Netflix Animation Lays Off Multiple Employees After Recent Executive Shakeups

After recent executive shakeups, including Netflix appointing Karen Toliver as vice president of animated film content and Traci Balthazor as vice president of animated film production earlier this year, Netflix Animation is now laying off 30 employees, according to Variety.

In its Q2 letter to shareholders, Netflix stated that the studio and its 800 employees “will help us accelerate the development of our animation production capabilities and reinforces our commitment to build a world-class animation studio.”

Now, months later, Variety has confirmed exclusively that Netflix Animation has laid off 30 employees.

According to their report, the layoffs are due to Netflix moving its animation film production team to under one central leader, Balthazor, the newly appointed vice president of animated film production, as she continues to work closely with Toliver, the newly appointed vice president of animated film content.

It is unclear at this time if more layoffs will continue in the future.

The recent layoffs should not affect the current Netflix Animation projects, which has been skyrocketing within the last few years. In fact, Netflix Animation has earned seven Oscar nominations since 2020, including winning for “If Anything Happens, I Love You.”

The other nominated Netflix Animation films include 2022 nominees “Robin Robin” for Best Animated Short and “The Mitchells vs. The Machines” for Best Animated Feature.

In 2021’s “Over The Moon” was nominated for Best Animated Feature Film while “A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon” was up for Best Animated Feature. And in 2020, Netflix Animation had two nominations -- “I Lost My Body” for Best Animated Feature and “Klaus” for Best Animated Feature.

At this time, Netflx Animation has an incredible lineup of animated features and shorts set to release in the near future, including “Robin,” “Klaus,” “Over the Moon, Back to the Outback,” Richard Linklater’s “Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood” and Chris Williams’ “The Sea Beast.” Coming soon are Henry Selick and Jordan Peele’s “Wendell & Wild,” Nora Twomey’s “My Father’s Dragon,” Guillermo del Toro’s “Pinocchio,” Wendy Rogers’ “The Magician’s Elephant” and a “Chicken Run” sequel.

Netflix Animation describes itself as "At Netflix Animation we want to entertain everyone, and make the world smile. The best way to do that is to build a place where creative visionaries can do their best work without compromise. We love animation in all forms, and wholeheartedly support our global community of storytellers across all genres, tones and techniques," and despite the recent layoffs, according to their website, they are still hiring select positions.