Part 3/9:
The film, which had a hefty production budget of around $200 million, only managed to gross $226 million globally. This underperformance led to significant fallout, including the loss of creative leadership. The director, Angus McLean—a seasoned Pixar veteran with over 26 years of experience—and producer Galen Sussman were both laid off in the aftermath. Sussman, who was credited with rescuing "Toy Story 2" after a major studio mishap, also saw her career at Pixar come to an end.
Including "Lightyear," Disney’s animation division has collectively cut 75 positions, including key executives responsible for the film. This level of upheaval underscores how critical the failures have become for Disney’s leadership and creative teams.