Shocking news hit today... Pixar Canada is no more.
Reported by The Province, the Vancouver-based studio who produced short films like the Toy Story Toons and the post-2010 Cars Toons, has been shut down resulting in over 100 people being let go. Disney spokesperson Barb Matheson stated, "Staff were just told today. Not great news, obviously. It was just a refocussing of efforts and resources to the one facility."
Pixar also released a statement...
"The team at Pixar Canada has produced a wonderful slate of short films since opening in 2010, including Air Mater, Small Fry and Partysaurus Rex. As the dynamics of the animation industry continue to change rapidly, we continue to fine-tune our studio and its production processes. We have made the determination to refocus our creative and business efforts and resources under one roof. Pixar Canada will cease operations immediately."
If anything, this should not have happened. As the article points out, Vancouver is becoming a hotspot for animation studios. Sony Pictures Animation has a unit there, the makers of Sausage Party - Nitrogen Studios and several others. Pixar Canada was a great idea for short film and specials production, but moving that all back to the main building? I'm really not sure if that could work out or not, given Pixar's own problems with their scheduling.
Sad, sad news... I hope the staff end up at Pixar's main unit or find work immediately. Pixar Canada's work, visually, was well above competent. The Toy Story Toons and Cars Toons liked just fine, and I was anticipating what they would do next and it was possible that they'd bring Pixar into other realms beyond television. Pixar's big TV debut begins with Toy Story of Terror, which will be premiering next week on ABC... Hopefully the closing of this studio doesn't affect those plans to branch out.
No comments:
Post a Comment