Pixar Employees Address Toxic Environment Behind the Scenes of Inside Out 2

Key Takeaways

• Inside Out 2 became Pixar’s highest-grossing film ever, but behind the scenes, employees faced severe working conditions.
• Despite Inside Out 2’s financial success, employees endured layoffs, mental/physical strain, and limited compensation.
• Pixar’s recent movie flops led to pressure from Disney, including requests to make characters less LGBTQ+ in Inside Out 2.

Pixar‘s Inside Out 2 is thriving at the box office, but behind the scenes, all is not as bright. Former employees have spoken out, revealing the darker realities of working for a major animation studio.

Inside Out 2 delivered the hit Pixar desperately needed, even earning the title of the highest-grossing animated movie of all time. Yet behind the scenes, Pixar employees are grappling with issues far more troubling than anyone could have imagined.

In a recent report by IGN, 10 former Pixar employees shared their experiences working on Inside Out 2, revealing the harsh conditions behind the movie’s success. The interviewees spoke about layoffs, immense pressure, mental and physical strain, excessive overtime, and broader cultural issues within the company. These were just a few of the challenges they faced while working for Pixar, according to the report.

The first Inside Out was a blockbuster when it premiered in 2015, marking Pixar’s biggest hit in years. However, few anticipated that its sequel would surpass all expectations. Inside Out 2 not only became Pixar’s highest-grossing movie to date, but also claimed the title of the highest-grossing animated movie of all time, raking in $1.6 billion at the global box office. It was the breakthrough Pixar needed after years of struggling to deliver another hit. However, behind the scenes, the studio’s success came at a high cost to its employees. Earlier this year, Pixar initiated a series of layoffs, impacting at least 175 workers — 14% of its staff—many of whom were involved with Inside Out 2. Those who remained faced grueling working conditions, including seven-day workweeks for up to two months, with unpredictable periods of crunch and production rushes. Some artists were assigned tasks outside their expertise, while others reported different experiences, suggesting that not all departments were equally affected. One of the most grueling accounts described a four-month production rush toward the end. These demanding conditions took a toll on employees’ mental and physical health. While some were compensated with overtime pay, time off, and health support, others claimed their health insurance was stripped away entirely. Ironically, the workers were creating a movie about mental health, all while lacking sufficient support for their own.

Those impacted by the layoffs endured some of the most difficult conditions. While certain employees received compensation, many who were laid off before the release of Inside Out 2 were not eligible for bonuses. To qualify for these bonuses, employees had to work on the project for a specific amount of time and still be employed when the bonuses were distributed. This was particularly disheartening as these bonuses were critical for employees, given that Pixar’s base pay for many positions is considered low relative to the high cost of living in Emeryville, California, where the company is located. The layoffs went beyond just financial struggles. Employees were abruptly locked out of the company network the same day they were let go, cutting off their access to essential work materials, personal files, and benefits information. To make matters worse, they were restricted from picking up their belongings during regular working hours, supposedly to avoid creating an “awkward” atmosphere for the remaining employees. Even worse, their key card access was limited to non-workweek hours, further complicating their ability to collect their personal items. Many employees felt disrespected by this treatment, as they were essentially shut out of the company they had contributed to without proper closure or support.

Before Inside Out 2‘s success, Pixar experienced a string of underwhelming box office performances. Lightyear, for instance, was considered a flop by Pixar’s standards, earning just $226 million worldwide. The following movie, Elemental, brought in nearly $500 million globally, but even that was not enough for the studio. To be deemed profitable by Pixar, a movie typically needs to cross the $600 million mark, while Disney does not consider a movie a true success unless it reaches the coveted $1 billion milestone. Multiple reports indicate that Disney’s leadership attributed Lightyear’s financial failure to a same-sex kiss in the movie. The scene was initially cut but added back after significant internal backlash. In the case of Inside Out 2, Disney leadership allegedly asked Pixar animators to make Riley “less gay.” While Riley’s sexuality has not been officially confirmed, Disney reportedly wanted her relationships to remain platonic to avoid any LGBTQ+ themes. What is even more troubling is that Pixar is reportedly considering applying the same harsh working conditions to its next movie, Elio. Neither Disney nor Pixar have commented on these reports.

Source: IGN