Disney layoffs hit Pixar Animation Studios hard

Disney has implemented a new wave of layoffs across its corporate divisions, with Pixar Animation Studios bearing a significant portion of the impact. The cuts have affected various areas, including ESPN, Disney Entertainment Television, and film studios, according to a company spokesperson.

A source familiar with the matter indicated that approximately 150 employees were let go from Pixar, based in Emeryville, California. National Geographic was reportedly the most affected unit within the television division. The reductions at Pixar are concentrated in production and operations departments.

These recent job cuts follow a larger restructuring in April, when Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro confirmed layoffs affecting nearly 1,000 employees in marketing and brand areas. This latest round of dismissals comes at a time when Pixar's "Toy Story 5," released in mid-June, is performing strongly at the box office, having grossed $957 million to date. Another recent success, "Inside Out 2," surpassed $1.698 billion globally in 2024.

Despite these successes, other Pixar titles like "Hoppers" (2025) and "Elio" (2024) have fallen short of the company's expectations. The company stated that these changes are part of an ongoing evaluation of resource management and reinvestment as the industry continues to evolve.

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These changes are part of our ongoing evaluation of how we manage resources and reinvest across the company as our industry continues to evolve.