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Just one month before Pixar’s hugely successful “Inside Out 2” was released in theaters, the animation studio laid off around 175 employees. This represented approximately 14% of Pixar’s total workforce. Many of those let go had spent over a year working tirelessly to get the film ready for its summer 2024 premiere. According to former employees, some animators were regularly working seven-day weeks for months straight.
The sudden layoffs in May 2024 left the affected workers feeling betrayed and struggling financially. As part of their compensation, Pixar employees could earn bonuses tied to how well a film did at the box office. However, being laid off just before “Inside Out 2” made over $1.6 billion globally meant the former staff missed out on those incentives. One ex-employee told a news outlet the bonuses “partially make working at Pixar worth it.”
Conditions prior to the film’s release were very demanding. Several sources said the non-stop overtime schedules were “ridiculous” and “horrendous.” While Pixar did offer pay for extra hours, the hectic pace made it hard for many to use vacation days or take breaks.
When layoff news broke, emotions ran high in the Pixar atrium as some cried openly. Former employees also lost access to work files and demo reels once their company accounts shut down. This abrupt change reportedly felt like a “f*ck you” from Pixar’s parent company, Disney.
Similar job cuts happened in May 2023 ahead of “Elemental” and impacted veteran figures. The timing of these layoffs has led to suspicions Disney aimed to dodge bonus expenses. Unlike most California animation workers, Pixar staff lack union protections. While “Inside Out 2” made enormous profits, one ex-staffer estimated 95% of those laid off now face financial problems.
As the debate continues around corporate priorities versus employee welfare, the laid-off Pixar creators’ experiences highlight the human costs sometimes associated with blockbuster movies.
