Dreamworks Layoffs, Round 2: 170 Employees, Including Artists, On The Chopping Block

Just a few months after Comcast NBCUniversal announced layoffs of nearly 200 management and corporate positions at Dreamworks Animation, the new owner of Dreamworks has commenced on a second round of layoffs.

In this round that will be completed by the end of January, 170 employees will be laid off. Affected employees include those on the animation and production side of the studio.

The layoffs have not been widely reported, but were mentioned earlier this week by the San Fernando Valley Business Journal, which attributed them to the cancellation of Croods 2. “This is separate from the positions eliminated earlier in the year in corporate functional areas,” a source told that publication.

In November, we also reported that Dreamworks is in the process of shuttering its India animation studio.

Dreamworks was acquired earlier this year by Comcast NBCUniversal in a $3.8 billion deal. “I am proud to say that NBCUniversal is the perfect home for our company; a home that will embrace the legacy of our storytelling and grow our businesses to their fullest potential,” Dreamworks Animation founder Jeffrey Katzenberg said at the time. “This agreement not only delivers significant value for our shareholders, but also supports NBCUniversal’s growing family entertainment business.”