Layoffs hit Disney’s Pixar Animation Studios Tuesday, with the company losing around 175 employees.
The layoffs constitute a 14% cut in Pixar’s staff.
According to reports, the firings are part of restructuring efforts at Disney as the company moves away from original streaming content to focus on theatrical films. Pixar’s next movie, “Inside Out 2”, will hit theater screens next month.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, when audiences couldn’t go to the theater, Disney prioritized content exclusive to its Disney+ streaming platform. Pixar hired additional staff to keep up with such demand, with several films, including “Turning Red” and “Luca,” dropping straight to streaming.
Now Disney is shifting course, opting for a typical theatrical run before Pixar’s films end up on Disney+.
This is the second round of layoffs at Pixar in the past year. In June, Disney announced it would cut 75 jobs at the animation studio. In January, reports indicated that Disney executives were considering additional layoffs of up to 20%.
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