Disney confirms animation studio layoffs in Vancouver
Walt Disney Animation Studios has laid off some staff at its Vancouver studio as a result of a shift in business strategy.
In an email to Daily Hive, a Disney spokesperson said the company’s strategy was changing to “focus on theatrical features complemented by short-form streaming content.”
“This means the studio is no longer making long-form content for Disney+,” they said.
Disney was unable to disclose the number of layoffs at the Vancouver office, stating that there were a “few” cuts at the studio.
“There will continue to be over 300 employees at the Vancouver location of our studio,” they noted.
As a result of the strategy shift, two long-form projects that have been in development for Disney+ will not move forward.
These projects include the previously announced Tiana series, based on the 2009 The Princess and the Frog movie, which featured Disney’s first Black princess.
“After four years of development (the project was announced in December 2020), and despite best efforts, including changes to the creative team, the Tiana series did not meet expectations of the beloved original,” said the spokesperson.
They added that instead of the series, a new short-form special more closely inspired by The Princess and the Frog is currently in development.
The second was an unannounced feature-length project intended to be released on Disney+.
Disney’s Vancouver animation studio opened in Yaletown in 2022. A recent major long-form project produced by the studio was Moana 2, which was released in theatres last winter.