Disney’s Pixar is cutting 75 jobs, including executives working on the upcoming film ‘Lightyear’.

Disney’s Pixar Animation Studios Eliminates 75 Positions, Including Executives Behind “Lightyear”

By Dawn Chmielewski

(Reuters) – Walt Disney’s Pixar Animation Studios has eliminated 75 positions including those of two executives behind box office disappointment “Lightyear,” sources said on Saturday, the first significant job cuts at the studio in a decade.

Pixar Animation Studios, known for creating beloved cinematic franchises such as “Toy Story,” “The Incredibles,” and “Cars,” has recently made headlines for a different reason. The studio has eliminated 75 positions, including those of two executives behind the box office disappointment “Lightyear.” This marks the first significant job cuts at the studio in a decade.

The Cuts

The cuts, which took place on May 23, included “Lightyear” director Angus MacLane, a 26-year animator who was part of the senior creative team on such acclaimed films as “Toy Story 4” and “Coco.” Galyn Susman, producer of “Lightyear,” also departed. Susman had been at Pixar since the release of the original “Toy Story” movie in 1995. Michael Agulnek, Pixar’s vice president of worldwide publicity since 2015, was also laid off.

While small compared to Pixar’s employee base of about 1,200, the layoffs are notable because the studio is a creative force generating franchises and characters that drive revenue across Disney.

The Box Office Disappointment

“Lightyear,” released a year ago with a reported budget of $200 million, brought in a modest $226.7 million in worldwide ticket sales and received a mixed critical reception. By contrast, Pixar’s “Incredibles 2” in 2018, which was reported to have had a similar production budget, had worldwide box office sales of $1.2 billion.

“Lightyear” could not be shown in 14 Middle Eastern and Asian countries because of its depiction of a same-sex relationship. This had an impact on its box office performance.

The Future of Pixar

Disney has implemented layoffs in every division including film and television, streaming services, and theme parks. The last time Pixar cut jobs was in 2013, after the studio postponed the release of the 2015 film “The Good Dinosaur,” and removed its director, Bob Peterson. About 30 positions were eliminated. Disney acquired Pixar in 2006 to revitalize its struggling Disney Animation.

Despite the recent job cuts, Pixar remains a creative force generating franchises and characters that drive revenue across Disney. Fans eagerly await the studio’s next release, hoping for another beloved classic.