The studio is cutting back its slate to two DreamWorks-produced films per year: one original film and one sequel. To save money, the studio will also begin outsourcing production for some of its films, like, Captain Underpants, scheduled for 2017. Films such as that will be produced “at a significantly lower cost.”

UPDATE: DreamWorks Will Outsource Captain Underpants…But Not Where You Think





DreamWorks chief Jeffrey Katzenberg told financial analysts this afternoon that the studio’s attempt to make three films a year was “too ambitious.” He also said that he would become more involved creatively with the studio’s films:

“Much of my time has been focused on expanding the company. It’s now time for me to turn my attention back to the core businesses and support Mireille [Soria] and Bonnie [Arnold, the new DreamWorks feature animation co-presidents]. Much more of my time will be in support to them and less on the road. I remain 100% committed to building DreamWorks Animation. My time and my focus needs to be on making blockbuster hit films. We have the people to do it.”

The new release line-up for DreamWorks-produced films is as follows: Kung Fu Panda (March 18, 2016), Trolls (November 4, 2016), Boss Baby (January 13, 2017), The Croods 2 (December 22, 2017), The Larrikins (February 16, 2018), and How to Train Your Dragon 3 (June 29, 2018). The formerly announced B.O.O.: Bureau of Otherworldly Operations has been taken off the schedule completely and shifted back into development. Another film, Mumbai Musical, has also been put on the backburner.

Among the people who will exit the company: marketing chief Dawn Taubin, vice chairman Lewis Coleman, and COO Mark Zoradi. Zoradi, who joined only last summer, said at the time of his hiring: “I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to join the talented DreamWorks team at a time of remarkable expansion and growth for the company.”

In a written statement, DreamWorks said it expects to incur a pre-tax charge of approximately $290 million in connection with the restructuring. These costs are expected to be incurred primarily in the quarter ended December 31, 2014, with the remainder in 2015 and 2016. The plan will result in total cash payments of approximately $110 million incurred primarily in 2015. The restructuring plan is expected to be substantially complete by the end of 2015 and expected to result in annualized pre-tax cost savings of approximately $30 million in 2015, growing to roughly $60 million by 2017.

The extent of the layoffs and the sudden shuttering of PDI/DreamWorks (which started in 1980 as Pacific Data Images) took most of the animation industry by surprise. Artists at PDI reacted admirably, as reported by Kevan Shorey on Twitter:

Seeing my coworkers still laughing and hugging following the studio closure announcement was an inspiration. PDI is a v special place. — Kevan Shorey (@kevanshorey) January 23, 2015

Industry-wide, however, there was great sadness, shock and disappointment, as expressed on Twitter:

Holy smokes … really saddened by the news of PDI closing … man … thinking of all the colleagues there … — enrico casarosa (@sketchcrawl) January 22, 2015

Our thoughts are with employees of #pdi #dreamworks today 🙁 — Michael Comet (@Manic_Mongoose) January 22, 2015

So #PDI is to shutter. What a mess. Artists pay the price. A rotten shame. They're a talented, dedicated bunch in story & animation. — Jenny Lerew (@blackwingjenny) January 22, 2015

My heart goes out to all of those affected by the DW/PDI layoffs. Hang in there 🙁 — Sarah Marino (@sarahmarino) January 22, 2015

Sad to hear about PDI closing, It has been an icon in the business since the beginning — Patrick Osborne (@PatrickTOsborne) January 22, 2015

Today is awful. Thoughts are with all my friends at DreamWorks. — Craig (@craig_church) January 22, 2015

Devastating, sad day: PDI being shut down!!! #dwa probably wouldn't exist and #HTTYD2 wouldn't be what it is if it wasn't for that studio! — Simon Otto (@SimonOttoAnim) January 22, 2015

Bummed about news of PDI shutting down. Never nice when the animation industry gets smaller. — Clay Kaytis (@ClayKaytis) January 23, 2015

To my friends and colleagues at Dreamworks and PDI. I am thinking of you and hope you know that none of this is… http://t.co/GQ1uMr7BId — stephen silver (@stephensilver7) January 22, 2015

So Many talented people being let go today over at PDI and DreamWorks. My thoughts are with you all. Stay strong, keep moving forward. — Lino DiSalvo (@LinoD) January 23, 2015

And, of course, there were numerous offers of work for the newly unemployed artists:

To the #Dreamworks artists being laid off, please consider children's books. I'm always looking for talented artists like you. #PDI — Giuseppe Castellano (@pinocastellano) January 23, 2015

To those affected at PDI Dreamworks we have many openings at Blizzard Entertainment http://t.co/jhX8JfV6yh — Kathy Z (@Blizz_kathyz) January 22, 2015

Rockstar is hiring for oodles of positions all over, if you want to venture into games. http://t.co/53YVEexwWH Fight-o Dreamworks/PDI folks! — Katie Better (@somethingbetter) January 22, 2015

(Editorial illustration: boy silhouette via Shutterstock.com.)