Disney confirms Vancouver layoffs amid shift in streaming strategy

The character Moana, voiced by Auli'i Cravalho, in a scene from "Moana 2." (Disney via AP)

Walt Disney Animation Studios is laying off some of its Vancouver workforce, amid a pivot in the company’s streaming strategy.

A spokesperson confirmed the layoffs on Monday, but would not disclose how many employees are being let go.

“Walt Disney Animation Studios is shifting its business strategy away from producing long-form content for Disney+ and is focusing on one theatrical feature a year as well as short-form content,” the spokesperson told CTV News, in an email.

Long-form and special content for streaming was expected to be the primary focus of the Vancouver studio, which opened in 2022 as an offshoot of the company’s animation headquarters in Burbank, Calif.

The team eventually led development on “Moana 2,” which was initially planned as a series before being restructured into a feature.

The film released theatrically last year, grossing more than $1 billion globally.

Along with the layoffs, the company confirmed the cancellation of a planned series centred on the character Tiana, from “The Princess and the Frog,” that has been in the works for several years. Another unannounced long-form feature for Disney+ has also been scrapped.

“Tiana series director Joyce Sherri will continue to develop a special inspired by ‘The Princess and the Frog,’ with Steve Anderson as her fellow director,” the company spokesperson said.

Examples of previous short-form content from Walt Disney Animation Studios include the series “Baymax!” and “Zootopia+,” both of which released in 2022 with six episodes each.