Layoffs are coming to Netflix Animation as part of a department and film slate restructure, Variety reports. Two feature film projects have been halted; the number of job cuts expected in the coming weeks was not specified. The decisions are part of VP Karen Toliver’s efforts to reshape the streamer-studio’s long term strategy, which will still include “a robust slate” — possibly supported by third-party output deals, which the studio is looking into.
The dropped projects are Escape from Beverly Hills (previously unannounced), which will go back to market, and Godwin Jabangwe’s Tunga, which will go back to development. The first project optioned from Imagine Entertainment’s Impact film and TV program, Tunga is a family musical inspired by Jabangwe’s native Shona culture — the film was optioned by Netflix in 2019 after a four-way, six-figure bidding war. (That same year, Netflix debuted its first original animated feature: Sergio Pablos’ Annie- and BAFTA-winning, Oscar-nominated Klaus — the streamer’s first Academy Award nomination.)
The animation division started the year out strong, sweeping awards season with its Oscar-winning stop-motion fairy tale Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio. But cutbacks have been hitting the so recently booming animation industry once again — most recently at DreamWorks, which is axing some 70 positions and will be moving away from fully in-house production after its immediate slate is complete.
In addition to Pinocchio, Netflix Animation’s The Sea Beast (directed by Chris Williams) was also nominated at the 95th Oscars; the Netflix/Sony title The Mitchells vs. the Machines (Mike Rianda) was nominated the year before. 2023 has already seen the debut of The Magician’s Elephant (Wendy Rogers) and The Monkey King (Anthony Stacchi), with Adam Sandler vehicle Leo coming November 21 (read our behind the scenes coverage in next month’s issue of Animation Magazine) and the much-anticipated Aardman sequel Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (directed by Sam Fall) premiering on the streamer on Dec. 15.
[Source: Variety]
