Disney reveals massive layoffs amid pixar struggles

Disney has launched its largest round of job cuts at Pixar Animation Studios since 2024, with hundreds of staff impacted across various divisions. According to a report from TheWrap, the layoffs are partly attributed to the underwhelming performance of recent original Pixar films, including Hoppers and Elio.

Toy story and inside out studios hit hard

The animation studio behind beloved franchises like Toy Story and Inside Out has taken a significant hit, with many workers at Pixar's main California facility let go. Disney Studios and Television divisions also saw redundancies, as did corporate functions.

While Toy Story 5 continues to rake in box office dollars, Pixar's original films have been a mixed bag, with Hoppers only just breaking even after a $150 million budget. Elio, Pixar's lowest-grossing opening weekend film, has been cited as a major contributor to the layoffs.

Pixar's pipeline includes sequels and originals, including Gatto in 2027, Incredibles 3 in 2028, and Coco 2 in 2029. However, the studio appears to be shifting focus towards more affordable productions, acknowledging that franchise films like Toy Story and Inside Out 2 have been more financially successful than standalone originals.