changes we’ve had to make, as it means we will be parting with a number of talented and dedicated colleagues and friends.
“Today, leaders will begin the process of notifying employees whose positions are being impacted. Calendar invites to speak with a leader have already gone out to those individuals, and we anticipate we will have connected with everyone impacted by the end of the day.
“I want to assure you that will be providing extensive support as our colleagues start to transition out of the studio. We are committed to ensuring that their departure is handled with the utmost respect and care at every stage. This is important to me, and I understand how important this is to all of us in the Pixar community. I will host a brief Studio Meeting via Zoom this afternoon at 5:00 to talk more about today’s announcement.
“Despite the challenges in our industry over the past few years, you have all consistently shown up to contribute, collaborate, innovate, lead, and do great work at this studio. I give you my deepest thanks, and for those who will be leaving us, I am hopeful that our paths will cross again, both professionally and personally.”
A Tough Few Years for Pixar
Pixar’s last few years have had their fair share of ups and downs, and Onward was one of the biggest moments that signaled the shift for the legendary animation studio. Onward was released in theaters on March 6, 2020, and the COVID-19 pandemic caused Disney to release the film digitally two weeks later on March 20 and then on Disney+ on April 3.
Soul, Luca, and Turning Red would follow and all of them switched to a nearly Disney+-only release schedule (outside of a few international theatrical releases) due to the ongoing pandemic. Lightyear marked Pixar’s return to theaters in 2022, but it managed to earn just $226 million globally. This put it ahead of Onward’s $61.5 million but not any other film the studio had ever released.
Elemental fared better after a slow start, however, as it grossed nearly $500 million globally and marked the biggest original animated movie since Coco in 2017. It was also Disney+’s most-watched premiere of 2023.
Looking forward, Pixar is betting big on Inside Out 2, which is set to open on June 14, 2024. The original Inside Out is beloved and the sequel’s first trailer was the most-watched animated trailer in Pixar’s history. After Inside Out 2, Pixar is also hard at work on Elio for 2025 and Toy Story 5 in 2026.
In the meantime, Pixar Fest is currently taking place at Disneyland until August 4.
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Adam Bankhurst is a writer for IGN. You can follow him on X/Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on TikTok.
