Disney layoffs hit Pixar and ESPN in a fresh wave of corporate restructuring, marking the media conglomerate’s third major round of job cuts in 2026 alone. On July 21, The Walt Disney Company notified employees across Pixar Animation Studios, National Geographic, ESPN, and ABC News that hundreds of positions were being eliminated. The sweeping reductions target production, operations, and editorial departments as Disney continues its push toward a leaner, technology-focused operational model.
Animation and Documentary Divisions Suffer Sharp Cuts
The impact on creative hubs is particularly severe, with the Disney layoffs hit Pixar and ESPN initiative striking Emeryville-based Pixar Animation Studios. High single-digit percentages of Pixar’s roughly 1,100-person workforce—around 100 employees—have been let go across production and operational teams. Over at Disney Entertainment Television, National Geographic bore the brunt of the downsizing, resulting in the departure of key veteran executives, including Senior Vice President of Documentary Development Charlie Parsons and Vice President of Casting Terry Danuser. ABC News also eliminated around a dozen positions.
High-Profile Sports Talent Departs Amid NFL Integration
The sports division was not spared as the broader Disney layoffs hit Pixar and ESPN. ESPN saw significant staff cuts linked to its ongoing absorption of NFL Network assets following a major partnership with the National Football League. Alongside behind-the-scenes production personnel, several prominent on-air personalities were released. Longtime Baseball Tonight host Karl Ravech, NFL analyst Ryan Clark, and NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero were among those notified of their departures as ESPN recalibrates its broadcast roster.
