DreamWorks Animation Laying Off 70 Employees
DreamWorks Animation is undergoing layoffs, cutting approximately 70 staffers from its workforce, Variety has learned.
“DreamWorks Animation reduced its workforce by approximately 70 positions. Roles affected were across corporate functions, feature, television and technology departments as part of an overall cost-reduction,” a spokesperson for DreamWorks told Variety.
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As a part of cost-cutting measures, DreamWorks is shifting away from producing films fully in-house and will rely more on third party studios, Cartoon Brew reported.
On the horizon from the animation studio, “Trolls Band Together” is set to be released on Nov. 17, with NSYNC reuniting after nearly 20 years to perform “Better Place” for the third installment’s soundtrack. Voice actors for the animated feature include Justin Timberlake, Anna Kendrick, Camila Cabello, Eric André, Kid Cudi, Troye Sivan, Daveed Diggs, Amy Schumer, RuPaul, Kenan Thompson and more.
Earlier this year, DreamWorks and Netflix partnered on “Orion and the Dark,” an animated family comedy written by Charlie Kaufman and based on a 2014 book by Emma Yarlett. Animator Sean Charmatz will mark his feature debut with this darkly whimsical tale about a young boy confronting his greatest terror. Netflix will release the film in 2024.
Back in September, Variety learned exclusively that Apple TV+ has ordered the new animated series “Curses!”, which hails from DreamWorks Animation with John Krasinski among its executive producers.
The official description states, “When a generations-long family curse turns Alex Vanderhouven to stone, it’s up to his two kids, Pandora and Russ, and his wife Sky, to return artifacts stolen by their ancestors to their rightful homes to finally lift the curse for good.”
Cartoon Brew was the first to report the layoffs news at DreamWorks Animation.
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