Inside Out 2 success overshadows Pixar layoffs, crunch culture concerns emerge

Despite Inside Out 2's record success, former Pixar employees reveal struggles with layoffs

The release of Inside Out 2 has been a major win for Pixar, grossing $1.6 billion worldwide and becoming the highest-grossing animated film of all time. However, former employees have shared that the film’s success comes with significant hardship for those involved in its production. According to IGN, Pixar laid off 175 employees in May 2024, just after the film's completion, affecting around 14% of its staff. Former employees spoke out about a "massive crunch" period during the final months of production, with some workers reportedly working seven days a week.

One former employee told IGN, “There is just an incredible amount of people who are like, ‘I can't do this anymore.’” Another source stated that Pixar implemented a new "long and lean" workflow, which left certain departments overwhelmed as they tried to meet deadlines.

Despite these challenges, Pixar's Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter played a critical role in ensuring Inside Out 2's success, with sources praising his involvement. However, insiders also revealed frustrations with the studio’s culture, including decisions to edit LGBTQ themes from the film. According to multiple sources, leadership made repeated changes to ensure main character Riley appeared “less gay,” resulting in edits to specific scenes.

As Inside Out 2 continues to break records, many former employees are left struggling financially due to layoffs and the exclusion from the film’s success bonuses. IGN reports that several workers felt “blindsided” by the layoffs, with one employee remarking, "We just want to get it over with."