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IGN has published a lengthy investigation into the darker side of Inside Out 2.
On one hand, the film is a massive commercial and critical success, becoming the highest-grossing animated film of all time (not accounting for inflation) and bringing Pixar back to the forefront of the industry.
On the other hand, the situation behind the scenes is much bleaker. IGN spoke with 10 former artists from the studio who were affected by the spring layoffs, which impacted 175 people—about 14% of the workforce. Their statements are far from reassuring.
Crunch, Bonuses, and Layoffs
Some former employees describe extremely difficult working conditions, with “unprecedented” periods of crunch. One artist mention working seven days a week for one or two months, with people being assigned tasks they had little to no experience with. Other accounts refer to a four-month rush at the end of production. Some people, however, did not experience this issue, suggesting that not all departments were affected equally.
IGN also highlights testimonies from people who noticed disparities between artists: some were waiting for work, while others were slogging through long hours.
This rushed production schedule was partly due to the immense pressure on the studio. After the commercial failure of Lightyear, the feeling within the team was that the studio couldn’t afford another flop. Although it’s doubtful whether the studio was truly at risk, this perception seemed to exist among some employees.
The pressure was also heightened due to production issues and scheduling problems, adds IGN.
Moreover, the layoffs were executed quite harshly, with employees being forbidden from returning to their desks to collect their belongings. Such practices are common in the U.S. but were unprecedented at Pixar, leaving the dismissed employees with a sense of bitterness.
The article also gives some information about the financial impact of the layoffs: those affected did not receive bonuses following the film’s success because they hadn’t worked long enough on the project to qualify. This was a major issue since, according to the artists, their salaries weren’t particularly high considering the studio’s location (Emeryville, California), and bonuses were a key part of their compensation. The financial blow was thus quite severe for some.
Backlash and Production Issues
The article portrays a studio with seemingly haphazard management, heavily dependent on Pete Docter, who reportedly overstepped his role as producer to become an uncredited co-director. While Docter’s talent is not in question, IGN suggests that after an initial period of opening up to new directors (like Kelsey Mann for Inside Out 2), the studio reverted to its old ways following Lightyear’s failure. The studio leadership reportedly blamed a lesbian kiss as the major reason for the film’s failure, leading them to avoid any hint of LGBTQ+ themes in Inside Out 2. Changes were made to the relationship between Riley and Val to ensure it was perceived as purely friendly and platonic. Artists interviewed by IGN mention changes in the lighting and tone to dispel any possible interpretations to the contrary.
The article also highlights that Lightyear had multiple weaknesses, making the studio leadership’s interpretation of its failure seem somewhat questionable.
Furthermore, Inside Out 2 experienced several creative and script changes, causing delays that led to a tense period at the end of production, as postponing the release date was not an option.
These details help explain the crunch period: in the end, IGN suggests that the testimonies might not reflect an unusually heavy workload for the studio but rather poor management, with unexpected changes and disastrous task distribution leading to dramatic situations for some individuals. This remains concerning, both for the well-being of the team and for the studio itself. Especially as Pixar, following the success of Inside Out 2, is reportedly considering using this same approach for its next animated film, Elio.
For more information
For now, Disney and Pixar have not commented on these revelations, and it’s doubtful they will.
In the absence of an official response, we highly recommend reading the full investigation conducted by Alex Stedman for IGN.
