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Disney Slammed For Laying Off Woman Who Saved Pixar

In 1995, Pixar Animation Studios released a film that changed the movie industry. Toy Story was the first completely computer-animated feature-length film. The movie tells the story of a group of toys who come to life when their owner, Andy, leaves the room. The head toy is Woody the Cowboy, as he is Andy’s favorite toy. Woody’s world is turned upside down when Andy receives a new toy — Buzz Lightyear, Space Ranger. Woody does everything he can to drive Buzz away, but nearly drives his friends away and loses Andy.

Toy Story
Credit: Disney

Toy Story was an immediate hit. Three years later, Pixar released another fully computer-animated film, A Bug’s Life. That same year, they also released the immensely successful Toy Story 2. However, the entire studio almost came crashing down when everything they had on Toy Story 2 was accidentally erased. Enter Galyn Susman. Susman was on maternity leave and happened to have a backup copy of the film on her computer. She sent what she had to the studio, saving the movie — and Pixar — in the process.

Toy Story 2
Credit: Disney/Pixar

In late May, Disney conducted its third round of layoffs. As a part of those layoffs, Disney CEO Bob Iger decided to part ways with a number of executives who worked on the Disney/Pixar film, Lightyear. The film cost a lot of money to make, but did not do very well in theaters or on streaming. Sadly, Susman was one of the executives targeted in the layoffs.

Lightyear Team Fired at Pixar
Credit: Disney/Pixar

The Writers Guild of America is currently on strike, and they slammed Disney for laying off the woman who single-handedly saved Pixar from going under. Disney purchased Pixar in 2006 and has seen immense success with them. Eric Haywood, a WGA Board Member, warned everyone to never expect loyalty from any company they work for.

Don’t ever, ever expect an ounce of loyalty from any corporation

https://twitter.com/EricHaywood/status/1665144292501856257

Towards the end of the pandemic, the United States experienced a movement that was nicknamed The Great Resignation. Thousands of people — mainly younger ones — were quitting jobs where they didn’t feel respected.

Susman was with Pixar and then Disney for decades, In addition to working on Toy Story 2, she was also a producer on Toy Story 4, Toy Story of Terror, Dug’s Special Mission, Toy Story That Time Forgot, Lightyear, and others.

Krysten Swensen

A born and bred New England girl living the Disney life in Southern California. I love to read, to watch The Golden Girls, and love everything to do with Disney and Universal. I also love to share daily doses of Disney on my Disney Instagram @BrazzleDazzleDisney!

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