BNR – Walt Disney Pixar Animation Studios has cut 75 jobs, including the jobs of two executives responsible for the box office failure “Lightyear.” According to sources, this is the studio’s first substantial layoff in 10 years.
Director Angus MacLane of “Lightyear” was among those let go. MacLane has 26 years of experience as an animator and has worked on critically acclaimed films such as “Toy Story 4” and “Coco.”
Also, Galyn Susman, the producer of “Lightyear,” left the project. Susman has worked at Pixar since the initial release of the original “Toy Story” film in 1995.
MacLane and Susman were unavailable for comment. According to the reports, Michael Agulnek, Pixar’s vice president of international press since 2015, was also let go. He did not respond to a request for comment as well.
The layoffs took place on 23 May. They were part of the previously stated plan by WD’s CEO Bob Iger to cut 7,000 workers and save $5.5 billion in expenditures.
Disney Entertainment
This restructure merged the film and television divisions into a single Disney Entertainment entity and abolished a distribution department. While the job cuts are minor in comparison to Pixar’s staff base of around 1,200, they are noteworthy.
This is due to the studio’s role as a creative powerhouse, developing brands and characters that generate income across the board for Disney.
Pixar is well-known for film series such as “Toy Story,” “The Incredibles,” and “Cars.” However, “Lightyear,” which had a projected budget of $200 million, only grossed $226.7 million in international ticket revenue. The film garnered mixed reviews from critics.
In comparison, Pixar’s “Incredibles 2” grossed $1.2 billion at the global box office in 2018. Because of the portrayal of a same-sex romance, “Lightyear” was banned in 14 Middle Eastern and Asian countries. This had an effect on the film’s box office results.
Layoffs have been executed across the board at Disney, including film and television, streaming services, and theme parks. Disney bought Pixar in 2006 to help resuscitate its failing Disney Animation division.
