Netflix Downsizes Animation As Subscriber Numbers Take A Fall

Illustration 188117646 © Natanael Alfredo Nemanita Ginting | Dreamstime.com

In a blow to the animation industry, Netflix is shrinking animation efforts and has even dismissed top talent. The decision comes after the streaming giant reported a loss in subscriptions for the first time in a decade, which predictably fueled a drop in its shares’ value.

Phil Rynda, the company’s Director of Creative Leadership and Development for Original Animation, has been laid off, as reported by The Wrap, who got confirmation from Netflix. Rynda was among the creative forces behind popular animated shows like Adventure Time and Gravity Falls. Several of his staff members at Netflix have also been let go.

Further, highly-anticipated projects have been taken off the table—most notable of all being the adaptation of fan-favorite comic series Bone. Also canceled are an animated reimagination of Roald Dahl’s The Twits—though a feature film is still in the pipeline—as well as Lauren Faust’s Toil and Trouble.

Most affected by the cutbacks is the Kids & Family division of Netflix’s animation wing, sources told The Wrap. Even the merchandise from this category has been removed from the platform’s online store.

As its next step for animation, Netflix has purportedly instructed employees to look to Boss Baby as a role model for the sort of projects to create. Ironically, Boss Baby isn’t even a Netflix original; it was licensed from DreamWorks.

[via IGN and The Wrap, cover illustration 188117646 © Natanael Alfredo Nemanita Ginting | Dreamstime.com]